How Great Is Shinnecock? The US Open Review | Full Program Golf Podcast #37

This week we're recapping the 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills, and Stevie brings a unique perspective after spending Friday on the ground at one of America's most iconic golf courses.

We go beyond the TV coverage to discuss what Shinnecock is really like - from the dramatic undulations that simply don't translate on screen, to the conditioning of the course, the atmosphere around the property, the clubhouse, food, merchandise tent, and everything that makes attending a major championship so special.

Of course, we also break down Wyndham Clark's impressive victory as he claimed his second major championship. We discuss whether the criticism and lack of support from some fans was justified, whether the final-round leaderboard lived up to expectations, and what this victory means for Clark's place in the game.

If you love major championship golf, iconic courses, and behind-the-scenes insights from one of the biggest weeks in the golfing calendar, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review!

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome back, episode 37 of the Full Programme Golf Podcast. With me, Josh Conlin, and as ever, joined by Stevie McAvoy. Today is a US Open chop-up, and we're gonna get straight into it.

SPEAKER_00 0:24

Stevie, how are we doing? Joshy Joshy, hey. We've had a good run on the polos, haven't we? But white versus navy today.

SPEAKER_01 0:33

Yeah, absolutely. But I've got to start thinking about my Spain wardrobe, you know, moo going going overseas in a few days, the white wash has been done, the white crisp polo is being dried, not taking very long in this heat, mind you, but had to go with the navy as a result because I'm going for the lighter, lighter surfaces in the in the sun.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Well, do you know what? Having just just uh flown across the pond, I I actually know that dilemma very well, so it's great you touched on it. Um so just go where when you're flying, where you're playing, just give us. I know we're gonna chop it up, but like just give us a little preview.

SPEAKER_01 1:08

Yeah, so fly Thursday night. It's uh predominantly a bit of an R, but we've got a couple of rounds of golf in. We've got two rounds currently booked in. So we've got San Roque Old on Saturday, which uh looking forward to, not played that since 2019. And um we've got the big boy, we've got Valderarama uh a week on Thursday, so the uh the second, I believe that is, of July. Cannot wait. That's that's the one I've had on my list forever. And then a course that I've also played before in Almanara, which is um linked to this new Seo Hotel in Soto Grande, where all the Live players stay. Used to be three nines, they've now ripped up one of the nines and made that a full practice facility, range, all that sort of good stuff. 18 holes, slightly been redone. So whilst it's not a new tick, it's still an adaptation, an adaptation of a of a tick that we've already got. So three lined up so far, but watch the space.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

Nice, and then we're we're about is it I don't know how many days are in June, but we're kind of seven or eight days away from halfway point on the on the the year uh year goals. So gonna be look forward to running through where we've got to on those as well.

SPEAKER_01 2:22

Absolutely, I think that's gonna be a a very good, solid episode. Um, and you know, little spoiler alert, I've got one of the great Julys in world golf.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

So yeah, well, I'm I'm tagging along for at least part of that that I know of, but uh yeah, looking forward to seeing that. I I also hopefully will do a decent amount of damage in July. It's slightly more up in the air, but um this and that going on. But anyway, let's dive into it. US Open's just concluded the 126th at Shinnecock Hills. Wyndham Clark takes his second major, which moves him in actually, you know. It once you go into the two majors, you're all of a sudden you've got more majors than Fred Couples, Jim Furick, there's a whole host of names, and now all of a sudden you're level with again another crop of really, really solid players. But I'll throw it to you. What were your initial thoughts? How did you think the the week played out?

SPEAKER_01 3:18

Yeah, it's a good question because I know we we're gonna get into it, you've been on the ground there. I thought that TV did Shinnokok no justice at all. Uh, I thought it looked underwhelming, I thought the lack of crowds looked pathetic. I thought that actually I would rather watch a World Cup match than the US Open, even if it was a complete nothing match. And that was a little bit of the feeling that I was getting around the lads who I was chatting to over here, this side of the pond. It just didn't capture me. I didn't think the leaderboard was great, I didn't think the golf course looked brilliant, and I normally love Carnage, I'm a big max Carnage guy. You know, and on the pod last time I had it in my top three that I'd play US Open courses, it's completely gone out of that, out of that ranking for sure. And maybe I'm just being harsh on it, maybe we just didn't see it. It just didn't it didn't fill me with with that much excitement.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

