We love it when we can do the pod from a golf club, and today we're in Melbourne's sandbelt at the stunning Southern Golf Club to celebrate the unveiling of a statue of the legendary Bob Shearer. It looks incredible, we've put some pics on our socials. Nick and Mark have a couple of cracking stories about Bob, including one where Victoria Golf Course was famously deemed 'unplayable' in Round 1 of the 2002 Australian Open with Bob, Mark and Richard Ball. Mark explains what happens to them all on ...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 66
We always love getting voicemails, some we play on the show, some we pop in the feed here. Lots of comments on the Coffs Harbour Golf Club decision regarding young Eden and the rules around her playing. Ed from Adelaide, who is a member at The Grange had an opinion he wanted to share. If you want to leave a message for us - it's easy, head to our website here on your mobile or computer, hit the record button, tell us who you are, where you're from, where you play your golf, and leave your messag...
Jun 03, 2024•1 min
A fun bonus pod today with Aussie tennis superstar Todd Woodbridge, who is also a veeeery handy golfer. Nick O'Hern & Mark Allen speak Todd about his commentary and how he navigates the personalities of guys like John McEnroe and Jim Courier. He tells us why he loved doubles so much. How did Todd go from tennis commentator to game show host? And why does he feel that commentating has helped him prepare for hosting a game show. Todd talks through the audition process when he got the gig on Ti...
May 29, 2024•30 min
Another big episode of Talk Birdie To Me today, and we start by discussing the awful news from the weekend at Colonial with the passing of Grayson Murray. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and we hope they navigate through this terrible period with all the support they'll need. If you're struggling or need someone to talk to, you don't have to go it alone. Lifeline provide 24-hour crisis counselling on 13 11 14, and Beyond Blue can help if you or a loved one need help on 1300 22 46 3...
May 28, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 65
We love to receive your voicemails, some are questions for Nick and Mark, others are you simply leaving a comment or a story. So, from time to time, we'll pop a voicemail in the Talk Birdie To Me podcast feed. Today, Damian from Melbourne has called in regarding the Top 100 discussion, he's played Cape Wickham at the weekend and has some thoughts. If you want to leave a message for us - it's easy, head to our website here on your mobile or computer, hit the record button, tell us who you are, wh...
May 26, 2024•2 min
A fantastic bonus episode today with one of the world's best golf coaches, who just happens to be an Aussie. Steve Bann has coached a number of superstars in world golf: Ian Baker-Finch, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, K. J. Choi among others and has an enviable record of success. And he's a pretty handy player as well! Nick and Mark chat with Steve about how he got into golf, despite his desire to be a rock star. He tells us about Peter Thomson and changing Ian Baker-Finch's swing, and what it ...
May 23, 2024•30 min
It's a huge episode this week, so much to unpack from Valhalla. And we kick it off with 'jail confessions'. Have Nick or Mark been to prison? One has, and one nearly did. We hear the stories of what happened at the start of the pod. But then onto Scottie Scheffler. Not often you see a golf pro in prison midway through a tournament - in fact it is probably the first time ever! Nick and Mark discuss what happened and how it impacted his tournament. But of course, whilst the Scheffler sideshow was ...
May 21, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 64
After Nick O'Hern returned from playing Tara Iti and Te Arai in New Zealand a couple of weeks ago, making Mark Allen extremely envious, we decided we needed to find out more about this incredible place. And who better to talk to than one of the founders of, and head honchos at, the courses, Jim Rohrstaff. Jim talks to us about how they built the courses, and the story of how they found the land parcel is a ripper. He tells us about the design, and some of the challenges they worked through, and ...
May 15, 2024•31 min
This week, Nick and Mark are flying solo, every chance this could go pear-shaped. No time to worry about that, cos Mark has info on the Golf Digest Top 100 that he wasn't aware of last week, and he feels sheds further light on the rankings. If you haven't heard our bonus pod with the head honcho of the Top 100, Steve Keipert, worth checking out. Mark asks Nick to outline if he were doing what Steve does, what parameters would he use. Nick agrees with Steve that a criteria is important, and he ta...
May 15, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 63
A couple of weeks ago Golf Digest released their Top 100 Golf Courses in Australia list, and Royal Melbourne West was knocked off the #1 perch by Cape Wickham in Tassie. It created plenty of talk. Some people felt it was well deserved by Cape Wickham, others felt that Royal Melbourne should have retained the top spot. If you've not seen the list, you can find it here . One of the people in the latter category was Mark Allen who, on last weeks Talk Birdie To Me (Ep61) made his feelings abundantly...
