1 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:06,200 Welcome back to Linked by Golf, the podcast exploring the 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:07,800 journeys of people linked by the game. 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,800 I'm your host, Ross McGuire, and this week, I'm joined by Alex 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,920 Cooper, one of the founders of the Elite Amateur Golf Group. 5 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,800 In this episode, we've discussed Alex's love of the game, his own 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,520 golfing journey, and get into the details of the competitions 7 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:22,120 the Elite Amateur Golf Group are running. 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:28,560 Let's go over to Alex. Hey, Alex, great to see you. 9 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,680 Thanks for joining the pod. Great to see you Ross as well. 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,000 Nice to catch up. And Alex, we're going to jump 11 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,960 straight into you've just come back from the final of the Elite 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:39,840 Amateur Golf League and La Calais, Spain. 13 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,520 So talk the last news through a high level what that week was 14 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,720 like and and what what happens in that final. 15 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,120 It was, it's been great to be honest with you, just sort of 16 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:55,520 getting back to reality again after all the excitement of of 17 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:00,160 that final. So we were in La Carla and Mijas 18 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,400 for the finals this year, which was a venue we we, we went back 19 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:08,920 to in 2023. It was actually a repeat final 20 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,640 as well to big clubs in Hindhead and Woburn going head to head 21 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,480 again. So I mean, the final for us is 22 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:18,440 everything. Everything ramps up towards that 23 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:21,320 Ross anyway. So it's a long season, starting 24 00:01:21,320 --> 00:01:25,840 in sort of March time through group stages and knockouts and 25 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,440 then with the grand finals obviously being abroad, which 26 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:34,000 was an introduction we brought in about 3 years ago in total in 27 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:35,920 that time as well, we've got other finals that are going 28 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,840 along with the main grand final of the league campaign. 29 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,120 We've got the full ball bet, ball final, singles knockout 30 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:43,840 final and foursome final as well. 31 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:50,480 So there's a nice plethora of formats and people and the nice 32 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:52,840 thing is we got a lot of spectators join on as well, so 33 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,720 they want to see who's going to walk away with the bright hot 34 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,520 pink jackets on it. Then the end of the calendar 35 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,680 year, so to speak. That's brilliant and last will 36 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,480 jump straight under the final, but where we want to start, Alex 37 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,280 is well, be yourself. What we're the Gillantress for 38 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,720 golf start and we'll go through your journey get into the 39 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:11,640 league. So we're to begin for you. 40 00:02:13,640 --> 00:02:16,640 Very young age actually, back north of the border like 41 00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:19,480 yourself back just outside Edinburgh. 42 00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:24,200 My home club was Westland, just in the borders, not far from 43 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,080 probably better known areas of Peebles. 44 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,120 Joined the Golf Club from the age of four. 45 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,680 I had a Golf Club in my hands from nine months of some 46 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:39,120 description plastic clubs and wooden hickories, all 47 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,760 greenkeeper sheds, knocking things up from my dad just 48 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:43,400 entering to put in my hands to get playing. 49 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,760 Very fortuitous been at the club I was at because, you know, it's 50 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:49,440 we produced a lot of good players. 51 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,440 So I suppose the aspiring aspect is you had you had people 52 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:59,680 emulate, you know, some names that we mentioned on on the 53 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,440 podcast over the over the last 12 months with yourself, like 54 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,800 Sir Simon McKenzie, Scott Walker, Gareth Wright, who's 55 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,720 gone on the pro ranks. So, you know, we're very 56 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:12,200 fortunate and not, you know, loads of other county players, 57 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,440 Stevie Smith, Grant Douglas. OK, keep going. 58 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,480 We had a very, very good, strong foundation. 59 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,200 And really part of the main reason is like a lot of people, 60 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,680 parents and that. So my dad was in all sorts of 61 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:27,040 sport. He was a sports journalist when 62 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,000 he was younger, golf and football predominantly. 63 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,320 And we played both sports from a young age. 64 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,680 Could never make my mind up. Well, wanted to do maybe if I 65 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,360 stuck at one of them, I might be better at them. 66 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:44,240 But yeah, you know, got a little bit involved in Lothians in my 67 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:49,600 teens, but never really pushed on an elite level myself. 68 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,040 I mean, I've been fortunate enough to win, you know, Order 69 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:54,840 of Merit events as a junior and things. 70 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:56,360 So, you know, played the good players. 71 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,000 David Ingalls again, another one drop names here, but David, 72 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,720 David died. Actually run our football team. 73 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,480 So I put a lot of golf with David before he moved off to 74 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,960 Texas and his collegiate career, which was obviously as we know 75 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,120 is very successful and LED him into the coaching game. 76 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,399 So we've all gone off in a different sort of ways. 77 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,560 But yeah, father's influence really got trophies. 78 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:27,240 You know, they were put up it my join in me joining the Golf 79 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,040 Club. That club, that trophy still 80 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,320 runs with my name on it. So there's a little bit of 81 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,440 history amongst the club there, which is nice, yeah. 82 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,680 Brilliant and then we've gone back in time a lot about Alex, 83 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:39,840 but just together by by going to us. 84 00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:43,040 There's a bit yourself. So the the amateur golf league. 85 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,920 What was the concept? Why did you start you was behind 86 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,360 it? What's the driving force here? 87 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:56,080 And to be honest, it came about after moving down South, the, 88 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,360 you know, doubled in getting back into golf. 89 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,120 You know, in a way after you start, you start work in your 90 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,920 early 20s, finished university and things not a bit of a gap 91 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,320 and then got back into it and through moving through different 92 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:13,880 clubs I ended up at when I'm back now at Clandon, I have had 93 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,120 little periods that hinted for a few years as well. 94 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:21,320 So. But being at Clandon got me back 95 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,960 in a competitive golf and I suppose. 96 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,200 Yeah, it's elite golf. It's scratch golf at the end of 97 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:27,920 the day. So isn't that elite bracket? 98 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:32,600 We know the percentages they are around, you know, the lower 99 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:37,200 handicaps and you know, across the the UK and, and, and the 100 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,920 globe that that is a small category for for golf. 101 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:45,560 But we had a very good scratch team bringing a couple of 102 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,680 youngsters through. I played in that and we were 103 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:55,160 lucky enough to win the Sony plate, which is, you know, the 104 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:58,000 the lesser of the two, the two that were going. 