Both Sides of Par: Golf Podcast for Every Handicap

Colin and Ross
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Both Sides of Par is a golf podcast for the millions of us battling through the middle. Colin is a high handicapper rediscovering the game after 20 years away. Ross plays off a low handicap and knows the industry inside out. Together they have honest, funny chats about what it actually takes to get better, from both ends of the handicap spectrum. If you play off anything from 10 to 25 and you're tired of tips aimed only at scratch players, this is your show. Every week covers practice that genuinely moves the needle, gear and golf tech worth your money, courses and golf trips (with a soft spot for Scotland, the home of golf and our home too!), and the amateur questions nobody else bothers to answer. Two golfers, two handicaps, one obsession. Follow along and play with us.

  1. 5d ago

    The £5 Golf Club Fix That Cured a 30-Yard Hook

    Colin's got a new toy and he's not even using it for what it's meant for. This week he unboxes the Shot Scope Pro L2 rangefinder and cheerfully admits the main use so far has been checking whether the group ahead is out of range so he can smash a few extra practice drives. Ross, playing the sensible one for once, weighs in on lasers versus GPS and why chasing precision to the yard might matter less than most golfers think. That leads nicely into a proper club fitting revelation, as Ross explains how getting his nine iron and wedge bent one degree flat cured a mystery hook that had been sending shots 30 yards left, plus how to spot the symptoms in your own bag before you rage-sell a perfectly good set of irons. Both hosts have also joined new clubs this month. Colin signs up at Nairn Dunbar, the unfairly overlooked links along the road from its famous neighbour, lured in by a clever points-based membership and a genuinely brilliant list of reciprocal courses. Ross returns to Farnham after moving house, where the 45-yard chipping green and free range balls have him practising more than ever, and where his one-handed Jonathan Yarwood chipping drill is finally starting to pay off. There's also a nostalgic detour into what it's actually like to run a driving range, which may or may not become a future episode. To round things off, Ross reports back from the BB&O County Championship at Woburn, where £65 bought two rounds on the Marquess course, breakfast, lunch and one heartbreaking closing double bogey that cost him a shot at getting to dead zero. Colin counters with a tale of nearly holing a 295-yard drive for eagle at Alford, conveniently glossing over the two lost balls the hole before. And there's one final open competition of the season to recommend before the Scottish golf calendar winds down. Episode Highlights🟢 Why Colin's rangefinder gets more use spying on the group ahead than measuring to the flag, and the practice use case that actually justifies the purchase 🟢 The one degree lie angle adjustment that fixed Ross's hooking nine iron, what it costs, and the tell-tale symptoms that your clubs might be too upright 🟢 The one-handed chipping drill from Jonathan Yarwood that's freeing up Ross's short game (with a demo video on the show's Instagram) 🟢 Inside Nairn Dunbar's points-based membership and rover ticket, and why reciprocal course lists deserve more attention when choosing a club 🟢 Two rounds at Woburn's Marquess course, breakfast and lunch included, for £65: Ross's county championship bargain of the millennium Gear & Resources Mentioned🟢 Shot Scope Pro L2 rangefinder (£150 RRP, Colin paid £130 on offer): https://shotscope.com/uk/shop/products/golf-rangefinders/pro-l2/ 🟢 Shot Scope Apple Watch golf GPS app: https://shotscope.com/uk/discover/my-shot-scope/ios-watch-app/ 🟢 Jonathan Yarwood on YouTube (source of the one-handed chipping drill): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgyB8vthTrPFTGplzR-mPkg 🟢 Both Sides of Par on Instagram (chipping drill demo video): https://www.instagram.com/bothsidesofpar 🟢 Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, Nairn (membership options including the points scheme): https://nairndunbar.com 🟢 Farnham Golf Club, Surrey: https://farnhamgolfclub.co.uk 🟢 Woburn Golf Club (Marquess course, host of the BB&O County Championship): https://www.woburngolf.co.uk 🟢 Haddington Golf Club, East Lothian: https://www.haddingtongolf.co.uk Weekly Competitions🟢 Haddington Golf Club Autumn Open, Amisfield Park, Haddington, East Lothian. Saturday 26th September. Gents singles strokeplay, £25 for visitors. One of the last open competitions of the Scottish season, played on the 19th oldest golf course in the world, and there are plenty of tee times still available. Book via the club's BRS open competitions page. Chapter List00:00 Intro and handicap updates 02:44 Shot Scope Pro L2 rangefinder: first impressions and laser vs GPS 16:11 The one degree fix: lie angles and the hooking nine iron 26:32 One-handed chipping drill progress 30:33 Colin joins Nairn Dunbar: points memberships and reciprocals 36:04 Ross joins Farnham: practice facilities and free range balls 45:08 County Championship at Woburn's Marquess course 51:33 Colin's near-eagle at Alford 53:49 Weekly competition: Haddington Autumn Open 55:23 Wrap-up