Yeah, look, I I think um relatively underwhelming storyline from the actual kind of runners and riders. I think Wyndham Clark with that 64, I think it was on the Thursday, and then just led wire to wire. I don't think the field chasing him down on the Sunday was particularly high quality. Obviously, Sheffler was there, but he never really felt that close. And then you looked at the names behind them, you know, it's like JT Possum was making the run. Like it's just cashmere key. Whereas whereas you then rolled it back to the kind of I think 11th spot where all of a sudden your Fleetwoods, your Fitzpatricks, uh McElroy obviously fell away. So I don't I just don't think we had the the big showdown um that we were after in terms of names on the leaderboard. But what I will say, and I I think I will always remember this and consider this whenever I want to bash on a golf course, having watched it on TV. I was very fortunate to go to Shinnekok on Friday, and I couldn't have been more impressed with it. And so obviously, we had a bit of a text conversation where you were like, Yeah, it looks flat, it looks underwhelming, and I was just like, honestly, like I think this is the best golf course I've ever set my eyes on, and I don't even think it's particularly close. Like it had a real the whole thing had a real big match feel. Uh and I spoke to our mate Stevie who works for G4 in in the merch tent on on the Friday morning, and he was just I was just like, this place looks unbelievable. And he was just like, honestly, he was like, This is the US Open venue, like this is the one. I know Pebbles held as as the kind of St Andrews of America. Uh, but he he was like, for a test for a location, for a golf course, Shinnicott might just be the best, and it it was it had it had a magic feeling, it's it's hard to describe that, isn't it? Um it really did on the grounds. I thought crowds weren't huge. That's funny. Uh you picked that up on that on the on the TV. I it never felt overwhelming. There was um we're gonna put a YouTube video out, and there's a there's a bit where I I do a clip of the McElroy Fleetwood um Ludford Ludford group, and you that was the biggest crowd I saw all day, 100%. And it was it was solid, but like I've been to a couple of opens, and it was still, you know, you could work your way around the golf course. Um but they really didn't throw up a huge amount of very big stands. Um again, uh it'll be it'll be on the video. There was about 20 seats on the first T. That was it. And you think the kind of almost cauldrons that we now see, I know Ryder Cup goes very big, but the Open Championship normally puts a pretty big first T setup up. And so it it felt it felt kind of curated, I suppose, to kind of give you this experience to force you to walk around the golf course. But it rolls so much more than TV, and they always say about Augusta, you don't you just never know until you go there about the ups and the downs. But like Shinnikok really, really rolled. I mean, nine, I know they talked about the broadcast quite a lot, was playing 30 feet up. Um, but you know, you crest over the hill on 10, it flies all the way down. I think 12th T-Box, 15th T-Box, probably both playing 20 down off the T-Box. Um, it it was nice, and nothing, no gimmicks like it was the conditioning. I mean, I've never seen fairways like it. The fairways were so sensational. And again, I watched a bit of the coverage, greens looked a bit kind of burnt out on TV, but um but and and maybe I didn't see that because a lot of them are quite upturned sources, the greens, so you didn't really get that that view of them. But fringes, bunkering, all around. I mean, yeah, it's a it's a great golf course, and and I'd be really interested because you never know if someone's gonna share the same opinion. It would be interested if you'd have been there with me. Uh, if you'd had the same thought, but like you know, I thought it was unbelievable. Met Truman, which we'll get onto, he thinks it's unbelievable. Like, um, yeah, it was it was a really special day.

SPEAKER_01 8:21

Yeah, I think I think it really does just come down to that, doesn't it? You know, you can't get a feel for some of these places from TV, and clearly that's come through because clearly it's a phenomenal course because you know everyone does rave about it. You've just mentioned a few of the guys yourself, like it it just clearly is a top track. It just didn't come through, and that's such a shame for for the watching audience. I I think you know, and I know this doesn't impact the course, but as a spectacle, Wyndham Clark won it in about a three-hour window on Thursday afternoon. Like that was it, and I know we get that in the open championship over here, you know. It really is sides of the draw, normally less apparent in the in with the US Open and with US golf, but was very much apparent, and Wyndham fair play to him, took the course apart in a small window and then held on. And don't get me wrong, he he played well from there. Of course he did, he's gone on and won a US Open, but he did a lot less than Waquin Neiman did for the last three days as an example, and but was able to really make hay whilst the sun shine, and and fair enough.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

