A Touch of Class

Will Griffith – Host of A Touch of Class
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Hosted by Will Griffith, the show dives into the stories, journeys, and characters that make Irish golf what it is. No scripts, just honest conversations, detours worth taking, and the people who shape the game. Each episode features players, coaches, caddies, amateurs, pros, and the personalities who give Irish golf its character. From Irish amateur golf and the Irish Amateur Championship to life on tour, coaching, player development, and the game behind the game, we bring you closer to the people and moments that matter. The podcast also shines a light on Ireland’s great inter-club traditions — Senior Cup, Barton Shield, Jimmy Bruen, Pierce Purcell, and the All-Ireland club champions who have shaped the competitive landscape of Irish golf. If you love Irish golf, great stories, and the feeling of going for a wander and seeing where you end up, this is your podcast.

  1. 2d ago

    Mullingar Masterclass, Portumna Close Drama, and Packing Bags for the NCAA (Dylan Holmes)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of A Touch of Class, Will Griffith sits down with one of the most exciting young talents in Irish golf - Dylan Holmes. The Greystones native has built a reputation as a composed, technically sharp competitor, already stacking up major amateur titles and proving he can deliver when the pressure is highest. Dylan’s journey began in the junior ranks at Greystones Golf Club, where he developed the fundamentals, confidence, and competitive instincts that would carry him through the Leinster and national circuits. Early success came quickly - first with the Wicklow Boys, then with the Fred Daly alongside a strong Greystones team - results that marked him as a player capable of rising to every challenge placed in front of him. Those formative years set the foundation for a breakout stretch that would put his name firmly on the Irish golfing map. In 2025, Dylan produced one of the defining performances of his young career by winning the West of Ireland Championship, navigating Rosses Point with maturity and control beyond his age. He backed it up in 2026 with another marquee victory in the Mullingar Scratch Cup, joining a winner’s list that has long been a predictor of future success in Irish golf. Now, with two of the country’s most prestigious amateur titles on his CV, Dylan is preparing for the next chapter: heading to the United States to begin his NCAA Division I career at Seton Hall University, ready to test himself against the best of American college golf. Topics Covered: Early days and development at Greystones Golf ClubWinning the Wicklow Boys and the Fred DalyBreakthrough victory at the 2025 West of Ireland ChampionshipBacking it up with the 2026 Mullingar Scratch CupThe agony of losing the Close in a playoff.Preparing for NCAA Division I golf at Seton Hall UniversityHandling pressure, confidence, and competitive mindsetA grounded competitor with serious potential and a future trending in all the right directions - Dylan Holmes is one to watch. Follow us on Instagram @atocpod and follow our YouTube channel @PARfectlyclassy

  2. Aug 10

    Fighting for the Tour Card: The Pro Golf Grind (Sara Byrne)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of A Touch of Class, Will Griffith sits down with one of the most resilient and exciting talents in Irish golf - Sara Byrne. The Douglas native has built a resume that already reads like an elite competitor, proving her grit on the international stage and establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with on the professional circuit. Sara’s journey began in the youth ranks at Douglas Golf Club, where she quickly developed her skills before rising through the national ranks to form a competitive yet friendly rivalry with fellow Irish star Beth Coulter, as well as others who pushed the standard of the game. Her amateur pedigree shone brightly on the national stage, highlighted by her historic victories as an Irish Girls Close Champion and a two-time Women's Irish Amateur Close Champion. In 2020, Sara took her game to the United States for a stellar four-year collegiate career playing NCAA Division I golf for the Miami Hurricanes. Graduating in 2024, her world-class form earned her a spot representing Great Britain and Ireland in the prestigious 2024 Curtis Cup, capping off a phenomenal amateur career. Transitioning to professional life, Sara’s resilience was tested immediately on the Ladies European Tour, where she faced the high-stakes pressure of needing to make 5 cuts in her final 7 events to secure her tour card. After a brutal right elbow gym fracture and ligament injury threatened to derail her momentum, Sara underwent intense rehab to fight her way back to the fairway. She pulls back the curtain on the raw reality, setbacks, and triumphs of the elite golf grind. Topics Covered: Early days and growing up at Douglas Golf ClubThe friendly rivalry with fellow Irish amateur standout Beth Coulter, as well as othersCollege life in Miami from 2020 to 2024 playing NCAA Division I golf for the HurricanesWinning the Irish Girls Close and the Women's Close Championship 2 timesRepresenting Great Britain and Ireland in the prestigious 2024 Curtis CupThe high-stakes pressure of keeping a Ladies European Tour cardMaking 5 cuts in 7 events to secure professional statusOvercoming a major right elbow fracture and ligament injuryA brilliant competitor with a grounded personality and a serious future ahead -  Sara Byrne is one to watch. Follow us on Instagram @atocpod and follow our YouTube channel @PARfectlyclassy

