Both Sides of Par: The Golf Podcast

Colin and Ross sit down with Scott Fawcett, the brain behind the DECADE Course Management System and the man who caddied for a then unknown Will Zalatoris when he won the Texas Amateur and the US Junior back in 2014. Scott has worked in some capacity with roughly a third of the PGA Tour, holds three quantitative degrees, and once played pro golf himself, which is how he discovered the unromantic but inconvenient truth that the lads at the very top are not just better ball strikers, they are also far better thinkers. He brings all of that to a conversation pitched squarely at the two sides of the par.Things kick off in the most heretical place possible: putting. Scott makes the case that leaving some putts short from fifteen feet and beyond is not a sin, it is maths, and that speed control alone fixes the vast majority of bad putting rounds. From there the conversation opens out into the full DECADE philosophy. Why the flag is the biggest distraction in golf, why bogey avoidance drives lower scores far more than chasing birdies (the fractional bogey idea alone is worth the price of admission), how Ross genuinely saved shots by swapping driver for a five wood off one tee at his home course, and how big your shot pattern actually is when you are honest about it, even on a Tour pro's sand wedge.The chat rounds out with strategy from the trees (Scott's lovely framing of adversity versus opportunity), why nearly every Tour player now owns one shape off the tee rather than working it both ways, and the mental side of all of this, including Scott's confession that he used to be the worst hothead in professional golf. He finishes with his single biggest tip for the twenty plus handicap brigade, and it is simpler than you would expect.Episode Highlights🟢 Scott explains the maths of capture size and why hitting a putt two feet past the hole actually makes the cup 55% smaller, with stories from his Friday wolf game to back it up🟢 The two foot circle drill: Scott's go to speed control practice routine from 20 to 30 feet, and the college player who fixed his three putt problem in a fortnight by doing nothing else🟢 The Will Zalatoris hole in one at the US Open, where Scott was less interested in the shot itself and more interested in the fact that the flag was not Will's target. Seven yards right was🟢 The fractional bogey theory: why a double is two and a half times worse than a bogey, not twice as bad, and why Scottie Scheffler's run of wins came mostly from bogey avoidance rather than extra birdies🟢 Ross's real world example of swapping driver for a five wood off the back tee on a 340 yard par four at his home course, going from half a shot above par to making pars on average🟢 Scott's one tip for higher handicappers in the closing minutes: have a very clear, visualised intention on every single shot, and be willing to say it out loudGear & Resources Mentioned🟢 Scott Fawcett's DECADE Course Management System: https://decade.golf🟢 DECADE Golf on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decade_golf🟢 The DECADE app (available in the App Store)🟢 DECADE Breaking 90, Scott's upcoming app aimed at 15 to 25 handicappers🟢 Will Zalatoris, PGA Tour player and Scott's original guinea pig back in 2014🟢 Mark Broadie's book Every Shot Counts, the foundational text on Strokes Gained🟢 Raymond Floyd's book The Art of Scoring🟢 Lou Stagner, Scott's go to source for amateur golf dataChapter List00:00 Welcome and intro to the show00:34 Scott Fawcett joins Colin and Ross01:25 Why leaving putts short isn't a sin04:26 The college putting problem and capture size07:18 The two foot circle drill for speed control11:09 Cam Smith and the mindset of not trying to make putts12:48 What DECADE actually stands for16:14 The cardiologist analogy: is DECADE only for elites?20:19 Course management for the mid 20s handicap20:51 Why the flag is the biggest distraction in golf25:07 Ross swaps driver for a five wood and saves shots26:28 The fractional bogey theory31:42 Should different handicaps approach the same pin differently?34:33 Shot patterns and the 20 yard circle37:39 Owning one shape off the tee, and the Rory question43:06 Strategy in the trees: adversity or opportunity49:01 The mental side of course management55:18 Scott's one tip for the higher handicapper58:48 Where to find Scott online