Yeah, he he got I I think that was like a three-hole stretch where it was fairway. First cut of rough was okay, didn't have a huge amount of control out of it, but you're always going to be able to advance it up to the green out of that cut, and then you had the the hay, which in spots was very thick, in spots was kind of wispy enough to hit through, and then outside of that, it was sand, very trampled down, compact ground. And I think Wyndham had a stretch where he basically drove it onto the compact ground multiple times. I think he was two under in that stretch or something silly. Obviously, on 16 yesterday, dreadful drive, found himself in a pretty wispy spot. Uh, I know Bones on the coverage here in the US was like, ah, this lie's awful. But I mean he advanced it very well and then obviously went on to make the birdie, which ultimately kept him out of a playoff with Burns. So, yeah, you've got to have a bit of luck on your side. Um, and and he certainly did have that, but you know, he also did hit some very good golf shots. I mean, the second is a diabolical par three, 252 yards straight uphill. Driver for 90% of golfers in the world if they're playing it from those T's. And he'd hit a two-on, about a 30-yard cut right into the middle of the green on Friday morning. And you know, it was just like big boy golf shots that probably don't get any attention. But at the end of the day, that was playing 3-4, 3-5 on the card, and he's just made a routine pass. So, look, good on him, and as I said, two-time major champion now. It's it's uh pretty unbelievable to be honest when you think of who he is and how we kind of consider him in the game.

SPEAKER_01 11:11

Yeah, yeah, definitely. And I thought his putter was his standout performance, uh club performer of the week. He he he put the lights out. You know, I know in day one he holed over a hundred feet of putts, but whenever he seemed to be in trouble, he boxed it. I can't believe how many outside 10 feet par puts he just kept rattling home. And especially on the Saturday when he was playing with Matt Fitzpatrick, who was just sticking it in reverse, like he actually was just keeping himself together whole in putt. But you talk about luck, you talk about those three or that three or four hole stretch where he kept knocking it outside the ropes. I was watching the um that sort of passage of play on the Friday when he played with Dustin Johnson, who at the time was uh very much in the tournament. And Wyndham Clark hit a stinker of a T-shot, I think it was the fourth or the fifth, and DJ hit a an okay T-shot, but it meant as you mentioned, it went past the first cut and it went into the cat the cabbage. Windham outside of that, it was left going left, like proper double cross, over into the sand bit. Wyndham made easy four, actually had a look at three, and that was where DJ made his eight because he couldn't advance it. And don't get me wrong, it wasn't the T-shot's fault he made eight, it was all of his bunker shots. But it was just to say that that increased the pressure on him, that made him miss the green, that made him put it in those spots, and it is a game of luck. We all know that. That's that's the game of golf we love. He had it on his side, as any winner does in any event, so I'm not taking anything away from him. The one thing I really do want to call out is I've got no time for all the booing, quite frankly. I think it's pathetic, and you know, you wouldn't have heard it on this on this side of the ponder coverage from Sky. Laura Davis was like, look, in a Ryder Cup it's not good, but when it's individuals who are battling, absolutely make it be known who you want to win, but stop cheering for balls going in bunkers and falling off greens. It's an absolute disgrace, and quite frankly, the Long Island group of people, the few that actually turned up, because I've already said the crowds were crap, don't give them another major, they can fuck off. They were shit at the open at the at the Ryder Cup, and they were appalling there, they've got no etiquette, and they're not golf people that we want to encourage to be at events. It's pathetic.

SPEAKER_00 13:44

Yeah, um yeah, it was it was a talking point, wasn't it? Uh I think surprising, like, and and some people were mentioning on the US coverage, like Rydy Cup, whilst I think that crossed the line 100%, it was predictable, understandable. I you know, it was Americans cheering against non-Americans, whereas, whereas Wyndham Clark is is red, white, and blue through and through. Denver kids, uh, you know, past major made US Open winner, and so for the Long Island Islanders to boo him was surprising. Um I actually felt like on the grounds, like the crowd was you said it wasn't that that big, which was great from a spectator perspective, and you know, ticket price was pretty high. Maybe that just uh weeded a load of people out. But you know, I chatted to a load of people and everyone seemed pretty good and proper. The crowd felt like a good quality crowd. Um, but I I hear you, and like they've not the Long Islanders have not showered themselves in glory, um, and so yeah, it was a bit of a shame, I think, because at the end of the day, and and this is actually where I I didn't want Wind Wyndham to win, I wanted Sheffield to win it. I was um really campaigning for him to, and he made that three-putt late on, didn't he, on the back nine, and that kind of just killed him. Um, but the the the only thing that kind of spun me round on Windham a little bit is I think coming off 17, they announced on the coverage, I don't know if they did in the UK, that his dad had red-eyed in and he was going to surprise him on Father's Day on the green. And I was just like the minute they said that, I was like, ah, like I kind of do want to see that moment, and so um yeah, I was kind of hoping he held on and it was it was a good moment in the end, but yeah, by the skin of his teeth, like that Sam Burn putt, Sam Burns putt, sorry, I thought was in. He's a great putter, he got that read, and he looked like he hit a good putt. And god, you just would chew bricks about that, wouldn't you? I bet last night he's lying in bed, just like yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