  3. Aug 2

    The Unfiltered Madness and Mindfulness of Modern Golf (The Creative Sigma)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of A Touch of Class, Will Griffith sits down with one of the fastest‑rising and most entertaining voices in Irish golf culture - Fintan Phelan, famously known as The Creative Sigma on Instagram. The creator has built a massive following over the last number of months by delivering a raw, funny, and refreshingly honest perspective on what it's really like to navigate the game. Our conversation dives straight into the origin story of his channel, exploring how he channeled his unique creative energy to grow an engaged audience of local golfers. From there, we take a classic detour through the fairways of Castlebar Golf Club, sharing laughs and stories about the regional tracks that shape the local scene. Fintan also opens up about his relaxed approach to helping everyday players fix their swings on camera, the deep obsession we all share with chasing game improvement, and the fine line between true mindfulness and total madness on the golf course. From gear breakdowns to equipment and golf ball deep-dives, we look at the game with total honesty. A creator with an infectious personality and a brilliantly raw perspective, Fintan is bringing a breath of fresh air to the Irish golf community. Topics Covered: The Origin Story of The Creative Sigma & Instagram GrowthA Tour Around the Fairways of Castlebar Golf ClubFinding the Balance: Mindfulness vs. Madness on the CourseFixing Swings & Navigating Game ObsessionA Deep-Dive Into Golf Equipment, Gear, & BallsAt the end of the chat, we ask for your feedback! Do you want a Part 2 with Fintan? Drop a comment or a review where you are listening and let us know what topics we should tackle next! Follow us on Instagram @atocpod and follow our YouTube channel @PARfectlyclassy

  4. Jul 29

    How to Win the East of Ireland Major (with Kate Dillon)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of A Touch of Class, Will Griffith sits down with one of the fastest‑rising talents in Irish golf - Kate Dillon. The Oughterard native has built a resume that already reads like a seasoned international, and 2024–2026 has seen her establish herself as one of the most consistent performers in the country. Kate’s breakout year came in 2024 when she won both the Leinster Girls and Connacht Girls Championships, followed by a brilliant victory at the Girls Close Championship. Her form carried onto the international stage, representing Ireland at the Girls Home Internationals and helping secure a bronze medal at the 2025 European Girls Team Championship. In 2026 she stepped confidently into senior golf. Kate won the inaugural East of Ireland Women’s Championship at Woodbrook - a landmark title that immediately put her on the national radar. She then represented Ireland at the European Women’s Team Championship in Slieve Russell, and next week she returns to Woodbrook again, this time selected for the Women’s Home Internationals. A player with proven pedigree at every level, Kate Dillon is one of the most exciting young names in Irish golf and her rise is only getting started. Topics Covered: Winning the Leinster & Connacht Girls ChampionshipsGirls Close Championship victoryBronze medal at the 2025 European Girls Team ChampionshipEuropean Women’s Team Championship at Slieve RussellInaugural East of Ireland Women’s ChampionshipA brilliant competitor with a grounded personality and a serious future ahead — Kate Dillon is one to watch. Follow us on Instagram @atocpod and follow our YouTube channel @PARfectlyclassy

