How to Play the Old Course at St Andrews (Plus new tour balls & Machrahanish)

I Lost 13 Balls at One of Scotland's Best Links Golf Courses

Ross and Colin are back with a proper mixed bag this week. Colin's been living his best golfing life at two very different Scottish gems, the windswept championship links of Western Gailes and the quirky Old Tom Morris charm of Cullen, though the Gailes part of Western Gailes lived up to its name and cost him somewhere north of thirteen balls. Ross, meanwhile, is preparing for an Open qualifier by wisely not treating it like an Open qualifier, recommitting to his fade after a flirtation with draws that cost him a ball in the water (and, somehow, still a par). The middle of the episode is a short game masterclass by way of confession. Colin wants to know how Ross chooses between a pitch, a chip and run, or the hero flop, and the answer starts with the lie, every time. Colin then reveals the moment that converted him to the chip and run for good: a 70-yard seven iron scuttled along the ground at Cullen's 18th that dropped in for his first ever eagle. The pair also dig into a fascinating MyGolfSpy article built on Arccos data from over 660,000 par 3s, which shows that almost nobody flies the green, nearly everyone comes up short, and we're all guilty of clubbing for our best strike rather than our average one. They wrap up with tales of the toughest par 3s at Ross's course, a case for laying up when the carry isn't there, and this week's competition recommendation: a cracking open at Royal Burgess in Edinburgh, one of the oldest golf clubs in the world. Colin leaves with homework (pitch and run practice, possible Vokey purchase) and listeners leave with an invitation to send in their own course reports. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 🟢 Colin's first ever eagle: a 70-yard chip and run with a seven iron that rolled straight into the hole on Cullen's 18th 🟢 The Arccos data on par 3s: fewer than 10% of golfers fly the green at any handicap level, yet we all plan for our perfect strike 🟢 Ross loses his tee shot on a 560-yard par 5, drops, watches his playing partner accidentally play his ball, and still walks off with the par of his life 🟢 Thirteen lost balls at Western Gailes: what playing a top links course in a full-blown gale does to a recently cured slice 🟢 Claude Harmon's short game rule that stuck with Ross: whatever you do, never leave yourself two chips to get on the green GEAR & RESOURCES MENTIONED 🟢 Western Gailes Golf Club, Ayrshire: https://westerngailes.com [https://westerngailes.com] 🟢 Cullen Links Golf Club, Moray: https://www.cullenlinksgolf.co.uk [https://www.cullenlinksgolf.co.uk] 🟢 Golspie Golf Club, Sutherland: https://www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk [https://www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk] 🟢 The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh: https://www.royalburgess.co.uk [https://www.royalburgess.co.uk] 🟢 MyGolfSpy article: You're Playing Par-3s Wrong. Here's What the Data Says to Do Instead: https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/youre-playing-par-3s-wrong-heres-what-the-data-says-to-do-instead/ [https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/youre-playing-par-3s-wrong-heres-what-the-data-says-to-do-instead/] 🟢 Arccos shot tracking: https://www.arccosgolf.com [https://www.arccosgolf.com] 🟢 Scott Fawcett's DECADE Course Management: https://decade.golf [https://decade.golf] 🟢 Son of a Butch with Claude Harmon (podcast) 🟢 Titleist Vokey wedges: https://www.vokey.com [https://www.vokey.com] 🟢 Trackman (for gapping sessions and knowing your average carry): https://www.trackman.com [https://www.trackman.com] WEEKLY COMPETITIONS Gents Individual Open at The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh, Barnton, Edinburgh. Sunday 26th July 2026, individual stroke play open with a handicap limit of 32, £50 entry for visitors. Ross mentions three spots were still available in the field between 2:15pm and 3:00pm at time of recording. Entry is via HowDidiDo: https://www.howdidido.com/Directory/OpenCompetitions/3010 [https://www.howdidido.com/Directory/OpenCompetitions/3010]. A brilliant parkland course less than five miles from Edinburgh city centre and the airport, so it's an easy trip from almost anywhere in the country. HowDidiDo [https://www.howdidido.com/Directory/OpenCompetitions/3010] One thing to double check before publishing: the transcript reads "handicap limit £32" which I've interpreted as a handicap limit of 32 (a transcription artifact). The listing online also shows £35 for members versus £50 for visitors, so the £50 quoted on the show is the visitor price. HowDidiDo [https://www.howdidido.com/Directory/OpenCompetitions/3010] CHAPTER LIST 00:00 Welcome and catching up 01:10 Ross's Open qualifier prep and committing to the fade 04:02 Course review: Western Gailes in a gale 11:07 Ross's competition round and the par of his life 14:47 Colin's handicap update and Golspie course review 18:35 Chip and run vs pitch: choosing the right short game shot 27:20 Par 3 data: why we all come up short 42:03 Weekly competition: Royal Burgess Gents Open 44:25 Wrap up and listener course reports