I actually think that the putt that he'll think about is the putt on 17. Because the put on 18 was a good putt. It didn't go in, like good effort. The putt on 17 was shite, you know, and I'm I'm throwing words around now because I'm just feeling heated. But it was appalling, you know, it was short, right, like a proper putt that every amateur that plays the game under any pressure has hit, just like a bit whiffy, short, never online, from about eight feet. And again, you know, we we're talking Sam Sam Burns is a he's seen as a very good putter, but actually I don't see him holding many putts under pressure when it really matters in medal golf. Put's great match play, but he doesn't win enough, and that comes down to your putting ultimately. And so I think the putt on 17 will be the one he misses and coming back to Wyndham, I would say that the PR job that he did after winning is exceptional, it's an elite job, you know, thanking everyone, saying, Hey, you know, I know one wanted to me, no one wanted me to win, but flipping it and being like that was on me, made some mistakes, da da da da da. Just a great whoever is his PR, just enjoy it. You've done a great job. You yeah, you've done more than his swing coach. Just go out there and take the plaudit.

SPEAKER_00 17:16

Absolutely, and you know, very, very attractive girlfriends. Nice, nice little run up on the last, dad there, surprising him, gets the moments to do the PR push, picking up the second trophy. I mean, like it was all in all a pretty damn good result for the boy, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_01 17:33

Oh, yeah, it's good day, good day, good day to be Wyndham Clark, I'd say.

SPEAKER_00 17:39

Um one thing I we messaged back and forth uh uh uh some point on the Sasha Friday morning was this has been touted as like one of the elite group of amateurs. Um, and so you know, lots of people were saying that it will probably look back in 10 years and be like, oh yeah, that Shinnicok 26 crop was you know now some of the best players in the game. Um there seem to be hundreds of them out there. Uh I think maybe am I 20? Does that sound ridiculous? Did I hear that number right? That sounds too high. It could be like there were many there were, there were a lot. And um I said Tex Josh, I was just like, are we getting old? Because I swear these kids look about 12 and they're about 120 pounds dripping wet. Like the the Miles Russell lad is tiny, the Ethan Fang lad, like you know, these are top, top, top, top amateurs, like just there's just nothing to them, and you just think, God, are they really gonna go out and don't sorry?

SPEAKER_01 18:41

I was just in the background, I was just looking at the leaderboard and counting to them. 20, exactly. Five of them made the cut.

SPEAKER_00 18:50

Yeah, I mean, I so funny enough, I I ended up kind of getting stuck because I was trying to walk the golf course on Friday morning. I wanted to lap it before doing anything else, so I could just knew, you know, I saw the course, could comment on it and and know where the best spots are. I just ended up basically following round group one, which uh had the Cowan lad who was the joint uh lowest amateur, and um, yeah, you know, probably five foot nine, tiny kid, and I think Shinnicot was 7,400 par 70. Like it's it's it was really, really like tough and long. And so to see someone like that do it is uh is really quite impressive. Um, and you know, just to kind of conclude my bits on the golf course, nine through 14 is one of the great stretches in golf. Like, I think nine is an absolutely sensational golf world. It's a real shame it's not the 18th. Uh, because we always talk about kind of proximity of green to clubhouse and having that all set up. The ninth green is literally right in front of the Shinnicot Clubhouse, whereas 18 is kind of often that you almost can't see 18 because it's a bit lower down and in behind it. Um, I believe that was the way around the course was once upon a time, but the members basically decided that the 10th was too difficult an opening hole, so swapped it. And the first now is is definitely a soft start, and then you obviously go into that very, very difficult part three, um, and then off and on. But yeah, like nine through 14 is just absolute dreamland.

SPEAKER_01 20:21

Yeah, yeah, they looked like the the good holes where where things were happening, um, and it's you know it's funny you mentioned a soft start on one that was so evident, and yet only because obviously we were watching him because Matt Fitz was was doing well. I think he bogeied it at certainly both times on the weekend, he bogied it Saturday, Sunday, and you just think, Well, you're really throwing shots back when that first is getting bogeyed because it was such a soft just ease yourself into the round and then get obliterated by the 252 yard second. Like just go and enjoy it, go three four, just do it that way round.