105 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:02,000 But still, it's still, you know, a difficult one to win in its 106 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:05,360 own right. So we just found or I found 107 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,520 myself, they are going, what else do we do? 108 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,840 You know, as a team, as a collective and as a club. 109 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,120 There's nothing else to plan, you know. 110 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:18,440 So you're left if you're drawn, you know, knockout competitions, 111 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:22,240 if you're drawn away from home, first round against, you know, 112 00:06:22,280 --> 00:06:25,480 Tech, somebody that's been in on our finals behind her Woburn and 113 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:30,000 you're knocked out, you're left scratching head for what to do 114 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,200 in the season. So I looked around, I suppose at 115 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,560 the market, if you want to call it that, What was available to 116 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:39,080 us? What else could we get, you 117 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,520 know, get involved in it, try and bring some of these 118 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:43,720 youngsters through. You know, I was probably in my 119 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:49,840 early 30s at the time. And so I'm going to the other 120 00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:51,080 side. There's this guy's coming 121 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,480 through. But there was just nothing. 122 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,400 And the only thing we could find was an inter county scratch golf 123 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:02,360 league sort of north to then 25, which involved actually Warborn 124 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,960 Stoke Park, no ride and and then numerous other clubs. 125 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:08,440 And it was a it was a league format. 126 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,160 So it was a promotion relegation, but it involved a 127 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:15,520 lot of players and A and a lot of time And and they they 128 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,080 wouldn't let us in. Not no, no disrespect to them, 129 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,000 they wouldn't let us in. We were too far South. 130 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:21,560 And I just thought this is crazy. 131 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,160 You know, you know, from the clubs that we are lucky to be 132 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,240 blessed with in the South of England, especially across, 133 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:31,720 well, coming from County Surrey myself, how many clubs? 134 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,600 You know, I, I was involved a bit with the Surrey team as 135 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:35,800 well. So, you know, I knew all the 136 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:40,200 clubs had networked quite well within our county in particular 137 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:41,960 and a bit in the Kent and Hampshire. 138 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,160 So we just thought, you know what, let's, let's just try it, 139 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,000 let's go for it. Let's, you know, let's set this 140 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,240 up. So in 2017 was originally 141 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,000 founded as the Solomon County Scratch. 142 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,440 Hopefully that was the original name for it, which so it says 143 00:07:55,440 --> 00:08:02,080 what it does on the 10 in a way. And I think not, nothing is easy 144 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,440 to start with, is it? But it was just a case of simply 145 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,640 picking the phone up, sending emails, phoning clubs, 146 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,080 especially ones we knew that that helped obviously. 147 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:15,680 And we got a bit of traction. And you know, year one was 15 148 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,760 clubs, which you know, now looking back doesn't seem like a 149 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:22,160 lot, but you know, it was a starting point for what what was 150 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,240 the common and the transition into, you know, what we've got 151 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,880 now. And so that first year, what did 152 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:29,560 they look like? They said 15 clubs. 153 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,400 How did it split out? What was the kind of format you 154 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,760 started with originally Alex, in terms of playing? 155 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:37,760 Quite similar in a way, to be honest. 156 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:42,400 It's it's not really, it's evolved, but it was a six man 157 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,080 team as opposed to where we are now. 158 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:48,440 We're A5 man team and explain the reasons and and changes for 159 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:56,960 that name was to get 20 clubs in groups of five and again, it's 160 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,880 ability Champions League format for you know, for ease of 161 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,120 conversation and everyone sort of understands that it's group 162 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:07,160 stages. You know, we play home and away 163 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:13,120 and in this case and then talk, you know, top, top qualifier 164 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:14,960 goes through to the knockout stages and it went through from 165 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,760 that. And luckily, you know, one of 166 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,480 the clubs that year, very early knock insurance and offered us 167 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,560 the course with the final helped us with it, you know, from a 168 00:09:24,560 --> 00:09:29,160 cost and an outlay point of view, and that was the naval and 169 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:32,080 but like the Champions League and it sometimes you get lucky, 170 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:34,320 you get home advantage in the final and and that's what 171 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:36,120 happened to them that year. But they had a very good say 172 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:40,760 that a lot of Sussex players playing that year and and you 173 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:44,560 know, they played right get help in the final that year and and 174 00:09:44,560 --> 00:09:48,560 one so the first ones to to etch the name on the what is now 175 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,320 becoming a little bit more historical trophy. 176 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,640 Yeah. And so one of the things I 177 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,840 remember you saying is, excuse me. 178 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:03,280 And these things exist in some respects elsewhere, different 179 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,160 counties, etcetera. And England I'm sure may have a 180 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:10,840 similar format, but I think what you'd deflated on before was 181 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:14,800 that in the Edinburgh area, for example, there's a really 182 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,800 successful summer league under one league actually split into 183 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,080 groups. The ones the groups get 184 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,960 together, I think there's a semi final, then there's a final. 185 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,800 Then the one of the Edinburgh League actually plays the one of 186 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,240 the Glasgow League, right? So. 187 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,760 I think it's great that you've you've elaborated in that format 188 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,600 because in backing Scotland that would be like 10 man teams I 189 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,040 think back in the day and. I think. 190 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:43,160 Games and all that. It it did. 191 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,360 It started out, I think he's ten man, I think today sitting at an 192 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,800 8 man and I was unfortunate being at West London because we 193 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,480 tried to get to that league and you'll probably know yourself 194 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:56,120 from playing in it back in Dalmoy days that it wasn't. 195 00:10:56,200 --> 00:11:00,040 It was a one in one out job and it was very hard to get into. 196 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,640 And West London at the time, we had been, as I said, some of 197 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:04,560 those players with an unbelievable team and we could 198 00:11:04,560 --> 00:11:08,760 not get in. So they actually got in just as 199 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:10,600 I was leaving Scotland, unfortunately. 200 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,360 So I never got to fulfill, you know, playing in that. 201 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:16,080 But obviously very, very aware of it. 202 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,880 We knew it was prestigious, you know, especially some of the, 203 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,480 again, the clubs up there that are repeated when I was like the 204 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:26,640 budgets, etcetera. So that's where the concept came 205 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:30,200 from me and that's where we approved an MVP. 206 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:31,960 That's where the most valued player came from. 207 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,840 So scoring system very, very similar. 208 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:38,600 So I've taken a lead from that, from that Edinburgh golf league, 209 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,200 as you know from the the county I was playing in anyway, the 210 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,040 Edinburgh site. But the difference is that we 211 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:49,080 brought in is we've taken down the and we go by the county 212 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:53,160 borders, more district borders up up the north, but we take the 213 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,040 county borders down. So we're trying to get across 214 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,760 the border lines so you're playing clubs that you don't 215 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,200 play every day. Woburn could play Hindhead, 216 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,320 Woburn could play bare with Lakes or West Sussex could be in 217 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:08,440 the same group as Roland's Castle. 