Colin and Ross are back with a spring-in-the-air episode that finds both of them actually getting outside for a change (Scotland hitting double figures apparently counts as tropical). Colin, flying the flag for the high handicappers, reports back on the swing drills he's been grinding through at home, specifically the towel-under-the-armpits connection drill and the now-infamous chair-behind-the-backside drill to stop his Elvis-style hip thrust. Spoiler: both feel deeply, profoundly weird, but Ross talks him through why forcing the extreme is actually the point. Colin is also off to Portugal for his annual British Invitational, sporting a freshly chopped handicap of 21, and he's wrestling with the classic dilemma of whether to bring his half-built new swing on holiday or just leave it in the suitcase.Ross then walks through his first medal of the year, played in 25mph winds on firm greens, where he managed level par by fully committing to his pre-shot routine and, more importantly, his new Claude Harmon-inspired par 5 strategy. Three-wood off every par 5 with water, including a 605-yarder, and somehow he got inside 100 yards for his third shot every single time without a driver in hand. He breaks down the whole thing hole by hole, along with his full pre-shot routine (diaphragm breathing and all) for Colin to nick. There's also a proper dive into travel bags for flying with clubs, the new Cleveland wedges Ross is waiting on, and a rundown of pairs comps they're eyeing up around Dumfries and Galloway, Southerness, and the brilliant-sounding Spey Bay summer solstice event where you can tee off at 4am.The back half is pure Masters chat. Both lads watched most of it, loved the finish, and get into Rory's near-collapse, Justin Rose's missing intensity compared to last year, the mixed feelings about Cam Young and Scheffler's robotic energy, and Shane Lowry's hole-in-one that Sky replayed roughly every twenty minutes. They close out with the Colville Park open and Colin getting very excited about the new season of Full Swing landing the next day.Episode Highlights🟢 Why the chair-behind-the-bum drill feels like being in a straight jacket, and why Ross reckons that's exactly the point when you're trying to kill a swing fault🟢 Ross's full par 5 masterclass, including why three-wood off a 605-yard hole left him wedging in for his third shot (and how driver had been costing him for years on the same hole)🟢 A proper step-by-step walkthrough of Ross's pre-shot routine, from the practice swing behind the ball through the diaphragm breathing to the open-shoulder alignment trick🟢 The travel bag rabbit hole, hard cases versus soft cases versus the hybrid Amazon special Colin took a punt on for his Portugal trip🟢 Masters post-mortem, including the Cam Young emotionless debate, why Justin Rose looked flat compared to last year, and Shane Lowry's 7th at Pebble and 17th at Sawgrass hole-in-one collectionGear & Resources Mentioned🟢 Claude Harmon's podcast, referenced for his par 5 strategy advice about removing stress and big numbers, available at most podcast platforms: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/son-of-a-butch-with-claude-harmon/id1561803455🟢 Cleveland Golf wedges, which Ross has on order https://www.clevelandgolf.com🟢 Southerness Golf Club in Dumfries and Galloway, former Open qualifying venue https://www.southernessgolfclub.com🟢 Spey Bay Golf Club and their summer solstice exhibition weekend on June 21st, with tickets from £180 to £300 https://www.speybaygolfclub.com🟢 Royal Dornoch (the Struie course), mentioned from a previous trip https://royaldornoch.com🟢 Gatehouse, Kirkcudbright, and Dalbeattie courses in the Dumfries and Galloway area🟢 Full Swing on Netflix, new season landing the day after recording🟢 The towel-under-the-armpits drill for swing connection and the chair-behind-the-backside drill for early extension🟢 Both Sides of Par website and email https://bothpar.com and hello@bothpar.comWeekly Competitions🟢 Colville Park Golf Club Open, Motherwell, Sunday 2nd August. A James Braid designed course with a tough opening stretch including a 200-yard par 3 and a couple of 400-yarders. 28 handicap limit, £15 per person. Format not specified on the show, contact the club for details https://www.colvilleparkgolfclub.comChapter List00:00 Intro and who's actually the high handicapper01:30 Swing drill update, towels, gloves and the chair behind the bum07:30 Portugal trip prep and the British Invitational11:45 Ross's first medal of the year in 25mph winds14:00 Par 5 strategy, three-wood everywhere and removing the stress20:30 Pre-shot routine broken down step by step25:30 Indoor sims, Inverness update and winter practice27:30 Travel bags for flying with clubs30:45 Cleveland wedges incoming31:30 Planning pairs comps, Dumfries & Galloway and Spey Bay solstice35:30 Masters recap, Rory, Rose and the Saturday wobble that never came40:00 Cam Young, Scheffler and the emotionless player debate42:00 Shane Lowry's hole-in-one collection44:00 Colville Park weekly open45:15 Full Swing season drop and sign off