Cut your Golf Handicap: Practice Routines, Speed Training & Smart Strategy

Big news opens the show: Ross has made it back to scratch for the first time in roughly 16 years, and the lads pick apart exactly how he got there. It turns out most of the battle was in his head, with old handicap barriers (that stubborn 0.5, the dreaded jump from 6 to 5) doing more damage than his swing ever did. The fixes were refreshingly human: their weekly chats keeping him accountable, three years of left-handed putting, a focus on pace over line (a Scott Fawcett favourite), some carefully added clubhead speed for strategy rather than showing off, and properly purposeful practice where you actually test yourself on the course. Colin, holding up the high-handicap end as ever, soaks it all in and the two have a lovely back-and-forth about whether you can ever truly ignore your score (Ross, for the record, cannot). From there the chat turns to Senior Open qualifying, which Ross has now entered. He explains the whole thing in plain English: turn 50, get to 0.4 or better, pay your £250, and take your shot in a one-round shootout, in his case at Stirling on Monday 20th July, with the actual Senior Open landing at Gleneagles' King's Course and a field featuring the likes of Henrik Stenson and Pádraig Harrington. Colin then unveils his weekend project, a "course-bagger" app at track.bothpar.com inspired by Munro bagging, complete with regions to complete and prestige points for links courses, Open venues and famous architects. That sparks a genuinely useful discussion about what actually makes a course worth seeking out, from qualifying pedigree to a proper grass range. The back half is all about playing more golf for less money. The two dig into reciprocals and second memberships, including the 300-plus James Braid Association courses, Spey Bay's generous reciprocal list and quirky Summer Solstice comp, getting onto Royal Dornoch via a Golspie or Brora membership, Nairn Dunbar's country option, and joining somewhere like Southerness for reliable winter golf. A quick detour into eye-watering London joining fees (think £20k just to get through the door) makes the Scottish maths look very sensible indeed. They close with this week's competition pick at Downfield in Dundee, plus a heads-up on new Instagram swing clips using Coleman's shot tracer. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 🟢 Ross's route back to scratch after a 16-year gap, and why the real barrier was almost entirely mental 🟢 The pace-over-line putting shift (credited to Scott Fawcett) that quietly cut out the three-putts 🟢 Why Ross added clubhead speed for smarter strategy rather than ego, and how it changed his club choices off the tee 🟢 Senior Open qualifying demystified: the criteria, the £250 one-round shootout, and the realistic odds of getting through 🟢 Colin's new course-bagger app and the "prestige points" debate over what genuinely makes a course worth playing GEAR & RESOURCES MENTIONED 🟢 Both Sides of Par on Instagram (@bothsidesofpar [https://instagram.com/bothsidesofpar]): clips, swing videos and weekly updates 🟢 track.bothpar.com [track.bothpar.com]: Colin's new course-bagger app 🟢 Scott Fawcett and the DECADE Course Management System: the pace-putting and aggressive-off-the-tee thinking referenced throughout (decadegolf.com) 🟢 Coleman Golfs and his shot tracer: Find Coleman over at @colemangolfs 🟢 The Association of James Braid Courses: 300-plus Braid-designed courses with reduced green fees (jamesbraidgolfsociety.com) 🟢 The Senior Open at Gleneagles, King's Course, 23 to 26 July 2026 (legendstour.com) 🟢 Stirling Golf Club: Ross's chosen Senior Open qualifying venue 🟢 Spey Bay Golf Club: links course with a wide reciprocal list and the Summer Solstice comp (the membership and reciprocal figures were quoted live on the show, so verify before relying on them) 🟢 Get in touch: hello@bothpar.com [hello@bothpar.com] WEEKLY COMPETITIONS 🟢 Downfield Golf Club, Dundee: Open on Sunday 2nd August, £45 entry. A James Braid-designed parkland championship course, beautifully tree-lined and a former Open final qualifying venue (now a regional qualifier), roughly 25 minutes from St Andrews and easy to reach off the A90. A brilliant excuse for a weekend away, with a Saturday-night stopover in Dundee and a Sunday round. CHAPTER LIST 00:00 Welcome and the plan for today 01:09 Ross gets back to scratch after 16 years 03:50 Why handicap barriers live in your head 06:48 What moved the needle: pace putting and weekly chats 09:55 Adding clubhead speed (and why it isn't about bombing it) 13:24 Purposeful practice and smarter course management 23:23 Can you actually ignore your score? 24:17 Senior Open qualifying, explained 33:03 Building a course-bagger app for golfers 45:44 Reciprocals and second memberships worth having 55:12 The eye-watering cost of a London membership 57:44 This week's competition: Downfield in Dundee 1:00:44 Wrap-up, Instagram and swing clips