218 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:11,280 You know, you're suddenly playing clubs and playoffs that 219 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,800 you just don't come face to face with within your, you know, your 220 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,840 normal county setup and it's not just a straight knockout. 221 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:22,920 So you have got a group competition which gives you that 222 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,080 social element which is, you know, equally as important to 223 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:27,560 the the level of golf you're playing. 224 00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:30,760 And we're fortunate enough now that a lot of these clubs who 225 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,720 have played each other over the last five or six years, they've 226 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:36,640 actually got together collectively their friendly 227 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,600 matches that they arrange on their own back. 228 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,680 So it's really growing the sort of golf network for us. 229 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,120 And you know, you might get one or two players that will go and 230 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,640 practice the other of course. So it really opens up that 231 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:54,200 space, you know, as I say, breaking down those, those 232 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:58,640 borderlines really. And so is it the same five teams 233 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:05,280 that the are the same teams each club would play each year or do 234 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:07,640 you change that round as well? Is it a better rotation with 235 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:09,640 unreason for dustness and stuff like that? 236 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,520 Yeah, yeah. I mean, what we, what we did 237 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,160 probably about four or five years ago now, we did, do you 238 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,600 know, completely random draw. And this is, we'd rather be 239 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:20,120 transparent. This is why it's good to come on 240 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,080 and talk about it really, because we try and be as 241 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:25,960 transparent as we can. I think people understand it's 242 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:28,480 not simple as just pulling numbers out of heart. 243 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,520 I mean, we could be traveling up and down England here because I 244 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,160 would say our most, most northerly club would be the 245 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,840 likes of Envo And then we could we have clubs down in Brighton. 246 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,160 So, you know, it's quite, a, quite a, a gap, you know, an 247 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,840 area and a territory. And, you know, we populate this 248 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,520 all on like the Google Maps. You can see this sort of heat 249 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,080 maps ourselves, where they're coming from, where they, you 250 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:55,720 know, what they do year on year. But yeah, so there's, there's 251 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:57,400 travel involved. So we, we do run that. 252 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,880 We do do the draw and then you have to just sort of redraw a 253 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,040 little bit to the point where you get the travel allowances, 254 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:05,480 right. We try and keep it within an 255 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,920 hour as best as best we can. It doesn't always work bang on 256 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,080 the button, but you know, might be a 5 minutes over either side 257 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:13,640 but we're it's there or thereabouts. 258 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:20,360 And just to paint a picture for the last nurse, I hope I'm right 259 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,680 saying Enfo Golf Club is near Birmingham. 260 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:25,600 Yeah, it's not. So you're talking we have the 261 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,080 the difference between Birmingham, That's right. 262 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,240 It's quite was it 200 miles or something? 263 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:36,080 That can be far off 200. Yeah, it could be more than that 264 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,480 actually. Might be in, Yeah, between 200 265 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:40,520 and 2:30, maybe in that ballpark. 266 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,840 Off the top of my head. I used to travel a lot across 267 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:47,000 England from a normal, my real day-to-day job, so. 268 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:51,960 But yeah, I mean we've got Felixstowe ferry we've had 269 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:57,880 towards the Kendall show, you know, so they do they do span 270 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,400 quite a big block in this in the South of England. 271 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,600 We, I mean, we unfortunately, we have had entries down in 272 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:08,320 Traverse the difficulty where we are what not difficulty. 273 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,160 The the nice position, I suppose in a way where we are at the 274 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:18,320 moment, but equally causes decision making to be taken on 275 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:20,640 board is where we want to, where we want to grow it. 276 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,120 You know, we want to move up the country. 277 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,760 And you know, I've spoken to recently in the last 3-4 weeks, 278 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,560 spoken to clubs in Scotland, players that are playing in 279 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:34,240 clubs in Scotland that are part of the Lothian set up, part of 280 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:37,320 Gull and etcetera, because we'd like to go back in there. 281 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:39,960 No, I don't want to step on the toes of the Gulf, Edinburgh Gulf 282 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:42,080 League because, you know, I know the history behind that. 283 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,240 But maybe it's something, you know, anyone listening to this 284 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,880 can reach out as well and be we'd be very welcome to 285 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,640 conversation. Because for me, golf is very 286 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,560 historical. You know, it's, it's about 287 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:55,920 legacy that we leave behind. You know, it's the same as 288 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:57,280 having a board in your Golf Club. 289 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:59,320 Why do you want to? Why do we play sport? 290 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:01,760 I don't know. Everyone's got their own, their 291 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:04,480 own take on it. My personal view on it is I want 292 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,640 to leave my name up there so it's there long, long after I'm 293 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:08,720 gone. At the end of the day, you know, 294 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:12,200 it's a bit silver. We're amateurs don't pay for 295 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,320 money for for that reason. You know, we're there when 296 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:18,600 unopposedly when, but they're lucky to pick up the checks at 297 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,200 the same time. So I think we'd like to to do 298 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,160 that. We also been able to blood a lot 299 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:31,440 of juniors coming through. We're seeing what was it again 300 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:36,840 probably 4 years ago maybe yeah, four years ago we we started 301 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,160 running independent matches. I don't want to get off subject 302 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:44,160 too much, but we run matches. We created an All Star team. 303 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:47,680 We'll be played against Surrey and Hampshire and we could 304 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,480 select an 8 man team to take on the what they deem as the 305 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,720 county's finest. We were very fortunate at this 306 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:58,240 to be able to pick from, you know, elite group of golfers 307 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:02,040 that we've been able to watch and see and, you know, take 308 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,720 point scoring from. And we picked an 8 man team that 309 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:10,560 came in and we, we, we, we give we turned over sorry and and a 310 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,440 heavyweight. I won't go into the results too 311 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:17,960 much, but but from that we we met, we met new people and that 312 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:19,960 allows us connection with the golf clubs again. 313 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:25,040 So from there we took Zach Chegg Wigan, we brought him on as our 314 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,079 first ever ambassador for the brand. 315 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:31,480 And it was at the same time when we rebranded around, you know, 316 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,960 from southern counties to the elite amateur golf, which we 317 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,800 feel depicts more about what we're about. 318 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:40,000 It tells the story. It's not just southern we want 319 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,880 to be. We want to be UK national 320 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,760 eventually. And Zach had a fantastic year 321 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,040 and I think it shows confidence in in backing Sunday. 322 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:51,520 And I think Zach would be able to tell me that himself. 