Colin and Ross are back with a practice-heavy episode that covers everything from AI assisted swing diagnosis to the ongoing plague of slow play in modern golf. Colin kicks things off by sharing his weekend project of rigging up a massive monitor in his shed so he can actually see his launch monitor data while hitting balls. He then walks through the results of feeding all his swing data into Claude AI and getting back a proper diagnosis. Turns out he's been steepening the club halfway back and recovering with some Elvis style hip thrusts, which explains the two way miss pattern that's been haunting him. Ross plays the role of curious coach throughout, asking all the right questions about what goes wrong and how it shows up on the course.Ross shares his own progress with the drills from Scott Borman, including a hilarious moment where he realised he'd been aiming 50 yards right of the green after changing his foot position. Colin has a matching story about training himself to aim 30 yards right because of a fence post on his practice mat, proving that even with all the tech in the world, the basics will humble you every time. The lads then get into a proper rant about slow play on the PGA Tour after Matt Fitzpatrick called out his playing partners, which spirals nicely into how recreational golf has slowed from three hours 45 to four and a half hours and what that's doing to club culture.They wrap up with Ross teasing next week's topic on proper pre round warm up routines involving medicine balls and Therabands, plus a weekly competition recommendation that's a lot easier on the wallet than the £600 Dornoch entry they mentioned off camera.Episode Highlights🟢 Colin's DIY outdoor practice setup using a spare monitor, extension cables, and a shed, giving him full launch monitor visibility without dragging a laptop outside every time🟢 A complete breakdown of early extension, including how to spot it in your own swing using nothing more than a chair or an alignment stick behind your backside🟢 Chris Ryan's pitching wedge heel drill that gives you an instant visual cue when you're thrusting forward in the downswing🟢 Ross's back to basics alignment fix after realising he was aiming 50 yards right of the flag despite all his recent coaching work🟢 A proper discussion on slow play, Matt Fitzpatrick calling out his playing partners, and how etiquette habits like bag placement can save you 10 minutes a roundGear & Resources Mentioned🟢 GS Pro launch monitor software - https://gsprogolf.com🟢 Swing Coach app for swing analysis and numerical scoring of swing faults - https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/swing-coach-golf/id6739074629🟢 Claude AI - used by Colin as a personal golf coach project - https://claude.ai🟢 Chris Ryan Golf on YouTube - source of the pitching wedge heel drill - https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisRyanGolf🟢 Scott Borman - Ross's coach providing ongoing lesson drills🟢 Trackman Range and Trackman app - https://www.trackman.com🟢 Medicine ball and Therabands for pre round warm up routines🟢 Matt Fitzpatrick's Valspar Championship win and Players Championship interview on slow play🟢 Full Swing on Netflix - where Colin first got to know Matt Fitzpatrick🟢 Royal Birkdale - referenced for their on course pace of play clock systemWeekly Competitions🟢 Burntisland Golf Club Gents Open🟢 Location: Burntisland, Fife, Scotland🟢 Date: 1st August🟢 Format: Gents Open with a handicap limit of 28🟢 Cost: £20 entry, described as roughly 50% off the standard green feeChapter List00:00 Welcome and cold snap golf frustrations01:28 Colin's outdoor monitor and launch monitor setup03:33 Feeding swing data into Claude AI for a full diagnosis04:22 The steep backswing and early extension explained06:30 Breaking down the two way miss08:46 Connected takeaway drills with towels and gloves11:14 Feet together swings12:04 The chair and alignment stick drill for hip thrust14:00 Chris Ryan's pitching wedge heel drill18:00 Setting a two month practice plan and measuring progress20:15 Ross's speed training update with Scott Borman24:37 Teasing next week's pre round warm up topic26:24 Matt Fitzpatrick wins and calls out slow play on the PGA Tour30:01 How slow play is killing club culture35:15 Ready golf, etiquette, and bag placement habits38:24 Ross's 50 yard alignment disaster41:01 Colin's fence post aiming story43:14 Weekly competition: Burntisland Gents Open