  5. Jul 15

    Inside Royal Birkdale: 2026 Open Championship Preview

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another episode of A Touch of Class. In this episode, we’re doing something a little different because Keith Nolan joins me live from Royal Birkdale, where he’s caddying for Darren Clarke during Open week. Instead of a career deep‑dive, this is a real‑time look at how the course is playing, how the setup is evolving, and what the players are facing as the 2026 Open Championship gets underway. Keith brings the same sharp eye that made him a two‑time Irish Amateur Champion, a Walker Cup player alongside Justin Rose, and one of East Tennessee State’s greatest ever talents but today he’s speaking as the man walking every yard of Birkdale with a bag on his shoulder. Across this preview we break down the live conditions: firmness, rough height, green speeds, wind direction, and how the course is changing hour by hour. Keith gives us the caddie’s perspective, the shots that matter, the traps that punish, the holes that will decide the championship, and how Darren Clarke is preparing for the week. We talk contenders, dark horses, strategy, and the small details only someone inside the ropes can truly see. It’s relaxed, honest, and full of the good stuff, exactly what an Open fanatic lives for. Topics Covered Live Royal Birkdale course conditionsHow the setup is playing during Open weekWind patterns and scoring impactKey shots required to survive BirkdaleDarren Clarke’s preparation and strategyWho’s trending heading into the 2026 OpenFavourites, dark horses, and potential surprisesWhat makes The Open different from every other majorIf you’re the kind of person who lives for Open week, the wind, the stories, the madness then this one will hit the spot.  Follow us on Instagram @atocpod and follow our YouTube channel @PARfectlyclassy

  6. Jul 7

    Tour Fitness Secrets from Darren Clarke’s Physio (Tyson Marostica)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of A Touch of Class, Will Griffith sits down with Tyson Marostica - doctor of chiropractic, golf performance specialist, and full‑time physio and trainer on the PGA Champions Tour, working week‑to‑week with legends like Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjørn, Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Alex Cejka and more. Tyson grew up in Central Pennsylvania and played college golf at Utah Valley University and BYU Hawaii before turning professional and teaching at Raven’s Claw Golf Club outside Philadelphia. Married young and already starting a family, he realised the road to full‑time professional golf was hard and chose instead to follow the passion that had carried him through seven reconstructive knee surgeries: biomechanics, rehab, and helping golfers move better. That led him to chiropractic school and eventually to building the Arizona Sports Clinic in Phoenix, where he combined treatment, performance, and an indoor hitting bay to bring his vision of golf‑specific therapy to life. Everything changed when Steve Alker spotted Tyson’s work during the Outlaw Tour - the only professional tour running during Covid. Their partnership sparked one of the most remarkable late‑career resurgences in modern golf. Since then Tyson has travelled full‑time on the PGA Champions Tour, working with Clarke, Bjørn, Cejka, Els, Langer, Rod Pampling, Zach Johnson and many more. From piecing Alex Cejka together to win the Senior British Open when he could barely walk, to swapping Darren Clarke’s headcovers by accident, to road trips with Bjørn and Pampling and even a Ja Rule moment - Tyson brings a treasure chest of stories from inside the ropes. Topics Covered: Growing up in Central PennsylvaniaCollege golf at Utah Valley University & BYU HawaiiTurning pro and teaching at Raven’s ClawSeven knee surgeries and discovering biomechanicsBuilding the Arizona Sports ClinicHow Steve Alker found him and their journey togetherWorking with Clarke, Bjørn, Cejka, Els, Langer, Pampling and moreCejka’s Senior British Open win while barely able to walkHeadcover switches, Road trip stories and Ja RuleMental game, training philosophy, and life on the Champions TourIf you enjoy stories from inside the ropes and the people who keep the legends moving, this episode is one you’ll savour. Follow us on Instagram @atocpod and follow our YouTube channel @PARfectlyclassy