323 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,560 He's maybe 1:00 to to have a chat with at some point in the 324 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,040 future Ross, but he's now in the sunshine too. 325 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,040 So he's progressed really well through his career as we took as 326 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,920 we started working with him first year won the Berkshire 327 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,960 South of England. He finished second at the Brab. 328 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:10,000 He shot course record that the Brabus and at Gant and he's you 329 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,680 know, and he became an England home international on multiple 330 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:14,800 occasions. The nice thing at the at the 331 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:16,720 beginning before he had always England outfit on. 332 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,600 He's wearing our badge and it's nice to see our badge out there. 333 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:23,000 So that got recognition with England golf, you know, then you 334 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,480 speak to the Graham Walkers and you're into the right camps 335 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:29,840 where you want to be. I mean, we believe strongly Will 336 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:34,600 and I, this is Will's been with me year 2. 337 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,720 So Will's a huge part of what we do. 338 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,120 It's not just it's not me that's doing it on my own. 339 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,120 Far from it. It's a complete partnership. 340 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:47,080 And the good thing is we both CIA on predominantly everything 341 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,240 we do, which is which is makes you know, makes welcome with 342 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:54,400 someday much easier. But you know, I believe in what 343 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:58,280 what we've got and we could give an England closed door game. 344 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:02,280 We can we can put people in the limelight that are just on the 345 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:04,280 plethora. So these squads that they could 346 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,240 give them up. It could give England options, 347 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,560 it could give them options. So it's creating a platform to 348 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:14,160 better themselves as well. Yeah, and just circling back and 349 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:17,920 a few things Alex saw, you know the point in the high strength 350 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:22,440 just to go back over that you're not trying to replace any other 351 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:25,440 leak and you haven't done that in the Southeast either or 352 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:29,720 anyone else for that matter. So you're the the Saudi county 353 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,960 leagues are still going and that's a knockout situation. 354 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,680 Hampshire still got Hampshire and a little bit of crossover of 355 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,640 other counties. Thing is Berkshire endorser, 356 00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:44,000 maybe others has got the stag. The stag still goes on. 357 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,120 That's a knockout format that's still there. 358 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:51,040 So what you're saying is you've got this opportunity for people 359 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,160 if they've got the time and if they want to do it. 360 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:55,800 Here's another look you can play on. 361 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:58,840 And the difference I think for you is typically it's the 362 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:01,000 weekends, right? You're you're typically like a 363 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:04,240 weekend format. You've only got four games and 364 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,640 all back home in Scotland, for example in the Lanarkshire 365 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,480 League is I think there's normally six teams in the 366 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,520 league. And it was always my tweet games 367 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:14,520 that was home underway. So you're actually talking 10 368 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,600 games. It's a lot, a lot of commitment 369 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:20,240 during the summer. But for you, it's it's kind of 370 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,200 supplemental. You've got four games in the 371 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,840 range maybe over the summer and it's weekends and stuff like 372 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:29,400 that. If you've been enjoying the 373 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,120 show, please do remember to follow on your favorite podcast 374 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:33,720 platform and share it with a friend. 375 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:40,800 Now let's get back to the pod. And then the other part is, and 376 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,240 we don't even touch the number. How many teams have you got in 377 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:48,040 the league overall? Overall, we've we've, we've sat 378 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:52,120 80 by choice as much as anything else because to to we've gone 379 00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:54,480 past it on on one occasion a couple years ago. 380 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:59,800 But there's is that fine point of you, you want an even number 381 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:02,440 and even distribution, you go into a new area, you need 382 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,640 probably 20 clubs to kick that area off. 383 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,600 So in your target audience now for us would be Yorkshire. 384 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:09,760 Yorkshire, I think it's got 182 clubs. 385 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,160 It's the biggest county in England in terms of clubs. 386 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:17,160 So it's one that we, you know, to not to not even be, yeah, 387 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,840 it's massive. And to not even be touching that 388 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:22,040 for us is crazy. When we know how strong 389 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:26,360 Yorkshire are in a county, we know how strong Scotland is as a 390 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:28,920 country and you know, obviously a smaller country at that. 391 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:32,000 But you know the, the like you say, the Edinburgh League, the 392 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,280 Glasgow leagues, Lanokshire and all that, that you know, you're 393 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:37,280 talking about some of the best golfers in the country. 394 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:44,280 So we that was part of it is the time the squad numbers are high, 395 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:47,840 high and what I believe by having the squad numbers that 396 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:52,520 high you are eliminating the competitive nature a lot of the 397 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:54,480 time, not always but a lot of the time. 398 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:59,320 So not every club is blessed on 8 plus golfers or scratch 399 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:02,240 golfers or better. So by bringing it down to five, 400 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:08,080 it makes it much more an equal playing field, brings about 401 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:11,080 clubs into it that might not be in it in the past. 402 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:13,160 That's a great point I hadn't thought, but I'll like. 403 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:19,400 So if you take and I'll just throw some Saudi, Saudi county 404 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:25,360 names out there, Sunningdale, Wentworth, yeah, probably go or 405 00:22:25,360 --> 00:22:29,720 it could be 50 players the playoffs scratch are better or 406 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:33,800 more versus a another. I wouldn't name another club, 407 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:37,680 but another club that's got a couple of guys off a scratch, 408 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:42,160 maybe maybe a couple of 1 and then the next lowest handicaps 409 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:45,920 3-4. But if you, if you took a team 410 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:49,320 of 10, you're going to struggle. It'd be a sudden deal or a 411 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:50,960 Wentworth. But actually if you take a team 412 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:55,360 of five, you've got two really strong players at the front and 413 00:22:55,360 --> 00:22:58,560 then anybody in the day, as you know, in March play, you've got 414 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:00,480 a real good chance to 1 and that's brilliant. 415 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,600 I'd usually stop that until you said it there. 416 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:06,960 And the other thing on that as well, and and again, Ross, you 417 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:10,400 played in the in the sunny stuff here in the if Barnum and and 418 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:15,400 what where you've been, but it's five man as well in in Surrey as 419 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:19,720 an example. But sorry, force you to play in 420 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:23,200 handicap order, which again I disagree with. 421 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:24,800 What's the point of having a captain? 422 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,360 What's the point me fielding the captain when there is no captain 423 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:32,200 duties apart from, you know, picking up the blower and making 424 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:32,800 a call? Right. 425 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:34,320 We're playing, you know, that set where the team's going to 426 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:35,680 take care of itself. Shouldn't have picked it. 427 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,160 It's done. So it's a bit tactics. 