The Goat Track

What a week in Johannesburg!

Terrence, Tucky, JDv, and Hoff sit down to break down the madness and the magic of LIV Golf SA 2026, covering everything from the massive galleries and logistical wins to the players who actually moved the needle. The boys dive deep into the unique Jozi "fan culture," summarizing the best (and most brutal) chants and chirps heard on the course before looking at the big picture: what this success means for the future of South African golf.

To wrap it up, we get expert perspectives from legendary broadcaster OG Molefe, LIV Golf’s Jake Jones, and sports media guru Ben Karpinski.

JDV and T deliver an on-the-ground preview of the much-anticipated LIV Golf South Africa. This episode of The Goat Track breaks down the massive scale of the event’s arrival, from the sprawling infrastructure build-out to the strategic nuances of the Highveld.

We shift the focus to the technical demands of the layout, discussing the local wildlife on the course and how specific turf conditions—from grabby Kikuyu rough to pure bentgrass greens—will dictate club selection. The team highlights the best holes for spectators to catch the action and provides an inside look at the "sense of place" that defines this venue. We wrap up by making our expert picks for the weekend

Stellenbosch is a vibe, but is it a Championship test?

Fresh off the grounds of the latest South African Open, we’re joined once again by Ben Karpinski to dissect a week in the Winelands. We move past the standard leaderboard recap to look at the architectural bones of the course, the energy of the crowds, and whether the "National Open" identity is being preserved or diluted.

The experience at Stellenbosch sparks a larger debate: What actually makes a "Good" SA Open? Is it purely about the difficulty of the rough and the speed of the greens, or is it about the "Sense of Place"?

We pitch our definitive 7-course rotation for the SA Open. We look for tracks that balance architectural integrity, spectator logistics, and that specific South African soul—from the salt-sprayed turf of the coast to the rugged bushveld corridors.

JDV and T discuss the ongoing handicap saga, the curse hanging over Durban Country Club and preview the SA Open in Stellenbosch.

This week, JDV and T dive headfirst into the absolute chaos of the recent South African handicap system migration. If you’ve spent more time staring at a loading screen than on the tee box lately, this one is for you. JDV goes on an all-time rant about the "handicap app from hell," the data migration disaster, and what this technical nightmare actually means for your index in the short term. Is your 12-handicap safe, or has it been "migrated" into a 24?

JDV then hits us up with a tale where the bad guys might NOT be the shouting group trying to play thru.

Finally, we try to lighten the mood. We close out with a SA Golf Course Quiz that starts with high hopes and ends in absolute shambles.