The Goat Track

The dust is still settling after our recent Top 100 rankings interview, and the feedback has been flying in. In this episode, we unpack the reaction—the good, the bad, and the fiercely debated—and dive into why certain course rankings get everyone so fired up.

Next, Hoff takes center stage to talk through his latest game-improvement toys and his ambitious roadmap for upcoming lessons. Will the tech actually translate to a lower handicap, or is it just more gear for the bag?

We also explore the wild concept of stadium golf taking over the iconic Kingsmead cricket ground, before wrapping up with a brutally honest look at the latest golf triumphs and tragic failures from T and JDV.

Hit play for your weekly dose of course architecture talk, casual banter, and local golf realities.

In this episode, we sit down with Golf Digest editor and the mastermind behind the South African Top 100 courses ranking system, Stuart McLean. We pull back the curtain on the entire ranking process to discover exactly who assesses the courses, how the scoring categories are structured, and how panelists separate a great overall experience from a course's true architectural ranking.

Stuart also opens up about the future of the evaluation system, the complex reasons why some clubs choose to opt out of the rankings entirely, and wraps up by sharing a few of his absolute favorite golf destinations across South Africa.

Is the LIV party over before it truly began? We open this week’s episode with a look at the latest funding drama and the ripples it’s sending through the South African golf landscape.

The heart of the show, however, is dedicated to the upcoming Top 100 course rankings. We debate which tracks are sliding, which are surging, and take a bold swing at predicting the new Top 10. To wrap up, we move away from the data to discuss the courses that don't need a ranking to be special—the ones close to our hearts

The dust has settled on another Major week, and while the leaderboards were lacking a South African flag at the top, there is plenty to unpack. We sit down to discuss our biggest takeaways from the latest event and why the Sunday charge from the local contingent never materialized. And may not for a while.

JDV gives us a candid (and frustrated) update on his ongoing battle with the handicap app. Meanwhile, Hoff is making headlines of his own, though not on the scorecard. He’s back to his old retail habits, and we find out exactly what new "game-changing" gear he’s convinced will save his season.

JDV, TBag and special guest Dimitri aka Silly Goose Golf team up to discuss all things Masters. They chat about what makes a good Masters, what they are hoping for and which winner they would least like to see. The lads then dive into the Masters 2026 Player draft picking from 5 categories each and there are some serious surprises straight out of the gate.