In this episode of Both Sides of Par, Ross takes Colin behind the scenes of a visit to the European headquarters of Srixon. From walking into a building covered in a giant image of Shane Lowry to seeing signed tour bags from Hideki Matsuyama, the experience felt like a golfer’s version of Willy Wonka’s factory.Ross shares what actually happens inside a professional custom-fitting facility: how shafts, grips, and club heads are selected, how swing characteristics affect the build, and how thousands of custom orders from across Europe are assembled every week. The conversation dives into the surprising amount of detail that goes into matching a golf club to a player’s swing, from shaft stiffness and length to lie angles and materials.If you’ve ever wondered what happens after a club fitting—or how tour-level equipment gets built—this episode pulls back the curtain on the process and the people behind it.

In this episode of Both Sides of Par, Colin and Ross tackle the realities of winter golf in the UK - relentless rain, course closures, and why some layouts cope far better than others.They dive into the often-overlooked science of golf course drainage, sharing insights from a greenkeeper’s perspective and exploring why what’s beneath your feet matters more than most golfers realise.Plus, they get into this week’s practice focus, discussing how everyday golfers can make meaningful improvements even when the weather (and the course conditions) aren’t playing ball.Whether you’re battling clay-based fairways or lucky enough to play on free-draining sand, this episode is all about understanding the game beyond the scorecard - and finding ways to keep progressing, whatever your handicap.

Let us know what you want from the show! Email us at hello@bothpar.com, as tell us:What parts do you want more of?What do you want less of?What else could we cover that would make the show unmissable for you?Thanks!Colin and Ross kick off with another cracking competition find – a three-person team event at Cleveland Golf Club in Yorkshire that has Colin planning a road trip from Newcastle to Edinburgh. Both lads are sporting their new Druids ambassador gear and share first impressions (spoiler: impressed, especially for the price). Colin finally retired his 20-year-old Cleveland Launcher after his son broke it, and a trip to the local shop turned into a TaylorMade Stealth purchase – the numbers were just too good to ignore, even if it didn't feel quite as sweet as the QI 35. Ross, meanwhile, is fully committed to Ping life and loving his G430 LST driver after some early teething issues.The practice chat is gold this week. Ross put Episode 4's mental game advice into real action during a one-under round, proving that staying calm mid-wobble actually works. Colin discovered through impact stickers that he's been addressing his driver wrong for years – a simple six-inch step back fixed his heel strikes entirely. Ross talks speed training progress (174 ball speed, not bad), and they wrap up chatting about watching golf on TV. Full Swing gets a strong recommendation if you haven't seen it yet.Episode Highlights🟢 Colin tests two drivers in-store and goes with feel vs numbers – the TaylorMade Stealth wins despite not feeling as "sweet" because it added 20 yards🟢 Ross applies the mental game strategies from Episode 4 during a real round and shoots one under, proving the mindset work actually pays off🟢 Impact stickers reveal Colin's been hitting off the heel for years – a simple setup change fixes it instantly🟢 Both hosts unbox their Druids ambassador packs and share honest first impressions on quality vs price🟢 Speed training update: Ross is back up to 174 ball speed and 118.5 club head speed after some winter rustGear & Resources Mentioned🟢 Cleveland Golf Club, Yorkshire – the only true natural links in Yorkshire, bookable online