  2. Aug 10

    Royal Dornoch Review: What It's Really Like For A High Handicapper

    Normal service resumes after a few weeks of summer holidays, and the lads have somehow managed to golf Scotland from top to bottom between them. The main event this week is Royal Dornoch, which both Colin and Ross played within days of each other, narrowly missing an actual meet-up but successfully completing a 550-mile wedge handover via the pro shop. Ross marked his 50th birthday with an early morning round, while Colin got the full experience playing a foursomes open with his brother Bruce. There's plenty of chat about that striking new clubhouse (part sandstone masterpiece, part Minecraft build, depending who you ask), the changing room lounge where folk watch The Open with their feet up, and the course itself, including Colin's heroic 8 on the par 3 second after a battle with a bunker taller than his head. From there it's on to Golspie, where Colin reckons his high handicap eyes could barely tell the quality apart from its more famous neighbour, and where Ross survived a competition round so windy that a single figure player hit driver on a 150-yard par 3 and still came up short. Ross also drops a tease for a future episode: Brora might just be the best natural links course he's ever played. The pair are asking listeners for feedback this week too, so let them know whether these course reports are worth the airtime. The improvement corner covers the borrowed Cleveland 58 degree wedge Colin has been putting through its paces in Glasgow, plus a brilliant one-handed chipping drill from coach Jonathan Yarwood that Ross swears by for curing the chipping heebie-jeebies. Ross also gives Colin's chipping video an honest critique, which is what friends are for. The show wraps with this week's open competition pick at Cathkin Braes, a James Braid design and the oldest course in Glasgow. Episode Highlights🟢 Colin's 8 on the par 3 second at Royal Dornoch, featuring a shanked tee shot, a bunker face higher than his head, and a chip out backwards 🟢 The new Royal Dornoch clubhouse debate: spectacular modern statement or a bit of Minecraft on the hill? 🟢 Ross calling Brora possibly the best natural links course he's ever played, teed up for a future episode 🟢 The Golspie gale: a low single figure player hitting driver on a 150-yard par 3 and still not reaching the green 🟢 The Jonathan Yarwood one-handed chipping drill that forces you to turn your body properly, and why Ross used it before every single chip at one point Gear & Resources Mentioned🟢 Royal Dornoch Golf Club: https://royaldornoch.com 🟢 Golspie Golf Club: https://www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk 🟢 Brora Golf Club: https://www.broragolfclub.co.uk 🟢 Cathkin Braes Golf Club: https://cathkinbraesgolfclub.co.uk 🟢 Jonathan Yarwood, golf coach behind the chipping drill: https://jonathanyarwood.com 🟢 No Laying Up, who stirred the pot over the Foxy signage at Dornoch: https://nolayingup.com 🟢 Cleveland RTX 58 degree wedge, the rusty loaner that made the 550-mile journey 🟢 Get in touch: hello@bothpar.com or @bothsidesofpar on Instagram Weekly CompetitionsGents Individual Open at Cathkin Braes Golf Club, Rutherglen, Glasgow (between East Kilbride and Rutherglen, handy for the M74). Sunday 6th September 2026, individual strokeplay format, £25 per person. A James Braid design and the oldest golf course in Glasgow, always in great condition according to Colin, who has been playing it on and off for 35 years. Watch for the sharp left turn into the club entrance off the B road. Chapter List00:00 Intro and golfing Scotland top to bottom 02:25 Royal Dornoch and that new clubhouse 10:25 Playing the Championship course with brother Bruce 21:05 Favourite holes at Royal Dornoch 29:55 Golspie course report and a Brora tease 37:38 Listener feedback: do you like these course reports? 39:10 The 58 degree wedge and Jonathan Yarwood's chipping drill 46:47 Weekly open: Cathkin Braes