  7. Jul 1

    Rising Irish Golf Talent: The Road to the Amateur Major (Patrick Keeling)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of A Touch of Class, Will Griffith sits down with Patrick Keeling, the newly crowned 2026 Irish Amateur Champion after his unforgettable week at Seapoint Golf Club. Still only twenty one years old, Patrick has already built one of the most compelling résumés in Irish amateur golf, from finishing runner‑up in the 2020 Irish Close to playing with some of the best college prospects in the NCAA with the University of Louisville. Patrick takes Will through the story of his Irish Amateur win: the preparation, the mindset, the pressure, and the moments that defined the week. He speaks openly about the role his faith plays in his life and his golf, how it steadies him, guides him, and helps him navigate both success and struggle. The conversation then looks forward. Patrick shares his ambitions for the next chapter: continuing to develop in college, the possibility of turning professional, the dream of making a Walker Cup team, and his long‑term goal of representing Ireland at senior level. Honest, grounded, and driven, Patrick offers a rare insight into what it feels like to be a young Irish golfer on the rise. Topics Covered: Winning the 2026 Irish Amateur at SeapointThe mindset and preparation behind the victoryHis faith and how it shapes his approach to golfLife at Louisville and NCAA competitionThe journey from the 2020 Irish Close to nowTurning professional, when and whyWalker Cup ambitionsRepresenting Ireland at senior levelLong‑term goals and personal growth Patrick’s story is a reminder that sometimes the most exciting thing in golf isn’t the trophy, it’s the direction a young talent is heading.  Follow @ATOCPOD on Instagram for new episodes. Follow us on Instagram @atocpod and follow our YouTube channel @PARfectlyclassy

  8. Jun 23

    What It’s Really Like Playing The Masters & U.S. Open (Matt McClean)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of A Touch of Class, Will Griffith sits down with Belfast’s Matt McClean - U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion, Masters and U.S. Open golfer, Walker Cup player, Irish Amateur Champion and one of the most consistent Irish amateurs of the past decade. Matt reflects on his rise through Irish amateur golf, from years of close calls in national championships to his breakthrough win at the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Erin Hills, a victory that earned him invitations to the 2023 Masters and the 2023 U.S. Open. He talks about competing at Augusta National and Los Angeles Country Club, the scale of those weeks, and the belief that comes from testing yourself against the very best. He also looks back on representing Great Britain & Ireland in the 2023 Walker Cup at St Andrews, playing on the Old Course in one of the most iconic editions of the match. And after so many near misses at home, Matt finally claimed the title he had chased for years - winning the 2024 Irish Amateur in Co Sligo. Topics Covered: Early years in Belfast and rise through Irish amateur golfYears of close calls in Irish championshipsWinning the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Erin HillsPlaying the 2023 Masters at Augusta NationalCompeting in the 2023 U.S. Open at LACCRepresenting GB&I in the 2023 Walker Cup at St AndrewsWinning the 2024 Irish Amateur in Co SligoIf you love Irish golf stories, elite amateur insight, and the journey behind the achievements, this episode is one you’ll savour. Follow @ATOCPOD on Instagram for new episodes  Follow us on Instagram @atocpod and follow our YouTube channel @PARfectlyclassy

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About

Hosted by Will Griffith, the show dives into the stories, journeys, and characters that make Irish golf what it is. No scripts, just honest conversations, detours worth taking, and the people who shape the game. Each episode features players, coaches, caddies, amateurs, pros, and the personalities who give Irish golf its character. From Irish amateur golf and the Irish Amateur Championship to life on tour, coaching, player development, and the game behind the game, we bring you closer to the people and moments that matter. The podcast also shines a light on Ireland’s great inter-club traditions — Senior Cup, Barton Shield, Jimmy Bruen, Pierce Purcell, and the All-Ireland club champions who have shaped the competitive landscape of Irish golf. If you love Irish golf, great stories, and the feeling of going for a wander and seeing where you end up, this is your podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Will Griffith – Host of A Touch of Class
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    110
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 A Touch of Class
  • Show Website
    A Touch of Class

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