In this episode of the LA Golf Channel Podcast, Lee sits down with Dave Carter, the founder of Holben Golf, to talk about building one of the most welcoming amateur golf communities in the North West.

Recorded at Manchester Golf Club during a Holbon Golf event, this conversation dives into how Dave has grown the tour through word of mouth, why community matters so much in golf, and how events like these are helping golfers experience brilliant courses in a relaxed, competitive and enjoyable environment.

Dave also shares his thoughts on the changing culture of golf, from dress codes and old-school traditions to making the game feel more inclusive, friendly and accessible. The conversation also covers Dave’s time as a golf club captain, the challenges of running golf events, pace of play, handicap expectations, mindset on the course, and why enjoying the game should always come before chasing a number.

There are also plenty of laughs along the way, including Lee’s infamous first tee story at Warrington Golf Club, the “Lee Brennan rule”, Dave’s Holben Golf origin story, and some brilliant insight into what makes a great golf day.

Whether you are a golf club member, society golfer, amateur competitor, golf event organiser, or someone who simply loves the game, this episode is a great reminder of what golf is really about: people, stories, courses, community and enjoying the walk.

Topics covered:
Holben Golf
Amateur golf events
North West golf courses
Golf community
Modern golf culture
Golf club captaincy
Golf mindset
Golf dress codes
Pace of play
Golf societies
Manchester Golf Club
Antrobus Golf Club
Growing the game

A huge thank you to Dave for joining the podcast and to our podcast sponsor, Valley Golf.

Now go hit some golf balls.

In this episode of the LA Golf Channel Podcast, I’m joined by Golf With Ellie, one of the most exciting female golf creators in the North of England.

Ellie shares how she first got into golf around 18 months ago, why the game became her escape as a busy mum, and how documenting her journey on Instagram helped her find a growing community of golfers, creators and women who simply wanted more people to play with.

We talk about her role as the Northern representative for The Dutchess Golf Club, the upcoming Northern Women’s Golf Day at High Legh, and why creating more opportunities for women in golf is so important. Ellie also opens up about the realities of being a female golf creator online, dealing with unwanted messages, building confidence, and why the golf community can still be an incredibly supportive space.

There’s plenty of golf chat too, from winter practice, learning the difference between range golf and course golf, chasing the goal of breaking 100, improving short game, golf fashion, Carden Park, Dundonald Links, Royal Birkdale, Formby Ladies, and the exciting possibility of Ellie getting behind-the-scenes access at the Women’s Scottish Open.

This is a brilliant conversation about golf, confidence, community, motherhood, content creation and the growing future of women’s golf.

Whether you’re new to golf, trying to break 100, interested in women’s golf, or building your own journey in the game, this episode is packed with relatable stories and honest advice.

Guest: Golf With Ellie
Host: Lee Brennan - LA Golf Channel

If you enjoy the episode, please like, comment and subscribe for more honest golf conversations, course vlogs, creator stories and game improvement content.

Now go hit some golf balls.

In this episode of the LA Golf Channel Podcast, I’m joined by Kris, also known as The Golfing Medic, a scratch golfer, content creator and paediatric doctor working at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

This conversation goes much deeper than just handicap talk. Kris shares how he got back into golf after an eight-year break, how he reached a 0.0 handicap, and how the pressure of working in medicine has shaped the way he manages emotions on the golf course.

We talk about the mental side of golf, course management, playing under pressure, first tee nerves, scratch competitions, Open Qualifying, team golf, handicap events, and why chasing birdies can sometimes lead to bogeys and doubles.

Kris also gives a brilliant insight into how better players think their way around a golf course, including when to attack pins, when to play safe, how to prepare for big competitions, and why the best golfers are often the ones who make the smartest decisions rather than the flashiest ones.

This is a great episode for any golfer trying to improve their mindset, lower their handicap, understand course strategy, or learn what it really takes to play scratch golf.

In this episode we cover:

• How Kris became a scratch golfer
• Returning to golf after university and medicine
• The link between pressure in work and pressure in golf
• How to stay calm after a bad shot
• Course management for better scores
• Preparing for Open Qualifying
• Medal vs Stableford mentality
• Why chasing birdies can be dangerous
• The value of team golf and creator events
• What amateur golfers can learn from scratch players

A huge thank you to Kris for joining me on the podcast and sharing such an honest insight into golf, mindset, medicine and the journey to scratch.

If you enjoy golf podcasts, course management chats, handicap improvement, mental game discussions and honest conversations about the game, make sure to subscribe to the LA Golf Channel Podcast.

Guest: The Golfing Medic / Kris
Host: Lee — LA Golf Channel

Now go hit some golf balls.