  3. Jul 14

    The Golf Tech Ep: Best Phone Apps, Rangefinders & GPS Watches Compared

    Colin's flying solo this week, and by solo we mean putting on a repeat while Ross plays Royal Dornoch and Colin nurses his jealousy after a consolation trip up the coast past Brora, Tain and Golspie. So it's back to one of the early episodes, recorded when there was five inches of snow on the ground, which is either quaint or cruel depending on your current heatwave situation. The episode itself is a proper tech deep dive. Ross explains how he managed to cave in the face of yet another driver, this time his TaylorMade Qi35, and why he's jumped ship to a Ping G430 LST driver and G425 LST three wood while he waits for the replacement. Colin, meanwhile, has been surviving the snow with a putting mat and a scoring system so nerdy it comes with rings like a dartboard, which sparks a genuinely useful conversation about measuring outcomes instead of obsessing over what your backswing looks like on video. Claude Harmon gets his customary mention, because of course he does. From there it's a full tour of on-course and practice tech: lasers versus GPS watches, why Colin's Garmin lasts two weeks while Ross can't find his charging cable, phone apps like Hole19 and Golfshot, and the growing world of AI golf tools, from Golf.ai's AI caddy and rules assistant to swing analysis apps like Swing Coach and Mustard Golf, where Mark Blackburn will critique your swing for considerably less than the £1,800 a year one poor soul was paying for online lessons. There's also a lovely detour through Carnoustie, including the night Ross blagged the Gary Player Suite for £50, before Ross rounds things off with a cracking scramble recommendation at King James VI in Perth. Episode Highlights🟢 Ross breaks another driver face and explains his switch to the Ping G430 LST, including how low spin versus max heads actually differ and why the feel change from carbon to titanium takes some getting used to 🟢 Colin's putting mat scoring system, and the case for measuring practice by outcomes rather than video analysis of your swing positions 🟢 The full on-course tech comparison: laser rangefinders versus GPS watches versus phone apps, and what each one actually earns its place for 🟢 Golf.ai and the rise of the AI caddy, plus AI swing analysis apps that score your swing red, yellow and green and might just work alongside a human coach 🟢 Ross's Carnoustie stories, including a £50 night in the Gary Player Suite and why it's one of the best free spectating spots at the Dunhill Links Gear & Resources Mentioned🟢 Ping G430 LST driver and G425 LST three wood: https://ping.com 🟢 TaylorMade Qi35 LS driver: https://www.taylormadegolf.com 🟢 Ping Proving Grounds Podcast 🟢 Garmin Venu Sq 2 with Garmin Golf app: https://www.garmin.com 🟢 Hole19 golf app: https://www.hole19golf.com 🟢 Golfshot app: https://golfshot.com 🟢 Golf.ai, AI caddy, rules assistant and live scorecards: https://golf.ai 🟢 Mustard Golf swing analysis app with Mark Blackburn and Justin Rose, £25 a month or £150 a year: https://teammstrd.com/golf 🟢 Swing Coach app 🟢 18Birdies phone app (https://18birdies.com) 🟢 Carnoustie Golf Links and the Carnoustie Golf Hotel stay and play packages: https://www.carnoustiegolflinks.com 🟢 Dan Grieves, tour short game coach Chapter List00:00 Intro: classic episode replay week while Ross plays Royal Dornoch 01:17 Five inches of snow and Scottish skiing 04:15 Carnoustie: the toughest, fairest course you'll play 06:42 The £50 night in the Gary Player Suite 09:40 Ross breaks another driver face 10:51 Switching to Ping: the G430 LST and G425 LST three wood 14:59 Low spin vs max: choosing a driver head 18:50 Colin's putting mat and scoring games 21:10 Measuring practice by outcomes, not technique 27:01 On-course tech: lasers, GPS watches and phone apps 33:16 Rangefinders, and whether the cheap ones are any good 35:04 Golf.ai and the AI caddy 37:24 AI swing analysis: Swing Coach and Mustard Golf 41:02 The £1,800 online coaching story 41:55 Weekly competition: King James VI gents scramble 45:26 Trackman bays vs the driving range