428 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:40,400 It's about how, where do you place your strong men? 429 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:41,520 Where do you place your wheat men? 430 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:43,000 Do you put alarm to the slaughter? 431 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:45,960 It's all part of it. So that's the other thing. 432 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:49,040 So it's really down to the captains to decide how they how 433 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:50,760 they lay the team out. Are they away from home? 434 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,200 How do you think that the opposition is going to come out? 435 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:55,320 So I think that's a big part of it as well. 436 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:59,600 So that's why even if, you know, we were fortunate enough to keep 437 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:03,080 growing and get up in Yorkshire, getting up into the, the north 438 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:07,480 of the country and then in in Scotland, which you obviously be 439 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:11,440 a a sweet spot for me being, you know, being the home home for 440 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,360 us. But it could be different. 441 00:24:14,360 --> 00:24:17,640 It could run alongside it. And it is a weekend competition 442 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,080 that you say like, you know, using the Scottish example, they 443 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,800 play on a Tuesday night and, you know, getting there after work. 444 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:26,400 That's not practical for everyone these days. 445 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,320 You know, everyone's life's changing and the world's 446 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:32,720 changing at the same time. So, but we can go predominantly 447 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:36,520 still still works. And the thing that's nice, Alex, 448 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:41,200 as a lot of the 36, all competitions are disappearing. 449 00:24:41,360 --> 00:24:45,800 Even back up the road in Scotland, there's so many 36 450 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,160 holes have become 18 or completely disappeared. 451 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:53,040 So as much as folks might think, oh hey, that's a weekend 452 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:56,000 commitment of go. Well, maybe if the choice now 453 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,640 is, do you know what I could go with the guys, four other guys 454 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:01,160 in the team. We're going to a really nice 455 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:04,320 course somewhere against another group of guys, but a bit of 456 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,600 crack, a bit of fun. Maybe we won, maybe we don't, 457 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,560 but we're guaranteed forward to them over a couple of months 458 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,000 period. And actually I I don't 459 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,160 necessarily need to go with that 36 hole competition and be 460 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:19,720 completely away for the day. You can be like an idea that's 461 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,520 less stressed in terms of trying to play 36 holes as well. 462 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:26,360 That's that's a great thing while still giving you really 463 00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:28,240 competitive golf against a good player. 464 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,360 No, absolutely, absolutely. And you're actually, you're, 465 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:37,920 you're sparking on my mind back to literally a week ago or two 466 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,320 weeks ago now when we're in Spain, we've we've been 467 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,400 discussing actually we've been lucky as well. 468 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:45,960 You know, I'm going to mention this, some of the sponsors here, 469 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:50,080 but you know, TaylorMade and Mortal CAD in particular are 470 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:52,240 backed as now for the last few years, which have been 471 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:56,200 fantastic. And what we're discussing with 472 00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:01,320 them at the moment is to run 418 hole events this year for along 473 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:05,960 the lines of what you're saying, most people in the 30s and in 474 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,000 the 40s who still want to take the golf seriously. 475 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,800 It's a long, it's a lot of golf, it's a long day. 476 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:14,920 You know, we've all done it. We're up at 5:00 on the tee for 477 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:19,320 half seven, eating a sandwich on the first tee back out again. 478 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:21,520 I don't think a lot of people want to do that. 479 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:25,280 And from speaking to most of our community, yeah, the young lads 480 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:27,680 do it because they've got the energy, but they're still 481 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:31,680 playing against good players. And actually this, having this 482 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:36,880 18 hole, we'll call it a Sprint Order of Merit and we hope to do 483 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:38,600 something with each of the sponsors. 484 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:42,880 So we'll make it a very sponsor oriented day and pull in and 485 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:49,960 pull in and, you know, from our network and our audience pulling 486 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,560 these 418 hole events across the year, which will create an Order 487 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,720 of Merit, which is something we can tie in with other people. 488 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,800 You know, those winners could go on and play and I don't know, 489 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,880 clutch or other other things that you can propel them. 490 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:07,320 So this is where we can, we can grow and, and entertain a lot of 491 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,080 people. So we can all help one another, 492 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:11,400 you know, which is for me, what the golf community is about. 493 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:16,120 I think the other thing you touched on there was younger 494 00:27:16,120 --> 00:27:20,400 players get a chance as well. And and one of the things that 495 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:24,240 was Graham own club up the road. At some point they decided that 496 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:27,040 they were going to just try and get more of the younger guys. 497 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,480 And this is a long time ago, obviously for me, like more than 498 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:34,480 30 years ago now, but they I guess took about of our Ruskin 499 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:37,240 said right, we're going to start playing basically juniors in the 500 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:41,560 team started us off most times you'd play used to have reserve 501 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,200 matches and stuff. So with 10 man team, +2 reserves 502 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:48,560 and you would play against a couple of guys, most cases were 503 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,720 more experienced than us, like you know, guys that had families 504 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:55,000 and stuff. And we were out there at 161718 505 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,880 just yeah, messing up effectively. 506 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:00,080 But it was great for our team actually. 507 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,160 It meant that you got that experience of playing people. 508 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:06,680 You go to develop yourself, you got to play with better players. 509 00:28:07,360 --> 00:28:09,720 But certainly that you only give us our opportunity. 510 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:12,160 Maybe they take one, maybe they just come up to do you know 511 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,120 what, we're going to take one really good junior with us so 512 00:28:15,120 --> 00:28:18,120 that we don't have an entire team because some clubs might 513 00:28:18,120 --> 00:28:20,440 think that way. We don't have an entire team 514 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,800 bloodied with younger folk that maybe don't have the experience 515 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,720 or maybe don't want to be there potentially whatever the 516 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:29,520 situation is. But they can mix that in and out 517 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,320 and have some real good fun for kids that are coming through on 518 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:37,080 their own teams as well. I think I think a lot of people 519 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:39,560 take the same approach to what I'm about to say in terms of if 520 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:42,520 you, if you're good enough, you're old enough, you know, in 521 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:46,840 any sport really that we're not talking about handicap golf. 522 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:52,880 We've chosen, you know, elite scratch or better golf is in the 523 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:56,720 after scratch 1-2, but I mean, we'll call it cap 1 and down. 524 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:03,360 And the reason for that is because that market or that 525 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:06,840 level of handicap or that level of golfer predominantly if 526 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:11,040 they're playing just normal club golf and I can vouch for myself, 527 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:16,120 they go, you know, you, we, we know being a one and scratch 528 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:19,760 golfer that is not, doesn't make us a good golfer and you know 529 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:21,440 who we who we are trying to play with. 530 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:26,480 So, but at a club level, you're still deemed as your top 10 531 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:30,120 minimum, you know, and but that's all you've got to plan is 532 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:32,840 your club championship and maybe a stroke play. 533 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:34,520 And if you're lucky, you might have a match played. 