https://www.clevelandgolfclub.co.uk🟢 Happy Golf – competition search tool Ross used to find the three-person event https://www.happygolf.co.uk🟢 Druids Golf – affordable golf clothing brand, ambassador packs available https://www.druidsgolf.com🟢 TaylorMade Stealth Driver – Colin's new driver purchase with adjustable weight and loft🟢 TaylorMade QI 35 Driver – tested but not purchased, very forgiving feel🟢 Ping G430 LST Driver – Ross's current driver choice🟢 Ping G425 3-Wood – Ross's fairway wood, highly recommended🟢 Inverness Golf Centre – local shop with Trackman fitting bay🟢 How Did I Do – online booking system used by many UK golf clubs https://www.howdidido.com🟢 Impact Stickers – strike location training aid for club faces🟢 Trackman – launch monitor used for fitting and speed training🟢 Therabands – resistance bands for golf warm-up and flexibility🟢 Full Swing (Netflix) – golf documentary series, highly recommended https://www.netflix.com/title/81483353🟢 Golfing Gray YouTube Channel – Colin's channel with Druids unboxing video coming soonWeekly Competitions🟢 Cleveland Golf Club – Redcar, YorkshireThe only true natural links course in Yorkshire, right on the waterfront. Ross found this three-person team event perfect for Colin's family golf trip with his dad and brother.Format: Three-person team eventCost: £22 per visitorBooking: Online via How Did I Do through the club websiteAccess: Two train changes from Inverness, one change from most mainline stations. Airbnb options available nearby including beachfront accommodation.Chapter List00:00 Welcome to Both Sides of Par00:50 Competition Challenge: Finding a Three-Person Team Event03:30 Planning a Golf Road Trip: Cleveland to Edinburgh05:25 Druids Ambassador Pack Unboxing and First Impressions10:50 Colin's Driver Upgrade: TaylorMade Stealth vs QI 3518:15 Ross's Ping G430 LST Driver Update21:50 Mental Game Breakthrough: Staying Calm Mid-Round27:45 Tiger Woods' "Box" Technique for Managing Emotions30:00 Putting Practice Games and Scoring Systems31:05 Impact Stickers: Finding Your Strike Pattern35:45 Speed Training Progress and Trackman Sessions39:40 Watching Golf on TV: What's Worth Your Time43:15 Full Swing Netflix Documentary Recommendation45:30 The PGA vs LIV Discussion50:40 Listener Feedback Request and Outro

Let us know what you want from the show! Email us at hello@bothpar.com, as tell us:What parts do you want more of?What do you want less of?What else could we cover that would make the show unmissable for you?Thanks!Ross and Colin check in on their golf weeks, with Ross bringing tales of solid scoring at his home course Wokefield—carding a couple under and one under par despite a few mid-round wobbles. Meanwhile, Colin admits to a complete golf drought this week, not even picking up a club, which naturally leads into a candid conversation about the eternal struggle of building practice into daily routines when motivation runs low.The lads dig into winter golf realities, from muddy lies and temporary tees to the ongoing debate about whether courses down south use mats on fairways (spoiler: they mostly don't need to). Ross shares his latest putting practice revelations, including a structured drill he's borrowed from the internet that's transformed his green-reading approach. They also tackle the mysteries of the World Handicap System—breaking down course ratings, slope, and why your handicap behaves differently on easier versus tougher tracks.The episode wraps with Ross presenting two absolute belters for competition lovers: Brora Golf Club's five-day open in August and Tain Golf Week's various formats. The conversation touches on everything from Ross's mental approach to scoring rounds, to Colin's quest for better practice habits, to whether five consecutive days of golf would leave you knackered or energized.Episode Highlights🟢 Ross shoots two under par at Wokefield and reveals his secret to not letting mid-round mistakes derail the score—finishing with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18🟢 Colin opens up about struggling to build golf practice into his routine and the conversation explores practical approaches to habit-building when motivation is lacking🟢 Deep breakdown of how the World Handicap System actually works—course rating, slope index, and why your handicap changes based on the difficulty of the course you're playing🟢 Ross shares a structured putting practice drill he found online that combines