May 08, 2024•30 min
Big week at Talk Birdie To Me HQ, plenty to discuss, and Mark is excited to be playing one of Nick's fave courses this week, Cathedral. We chat Ripper GC's LIV win in Singapore, second in a row for the Aussies. Hopeless last year, on fire this year, says Nick. The hopeless team now in LIV is the Majesticks. Nick and Mark discuss playing Sentosa - water always a factor. And we kick around how many majors Brooks Koepka will end up winning. Currently on 5, Nick & Mark reckon by the end of his c...
May 07, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 62
Hold everything. Mark has come in worked up, he is not happy that Cape Wickham has been named the #1 golf course in Australia by Australian Golf Digest, and says that they have clearly got it wrong. Mark says that the list (see it here ) has now lost all credibility and whilst he loves Cape Wickham, it is not the #1 course by a long shot. Mark believes the list should be immediately changed as it is clearly flawed. Love your thoughts. LIV Adelaide last weekend was huge. Massive crowds, a fantast...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 61
A ripping bonus pod today! Former World #16 Nick O'Hern and former Tour Pro Mark Allen chat with US Pro Golfer Hannah Gregg, who has just been in Australia playing a couple of tournaments. Hannah shares her views on our courses, in particular the famous Sandbelt and names her favourite Aussie course. We were aware of one run in with a snake while Hannah was here, but she shares a story about a second snake incident. Perhaps she was fortunate to get back to the US alive ! Whilst in Australia, Han...
Apr 29, 2024•23 min
Mark is excited about how many people he is seeing on golf courses and driving ranges at the moment, saying interest in golf feels to be at an all-time high, Nick agrees. The carpark at Australian Golf HQ is chockers. And even though TV ratings are down Nick and Mark discuss if that may be due to people watching on smartphones...there'll be people way smarter than us who can figure that stuff out. Fine wins in a row for Nelly Korda. Nick says it's 'crazy' how good Nelly is. And Scheffler on fire...
Apr 23, 2024•59 min•Season 2Ep. 60
We love to receive your voicemails, some are questions for Nick and Mark, others are you simply leaving a comment or a story. So, from time to time, we'll pop a voicemail in the Talk Birdie To Me podcast feed. Today, we've got a voicemail from Scott Mitchell in Brisbane who left a message about not aiming for the pin, putting Nick's course management advice from last weeks episode into his game at the weekend. How'd it go? Well Scott tells us. If you missed Nick's advice, it is in Episode 59, an...
Apr 22, 2024•1 min
What a weekend in Augusta. Lots to unpack, and Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen whilst tired, are ready for a debrief on The Masters. Scottie Scheffler, a huge victory, with exceptional game management according to Nick. And his putting was a lot better, although still room to improve, which Nick and Mark call 'scary'. Last week Mark said, of the notable players, he felt Scheffler couldn't win. We've filed last weeks pod under 'episodes that won't age well'. However, he did pick Aberg to do well, and ...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 59
We're live here on Saturday arvo Australian time for a bonus US Masters pod 'after the cut'. Not from Australian Golf Headquarters, but we've hooked up the trusty old Zoom and got all high tech! Nick and Mark discuss The Masters so far. The wind has made it tough, very tough to play but Nick says 'a joy to watch'. Mark said that on day 1 Bryson DeChambeau played some of the most special golf he's seen. However, he has done a reverse on his pre-Masters prediction, and Mark now believes that Schef...
Apr 13, 2024•24 min
Being Masters week, we have a fantastic bonus pod this week. The pod is in in two parts. Firstly, pod listener Mitch from Sydney wrote in and asked how you get into caddying, and make a career of it. We thought, who better to ask than Simon Clarke, who has been a caddie on the pro tour for 30+ years and is currently in Augusta caddying for Aussie Jasper Stubbs who is playing his first US Masters this week. Clarkey talks us through his career, how it started, who he has worked with and what he lo...
Apr 10, 2024•40 min
Masters week, one of the most exciting weeks in world golf! Nick and Mark loved seeing some of the pictures and videos of Drive, Chip and Putt Day at Augusta at the weekend, and were impressed with some of the young ones, but amazed at the composure of the kids playing in front of some icons of the game. But back to the Masters. Nick believes that there is nothing like Masters week, the energy, the feel, the media focus, he loves it, as does Mark. And Mark asks Nick how he felt driving down Magn...
Apr 09, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 58
Okay we always say it, but it's always the case - another big week in golf, and Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen will cover it all. Nick is at Cathedral in Victoria today on the dodgiest wifi connection we've ever heard, and Mark is at Australian Golf Headquarters in Melbourne on a fantastic connection. But no time for that......in breaking news, Mark has heard, from someone in the know, in the know, that a decision on where the 2024 Australian Open will be held is imminent, and he reveals the inside ...