534 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,000 But most clubs that you have a stroke play these days, even 535 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:38,880 those of a really because they don't have an audience for it. 536 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:41,320 So you've got your club championships, you one event of 537 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:42,760 the year. Beyond that, you've got nothing 538 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:46,200 else to plan unless you want to go like we're saying earlier or 539 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:49,960 you mentioned earlier about traveling 36 all events cross 540 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:53,280 counties, you know, national events and most people, again, 541 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:57,640 working people, kids, it doesn't allow us all to do that. 542 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:02,440 So we give you something that that overcomes that that that 543 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:06,600 problem and those difficulties. The other thing as well as as 544 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:10,000 much as, and I totally agree with you, Alex, if you're good 545 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,320 enough, you're old enough. I still reflect on some of the 546 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:16,960 games I had when I was a junior, played in the senior team and 547 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:20,440 I'd be playing a guy who was probably the age of no and I 548 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:25,200 thought it was about 70. We've all been there. 549 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:31,600 But you're playing this person who's heading, maybe heading for 550 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,480 retirement are already there. And I've got vivid memories of 551 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:40,120 playing guys who were off maybe the same handicap, like 3 at the 552 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:43,240 time, say. And they're honestly like 60, 553 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:49,440 maybe 65 years old. And I'm having it at times 120 554 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,880 pass them off the tee and I'm getting absolutely dusted. 555 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:57,440 So the point of that is you learn, you actually learn 556 00:30:57,440 --> 00:30:59,160 there's a different side to the game. 557 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:01,800 It's not just about smashing off the tee. 558 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:04,480 It's not just about how great you can hurt your irons. 559 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,520 It's not even great. It doesn't even matter if you're 560 00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:09,560 a great Potter. It's if you're smashed in the 561 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:11,520 trees, right? What are you doing? 562 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:14,360 Are you are you trying to try and hurt the hero short? 563 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:16,760 Are you smart about it? Are you looking at where your 564 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:19,480 opponent is? You can pack up so much. 565 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:23,160 Plus you're going to get you're going to get people chirping in 566 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:26,560 your ear after the experienced know the ways of the world, the 567 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,320 dark arts. It prepares you and helps you 568 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,560 for games you'll have in the future. 569 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:34,920 So that's a great way for younger people or folk of 570 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:37,520 developing a game to learn as well as just playing against 571 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:43,200 different categories of player within the category of you can't 572 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:45,320 one golfers. There's different ways that 573 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:48,560 people approach the game. No, absolutely. 574 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:51,480 I mean, like you say, it's golf's a results business. 575 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:53,120 You know, there's so many ways to get there. 576 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:58,160 I've seen the best swing it unbelievable. 577 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:00,880 Doesn't mean you say they're the best golfers or you know, the 578 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:05,360 results will it indicate that. So yeah, as a especially as a 579 00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:07,640 youngster, like you say, you learn how these not Downey 580 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:10,440 Islands instead of trying to flush a sandwich or a wedge. 581 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:12,680 You know what is the percentage shots? 582 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,320 You know what I mean? It's you just it's, it's trying 583 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,800 to get that old head on a young shoulder as quick as possible. 584 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:21,880 And that's where the younger generation will benefit. 585 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:24,840 The ones that take that on board quickly are the ones that 586 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:28,840 generally go on a bigger and better things, you know, a good 587 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:31,320 acceleration rate. But I mean we've got we've had 588 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:33,960 lads as long as young as 14 playing in the league. 589 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:36,200 You know that we're talking about, plus we're not talking 590 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,880 about and it's and it's good and you know, we get some of them 591 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:42,040 going or we have to put a limit on it. 592 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:46,320 But we had one last season saying, you know, I've got no 593 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:48,120 problem with that. Obviously we have to safeguard 594 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:51,080 because of, you know, where we are now in the world, 595 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:53,840 unfortunately, but we make allowances for that. 596 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:55,800 We just say, look, you've got to play in a four ball or if the 597 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:57,520 dad's walking around, that's fine. 598 00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:01,920 We're not in a senior kind of caddies because they're X or Y. 599 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:05,960 So we that that gives the surrounding that they need to be 600 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:08,320 able to thought and compete. You know, I'm not here to put 601 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:10,160 blockades up. We're we're, we're actually 602 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:13,760 trying to take the like I said earlier, we're trying to take. 603 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:16,600 The barriers down, I'm sure you've sure you've done it 604 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:18,520 yourself. Carding for one of your pals and 605 00:33:18,520 --> 00:33:21,520 a junior game. Carding for one of your pals and 606 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:23,320 a senior game. It's a brilliant way to get a 607 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:25,680 folk involved as well. Used to be fun. 608 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:29,000 My dad, my dad carried for me Monday 15 club champs at 609 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,280 Westland and but he carried for me and smelting and eat 36 holes 610 00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:35,360 one day. But you know, the memories you, 611 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:39,120 you get to keep, don't you? So as well, you know, so rather 612 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:40,320 than just watching, they're involved. 613 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:42,160 So no, it's good. It's great. 614 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:45,360 Yeah, and we've touched in the final at the start Alex from 615 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:48,720 about back up to you know, weird, I don't want to say 616 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:52,640 finished off, but the season completed very decently for you. 617 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:56,160 So let's talk a wee bit more in detail about the final and and 618 00:33:56,160 --> 00:33:58,400 what actually happened on the days you were there in Lakala. 619 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:03,680 It was a bit of panic 48 hours before as we we got we one of 620 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:08,679 the clubs, Woburn actually, led by Justin and Justin and Woburn 621 00:34:08,679 --> 00:34:11,760 as a club, you know, pass on thanks to them and a lot of 622 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:15,159 other clubs, not just them, but it has a club. 623 00:34:15,159 --> 00:34:18,679 They're very supportive of what we've done because they've we've 624 00:34:18,679 --> 00:34:23,320 given them something that their club can completely get on board 625 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:25,080 with. So they enter the foursomes, the 626 00:34:25,080 --> 00:34:31,560 singles, everything but Justin's getting older head younger squad 627 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:36,159 and that's where the the two marry up really well and he had 628 00:34:36,159 --> 00:34:39,040 them out early. So they were out maybe 3 days 629 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:42,960 before we landed and practice and well, unfortunately the 630 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:46,320 practice probably didn't got a plan, but they made the 631 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:49,639 preparations the right way and there was a lot of rain as as we 632 00:34:49,719 --> 00:34:51,320 all suffered here in the UK at the moment. 633 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:55,159 So the course was looking really, we were apprehensive. 634 00:34:55,280 --> 00:34:56,760 Is this going to go ahead at one point? 635 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:00,880 Something we'd never had before and part of the reason why we go 636 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:03,800 abroad to sort of protect that from being an issue. 637 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:07,200 But hey, you can't control control above. 638 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:11,240 So you know. So we normally land on a Friday, 639 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:14,400 we all travel out on a Friday either flying from Gatwick, 640 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:18,120 Heathrow as a group, some make their own arrangements. 