Tom Irwin is joined by Dan Murphy to explore the host venues staging some of GB&I’s biggest amateur events this year. From the historic fairways of Royal Birkdale to the ever-influential Moortown, they look at the courses shaping the amateur calendar and what makes them worthy of the spotlight.

The conversation also dives into the role these venues play in supporting young golfers and giving back to the game, highlighting how clubs across GB&I continue to nurture the next generation. Along the way, they discuss The Island in Ireland and preview the Walker Cup heading to Lahinch—two standout links that promise a true test of championship golf.

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In this episode of the NCG Top 100s podcast, Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy tackle one of golf’s most misunderstood topics: how do we actually define a golf course?

From links and parkland to heathland, moorland and clifftop, the pair break down the characteristics that separate each style, exploring everything from soil types and vegetation to location and design philosophy. They also dive into the often-blurred lines between categories, asking what really distinguishes a heathland course from a moorland – and whether those definitions still hold up today.

Along the way, Tom and Dan discuss some well-known examples and debate where certain courses truly belong, highlighting just how subjective golf course classification can be.

The episode wraps up with a quiz from Dan, putting Tom to the test as he’s challenged to categorise a selection of courses – with some trickier than others.

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In this episode of the NCG Top 100s podcast, Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy turn their attention to one of golf’s biggest questions: where is The Open heading after St Andrews in 2027?

The pair explore the future of the Open rota, discussing established venues such as Royal St George’s and Royal Troon, while also debating whether iconic courses like Portmarnock could finally join the championship’s regular host list. With the R&A continually assessing the rota, Tom and Dan consider which venues are most likely to feature in the coming years - and which might be overdue a return.

Along the way, they break down what truly makes an “Open course”, from the strategic demands of links golf to the infrastructure and scale required to host one of the game’s biggest events.

They also examine the growing conversation around taking the Open beyond its traditional boundaries, including the possibility of the championship heading to the Republic of Ireland for the first time.

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