Opinion

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “New formats reignited my love for the game”

  Written by John Robins on Wednesday 23 February 2022

  After Bad Golf’s John Robins hand was forced into breaking away from the Stableford scoring system, he stumbled upon the on-course freedom he’d been searching for. In his exclusive monthly Today’s Golfer column, the comedian and broadcaster walks us through the surprising benefits of trying something new on the course. Since joining a golf club for the first time just under two...

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “My journey to longer drives has started… with squats”

  Written by John Robins on Monday 31 January 2022

  Bad Golf’s John Robins’ 2022 quest for more driver distance began with some shocks… mostly in the form of squats. In his exclusive Today’s Golfer column, the comedian, broadcaster and Bad Golf co-creator talks us through his unlikely journey into the realm of golf fitness.   As I write this I am looking at a rather depressing reminder of my failure to achieve...

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  Meghan MacLaren: “To see the brutality of our game, take a trip to Q School”

  Written by Meghan MacLaren on Monday 17 January 2022

  Ladies European Tour star Meghan MacLaren takes a trip to LPGA Q School, where golf dreams go to die. What do you think you would do if your future came down to a two-week examination? What would you do if a whole year’s – or career’s – worth of work was either signed off or thrown out the window, based on...

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “My goal for 2022 is to become a bigger boy”

  Written by John Robins on Thursday 16 December 2021

  John Robins is looking to build on his meteoric progress in 2021 by adding some ‘big boy’ power to his game. In his exclusive Today’s Golfer column, the award-winning comedian and 5live host runs us through his new, deep-seated quest for some added yardage. What’s your golf goal for 2022? As I said in last month’s column, winter is a time when...

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  Meghan MacLaren: “Golf can be the perfect escape”

  Written by Meghan MacLaren on Thursday 9 December 2021

  Ladies European Tour star Meghan MacLaren talks about how the theraputic nature of golf has something to offer everyone.  On one of my trips to the US, I was practising at a quiet and relatively exclusive course one Friday evening. That particular week was a family holiday in the US, so the golf course was even more deserted than usual. (Perhaps...

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “The quiet beauty of a great golf lesson”

  Written by John Robins on Wednesday 1 December 2021

  John Robins has turned to golf lessons as he aims to improve his game this winter. In his exclusive Today’s Golfer column, the comedian, broadcaster and Bad Golf co-creator argues the interventionist case for a well-timed golf lesson and analyses our reluctance to ask for golfing help. Winter is now upon us and as the mud clogs up my spikes, wedges flounder...

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “My most puzzling golf crisis yet…”

  Written by John Robins on Wednesday 10 November 2021

  After a traumatic episode with a phantom hook, John Robins might finally be worthy of his ‘bad golfer’ moniker once again.  In his exclusive Today’s Golfer column, the award-winning comedian, 5live broadcaster and podcast host mournfully walks us through the unique perils of playing on a ‘proper course’ after being forced to question his most closely held golfing assumptions… About two weeks...

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  Meghan MacLaren: “Success in golf is about more than a victory”

  Written by Meghan MacLaren on Tuesday 19 October 2021

  Ladies European Tour star Meghan MacLaren asks: ‘What really constitutes success for a golfer?’ Sometimes I wonder what non-golfers’ perspectives are on golf. How do they view our game through the lens of other sports? The people who have never really tried golf, apart from a one-off foray to the driving range where they’re just as likely to try to tee...

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “How I halved my handicap in four months”

  Written by John Robins on Monday 18 October 2021

  After nearly halving his handicap in the space of four months, Bad Golf’s John Robins is officially a man worth listening to! In his exclusive Today’s Golfer column, the comedian and BBC 5Live presenter details his spectacular journey to a handicap of 12.3 and doles out some shrewd advice on the everlasting importance of course management and mental mastery. Well then, here...

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  Meghan MacLaren: “Is the game really about entertainment?”

  Written by Meghan MacLaren on Monday 27 September 2021

  Ladies European Tour star Meghan MacLaren asks: ‘Are professional golfers really there to entertain us?’ Are you someone who watches golf on television? Chances are, if you are reading this, you probably are. Do you watch any golf tournament – no matter what event it is, what course it’s being played on, which players are involved? However much you love golf,...