He Built a Launch Monitor at Home for $500 (And It Matches Trackman)

Ross is off the grid this week, so Colin holds the high handicap fort alone and brings in a guest who sits at the other end of the spectrum: Coleman Rollins, better known online as Coleman Golfs. Coleman is a near scratch software engineer who got so fed up with launch monitor prices that he did the only reasonable thing and built his own, an open source unit called OpenFlight. The two quickly discover a shared origin story of being used as moving targets on a driving range as kids, which sets the tone nicely. From there it becomes part golfing journey, part tech masterclass. Coleman talks through almost ten years of caddying and what it taught him about reading greens, course management and the classic amateur sin of not playing within your means. He covers the grip change that wrecked his game for a full year, the coach who finally rebuilt his swing, and then the good stuff: why a Trackman costs the price of a small car (it uses the same phased array radar that tracks missiles), how his three radar Doppler setup works, and why his whole rig comes in at around five hundred dollars. There is also a very enjoyable detour into reverse engineering commercial monitors from their publicly filed photos, which earned Coleman a distinctly unfriendly Instagram message from one red and white branded manufacturer. The back half turns practical. Coleman explains which numbers actually move the needle for an improving golfer, how handing data to a coach (human or AI) has helped him, and how dialling in his wedge distances on a Trackman paid off at his biggest tournament of the year just the day before. A quickfire round closes things out with some genuinely useful takes: the metric golfers underrate, the one they hopelessly overrate, a twenty quid putting hack borrowed from woodworking, and the golf marketing trick that makes him want to throw his phone. Colin, to his credit, resists buying a launch monitor on the spot. Just. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 🟢 The "playing within your means" lesson Coleman picked up caddying for everyone from Tuesday ladies' tournaments to single digit men, and why even near scratch players get this wrong 🟢 Why a thirty thousand pound Trackman is arguably fair value: a plain English explanation of phased array radar versus the Doppler tech in cheaper units like the Garmin R10 🟢 Coleman's Trackman wedge session the week of his state amateur qualifier, and how knowing his exact 50 to 120 yard numbers gave him a dozen confident shots on the day 🟢 The quickfire round: vertical launch angle being underrated, swing speed being wildly overrated, and a twenty dollar woodworking laser that doubles as a putting trainer the golf brands would sell you for a hundred quid GEAR & RESOURCES MENTIONED 🟢 Coleman Rollins, the guest, on Instagram and TikTok as @colemangolfs 🟢 OpenFlight, Coleman's open source launch monitor, on GitHub at https://github.com/jewbetcha/openflight [https://github.com/jewbetcha/openflight] 🟢 OpenFlight project site and cloud (FlightWeb) at https://openflight.dev [https://openflight.dev] 🟢 Open Tracer, Coleman's free shot tracer web app for swing videos, on GitHub at https://github.com/jewbetcha/opentrace [https://github.com/jewbetcha/opentrace] (Colin mentioned a hosted "try it" page too, worth confirming the exact link before publishing) CHAPTER LIST 00:00 Welcome, no Ross this week, meet Coleman and OpenFlight 00:56 Growing up in the game: caddying for almost ten years 03:57 What caddying really teaches you about golf 06:05 The biggest mistake amateurs make: not playing within your means 07:31 The grip change that broke his game, and finally getting a coach 11:18 Why he built his own launch monitor 13:13 The metrics that actually matter 16:24 What separates a thirty thousand pound Trackman from the rest 20:08 Inside OpenFlight: three radars and a Raspberry Pi 22:13 The parts list and building one yourself 25:56 Reverse engineering the competition (and an angry DM) 30:55 Keeping it open source and affordable 34:40 Using your data with a coach, and AI as a caddie 37:59 What's next: a DIY rangefinder 38:46 Open Tracer: free shot tracing for swing videos 40:29 The OpenFlight Discord community 42:01 Quickfire round: metrics, gadgets and marketing gripes 47:15 Where to find Coleman and everything he's building

