Mike Clayton

SOG Ep100: And they said we'd never make it...

January 22nd, 2020  |  1 hr 4 mins

It was exactly eight years ago today we released Episode One of 'The golf podcast that talks about stuff that matters' and 100 shows later has anything really changed in the game? The answer - as always - is both yes and no. There are dozens more golf podcast to choose from and a movement of apparently 'fan media' but the ball still goes too far, lots of players still don't 'get it' and Mike Clayton is still - despite what Mguel Angel Jimenez might say - the most interesting man in golf (as well as being among its greatest contributors). Episode 100 is not a look back show but if you're in the market for an interesting experiment head to the back catalogue and have a listen to that first episode and you'll hear many of the same themes resonate in the game in 2020.

SOG Ep 099: A Very Special Announcement

October 16th, 2019  |  1 hr 3 mins

State of the Game co-host Mike Clayton has some very special news to share on episode 99 of the show.

SOG Ep 098: Distance, Money and Brandel Chamblee

September 3rd, 2019  |  1 hr 22 mins

Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and host Rod Morri delve into recent happenings in the world of golf and analyse what it means for the bigger picture. From the distance debate (of course) and changes in the PGA Tour schedule to whether a $15 million payday is off putting and is the LPGA playing courses that are too easy? All that comes under the microscope as well as Brandel Chamblee's surprise switch of position back to advocating for bifurcation of the professional and amateur game.

SOG Ep 097: The Open Washup And Is Something Happening With The Ball?

July 27th, 2019  |  1 hr 33 mins

The success of Royal Portrush, Xander Schauffele and the driver controversy, are the authorities planning to do something about the ball in the autumn and why you can't say anything bad about Memphis. All that and more in episode 97 of State of the Game.

SOG Ep 096: McGinley Takes Irish Open Back To The Future

June 28th, 2019  |  1 hr 10 mins

There is much excitement among architecture types about next week's Irish Open at the famed Lahinch in County Clare. Tournament host Paul McGinley joins Episode 96 of the show to explain how he plans to take the event back to the future making the on-site experience one that far exceeds watching on TV. The 2014 Ryder Cup captain says tournament goers can expect a festival atmosphere in the tiny town of Lahinch as the entire week will be a celebration of the game.

SOG Ep 095: Expect A Spiritual US Open At Pebble beach

June 10th, 2019  |  1 hr 12 mins

pebble beach, us open

As the Old Course is to Scotland so Pebble Beach is to America and a US Open on the Monterey Peninsula is something a bit special. Join Pebble beach devotee Geoff Shackelford alongside Mike Clayton and Rod Morri for a breakdown of what role the course might play at this week's 119th US Open as well as some discussion on the Hank Haney controversy from last weeks US Women's Open and what the fallout might meaning the bigger picture.

SOG Ep 094: Barnbougle Dunes Course Study Tour

May 29th, 2019  |  1 hr 20 mins

It always promised to be an interesting experiment and it was. The inaugural State of the Game Golf Course Study Tour to Barnbougle Dunes earlier this month had a bit of everything but, as expected, the highlight was the chance to sit down with Mike Clayton for an 'unplugged' podcast/Q&A session. Clayton touches on everything from how the Barnbougle project got off the ground to stories from the European Tour from the 80's and 90's. Its everything you'd expect it to be and more and if you missed out on this one hopefully this episode helps convince you what a mistake you made and to come along for the next one!

SOG Ep 093: Bob Denney on AW Tillinghast

May 9th, 2019  |  1 hr 34 mins

With the PGA Championship set to return to the Bethpage Black course in New York next week there will be plenty of discussion about course design AW Tillinghast. While known mostly as a course architect, Tillinghast had many more strings to his bow including a well known - though little understood - tour of the US during the depression years to advise courses on more financially sustainable management practises. What is less known is the extensive records he kept of that period and PGA Historian Bob Denney joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri on Episode 93 to delve into the life and times of one of the game's great contributors.