SPEAKER_00 20:59

Yeah, I mean the it was a big old fairway that first fairway, and they could hit two on if they wanted to. Um, and so yeah, very soft start. Um, what I thought was quite interesting is you can see national links from um the golf course, and so probably set eyes on kind of three, four holes of national links, and I think by the top 100, I think they're like fifth and sixth, like they're right next to each other uh in the top ten. So we're talking crazy good golf courses. But what I thought was interesting was, and I don't know if it's just because Shinnicok had the US Open on, and so the native rough was growing up higher, which gives the course more definition. But National just didn't look anywhere near as defined, and so almost it just didn't it didn't leave a mark on me at all. It just could it almost just looked like any golf course from from where I saw it from. Now, obviously, it's supposed to be amazing, but I I I spoke to someone who's a pro out here yesterday, and uh he was just like National's conditioning comparatively is not. Not anywhere near as good most of the time. I think they had the Walker Cup there and they got it apparently into just like immaculate condition. But week to week, month to month, it's it's not on Shinnekoq's level. Um and yeah, harping back the conditioning at Shinnakock. I know their superintendent got some award from the USGA uh for kind of an excellent job, basically. And uh yeah, I echo that. It was it was magic.

SPEAKER_01 22:22

Love that, love that, and yeah, it's a great golfing area, isn't it? Well, we touched on the course, we talked about the course, we've spoken about all that had to offer. FPG here at FPG, you know, we we like merch. We like we like making sure logos work. You've you've been boots on the ground, you know, we've seen a couple of the posts about what you've purchased, but for those that may have missed it, talk us through the merch tent, talk me through the the variety on show and then your measured approach to the purchases, please.

SPEAKER_00 22:57

Yeah, yeah, do you know what I'd absolutely love to you, Josh? And um it it it takes up probably more of the US Open Vlog uh video than it should, the the merch tent uh part, but uh you know it was an important piece for me, so I wanted to document it. So I got there at 6am. Uh God bless Jetlag, saw the first guy, saw loads of people warming up, and then first tea went 15 minutes delayed at 10 to 7, but then they had Thursday finishes coming around as well. So got a little bit of golf in. Um, and then I knew the merch tent opened at 7am. And I've worked in a merch tent before back in St Andrews in 15, and I know by the Friday that stock actually starts getting a bit thin on the ground, so I was like, right, I need to break the rope at the golf course and then the merch tent. So 7am, wandered down the hill uh to the to the village um and crested over, and you just see this absolute department store. There's no other way to describe it. It was an absolutely enormous building, and got in there, and I'll be honest, like it kind of took my breath away a little bit. Like it was the most insane golf merchandise thing I've ever seen in my life. Like they have moved it on in the 11 years since I've been in one of these so far, it was so plush, and just the merchandising of the pastel colours and everything was just so good. And oh god, it was so big, and I didn't know where to start. I I actually like I felt like nervous panic energy as I walked in because I was just like, how on earth do I even attempt to take this place down? Um so and I just want to give a shout out. The the logo is sensational. The way they take the club logo and they incorporate it into that US Open badge is is really, really good. The open championship has to get a grip and get on board with that. Like, could you imagine a little Burkdale open kind of piece? Oh, a Royal St. George's open piece. I mean the the opportunities are just right in front of you, except they just use their little open thing and that's it. So anyway, Shinnicok logo is unbelievable, 10 out of 10. Um, probably I'd be very lucky, I'll be very lucky if I ever get a chance to play Shinnicok. We're obviously hoping we dream, but um, this is probably gonna be the chance to get some Shinnicok stash, basically, and be allowed to have it, obviously. Um and so, yeah, started working my way around. Um, a well-documented dream of mine is the short sleeved showerproof jacket, which uh unfortunately uh was not in stock. There was no rain forecast for the week, so they obviously didn't bring in any rain gear. Um, and yeah, just set about kind of dicing it up. There weren't there were the the best seller stuff was already struggling on sizes. You know, I'm a summer comfort small, crown crafted medium, but there are other other brands to Pizza Miller, obviously. JL, big up. Um and so yeah, I started going through it. I'm really trying very hard at the moment to not purchase any more navy polos. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 25:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:59

Um, and so I was looking at greens and I was looking at oranges, um, and I did find myself a little orange polo piece. And then what would you pair the orange with, please?

SPEAKER_01 26:11

Just where was that feeling from? Because tough, a tough colour scheme to bring into play.