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “The Ryder Cup remains the ultimate golf event”

  Written by John Robins on Wednesday 22 September 2021

  The Ryder Cup has got John Robins very, very excited. In his exclusive Today’s Golfer column, the comedian, broadcaster and Bad Golf star indulges in some misty-eyed Ryder Cup nostalgia and talks about his own unique relationship with this famous monolith of a tournament. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, it’s finally here! The Ryder Cup! Is there another sporting event like it?...

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “How to cope when your form deserts you”

  Written by John Robins on Thursday 2 September 2021

  Bad Golf’s John Robins has gone from a 21-handicapper to a 13-handicapper in a matter of months, putting the brand under serious threat! But never fear, the comedian and broadcaster’s recent good form proved it is still capable of deserting him with zero notice. Here, in his exclusive Today’s Golfer column, he explains how he coped when those halcyon days of...

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  Meghan MacLaren: “It’s vital to learn from our failures”

  Written by Meghan MacLaren on Wednesday 1 September 2021

  Ladies European Tour star Meghan MacLaren explains why attitude and adaptability are the golfer’s key traits. Midway through a recent tournament, one of my playing partners and I realised we were telling the exact same story. The third player in our group had asked a question about golf on links courses, and so we started reminiscing about the British Amateur Championships...

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “I love the camaraderie (and many pints) of a golf trip”

  Written by John Robins on Friday 30 July 2021

  We’ve all been missing foreign golf trips, but for comedian and broadcaster John Robins an overseas golf adventure changed his life for the better. In his exclusive Today’s Golfer column, the co-creator of hit YouTube channel Bad Golf explains how an anxiety inducing invitation actually helped him discover his love of golf. For a long time during both lockdowns, playing a round...

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  Meghan MacLaren: “Golfers searching for perfection is a waste of time”

  Written by Meghan MacLaren on Thursday 29 July 2021

  Ladies European Tour star Meghan MacLaren explains why the pursuit of golfing perfection is a waste of time. Golf is complicated, isn’t it? One day you go out and play and you’re hitting your irons the best you ever have. You think you’ve stumbled upon some great secret to success and you can’t believe it could be so simple – for...

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  Meghan MacLaren: “Joint male-female events are vital for golf’s future”

  Written by Meghan MacLaren on Thursday 17 June 2021

  Ladies European Tour star Meghan MacLaren explains why mixed male-female tournaments are vital for golf’s future. By the time you read this, the Scandinavian Mixed on the Ladies European Tour and the European Tour will have taken place. You will already know what stories it throws up; who ultimately comes out on top; who shines and who grinds – and, perhaps...

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “What makes the perfect golf partner?”

  Written by John Robins on Tuesday 15 June 2021

  What makes the perfect golf fourball? Comedian and broadcaster John Robins, co-creator of YouTube channel Bad Golf, explains his perfect group. Last year I joined my first ever golf club at the tender age of 38 and after less than a year of being a member I’ve seen my handicap drop around three shots. RELATED: Bad Golf: “We’ll always be sh*t at golf,...

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  Meghan MacLaren: “Class is permanent but success is never predictable”

  Written by Meghan MacLaren on Wednesday 19 May 2021

  Ladies European Tour star Meghan MacLaren explains that while class may be permanent at the highest levels of golf, it’s never a guarantee of success. So far, 2021 has been the year of the comeback. In the last few months we’ve had Jordan Spieth, Lydia Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, Brooke Henderson, Hideki Matsuyama – even Rory McIlroy could be included in this...

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  Bad Golf’s John Robins: “How I shot my lowest ever score”

  Written by John Robins on Wednesday 19 May 2021

  Award-winning comedian and BBC Radio 5Live host John Robins is the co-creator of YouTube channel Bad Golf, but if his current form continues then it will need a rebrand. We’ll let him explain… Over the course of these columns I have attempted to represent the experience of the average golfer. Though I refer to myself as a ‘bad golfer’, the stats...

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  Meghan MacLaren: “What you can learn from pro golfers’ mentalities”

  Written by Meghan MacLaren on Friday 7 May 2021

  Ladies European Tour star Meghan MacLaren explains what we can learn from professional golfers’ mentalities and how knowing our weaknesses can help limit their impact.  How many times have you heard someone say, after a great round or a tournament victory, that they didn’t look at a leaderboard once? Do you believe them? If I’m being honest, I’ve always found it...

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