  4. Jul 6

    I Lost 13 Balls at One of Scotland's Best Links Golf Courses

    Ross and Colin are back with a proper mixed bag this week. Colin's been living his best golfing life at two very different Scottish gems, the windswept championship links of Western Gailes and the quirky Old Tom Morris charm of Cullen, though the Gailes part of Western Gailes lived up to its name and cost him somewhere north of thirteen balls. Ross, meanwhile, is preparing for an Open qualifier by wisely not treating it like an Open qualifier, recommitting to his fade after a flirtation with draws that cost him a ball in the water (and, somehow, still a par). The middle of the episode is a short game masterclass by way of confession. Colin wants to know how Ross chooses between a pitch, a chip and run, or the hero flop, and the answer starts with the lie, every time. Colin then reveals the moment that converted him to the chip and run for good: a 70-yard seven iron scuttled along the ground at Cullen's 18th that dropped in for his first ever eagle. The pair also dig into a fascinating MyGolfSpy article built on Arccos data from over 660,000 par 3s, which shows that almost nobody flies the green, nearly everyone comes up short, and we're all guilty of clubbing for our best strike rather than our average one. They wrap up with tales of the toughest par 3s at Ross's course, a case for laying up when the carry isn't there, and this week's competition recommendation: a cracking open at Royal Burgess in Edinburgh, one of the oldest golf clubs in the world. Colin leaves with homework (pitch and run practice, possible Vokey purchase) and listeners leave with an invitation to send in their own course reports. Episode Highlights🟢 Colin's first ever eagle: a 70-yard chip and run with a seven iron that rolled straight into the hole on Cullen's 18th 🟢 The Arccos data on par 3s: fewer than 10% of golfers fly the green at any handicap level, yet we all plan for our perfect strike 🟢 Ross loses his tee shot on a 560-yard par 5, drops, watches his playing partner accidentally play his ball, and still walks off with the par of his life 🟢 Thirteen lost balls at Western Gailes: what playing a top links course in a full-blown gale does to a recently cured slice 🟢 Claude Harmon's short game rule that stuck with Ross: whatever you do, never leave yourself two chips to get on the green Gear & Resources Mentioned🟢 Western Gailes Golf Club, Ayrshire: https://westerngailes.com 🟢 Cullen Links Golf Club, Moray: https://www.cullenlinksgolf.co.uk 🟢 Golspie Golf Club, Sutherland: https://www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk 🟢 The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh: https://www.royalburgess.co.uk 🟢 MyGolfSpy article: You're Playing Par-3s Wrong. Here's What the Data Says to Do Instead: https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/youre-playing-par-3s-wrong-heres-what-the-data-says-to-do-instead/ 🟢 Arccos shot tracking: https://www.arccosgolf.com 🟢 Scott Fawcett's DECADE Course Management: https://decade.golf 🟢 Son of a Butch with Claude Harmon (podcast) 🟢 Titleist Vokey wedges: https://www.vokey.com 🟢 Trackman (for gapping sessions and knowing your average carry): https://www.trackman.com Weekly CompetitionsGents Individual Open at The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh, Barnton, Edinburgh. Sunday 26th July 2026, individual stroke play open with a handicap limit of 32, £50 entry for visitors. Ross mentions three spots were still available in the field between 2:15pm and 3:00pm at time of recording. Entry is via HowDidiDo: https://www.howdidido.com/Directory/OpenCompetitions/3010. A brilliant parkland course less than five miles from Edinburgh city centre and the airport, so it's an easy trip from almost anywhere in the country. HowDidiDo One thing to double check before publishing: the transcript reads "handicap limit £32" which I've interpreted as a handicap limit of 32 (a transcription artifact). The listing online also shows £35 for members versus £50 for visitors, so the £50 quoted on the show is the visitor price. HowDidiDo Chapter List00:00 Welcome and catching up 01:10 Ross's Open qualifier prep and committing to the fade 04:02 Course review: Western Gailes in a gale 11:07 Ross's competition round and the par of his life 14:47 Colin's handicap update and Golspie course review 18:35 Chip and run vs pitch: choosing the right short game shot 27:20 Par 3 data: why we all come up short 42:03 Weekly competition: Royal Burgess Gents Open 44:25 Wrap up and listener course reports