SPEAKER_00 26:16

Yeah, do you know what? Um it's it's gonna be a navy hat, navy shorts set, um, just with a kind of stripe of colour through the middle. Um, I did get back, I did open, I had a shower first. I was very kind of grimy after walking around in the dust all day. Had a shower first, of course, and then I did unpack it and get fully clothed that evening just to just to try out some options. So yeah, I'm feeling really good about it actually, and really, really excited to give it its uh first run out. It might actually be a San Valley first run out because it's a really good one.

SPEAKER_01 26:46

That was gonna be my question. That wasn't gonna be my question. I was gonna say, when does when does it get the debut? Do you try it in practice? Do you like warm-up game or do you just put it straight into the tournament?

SPEAKER_00 26:56

I I think I think it probably is a day one San Valley piece, if I'm perfectly honest. Um, and really looking forward to it. So, you know, I just wanna I was just want to starve myself of it a little bit, just get myself really excited for it. Um, so that was the polo I purchased, and I'll be honest, and I and I thought this might be the case. I've got regret. I've got some regret, and I'm gonna tell you about the regret, right? I saw a video after I'd left the grounds that they had done a US Open exclusive. I mean, I suppose it's all exclusive, it's got a Shinnicok badge on it, it says 126th open, but they did a print that specifically was for the US Open. And you know the the shirts that almost look speckled, but actually they have like individual little kind of pieces of art which create the speckling effect. Yeah. Um, and so they had that which had mini US Open trophies, mini Shinnicok logos, mini old Shinnicok logos, uh you know, it had like four or five different things, and it was speckled all over. And this was like, you know, the the marquee piece from Peter Millar. And I saw that, and funnily enough, the guy I'm staying with did go and purchase it over the weekend, so I like got hands-on with it in in the um in the Airbnb as well. And I was just like, uh, I did look online and unfortunately it's already sold out my size. So bit of regret there, would have definitely pulled trigger if I'd have kind of realised what it was at the time. Did you see it in the tent? I would have seen it, but I didn't like see it, if that makes it. I didn't see it for what it was, and if I had, I would have would have got it just out of pure principle because the opportunity was there. Um so yeah, should have got that polo alongside the orange, didn't obviously got a white hat, never have enough white hats, rope hat, really nice. Now, everyone, and this was actually really funny, everyone was getting changed immediately into their gear. I would say there were more people walking around with Shinnokok polos on than not, like, and I'm not talking just Shinnikok, I'm talking the 126th open Shinnokok polo. I was just like, what is going on here? I didn't do that, obviously, because I thought that was bizarre, but um, but I did put the hat on, and then I was kind of walking around, and I said it was really dusty, I could see the kind of dust collecting on my legs, and I was just like, isn't it just ridiculous? Because us as golfers, we're like, we know in in a year's time that this hat won't be that white, and we won't care because it won't be a new hat anymore. But in that initial moment, I was just like, Oh, am I making the right decision here? Because I'm gonna have my pristine new white hat now not being quite so white because it's gonna get a bit dusty. Like, is that the play? But everyone else was wearing their kit. I wanted to wear my kit, and it was just like, ah, so I wore it all day, and to be honest, I think I regret that as well. So um, whilst we're talking about what you wore as well, you know.

SPEAKER_01 29:40

So we've got we've got the cap, we've got the the polo. Just a quick side story to um going back to the the purchasers, and I always find this really interesting. You walk in a golf course, you're viewing an event. Yeah, do you wear golf shoes?