Golf Chipping Practice Drills That Work on the Course (PLUS Scratch Heartbreak, Spider Putters & 5-Wood Bump-and-Runs)

Follow us at @bothsidesofpar [https://instagram.com/bothsidesofpar] and grab the newsletter here [https://graysgolf.beehiiv.com/]. EPISODE SUMMARY Ross very nearly gets to scratch this week - painfully nearly. He talks through a round where one missed short putt on the 18th left him sitting at 0.5, along with the classic golfer’s curse of knowing you should stick to process while your brain quietly screams, “go on then, make history.” Colin, naturally, offers sympathy while also enjoying the drama just a little bit. The pair then get into gear chat, with Colin trying to make sense of the new TaylorMade Spider putter range and the Cobra OPTM Max-K driver, while Ross brings the lower-handicap reality check on forgiveness, lie angle, workability and why most amateur golfers probably don’t need to be shaping it like prime Tiger. There’s a big short-game section too, covering Ross’s chipping experiments, looking away from the ball, cack-handed chips, landing-spot practice, ladder drills, using a putting stroke with different clubs, and even the mighty five-wood chip-and-run. They wrap up with Colin entering the Golspie open, Ross recommending Grantown-on-Spey, and a reminder to follow the show on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and Instagram. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 🟢 Ross misses a two-footer on the 18th that would have taken him to scratch - brutal, funny, and very golf. 🟢 Colin tries to decode the TaylorMade Spider putter family, from Tour and Tour X to the smaller V model and different hosel options. 🟢 Ross explains why looking away from the ball has helped free up his chipping stroke, borrowing the same idea from his putting. 🟢 The boys talk through practical chipping games, including landing drills, 15-yard stock shots, ladder practice and up-and-down challenges. 🟢 A deep chat on lie angle, flatter clubs, workability and why “standard” clubs might quietly be sending half of us left. GEAR & RESOURCES MENTIONED 🟢 TaylorMade Spider Tour / Spider Tour X / Spider Tour F / Spider Tour V putters — discussed around forgiveness, MOI, True Path alignment and the White TPU Pure Roll insert. TaylorMade describes the White TPU Pure Roll insert as using 45-degree grooves to encourage forward roll and says the white insert works visually with True Path Alignment. (taylormadegolf.com [https://www.taylormadegolf.com/Spider-Tour-X-Double-Bend/DW-TC847.html?lang=en_US&utm_source=chatgpt.com]) 🟢 Cleveland Frontline putter — Colin’s current Spider-ish mallet putter, which he still seems dangerously close to replacing because golf equipment exists. 🟢 Cleveland wedges — Ross gives another glowing mention to his newer Cleveland wedges after a very tidy bunker shot on the 18th. 🟢 Scotty Cameron putter — Ross compares his current larger-headed Scotty Cameron setup with the stability he used to like in the Spider. 🟢 Cobra OPTM Max-K driver — Colin’s latest temptation in the “maybe this will fix my driver” category. Cobra says the OPTM driver line uses shaping and weight placement to reduce twisting, while Golf Monthly describes the OPTM Max-K as Cobra’s most stable model, with a combined MOI of 13K. (COBRA Golf [https://www.cobragolf.com/en-eu/products/optm-max-k-driver?srsltid=AfmBOorAwdOZ18FUAZque7vJ4HyLn4G0H2hZZbWQrATtqcGX6Z7dFXHP&utm_source=chatgpt.com]) 🟢 Scott Fawcett / DECADE Course Management — referenced again in Ross’s scratch-handicap journey, especially the idea of sticking with process and long-term averages rather than forcing one heroic outcome. 