  5. Jun 29

    Cut your Golf Handicap: Practice Routines, Speed Training & Smart Strategy

    Big news opens the show: Ross has made it back to scratch for the first time in roughly 16 years, and the lads pick apart exactly how he got there. It turns out most of the battle was in his head, with old handicap barriers (that stubborn 0.5, the dreaded jump from 6 to 5) doing more damage than his swing ever did. The fixes were refreshingly human: their weekly chats keeping him accountable, three years of left-handed putting, a focus on pace over line (a Scott Fawcett favourite), some carefully added clubhead speed for strategy rather than showing off, and properly purposeful practice where you actually test yourself on the course. Colin, holding up the high-handicap end as ever, soaks it all in and the two have a lovely back-and-forth about whether you can ever truly ignore your score (Ross, for the record, cannot). From there the chat turns to Senior Open qualifying, which Ross has now entered. He explains the whole thing in plain English: turn 50, get to 0.4 or better, pay your £250, and take your shot in a one-round shootout, in his case at Stirling on Monday 20th July, with the actual Senior Open landing at Gleneagles' King's Course and a field featuring the likes of Henrik Stenson and Pádraig Harrington. Colin then unveils his weekend project, a "course-bagger" app at track.bothpar.com inspired by Munro bagging, complete with regions to complete and prestige points for links courses, Open venues and famous architects. That sparks a genuinely useful discussion about what actually makes a course worth seeking out, from qualifying pedigree to a proper grass range. The back half is all about playing more golf for less money. The two dig into reciprocals and second memberships, including the 300-plus James Braid Association courses, Spey Bay's generous reciprocal list and quirky Summer Solstice comp, getting onto Royal Dornoch via a Golspie or Brora membership, Nairn Dunbar's country option, and joining somewhere like Southerness for reliable winter golf. A quick detour into eye-watering London joining fees (think £20k just to get through the door) makes the Scottish maths look very sensible indeed. They close with this week's competition pick at Downfield in Dundee, plus a heads-up on new Instagram swing clips using Coleman's shot tracer. Episode Highlights🟢 Ross's route back to scratch after a 16-year gap, and why the real barrier was almost entirely mental 🟢 The pace-over-line putting shift (credited to Scott Fawcett) that quietly cut out the three-putts 🟢 Why Ross added clubhead speed for smarter strategy rather than ego, and how it changed his club choices off the tee 🟢 Senior Open qualifying demystified: the criteria, the £250 one-round shootout, and the realistic odds of getting through 🟢 Colin's new course-bagger app and the "prestige points" debate over what genuinely makes a course worth playing Gear & Resources Mentioned🟢 Both Sides of Par on Instagram (@bothsidesofpar): clips, swing videos and weekly updates 🟢 track.bothpar.com: Colin's new course-bagger app 🟢 Scott Fawcett and the DECADE Course Management System: the pace-putting and aggressive-off-the-tee thinking referenced throughout (decadegolf.com) 🟢 Coleman Golfs and his shot tracer: Find Coleman over at @colemangolfs 🟢 The Association of James Braid Courses: 300-plus Braid-designed courses with reduced green fees (jamesbraidgolfsociety.com) 🟢 The Senior Open at Gleneagles, King's Course, 23 to 26 July 2026 (legendstour.com) 🟢 Stirling Golf Club: Ross's chosen Senior Open qualifying venue 🟢 Spey Bay Golf Club: links course with a wide reciprocal list and the Summer Solstice comp (the membership and reciprocal figures were quoted live on the show, so verify before relying on them) 🟢 Get in touch: hello@bothpar.com Weekly Competitions🟢 Downfield Golf Club, Dundee: Open on Sunday 2nd August, £45 entry. A James Braid-designed parkland championship course, beautifully tree-lined and a former Open final qualifying venue (now a regional qualifier), roughly 25 minutes from St Andrews and easy to reach off the A90. A brilliant excuse for a weekend away, with a Saturday-night stopover in Dundee and a Sunday round. Chapter List00:00 Welcome and the plan for today 01:09 Ross gets back to scratch after 16 years 03:50 Why handicap barriers live in your head 06:48 What moved the needle: pace putting and weekly chats 09:55 Adding clubhead speed (and why it isn't about bombing it) 13:24 Purposeful practice and smarter course management 23:23 Can you actually ignore your score? 24:17 Senior Open qualifying, explained 33:03 Building a course-bagger app for golfers 45:44 Reciprocals and second memberships worth having 55:12 The eye-watering cost of a London membership 57:44 This week's competition: Downfield in Dundee 1:00:44 Wrap-up, Instagram and swing clips