SOG Ep 092 Master Coach Denis Pugh

May 3rd, 2019  |  1 hr 14 mins

Denis Pugh is a 40 year overnight success story. In his early years as a coach his theories were often scorned but having worked with more than 200 touring professionals - including Colin Montgomerie, our own Mike Clayton and of course the reigning Open Champion Francesco Molinari - his thirst for knowledge and communication skills have been proven. Denis talks everything from what it takes to succeed at the top level in the modern game to how he helped Molinari go from merely very good to truly elite.

SOG Ep 091 The Masters Big Picture

April 22nd, 2019  |  1 hr 22 mins

Tiger Woods winning his fifth green jacket was something special but The Masters is about so much more than just the 72 holes each year. Join Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton join Rod Morri as they break down what the 2019 Masters means in the bigger picture, from changes to the course (in particular the fifth hole) to media, technology and the role of the Augusta National Women's Amateur. Oh, and there's mention of the possibility that distance might be an issue as well.

SOG Ep 090: Old Course Rough and Rules, Rules, Rules

March 2nd, 2019  |  1 hr 22 mins

Is golf going into meltdown or are we just having a rough patch because of the new rules? Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri delve into the seemingly weekly rules snafus in the professional game while also touching on the 'enhanced' rough we can expect at the 2021 Open at St Andrews and what might happen if the pro game made its own rules.

SOG Ep 089: Saudi Arabia, Hao Tong Li and Augusta National

February 1st, 2019  |  1 hr 35 mins

The storm over the European Tour's visit to Saudi Arabia is only intensifying but it's not the only controversy bubbling in golf. There is still lots of disquiet over the penalising of Hao Tong Li in Dubai as well as discussion about Lucas Herbert's explanation of his actions in removing loose impediments with his club in wasteland in the same event. It's not all bad news though, with Geoff Shackelford believing changes to the 5th hole at Augusta National made public this week suggesting the course may be moving back in the right direction.

SOG Ep 088: Lucy Li and the Rules of Amateur Status

January 11th, 2019  |  1 hr 15 mins

New rules in 2019 always suggested there would be a rules controversy in January but the one involving Lucy Li isn't what most were expecting. The 16-year-old is in danger of losing her amateur status after appearing in an ad for the Apple Watch with the USGA now investigating. It's a difficult situation for the ruling body who will no doubt be damned if they do and damned if they don't but Geoff Shackelford says the situation is really one of their own making.

SOG Ep 087: Ru Macdonald and the power of Instagram

December 23rd, 2018  |  1 hr 23 mins

What's the best social media platform for golf? Geoff Shackelford says its Instagram and with the help of Scottish Golf Podcast host and European Tour Social Media team member Ru Macdonald he explains why to co-hosts Rod Morri and Mike Clayton in episode 87 of State of the Game.

SOG Ep 086: Richard Gillis and Over The Top TV

December 16th, 2018  |  1 hr 25 mins

Golf on TV is big business and its in the midst of some dramatic change. Sports business writer and consultant Richard Gillis joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to explain the concept of 'Over the top TV' and why the game's two biggest Tours - and Tiger Woods - are rushing to be a part of it. Also, for the golf course architecture nuts, places are now open for our Golf Course Study Tour to Barnbougle Dunes with Mike Clayton in May 2019. Three days of golf including playing with Mike Clayton and lots of talk about GCA and the game more broadly for less than $1500. All you have to do is get yourself to Launceston airport and the rest is taken care of. Check out the information page (https://stateofthegame.fireside.fm/gca-tours), send us an email using the link at the bottom and we'll be in touch to finalise details.

SOG Ep 085: Golf's New Rules

November 22nd, 2018  |  1 hr 16 mins

Golf's new rules come into effect in less than two months but how many people are really ready? USGA Manager of Rules Outreach & Programming Joe Foley joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to discuss that plus lots more including backstopping and the potential for bifurcating the game's equipment rules. Also, we are excited to announce our inaugural Golf Course Architecture golf and live podcast Tour will take place May 3-5 next year at one of the game's greatest public venues, Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania. Check out the GCA Tours tab at the top of the page for details and click the link to register your interest via email today.