SPEAKER_00 29:59

Good question. Uh no, I didn't. Um if it had been wet, I would have gone to a soft spikes pair of I've got Nike, uh whatever they are, um, which is kind of like ridged on the bottom. I would have worn them because I just haven't got that many pairs of shoes with me. And like I wore my on-trainers and they were perfect, comfortable, got me around. But like, if you know, the the the place would have been a mud bath on the side the minute it rained, and so uh yeah, would have made that decision if if that was the case. But I was I was decked out in golf gear. Like, I mean, if I'd have tucked my shirt, tucked my shirt in, I could have teased straight off uh with the rest of them. So uh I was actually repping the polo yore on that FPG, obviously. Um so yeah, to answer that question, I would have worn golf shoes if it rained. Um and then just to complete the so I've gone polo, I've gone, I've gone hat, obviously, and then like I was looking at tops. I said I kind of had the showerproof jacket dream, which died, and then I was just like, do I need another call? Anyway, but then I got the sign poster, so like every major I go to, I go to Lee Webranski, who's the official poster artist, and he goes in there and signs them and everything like that. So went in. I was concerned he wasn't gonna be there at 7am, which was then gonna be really annoying because I was gonna have to go back and he's probably gonna be busier later. But he was there at 7am, so good on him for getting out of bed. Um, so I worked with him all week at St. Andrews, and he was very kind to me as a kind of 21-year-old. He sent me a load of stuff afterwards and uh shook his hands, told him who I was, and he looked at me like I had never met him before, which I kind of teed myself up to expect, I think. Um, but I reminded him certainly, and he he at least pretended uh to remember, which was great. But uh, we had a good conversation. I said we were an Aaron in the industry, and then I said we mentioned him quite a lot, talking about like you know, these clubs have got to fucking sort out their logos, and he is the man that will certainly could be trusted. Um, and I and I mentioned your trip to Ireland and Ennis Crone and Khan and how I spoke to Gulf Island, and I was just like, Oh, these clubs have got to sort them out. And I actually had my pagoda hat on, and he he was like, Oh, that's a really good one. And I was just like, that is a really good one, and uh yeah, chopped that up for a bit. So that was good, got that signed, so that will uh that will be added to the podcast wall as well. Um, but that then that was it. That was it, and and I you'll again we'll see on the video, I was like 50% delighted with myself that I managed to get out of that tent, spending only $200, 50% full of disappointment and regret, and to be honest, as I've explained it, I I think potentially that's gone up to 65-70%. Like I think I I just you know San Valley's on the horizon, Josh, and I think that's gonna be I've I've seen some San Valley gear out and about um and yeah, I I just I I just decided to play sensible and I'm I'm probably one or two I'm sure.

SPEAKER_01 32:59

Yeah, but you've got to you've got to be disciplined, you've stayed disciplined, you've um you have fun by all means, as we know. There's a disciplined doing it, and you've done that. I think there will be a a distinct lack of discipline across the Sand Valley trip um that will uh materialize in in too much virtue. I think we'll all be on the other side of the coin, wishing that we hadn't quite bought as much. You know, I look at my band in June stuff uh that I bought in 2020, which you know, only six years ago. Can I fit into half of it? No. Because I've decided that now that I'm in my 30s, I don't want that. I'm going upwards. So we've got to re-up it. We've got to re-up it. Refresh.

SPEAKER_00 33:45

Refresh. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 33:46

I might get a couple of sizes of each.

SPEAKER_00 33:48

What I will say is uh what did like softens the disappointment slightly is I got back and um I said a guy here in in the property I'm staying also had gone and he was just like, hey, I don't need this stuff. Do you want it? And so he given me a Shinnicok engraved like Stanley water cup, which is actually really nice. Um, and then he also gave me a white hat. So like I've now that that kind of softened the white hat dust blow. It's not quite as nice, but it says USGA member on the back, which they get as part of it. So I thought that's quite cool. And then he gave me a ball that's marked as well. So like I came away from it. I've got two white hats, one I can put straight into play, and then when that gets a bit nucky, I've got a fresh one to go. I've got a cool water bottle, um, and then you know, I I needed the signposter, got that nice little message saying great to catch up, even though he didn't remember me, um, a polo, and um yeah, I I you know there will there'll be Shinnicok stuff in rotation for the next half decade, and I think that is ultimately the goal when you um go and make those purchases. Yep, absolutely. Don't one thing I will say, whilst the merch tent was just this incredibly sophisticated, created, high-end retail experience, the food just didn't match that at all. Like it was real like cafeteria, uh, cafeteria. Oh god, I can't even say that. I'm not even gonna try and say it again. It was just cafe food, basically, and uh and cost of fortune. So um, which and then I thought to myself, like, what sporting events actually has great food? And I'm not talking hospitality, but I was like, to be honest, outside of like Wimbledon, like where are you actually getting decent grub at sport?

SPEAKER_01 35:30

Yeah, see, Wimbledon was the first thing that sprung to mind. So it's funny you say outside of Wimbledon. Yeah, there isn't a lot outside of hospitality, as you say. I wouldn't really it's hard, you know. I think I think Wentworth does a pretty good job normally. Yeah, haven't been for a few years. It's a good question.

SPEAKER_00 35:55

It is, it is, and I would and yeah, much like you, I I I sat and really had to think about it, and Wimbledon was the only one to to come to mind. Um one other thing I just wanted to kind of mention to you, and obviously he's he's a very good friend of yours. Um it was really, really cool being able to meet up with Truman there. Like it was I really enjoyed it, so they were teeing off about midday on the Friday. Uh I knew that they'd be warming up about obviously an hour before. Walked over to the Putting Green, and the bit the big lad is just standing there with his massive landlord on next to the tall bag, just kind of chatting away to Kimsey, uh warming up, and you know, I give him a little shout over, walks over, have a little patter over the fence. Um, and yeah, like I just it's it is it's it's cool seeing friends in in those kind of spots.