  6. Jun 21

    He Built a Launch Monitor at Home for $500 (And It Matches Trackman)

    Ross is off the grid this week, so Colin holds the high handicap fort alone and brings in a guest who sits at the other end of the spectrum: Coleman Rollins, better known online as Coleman Golfs. Coleman is a near scratch software engineer who got so fed up with launch monitor prices that he did the only reasonable thing and built his own, an open source unit called OpenFlight. The two quickly discover a shared origin story of being used as moving targets on a driving range as kids, which sets the tone nicely. From there it becomes part golfing journey, part tech masterclass. Coleman talks through almost ten years of caddying and what it taught him about reading greens, course management and the classic amateur sin of not playing within your means. He covers the grip change that wrecked his game for a full year, the coach who finally rebuilt his swing, and then the good stuff: why a Trackman costs the price of a small car (it uses the same phased array radar that tracks missiles), how his three radar Doppler setup works, and why his whole rig comes in at around five hundred dollars. There is also a very enjoyable detour into reverse engineering commercial monitors from their publicly filed photos, which earned Coleman a distinctly unfriendly Instagram message from one red and white branded manufacturer. The back half turns practical. Coleman explains which numbers actually move the needle for an improving golfer, how handing data to a coach (human or AI) has helped him, and how dialling in his wedge distances on a Trackman paid off at his biggest tournament of the year just the day before. A quickfire round closes things out with some genuinely useful takes: the metric golfers underrate, the one they hopelessly overrate, a twenty quid putting hack borrowed from woodworking, and the golf marketing trick that makes him want to throw his phone. Colin, to his credit, resists buying a launch monitor on the spot. Just. Episode Highlights🟢 The "playing within your means" lesson Coleman picked up caddying for everyone from Tuesday ladies' tournaments to single digit men, and why even near scratch players get this wrong 🟢 Why a thirty thousand pound Trackman is arguably fair value: a plain English explanation of phased array radar versus the Doppler tech in cheaper units like the Garmin R10 🟢 Coleman's Trackman wedge session the week of his state amateur qualifier, and how knowing his exact 50 to 120 yard numbers gave him a dozen confident shots on the day 🟢 The quickfire round: vertical launch angle being underrated, swing speed being wildly overrated, and a twenty dollar woodworking laser that doubles as a putting trainer the golf brands would sell you for a hundred quid Gear & Resources Mentioned🟢 Coleman Rollins, the guest, on Instagram and TikTok as @colemangolfs 🟢 OpenFlight, Coleman's open source launch monitor, on GitHub at https://github.com/jewbetcha/openflight 🟢 OpenFlight project site and cloud (FlightWeb) at https://openflight.dev 🟢 Open Tracer, Coleman's free shot tracer web app for swing videos, on GitHub at https://github.com/jewbetcha/opentrace (Colin mentioned a hosted "try it" page too, worth confirming the exact link before publishing) Chapter List00:00 Welcome, no Ross this week, meet Coleman and OpenFlight 00:56 Growing up in the game: caddying for almost ten years 03:57 What caddying really teaches you about golf 06:05 The biggest mistake amateurs make: not playing within your means 07:31 The grip change that broke his game, and finally getting a coach 11:18 Why he built his own launch monitor 13:13 The metrics that actually matter 16:24 What separates a thirty thousand pound Trackman from the rest 20:08 Inside OpenFlight: three radars and a Raspberry Pi 22:13 The parts list and building one yourself 25:56 Reverse engineering the competition (and an angry DM) 30:55 Keeping it open source and affordable 34:40 Using your data with a coach, and AI as a caddie 37:59 What's next: a DIY rangefinder 38:46 Open Tracer: free shot tracing for swing videos 40:29 The OpenFlight Discord community 42:01 Quickfire round: metrics, gadgets and marketing gripes 47:15 Where to find Coleman and everything he's building

