John Giles, (Ex-professional footballer/TV pundit)

Club: Edgbaston and Hollystown GCs

Handicap: 12

1 What’s your favourite golf tournament (amateur or professional) and why?

The Masters. Because it’s the same venue every year you become familiar with the holes, even on TV, and learn to know what is a great shot or a great putt. Great setting and wonderful finish.

2 Best TV golf memory?

Pádraig’s five-wood at the 17th at Royal Birkdale on the way to winning British Open. Could have played safe but that shot was unbelievable and a stroll home after that.

3 Parkland or links? Why?

Hard to call because they are so different. It’s the wind on the day that makes a good links. Always nice to play a links course where they hold the big tournaments.

4 What’s your hidden gem and why?

Alwoodley Golf Club in Leeds, very few people know about it; never held any big tournaments but absolutely brilliant course. We used to play there in my days with Leeds. Alwoodley was where I first started and, like most, it’s where I quickly got hooked on golf.

5 How would you deal with someone you suspected of cheating, would you sign their card?

Never experienced such a situation, thank goodness. Tricky question, because you have to be absolutely sure as it’s your word against theirs and that can be dangerous ground. Ideally somebody else will back you up, because otherwise you question someone’s integrity and cheating is a very serious charge, particularly in golf.

6 If you could introduce one rule how would you combat slow play?

There’s an easy fix; if a group is faster, step aside and call them through. Nothing worse than being pushed on a course when you’re supposed to be out there enjoying yourself.

7 Has equipment technology had a detrimental effect on talent/ability? If so, what changes would you make?

I believe the great players would have been great in any era, regardless of the equipment. The likes of Ben Hogan and Sam Snead were the top players of their day and could manoeuvre the ball. New equipment has had a detrimental effect because of the distance players now hit the ball. It means some of the more traditional courses are virtually obsolete now.

8 150 yards from the hole, what’s in your hands?

Still day, seven-iron.

9 Fashion stakes: Pringle or J Lindeberg?

C’mon now. It would be fairly conservative, no-nonsense.

10 More comfortable paying for price of a pint or ProV ball?

We used to have best fun playing for forfeits, still do it now and again. Was never really into playing for big money, don’t agree with it among pals. We got more enjoyment from forfeits. If you win you get your opponents to carry your clubs to the car or clean your shoes, something like that.

11 Who is the greatest – Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods? Other?

Usually goes on Majors so it has to be Nicklaus – he was my era. Of course Tiger came along and before him the likes of Seve. All these greats played different games to others, they set the benchmark in their time.

12 If you had one final round, who would be in your fourball and where?

Has to be Alwoodley and alongside Peter Lorimer, Norman Hunter and Don Revie. I had 12 happy years at Elland Road and Peter and myself would often take on Norman and Don. That fourball would remind me of the good times again. Played better then, too – lowest I got to was five.