distance control, green reading, and scoring to create meaningful practice sessions🟢 The reality of playing five consecutive days of golf during competitions and whether it's exhausting or exhilarating (Ross has done it and shares his experience)Gear & Resources Mentioned🟢 Wokefield Golf Club, Reading (Ross's home course)🟢 broragolfclub.co.uk (Brora Golf Club website for five-day open competition)🟢 tain-golfclub.co.uk (Tain Golf Club website for golf week competitions)🟢 World Handicap System (WHS) resources for understanding course rating and slope🟢 Royal Dornoch Golf Club (mentioned in context of Ross's previous five-day golf trip)🟢 Lanark Golf Course (played on Ross's trip to Scotland)🟢 Brora Bridge and Castle Highland courses (mentioned from Ross's Scotland trip)Weekly Competitions🟢 Brora Golf Club Five Day OpenLocation: Brora, ScotlandDate: August 3-7Format: Five-day competition with match play stages and guaranteed rounds even if knocked outCost: £190 for visitors🟢 Tain Golf WeekLocation: Tain, ScotlandDates: Available on websiteFormat Options: Four-day competition (£90), Ladies two-day (£25 per person)Website: tain-golfclub.co.ukChapter List00:00 Intro and Weekly Golf Recap03:00 Ross's Scoring Rounds at Wokefield08:00 Winter Golf Conditions and Course Setup14:00 Competition Practice vs Casual Rounds19:00 Ross's Putting Practice Drill29:00 Understanding the World Handicap System38:00 Course Rating, Slope, and Handicap Calculations45:00 Colin's Practice Routine Struggles48:00 Building Better Practice Habits50:00 Weekly Competitions: Brora and Tain54:00 Listener Feedback Request and Wrap-Up

In this episode of Both Sides of Par, Colin (the high-handicapper) and Ross (the low-handicapper) dive into a week of extreme contrasts, from chasing professional-level clubhead speeds to navigating the literal "frozen" greens of the Scottish Highlands.Whether you are looking for tips on speed training, debating the merits of a new driver, or looking for high-value course recommendations in Scotland, this episode covers the game from every angle of the handicap spectrum.What’s Inside the Show This Week:The Quest for Speed: Ross shares his latest results from "swinging like a madman," hitting clubhead speeds of 120 mph and even a wild 130 mph during practice. He discusses why "freedom of motion" is often more important than control when trying to find extra yardage.The Winter Diary: Colin recounts a "game of two halves" at Muiravoord, where the first nine holes were played through thick frost before a sudden thaw changed the green speeds on every hole.The Driver Dilemma: With Colin’s driver officially "launched" (and broken) by his son, the guys discuss how to choose a replacement. Ross offers a "brand tour" of the best current options—including the Ping G430, TaylorMade Qi10, Titleist GT, and Srixon ZX—and explains why you should always test a driver on a range rather than just an indoor simulator.Field Experiments at Strathpeffer: Colin describes the "crazy" experience of playing Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club, home to a first hole with a massive elevation drop that might be a world record.The Pace of Play Debate: A look back at the "famous sheets" of the pro shop and why modern golf needs to embrace "Ready Golf" to get back to the three-hour rounds of the past.Ross’s Recommendations: High-value Senior Open entries for 2025, featuring Ratho Park, Royal Montrose, and the world-renowned Cruden Bay.Links & Resources MentionedColin’s YouTube Channel: Search for Golfin McGray to see the drone footage of Strathpeffer Spa and Muiravoord.Ross' Instagram - search LinkedByGolf on IG. Gear Discussed: Payntr Mesh X001 shoes, MCC Align grips, and the TaylorMade Stealth/Qi10 series.

In this podcast episode, Colin and Ross explore the vibrant and accessible world of open golf competitions in Scotland and around the UK. They highlight the financial benefits of participating in these events, allowing passionate golfers to play renowned courses at a fraction of the typical green fees. Key competitions and websites like happygolf.co.uk are discussed, along with personal anecdotes about the enriching experience of playing diverse courses and meeting new players. The conversation also touches on the benefits of playing in less-than-ideal weather and the joy of impromptu, peaceful rounds in the Scottish rain. Overall, it's a love letter to opportunistic golf enthusiasts.