🟢 Golspie Golf Club — Colin has entered an open there and is looking forward to testing the game somewhere slightly more exciting than the garden lawn. The club’s open competition listings include the Millicent Bowl & Campbell Shield and the Golspie Open. (Golspie Golf Club [https://www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk/competitions/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]) 🟢 Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club - Ross’s weekly open recommendation, picked partly because it looks gorgeous, has heather, mountain views, and doesn’t cost the price of a new wedge. WEEKLY COMPETITIONS 🟢 Golspie Golf Club — Millicent Bowl & Campbell Shield, Golspie, Scottish Highlands. Saturday 13 June 2026. Gents singles strokeplay. Visitor entry listed at £35, members £25, with Golf Empire listing the handicap index limit as 28.0 for men. (BRS Golf [https://www.brsgolf.com/opencomps/club/detail/?id=2003&utm_source=chatgpt.com]) 🟢 Golspie Golf Club — Golspie Open, Golspie, Scottish Highlands. Saturday 25 July 2026. Gents singles strokeplay. Visitor entry listed at £35, members £25. The club describes this as its flagship competition on its James Braid-designed course. (BRS Golf [https://www.brsgolf.com/opencomps/club/detail/?id=2003&utm_source=chatgpt.com]) 🟢 Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club — Gents “McCulloch Cup” Strokeplay, Grantown-on-Spey, Scottish Highlands. Sunday 6 September 2026. Ross mentions a handicap limit of 24 and an entry cost of £27 per person in the episode; I found a Golf in Scotland post confirming Grantown-on-Spey’s 2026 open schedule includes the Gents McCulloch Cup Strokeplay on 6 September, but the visible search result did not confirm the £27 price. (Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Golfinscotland/posts/%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8F-grantown-on-spey-golf-club-opens-2026-%EF%B8%8F%EF%B8%8Four-2026-open-competition-schedule-is/1780326913292279/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]) CHAPTER LIST 00:00 Welcome back, intro duties, and Ross taking four shots to start the podcast 02:51 Ross hits the crossbar on his scratch-handicap attempt 08:30 TaylorMade Spider putters and Colin trying to understand the range 12:12 Mallet putters, forgiveness, Rory, Scottie and off-centre strikes 17:00 Ross’s chipping practice update and balance work 20:13 Switching chipping grips during a round 24:20 Chipping games, landing drills and target practice 25:40 Why the 15-yard chip is such a useful stock shot 26:53 Using a putting stroke for chip-and-run shots 27:29 The five-wood chip-and-run enters the chat 30:28 Colin enters the Golspie open 32:02 Cobra OPTM Max-K driver and the search for more forgiveness 35:35 Workability, shot shaping and whether average golfers really need it 37:46 Lie angle, flatter clubs and why standard might not suit everyone 41:58 Why getting your lie angles checked could make a huge difference 43:31 Ross recommends the Grantown-on-Spey open

Golf Trolley Roundup (Push or Self-Driving?) PLUS pick the Yellow Tee on your Next Medal?

This week, Ross takes us through the highlights of playing the iconic Wentworth West Course, diving into his five favorite holes and what makes the experience special. The boys also tackle a deep dive into modern golf trolleys, sharing tips and insights for anyone considering an upgrade. Then they discuss whether you should take advantage of the WHS rules around using whatever tee suits you in competitions, and how that makes sense for smart golf. Plus, hear about an incredible value open competition on the Isle of Arran and get an update on Ross's Cleveland wedges, featuring a new tip that could improve your short game instantly. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with stories, advice, and practical gear talk to help you enjoy your next round even more. Love the show? Help us grow! * Follow @BothSidesOfPar on Instagram for exclusive videos and tips. * Follow @theshedisback and @mcgraygolf on instagram, too * Subscribe on your podcast app - Spotify, Apple, wherever you listen. * Reviews and ratings make a huge difference - drop us a few stars and say hi! Thanks for listening and supporting us. Got feedback or questions? Shoot us a DM or reply to this email! Until next time—play smart, have fun, and see you on the fairways. — Colin & Ross