641 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:22,200 That's that's their choice. Most of the time we get there, 642 00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:26,200 set ourselves up, we do what we call a media day. 643 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:30,000 So we try and run it professionally in an amateur 644 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:31,960 way. So we have photographers, 645 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:35,040 videographers out with us, green screens. 646 00:35:35,240 --> 00:35:38,120 They'll take all the graphics you'll see on our Instagram 647 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:39,880 channel. Then the match up, so who's 648 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:45,880 playing who and then we get all that prepped ready for, you 649 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:49,840 know, normally on the Saturday, Saturday's the, you know, 650 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:52,800 practice round and then the Sunday where we have we roll out 651 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:55,880 the finals. So I mean, as I say, this year 652 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,240 we had the grand final, as we call it, which is the, you know, 653 00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:02,160 the league, which for us is always the it's been the focal 654 00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:05,440 point around what we built everything else around the the 655 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:07,960 nice ball ones we brought to other football, better ball, the 656 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:10,800 singles and, and things as well, because it gives us again, an 657 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:14,440 audience and and even brings us a new clubs every year because 658 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:17,280 those clubs get those players get involved from other clubs 659 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:19,800 that are maybe not playing the league and they get involved in 660 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:21,000 that. They don't have to play with a 661 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:22,960 member from the same club as well. 662 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:26,240 They just have to elect a club that are going to play from and 663 00:36:26,240 --> 00:36:27,440 then they go, oh, do you know what? 664 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:28,320 I won't be involved in the league. 665 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:29,800 I've seen what happens out there, you know? 666 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:35,040 So you're saying on the four ball side between the two, if 667 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:37,800 you're at two different clubs you just nominate a club that is 668 00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:40,640 the main club and you could alternate IG right as pals? 669 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,840 Yeah, 100%. I mean look for example, I could 670 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:47,520 enter you Ross next year we elect what's going to be a home 671 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:50,040 club for the day and it's only to around for the draw 672 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:51,280 properties. Yeah. 673 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:54,840 And so you know, and then actually we we we've got no 674 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:58,360 problem and swapping it around if it works better for you and 675 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:00,000 the opposition. Again, this is where we give it 676 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:03,320 a little bit flexibility. It's not to bend the rules in 677 00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:07,600 anyone's favor is to make the arrangement of these ties as 678 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:09,640 easy and feasible. You know, say for example, my 679 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:13,760 courses are clay based course which is yours as a heathland. 680 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:16,000 Makes more sense to get the game played. 681 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:19,040 It's not that far apart. So you know, it's only to 682 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:21,000 protect if you're a member at Woburn. 683 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:23,360 I'm a member in Brighton. It's not going to necessarily be 684 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:26,640 fair to who you're playing potentially so, but that then 685 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:29,520 also brings in new clubs in the audience for us in the following 686 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:32,640 years as well because they get to see what the big finals like. 687 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:37,240 And as I say, 4-4 years ago we brought in the the pink jacket, 688 00:37:37,240 --> 00:37:39,000 the famous, actually longer than that. 689 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:41,720 I'm looking back here. We didn't have them. 690 00:37:41,720 --> 00:37:46,160 You do, you know what? I've had them as far back as 691 00:37:46,160 --> 00:37:47,760 2019. I'm just looking. 692 00:37:47,760 --> 00:37:49,280 I just made a note for myself there. 693 00:37:49,760 --> 00:37:53,120 And so the pink jackets, the hot pink jackets came in just for 694 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:55,640 the captains. And then we decided to take it a 695 00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:57,880 bit further and then it becomes all the players got a pink 696 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:00,840 jacket. So hopefully in in a few years 697 00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:04,440 to come, we're going to have events or you know, the gala 698 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:06,840 dinner. The final long term could be, 699 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:09,280 you know, a bit like the masters. 700 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:12,200 You got to paint Jackie, you're like attended the opening night 701 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:15,200 dinner or things like that. And it's it's becoming a it's 702 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:17,800 becoming a good thing. It's it's good from us. 703 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:20,440 You're noticeable. The Woburn guys, they've got the 704 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:24,280 30th anniversary this year and they were, they were lucky to go 705 00:38:24,280 --> 00:38:33,920 away as as as victors in 2025, which switched what happened to 706 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:38,440 them in 2023 when they played that behind the hindhead beat 707 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:42,640 them at La Cala in 2023. So they've they've, you know, 708 00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:46,640 reversed that who do. And so they've got their hands 709 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:48,600 on it finally after a bit of a bit of effort. 710 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:52,400 But I mean, we've we've seen even the teams just don't the 711 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:56,520 what they wear, the way they've turned out, you know, going from 712 00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:00,120 clubs coming up is very sort of five individuals, we'll call it. 713 00:39:00,840 --> 00:39:04,320 They're coming up now in team shots, team bags, team hats, 714 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:06,760 team member. They'd even have an EAG branded 715 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:09,120 onto the club when they come out to Lucala. 716 00:39:09,120 --> 00:39:12,680 So the IT is, it just shows the the the level of sort of 717 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:15,840 seriousness around what how the clubs are taking it. 718 00:39:16,040 --> 00:39:19,040 And I know being a member of hainting myself, you know that 719 00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:22,240 this wasn't their prime event. It was the county stuff. 720 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:25,600 This has become and you know, I'm not knocking any counties. 721 00:39:25,720 --> 00:39:29,160 You know, I love county golf. Like I said then it's just 722 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:30,960 different. It's the fact that there's a 723 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:33,320 trip to take the score away for the finals. 724 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:36,800 What we want to do or what we are going to do in 2026 is we're 725 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:40,880 going to going to change it a little bit to give more people a 726 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:44,880 taste of that nervous feeling about the semi final match. 727 00:39:44,880 --> 00:39:46,880 We're going to take it back to quarterfinals and give more 728 00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:49,600 people a taste of. So we're going to take the semi 729 00:39:49,600 --> 00:39:54,200 finals and the finals out to 2026 so that you put that mouth 730 00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:58,120 water and tie in more people's hands in that knockout segment 731 00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:00,640 because you know, you're what you feel that you're winning. 732 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:03,120 Go to the finals in the 1st place and then the Creme de la 733 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:06,200 Creme is obviously lifting the trophy like anything but. 734 00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:08,840 So what you be making that like you, you go and maybe in a 735 00:40:08,840 --> 00:40:11,440 Thursday, the semis on the Friday, then the finals on the 736 00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:14,800 Saturday, something like that. But we would still keep it 737 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:17,040 within reason, we still keep it very similar. 738 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:20,160 So what we'd probably do is we we generally fly early on the 739 00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:24,320 Friday so most of them can get a practice around the Friday, semi 740 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:29,840 final Saturday and fight off on 4th playoff on the Sunday 741 00:40:29,840 --> 00:40:32,680 followed by the final. And it means that you've got 742 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:35,160 one. We've got more people there to 743 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:37,160 generally get more spectators there. 744 00:40:37,280 --> 00:40:38,720 So it makes it more of an amphitheat. 745 00:40:38,720 --> 00:40:41,000 I mean, we've been very lucky. We've seen more and more people 746 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:42,640 come every year, you know, and it's great. 747 00:40:42,720 --> 00:40:45,400 You know, I mean, how nice is it to have people from your club, 748 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:49,760 you know, paying their money to fly out to join their squad and 749 00:40:49,760 --> 00:40:52,000 watch something? It's it's a lovely it's a really 750 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:53,360 cool thing to see. It really is. 751 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:55,520 And in and then a lot of them join us for the gala dinner. 