SPEAKER_01 36:46

Yeah, it I've seen it at Wentworth, and that's a completely different environment to a US Open. Um did he have his sunglasses on? I would have expected yeah, that's the just the Truman attire, just the big shades on, just set stood back, letting the work happen in front of him. Uh it's really cool to see, and it's great that um they were there, not the week they were looking for. Um, I think you know Kimsey was on the wrong side of the draw, as were a lot of others. Tough first round, really solid second round. I think he shot even past second round, so you know did what he could to keep keeping the fight, but yeah, not the week they were looking for, but many more to come from that pairing, and um, yeah, stay tuned.

SPEAKER_00 37:32

And what I will say now, I I don't think it it quite famously so live golf as a viewing experience isn't great, it's it's very hard to establish a storyline of the day. Uh, you know, American Express were giving out radios, which kind of helped you s stay with the tournament, but like you you really don't watch a huge amount of golf. Um but genuinely following Kimsey round, he was in a quieter group, so we got great positioning on every every hole. But following him round the full 18 and there being the storyline of like, can he make the cut? And he I think he got to it was definitely two under, he might have even got to three under on the round at one point, which got him on onto the cut line through about 12. I'm trying to think, there was there's a hole he was in the middle of the fairway, and he hit a wedge over the green and then ended up making a bogey, and that kind of just like stifled his momentum. But for like two-thirds of the round, we were like, 'Kimsy's gonna make the cut on the number here,' and I would really, really recommend that to someone. Uh, find someone in a quieter group, just even if you don't really know who they are, just commit to them, just decide that you're the super fan today, and follow someone around who is on the cut, trying to make the cut. And without a doubt, obviously very cool seeing Truman on the on the uh warming up, etc. But walking around with Truman, watching Kimsey try and make a cut at a major with him having it going and it being a real possibility for the majority of the round was by far the best live golfing experience I've had.

SPEAKER_01 39:05

Yeah, definitely. You get to see more, you you can also get an appreciation of just how good all of these guys are. You don't have to watch the leaders to see that they are a joke, they are ridiculous golfers, and half of them are going home. Like it's yeah, I couldn't echo that more. You see more, you know, you you either do that or you plonk yourself watching one spot that maybe has a par three green and a par four t-shot, but you see a lot less golf, you see more players, but you see a lot less golf, and it's about what you want. I'm in your camp, always nice to watch follow a group round and maybe catch a few strays on other tees or other areas as you're meeting around.

SPEAKER_00 39:45

Absolutely, and yeah, that's what we did. We and I said we saw the McElroy group uh as we were going round, but was good. I mean, Kimsey plays so well, he really liked two, but I think he had a three putt, and then he said he missed that wedge, and that was basically it. Hardly missed a fairway all day. Like these guys are really that good. Um, but no, very cool experience to summarize. Uh you know, when it lined up for me to go, I had to do it, and I'm so glad I did. Like, I literally got back home after doing 12 hours on the ground and was just like that was every you know, I don't I don't need much more petrol on the golf fire, but like the petrol was poured for sure.

SPEAKER_01 40:24

Yeah, and um speaking of petrol on the golfing on the golfing fire, um it helps when the game comes back, it can actually see fair ways and good golf again. So the petrol has been poured on both our fires in different ways. Very good, very good.

SPEAKER_00 40:42

Alright, anything more before we wrap this up?

SPEAKER_01 40:47

Only one quick thought, and it's that we sit here at the end of June with three majors down, and not a whole load of really top class golf to watch, and I think that's a shame, and that's my parting thought, and it comes back to the PGA should be in August, Glory's last shot.

SPEAKER_00 41:08

Yeah, I agree with you, especially when it's not a Ryder Cup yeah, it's uh feels a bit thin on the ground, doesn't it? But hey, let's let's enjoy it whilst we can. We've got a Burkdale open ahead of us, uh, which should be a really, really good one. Um, yeah, I think we cross our fingers for a slightly better golf tournament than maybe uh from a leaderboard perspective, but I'm sure Burkdale will be looking awesome as well. So uh yeah, looking forward to that. Appreciate you jumping on. Good chop up, as I said. Shinncock, what a venue, what a venue, and Wyndham Clark now two time major winner. Uh you're off to Spain next week, so the next time you hear from us will probably be that chop up, I would imagine. And then we've also got some mid year reviews to do. Uh, but yeah, as ever, we are full program go off Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. And Joshi, I will see you in the next one. Catch you soon.