  7. Jun 15

    Golf Chipping Practice Drills That Work on the Course (PLUS Scratch Heartbreak, Spider Putters & 5-Wood Bump-and-Runs)

    Follow us at @bothsidesofpar and grab the newsletter here. Episode SummaryRoss very nearly gets to scratch this week - painfully nearly. He talks through a round where one missed short putt on the 18th left him sitting at 0.5, along with the classic golfer’s curse of knowing you should stick to process while your brain quietly screams, “go on then, make history.” Colin, naturally, offers sympathy while also enjoying the drama just a little bit. The pair then get into gear chat, with Colin trying to make sense of the new TaylorMade Spider putter range and the Cobra OPTM Max-K driver, while Ross brings the lower-handicap reality check on forgiveness, lie angle, workability and why most amateur golfers probably don’t need to be shaping it like prime Tiger. There’s a big short-game section too, covering Ross’s chipping experiments, looking away from the ball, cack-handed chips, landing-spot practice, ladder drills, using a putting stroke with different clubs, and even the mighty five-wood chip-and-run. They wrap up with Colin entering the Golspie open, Ross recommending Grantown-on-Spey, and a reminder to follow the show on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and Instagram. Episode Highlights🟢 Ross misses a two-footer on the 18th that would have taken him to scratch - brutal, funny, and very golf. 🟢 Colin tries to decode the TaylorMade Spider putter family, from Tour and Tour X to the smaller V model and different hosel options. 🟢 Ross explains why looking away from the ball has helped free up his chipping stroke, borrowing the same idea from his putting. 🟢 The boys talk through practical chipping games, including landing drills, 15-yard stock shots, ladder practice and up-and-down challenges. 🟢 A deep chat on lie angle, flatter clubs, workability and why “standard” clubs might quietly be sending half of us left. Gear & Resources Mentioned🟢 TaylorMade Spider Tour / Spider Tour X / Spider Tour F / Spider Tour V putters — discussed around forgiveness, MOI, True Path alignment and the White TPU Pure Roll insert. TaylorMade describes the White TPU Pure Roll insert as using 45-degree grooves to encourage forward roll and says the white insert works visually with True Path Alignment. (taylormadegolf.com) 🟢 Cleveland Frontline putter — Colin’s current Spider-ish mallet putter, which he still seems dangerously close to replacing because golf equipment exists. 🟢 Cleveland wedges — Ross gives another glowing mention to his newer Cleveland wedges after a very tidy bunker shot on the 18th. 🟢 Scotty Cameron putter — Ross compares his current larger-headed Scotty Cameron setup with the stability he used to like in the Spider. 🟢 Cobra OPTM Max-K driver — Colin’s latest temptation in the “maybe this will fix my driver” category. Cobra says the OPTM driver line uses shaping and weight placement to reduce twisting, while Golf Monthly describes the OPTM Max-K as Cobra’s most stable model, with a combined MOI of 13K. (COBRA Golf) 🟢 Scott Fawcett / DECADE Course Management — referenced again in Ross’s scratch-handicap journey, especially the idea of sticking with process and long-term averages rather than forcing one heroic outcome. 🟢 Golspie Golf Club — Colin has entered an open there and is looking forward to testing the game somewhere slightly more exciting than the garden lawn. The club’s open competition listings include the Millicent Bowl & Campbell Shield and the Golspie Open. (Golspie Golf Club) 🟢 Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club - Ross’s weekly open recommendation, picked partly because it looks gorgeous, has heather, mountain views, and doesn’t cost the price of a new wedge. Weekly Competitions🟢 Golspie Golf Club — Millicent Bowl & Campbell Shield, Golspie, Scottish Highlands. Saturday 13 June 2026. Gents singles strokeplay. Visitor entry listed at £35, members £25, with Golf Empire listing the handicap index limit as 28.0 for men. (BRS Golf) 🟢 Golspie Golf Club — Golspie Open, Golspie, Scottish Highlands. Saturday 25 July 2026. Gents singles strokeplay. Visitor entry listed at £35, members £25. The club describes this as its flagship competition on its James Braid-designed course. (BRS Golf) 🟢 Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club — Gents “McCulloch Cup” Strokeplay, Grantown-on-Spey, Scottish Highlands. Sunday 6 September 2026. Ross mentions a handicap limit of 24 and an entry cost of £27 per person in the episode; I found a Golf in Scotland post confirming Grantown-on-Spey’s 2026 open schedule includes the Gents McCulloch Cup Strokeplay on 6 September, but the visible search result did not confirm the £27 price. (Facebook) Chapter List00:00 Welcome back, intro duties, and Ross taking four shots to start the podcast 02:51 Ross hits the crossbar on his scratch-handicap attempt 08:30 TaylorMade Spider putters and Colin trying to understand the range 12:12 Mallet putters, forgiveness, Rory, Scottie and off-centre strikes 17:00 Ross’s chipping practice update and balance work 20:13 Switching chipping grips during a round 24:20 Chipping games, landing drills and target practice 25:40 Why the 15-yard chip is such a useful stock shot 26:53 Using a putting stroke for chip-and-run shots 27:29 The five-wood chip-and-run enters the chat 30:28 Colin enters the Golspie open 32:02 Cobra OPTM Max-K driver and the search for more forgiveness 35:35 Workability, shot shaping and whether average golfers really need it 37:46 Lie angle, flatter clubs and why standard might not suit everyone 41:58 Why getting your lie angles checked could make a huge difference 43:31 Ross recommends the Grantown-on-Spey open

