Tom Flynn: Clubbing on the Golf Course

Tom Flynn has been a busy boy recently. Having broken through on DirtyBird in 2010, he made another major breakthrough this year with his 'Hoochie EP' on Hot Creations, which has made him even more in demand as a DJ, and he even managed to kick off our Mixcloud last year (listen below).

Skiddle Mix 001 - Tom Flynn (Soul Heaven) by Skiddle on Mixcloud

But what better way to wind down from the rigors of the music biz than a round of golf, or even better; an entire weekend off, watching it on the telly? With the British Open about to start, Tom talks to us about, among other things, his predictions for it, The Marx Brothers, and Jon Daly.

So you're a golf fan. What got you in to it?

I was actually taking a break from music some years ago… clubbing and going out… my wild days had caught up with me and I just had to get out of the scene and clear my head for a bit.

I think that's when I discovered how good it is to play and relax, kinda using it as a therapy sort of thing I guess.

Do you think the individual nature of it suits you, i.e. spending time on your own in the studio, searching for inspiration etc… is a similar part of the brain that is required to perfect a golf swing and generally be patient enough to recover from a missed putt?

Yes, I totally agree. I think it teaches you a lot in terms of life too, about being patient, working on something hard, focusing - it's very similar to music to be honest (see his latest triumph of focus below).

And yet, on the face of it, it seems an unusual synergy, because golf isn't perceived as very rock n' roll.

You'd be surprised the amount of musicians who are into it… rock stars like Alice Cooper for example.

Ah yes, that's right - he used to play golf with one of the Marx brothers didn't he? What a combination - imagine the craic on the fairway with them two!

Hopefully it wasn't Harpo [the mute Marx brother] - I can't imagine much conversation with Harpo!

Hahahahaha. At least Harpo would be quiet during his opponent's swing!

But maybe he'd be honking that horn of his!

Good point! Thinking about it, some of your Birmingham partners in crime are well in to their golf…

Yeah - Lee Fisher is a big golf head, and of course there's Golf Clap in Detroit, who I know well; Bryan and Hugh. I know Lee wants me to play a round with him but I don't feel comfortable taking his money yet!

So will you be watching The Open this week?

Of course! My girlfriend isn't going to be happy as I've just made her watch the World Cup for a month, but I can't wait for The Open.

Seen as last year Phil Mickelson got over the curse of Scottish Open winners not winning The Open, do you think that after last weekend's win, Justin Rose is gonna do it?

I'd like to say yes, but he's won two in a row and this would be three and that's a massive ask. But he has all the attributes to do it. He's England's best hope in my opinion. My personal favourite would be for Tiger to win it, purely so he can stick it to certain people who have written him off.

Ooof, that would be a turn up for the books.

Yeah, a five-year barren spell of a major is huge for him, but he says he's back to his best, although I think he's playing mind games with the others. He doesn't scare the others like he used to.

His psychological bubble has burst, so it's going to be an uphill struggle for him. Mind you, if he never wins another major, it will draw more attention to his last ever major win, where he beat Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole playoff, basically on one leg because he was so injured. I admired him more after that one - what a champion.

Yeah I remember that - his last drive was crazy. I remember him slamming it and just doubled up in pain.

It was incredible. And of course he nailed a great putt to force the playoff in the first place, which reminds me actually, seeing as we're in Open week. Do you remember that ludicrous putt from Constantino Rocca to force a playoff with Jon Daly in the '95 Open?

I didn't watch it at the time, but I've read his book and if there's one guy I'd love to play a round with, it would be Jon Daly.

For Daly to then win after seeing a putt holed like that was a massive surprise, because he was such an unhinged character.

Yeah, I read his book, I watched his reality TV programme… I'm a big fan. He's super humble and polite.

He has some demons for sure, but I think he's a maverick in that sport, which to be fair if you're gonna be a maverick in a sport, golf is the worst one to pick!

Do you think that golf should do more to encourage these kind of characters? Because viewing figures and attendances have been down in the last couple of years.

It takes a generation swap, maybe in about ten to fifteen years it will be different, but the game still has a lot of old guys running it. It needs to move on in that respect.

It doesn't mean changing the rules or anything, but they need to realise people like quirky characters.

There are still clubs who don't have women as members. Not that many, but one or two significant courses in the UK.

It's sad - I don't like things like that. Those kind of days are draconian.

Having said all that, some of the genius of golf is the tradition. I guess 'tradition' is a two-way street - there are going to be negatives and positives that come from old-fashioned values.

Yes, it's a very traditionalist game; very honourable. Most sports you cheat where you can but golfers will always admit if they've done wrong - I applaud that.

On the theme of the old days… Peter Alliss. Discuss.

Legend. Absolute legend. I could listen to him all day. He could make commentating on someone washing their car into the most breathtaking cleaning job you've ever seen. He puts the Sky people to shame, apart from Butch Harmon.

Oh God yeah - I just find the Sky coverage totally lacking in verve. They barely raised their voice during the ridiculous comeback by Europe during the last Ryder Cup.

Despite the US collapse, I can see the wind blowing towards the US for the next one - do you think we'll get beaten?

Yep, I think so. Their youth is amazing; people like Fowler, Johnson etc… they have a lot of quality, but I think we do too.

Which of our young 'uns do you think are exciting?

The Molinari brothers - I think they are really good. McIlroy is so big now he's not even considered young, but I do like those Italian brothers… tight game.

Although they haven't covered themselves in glory in The Ryder Cup. But they do have the right game to win on links courses like at The Open. Straight hitters. McIlroy's a whole different story - he seems to have been distracted off the course. Is he in the right shape to challenge this week?

He should be, but as you say, he needs to stop messing about off the course. Changing his management was the craziest thing for me - Chubby Chandler was great for him. And of course the change of clubs.

Yep. I think he was trying to be a bit too clever - maybe trying to put too much of a business head on. He seems like a good fella though.

Oh he's great - you know he's not going to be up to all sorts - he seems totally professional. But then again, so did Tiger!

True that. So can Tiger really do it this week?

I hope so. He has the game for the conditions, well, any conditions really.

Catch Tom Flynn at Uber's Bank Holiday special on August 24th.

Follow Mike Boorman on Twitter. 

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