752 00:40:55,520 --> 00:40:57,840 So you know, a lot of them that came to watch this year will 753 00:40:57,840 --> 00:41:00,040 will tap us up and say, look, can we get involved? 754 00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:04,440 You know, we we we'd like to see 150 there at some point in the 755 00:41:04,440 --> 00:41:06,440 very near future. And it's got bigger and bigger. 756 00:41:06,440 --> 00:41:10,360 We're in 60 odd at the dinner and you know, it's got bigger 757 00:41:10,360 --> 00:41:13,680 and bigger every year. 60 audit. I mean you've only got 10 758 00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:17,920 players plus your other finals, So what, 16 players in total 759 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:21,600 technically? For yeah, yeah, 2020 players 760 00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:23,600 were out there this year. Yeah, 20 players out there this 761 00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:25,960 year. So well, I've actually Ross 762 00:41:25,960 --> 00:41:30,880 actually 22 because we take 6 to the final and the reason we take 763 00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:34,440 so it's a five man team, but for the final we take 6 and what 764 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:37,160 what we've learned from that, because obviously we're going in 765 00:41:37,160 --> 00:41:40,840 our resort environment, it's you put two in a buggy, you're not 766 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:43,160 going to share with an opposition, which makes sense. 767 00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:47,840 Resorts want you to fulfill your slots and the tea time. 768 00:41:47,840 --> 00:41:50,320 And that's something we don't, you know, not everyone's going 769 00:41:50,320 --> 00:41:53,520 to have control of, but I'll also allows them to bring that 770 00:41:53,520 --> 00:41:56,400 extra man in from the squad that, you know, it's been in and 771 00:41:56,400 --> 00:41:59,080 out all the year and we think 6 quite a nice number. 772 00:41:59,120 --> 00:42:01,560 Some did an extra 1. That's played two games or 773 00:42:01,560 --> 00:42:04,160 something but hasn't. Yeah, playing the other two and 774 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:06,320 stuff with us, but. Yeah, or or you know, can't be 775 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:08,160 there. So, yeah, it's amazing how where 776 00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:10,960 that six months always, always pops up, but it's it's what for 777 00:42:10,960 --> 00:42:12,600 the last couple of years. Well, so we're going to, we're 778 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:14,760 going to keep that. So and also it gives this is a 779 00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:19,280 very formatted, we have run in the finals, whereas as good as 780 00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:23,480 the singles and everything is sometimes the crossover where 781 00:42:23,560 --> 00:42:26,360 you might get somebody's playing the singles and the main final. 782 00:42:26,520 --> 00:42:30,240 And that makes it very hard to to organize what's going on 783 00:42:30,240 --> 00:42:33,360 because how far do you stretch it And you're limited on time. 784 00:42:33,360 --> 00:42:36,720 So we'll still put them on a fantastic venue, but we're going 785 00:42:36,720 --> 00:42:38,600 to hose them in the UK for the time being. 786 00:42:38,960 --> 00:42:42,440 And me mate, I'm not going to promise anything when I say 787 00:42:42,440 --> 00:42:44,920 this, but you know, we've we've used the Grove and Hall and well 788 00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:47,480 in the past. So it's not about it's not going 789 00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:49,840 to be a certainly a pure venue and they're still going to get a 790 00:42:50,120 --> 00:42:55,000 good experience from it. And then and also you'll 791 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:58,680 generally find from the four semi finalists, your MVP is 792 00:42:58,720 --> 00:43:00,240 predominantly going to come from there. 793 00:43:00,240 --> 00:43:04,080 So we can guarantee them also be in the as part of the the final 794 00:43:04,080 --> 00:43:07,520 from presentation purposes. I mean, think so far we've had 795 00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:14,920 one year where an MVP corner from London, the London club won 796 00:43:14,920 --> 00:43:21,120 it last year and he wasn't part of the, you know, the final. 797 00:43:21,120 --> 00:43:24,920 So it shows you even the guys, they're taking that in the seat 798 00:43:24,920 --> 00:43:26,240 and he's going off to turn pro as well. 799 00:43:27,480 --> 00:43:29,920 But MVP is good because it allows us to get a point system. 800 00:43:29,920 --> 00:43:33,640 So if we want to pick a side to play a county or play England or 801 00:43:33,640 --> 00:43:37,160 Scotland or whoever wants to play us, we'd like to be the 802 00:43:37,160 --> 00:43:41,000 Barbarians of the golf, really. I've just recorded with Scott 803 00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:43,720 and also Slim *** the Junior Writer Cup team up against you. 804 00:43:44,440 --> 00:43:47,400 Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely, Absolutely. 805 00:43:47,480 --> 00:43:49,720 But the Stevie Gallacher Foundation, There's another one. 806 00:43:49,880 --> 00:43:52,480 Well. I know, I know, I know Simon 807 00:43:52,480 --> 00:43:54,640 used to play well. I said to Simon, I take Simon 808 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:58,240 the other day, McKenzie, and you know, he's not playing 809 00:43:58,240 --> 00:44:01,480 competitive golf, which you know from a talent point of view is 810 00:44:01,480 --> 00:44:04,000 what waste on it. But hopefully, you know, it 811 00:44:04,120 --> 00:44:07,000 might, we might spark a bit of interest getting back involved. 812 00:44:07,040 --> 00:44:10,240 You could have a somebody like a George McGregor who used to like 813 00:44:10,240 --> 00:44:13,320 beating the whole Scotland team and he's been here, actually 814 00:44:13,320 --> 00:44:15,960 just been the captain. Yeah, yeah. 815 00:44:15,960 --> 00:44:17,200 I used to see him down at Glenn course. 816 00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:21,000 Quite a bit actually. Back, back, back when you know. 817 00:44:21,800 --> 00:44:23,720 So, Alex, that has been brilliant. 818 00:44:23,720 --> 00:44:27,440 So we've talked about the final, your new format, what about? 819 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:31,120 So you talked about having the finals of the other competitions 820 00:44:31,400 --> 00:44:33,920 back here in the UK, but do you see any other developments in 821 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:35,760 those competitions you go forward? 822 00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:39,160 You mentioned potentially having eighteen holes and stuff. 823 00:44:39,160 --> 00:44:40,720 What other ideas have you got in mind? 824 00:44:41,880 --> 00:44:44,400 We, we spoke in the past. I mean the, the, I think we're 825 00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:46,640 going to put a focus on these because we can see the growth in 826 00:44:46,640 --> 00:44:49,280 it now. We, we, I think it's settled 827 00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:52,280 down. We've tweaked it ever so 828 00:44:52,280 --> 00:44:54,840 slightly year on year, you know, and the good thing is we, you 829 00:44:54,840 --> 00:44:57,600 know, you're talking about good elite golfers again, they've 830 00:44:57,600 --> 00:45:00,440 given us feedback and we never take it as criticism. 831 00:45:00,440 --> 00:45:03,480 It's always constructive. You know, everyone, if they want 832 00:45:03,480 --> 00:45:05,720 to, if they're willing to talk to you, you've got to listen. 833 00:45:05,720 --> 00:45:07,680 If you listen to your audience, you hopefully you'll get it 834 00:45:07,680 --> 00:45:09,760 right now. And I, and I hope a lot of them 835 00:45:09,760 --> 00:45:12,040 would agree that we, we do listen and we tweak it. 836 00:45:12,040 --> 00:45:15,400 We can't always give everyone what they want, but you know, we 837 00:45:15,400 --> 00:45:17,440 keep tweaking. I think that, you know, the 838 00:45:17,440 --> 00:45:20,360 foundation is, is the league and if we can keep growing that and 839 00:45:20,360 --> 00:45:28,200 ever we know we get more reach, we we can conversate with more 840 00:45:28,600 --> 00:45:31,400 individual players, which inevitably just grows every 841 00:45:31,400 --> 00:45:34,200 single event we've got. And then you can, you know, if 842 00:45:34,200 --> 00:45:36,800 it gets big enough for us, we you can easily regionalize it. 843 00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:41,280 So the growth factor is quite easy to to consider as it as it 844 00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:45,640 grows anyway. Last and Alex Walbert contact 845 00:45:45,640 --> 00:45:48,520 details of people are interested for themselves and individual 846 00:45:48,520 --> 00:45:52,000 stuff you've got potentially coming up the other competitions 847 00:45:52,440 --> 00:45:54,400 and ultimately the leak. How would they get in touch, how 848 00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:56,160 it defines you? What's your social channels? 849 00:45:56,840 --> 00:45:59,120 I'll give you the the three best ways to do it because the 850 00:45:59,120 --> 00:46:01,480 website is very useful for information. 851 00:46:01,520 --> 00:46:04,480 Give me a bit of history about it and, and entry forms and all 852 00:46:04,480 --> 00:46:10,040 there such as www.eagg.co.uk. And then you've got our 853 00:46:10,040 --> 00:46:13,760 Instagram is Elite amateur Golf. And then if you want to e-mail 854 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:17,480 me, it's just Alex ELEX at eagg.co.uk. 855 00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:19,880 Nice and simple. Last and thanks for coming on, 856 00:46:19,880 --> 00:46:21,520 Alex. It's been great to see you and 857 00:46:21,600 --> 00:46:23,440 all the best for that season. Pleasure. 858 00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:24,840 Nice to speak to you and great to see you again. 859 00:46:24,840 --> 00:46:30,240 All right. If you enjoyed this episode, 860 00:46:30,240 --> 00:46:33,040 please follow a link by golf and your favorite podcast platform, 861 00:46:33,360 --> 00:46:35,440 leave a review and share with someone who loves golf and 862 00:46:35,440 --> 00:46:37,880 people's journeys. You can also find the show on 863 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:40,840 Instagram that's linked by G2024. 864 00:46:40,840 --> 00:46:44,320 For future episodes, clubs and insights, I'm Ross McGuire. 865 00:46:44,360 --> 00:46:47,080 Thanks for listening. Lowman Golf Tours have helped 866 00:46:47,080 --> 00:46:50,000 thousands of guests build bespoke golf trips to create a 867 00:46:50,000 --> 00:46:52,840 magical experience. Travel in style with an 868 00:46:52,840 --> 00:46:54,320 executive chauffeur. Travel. 869 00:46:54,680 --> 00:46:57,680 Whether it's golf on a major championship venue or one of our 870 00:46:57,680 --> 00:47:01,280 hidden gems, 5 star accommodation or a boutique bed 871 00:47:01,280 --> 00:47:03,760 and breakfast. Or is it whiskey tasting on a 872 00:47:03,760 --> 00:47:05,680 private boat? Lowman Golf. 873 00:47:05,680 --> 00:47:08,040 Tours are here to help build the tour of a lifetime. 874 00:47:08,680 --> 00:47:11,400 Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or ticking it 875 00:47:11,400 --> 00:47:14,440 off your bucket list, embark on a trip that you'll remember 876 00:47:14,440 --> 00:47:18,800 forever. Visit www.lomangolftours.com.