  8. Jun 8

    Golf Trolley Roundup (Push or Self-Driving?) PLUS pick the Yellow Tee on your Next Medal?

    This week, Ross takes us through the highlights of playing the iconic Wentworth West Course, diving into his five favorite holes and what makes the experience special. The boys also tackle a deep dive into modern golf trolleys, sharing tips and insights for anyone considering an upgrade. Then they discuss whether you should take advantage of the WHS rules around using whatever tee suits you in competitions, and how that makes sense for smart golf. Plus, hear about an incredible value open competition on the Isle of Arran and get an update on Ross's Cleveland wedges, featuring a new tip that could improve your short game instantly. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with stories, advice, and practical gear talk to help you enjoy your next round even more. Love the show? Help us grow! Follow @BothSidesOfPar on Instagram for exclusive videos and tips.Follow @theshedisback and @mcgraygolf on instagram, tooSubscribe on your podcast app - Spotify, Apple, wherever you listen.Reviews and ratings make a huge difference - drop us a few stars and say hi! Thanks for listening and supporting us. Got feedback or questions? Shoot us a DM or reply to this email! Until next time—play smart, have fun, and see you on the fairways. — Colin & Ross

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About

Both Sides of Par is a golf podcast for the millions of us battling through the middle. Colin is a high handicapper rediscovering the game after 20 years away. Ross plays off a low handicap and knows the industry inside out. Together they have honest, funny chats about what it actually takes to get better, from both ends of the handicap spectrum. If you play off anything from 10 to 25 and you're tired of tips aimed only at scratch players, this is your show. Every week covers practice that genuinely moves the needle, gear and golf tech worth your money, courses and golf trips (with a soft spot for Scotland, the home of golf and our home too!), and the amateur questions nobody else bothers to answer. Two golfers, two handicaps, one obsession. Follow along and play with us.

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