Episode 4

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Published on:

29th Dec 2025

130mph Swings, Frozen Greens, and the 300ft Drop

In this episode of Both Sides of Par, Colin (the high-handicapper) and Ross (the low-handicapper) dive into a week of extreme contrasts, from chasing professional-level clubhead speeds to navigating the literal "frozen" greens of the Scottish Highlands.

Whether you are looking for tips on speed training, debating the merits of a new driver, or looking for high-value course recommendations in Scotland, this episode covers the game from every angle of the handicap spectrum.

What’s Inside the Show This Week:

  • The Quest for Speed: Ross shares his latest results from "swinging like a madman," hitting clubhead speeds of 120 mph and even a wild 130 mph during practice. He discusses why "freedom of motion" is often more important than control when trying to find extra yardage.
  • The Winter Diary: Colin recounts a "game of two halves" at Muiravoord, where the first nine holes were played through thick frost before a sudden thaw changed the green speeds on every hole.
  • The Driver Dilemma: With Colin’s driver officially "launched" (and broken) by his son, the guys discuss how to choose a replacement. Ross offers a "brand tour" of the best current options—including the Ping G430, TaylorMade Qi10, Titleist GT, and Srixon ZX—and explains why you should always test a driver on a range rather than just an indoor simulator.
  • Field Experiments at Strathpeffer: Colin describes the "crazy" experience of playing Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club, home to a first hole with a massive elevation drop that might be a world record.
  • The Pace of Play Debate: A look back at the "famous sheets" of the pro shop and why modern golf needs to embrace "Ready Golf" to get back to the three-hour rounds of the past.
  • Ross’s Recommendations: High-value Senior Open entries for 2025, featuring Ratho Park, Royal Montrose, and the world-renowned Cruden Bay.

Links & Resources Mentioned

  • Colin’s YouTube Channel: Search for Golfin McGray to see the drone footage of Strathpeffer Spa and Muiravoord.
  • Ross' Instagram - search LinkedByGolf on IG.
  • Gear Discussed: Payntr Mesh X001 shoes, MCC Align grips, and the TaylorMade Stealth/Qi10 series.

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About the Podcast

Both Sides of Par: The Golf Podcast
2 Golfers, 2 Wildly Different Handicaps, 1 Obsession
Colin and Ross share their golf journeys, from both ends of the spectrum. A high handicapper and a low handicapper, still sharing the same love of the game and all of the same frustrations!

About your host

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Colin Gray

Colin is a podcaster, international speaker, PhD and founder of The Podcast Host and Alitu: The Podcast Maker. Colin started out in Astrophysics, before realising, to his dismay, how much maths you had to do. Podcasting has less maths, but just as many puzzles, and fun ones at that.

He started ThePodcastHost.com in 2011, and it's now one of the biggest and oldest Podcasting blogs on the web, dedicated to helping you create a successful show.

He went on to found Alitu.com in 2018 to help podcasters create their shows more easily. It's a web app that takes care of the tech, by polishing, branding & publishing for you. It offers a custom set of tools for building and editing epic podcasts.