Apr 03, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 57
A fantastic bonus episode of Talk Birdie To Me today. Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen have a chat with the legendary Peter 'Chook' Fowler about his career, life, and specifically his short game tips and experiences. It's a wonderful listen with plenty to be learnt from an icon of the game. If you enjoy it, we'd love it you share the episode around with anyone else you think may find it interesting, sharing like that really helps us out ! We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your l...
Mar 27, 2024•28 min
Hatgate. The Talk Birdie To Me WhatsApp group has been going crazy this week. Mark is grumpy about the lack of a Tara Iti hat, Nick is unapologetic that he should not be regarded as a hat courier for people. How does it all end? We find out on the pod. The elephant, or hat, in the room needs to be discussed before we get to any golf chat. After that convo, we get to the golf. Mark has had a sneak peak at the new Commonwealth course, we've put some pics on socials, he loves it and can't wait to p...
Mar 26, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 56
Today the gang is back together. Nick is back from Tara Iti and Te Arai in New Zealand and Mark is back from The National at Cape Schanck. And Mark is keen to find out all about Nick's experience on the New Zealand courses. Did they live up to expectations? Or did they disappoint? Nick talks us through it. He describes Tara Iti as tough, fiery and brilliant, and reckons Te Arai has nailed the experience for golfers, and for families. He explains why on the pod. This inspires Mark's Top 5 today, ...
Mar 19, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 55
We're doing Talk Birdie To Me internationally this week, well in part anyway. Nick O'Hern is at Tara Iti and Te Arai in New Zealand, and Mark Allen is at Australian Golf Headquarters in Melbourne. Mark is ever so slightly jealous of Nick being at Tara Iti as he's not played it and wants to! Nick is playing Tara Iti this week, but over the last few days has played the north and south courses of Te Arai, and he discusses the two courses and which is harder. Mark asks Nick if, as in the US and NZ, ...
Mar 13, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 54
We've hit the road this week for Talk Birdie To Me, and we're coming live from The National Golf Club at beautiful Cape Schanck in Victoria. Nick and Mark are excited to discuss Hannah Green's fantastic performance at the weekend, where she scored birdies on the final 3 holes to win in Singapore. Brilliant. Birdie, birdie birdie! Nick and Mark both love what Hannah has achieved over the past couple of years, although Nick is annoyed with her because he feels she is now the best golfer to come ou...
Mar 06, 2024•59 min•Season 2Ep. 53
We've been getting plenty of voicemails from Talk Birdie To Me listeners, some are questions for Nick and Mark, others are you simply leaving a comment or a story. As much as we'd love to play them all on the show, if we did the podcast would go for 2-hours - and nobody wants that! So, from time to time, we'll pop a voicemail in the Talk Birdie To Me podcast feed. If you want to leave a message for us - it is very simple, just head to our website here on your mobile or computer, hit the record b...
Mar 03, 2024•1 min
Something a little different today. First some background. When Mark Allen isn't chatting golf with Nick O'Hern on the Talk Birdie To Me podcast, often you'll find him having fun with his great mate David 'The Ox' Schwarz over at the Couple of Blokes podcast here . This week, on the Couple of Blokes pod, Marko tells a never before publicly told story about some exceptionally bad behaviour during the 1998 Presidents Cup in Melbourne. Massive names were involved in this particular Presidents Cup: ...
Feb 28, 2024•4 min
Mark Allen, you might recall, last week promised to shoot a 65 in the Portarlington Pro-Am. As you'll know if you follow our socials he did not in fact shoot 65. We discuss. That said, both Nick and Mark had a lot of fun, and the hits on the link following the players scores were at record levels - naturally Mark takes credit for that. Nick explains why he thought at one point he was going to be DQ'd. Nick and Mark discuss Charlie Woods attempt to qualify for his first tournament, and that whils...
Feb 27, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 52
A ripping bonus pod this week. Following an email from Talk Birdie To Me listener Ross asking how often he should be upgrading his clubs, Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen decided to go to the best in the business - Matt Austin from PING - to give us his perspective. You might expect someone in the business of fitting and selling clubs to say upgrade often, but Matt didn't do that, he gave us some fantastic rationale for how often you need to, and when you might need to. Talk Birdie To Me. New episodes...
Feb 21, 2024•9 min
This weeks show kicks off with a prediction from Mark Allen. He and Nick are playing today (Tuesday 20th February) in the Portarlington Pro-Am in Victoria, and he is determined to shoot 65. Nick is hoping to shoot par given he is out of practise following his recent injury. Nick and Mark discuss 'ambush marketing' where players were getting paid cash to wear hats in tournaments, and they each tell a couple of fun stories about how it worked. Riviera: Mark watched Tiger closely and was impressed ...
Feb 20, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 51
