Sarah Stirk Sky Sports Golf presenter reflects on the journeys that shaped her, from discovering golf as an injured teen to playing Augusta National, travelling the world, and finding her favourite courses, cities, and unforgettable travel moments.

When did you first pick up a golf club

I was 17, a tennis player and I had a bad injury. I was studying at Millfield School in the sixth form and my housemaster, Mr Wilson, took me to the driving range one evening, we hit a few balls…I wasn’t addicted straight away, but it got me into the sport, and I started to play more and more.

Little did I know that evening would lead to presenting the biggest tournaments in the game. I currently play off a seven handicap.

What’s your favourite golf resort

There’s so many, I love Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island, playing the 18th with the famous lighthouse, is memorable, it’s also a very playable golf course off the forward tees.

Quinta do Logo is my favourite place to golf, I’ve got a place there, I’ve spent a lot of time there over the past 20 years, I love Portugal the lifestyle, the beaches, and the people.

Old Head in Ireland also needs to get a mention, you can see the sea from every hole and is an experience like no other.

Who would be your ideal holiday golf partners

Rory Mcllroy, I’ve known him for years and would be great to play with him, Taylor Swift, because she’s amazing, funny, and brilliant for what she does for women and very empowering, and finally Michael McIntyre because he would be hilarious to play with, I think the four of us together would have a good crack.

Where did you go for your most recent holiday

The Algarve, I tend to go on short haul holidays, now having a family commitment, my plan is to retire over there.

Best memory in golf

Playing Augusta National, the day after the 2023 Masters, they have the media ballot, with Sky Sports being the rights holder, we get one golden ticket a year to play the course on the Monday, my boss handed me the invitation in an envelope on the Sunday as we went into work.

It was great to play with all the scoreboards up, getting up and down from 100 yards on the 18th for a Par was the highlight of my round, it was an amazing experience and I shot and 96 which I was very happy with using borrowed clubs.

Apart from playing Augusta, other great memories include shooting a 74 at Ruddington Grange Golf Club in Nottingham.

What’s your favourite golf course in the UK

That would be the Queens Course at Gleneagles, my uncle had an apartment next to resort and while I was at university, I did a summer season there… and as a staff member we got to play the courses through twilight rounds, so the Queens Course is where I learnt to play the game and it’s one of the prettiest courses in the UK.

I have a give Sunningdale Old a mention too.

What’s the best hotel you’ve ever stayed in

The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, I had a private butler service, sound proofed rooms, so you couldn’t hear any noise from the outside, everything about the hotel was exceptional.

It was through a work-based event working on the Gary Player invitational.

What’s your favourite city in the world

That has to be New York, I love the vibe and energy, I think it feels more intimate than London, I stayed with family and friends in Long Island and took myself off into New York for the day, that was my  first proper time travelling on my own.

I love The High Line, which is an elevated freight rail line which was transformed into a public park. I’ve been pre and post 9/11 and seen both the Twin Towers and Ground Zero. The whole city has so many cool areas.

Hosting a Nike event with Rory and Tiger was also memorable, it was at night at Liberty National GC and seeing Manhattan lit up in the distance will long live in the memory.

Most memorable meal

Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in Bray, it was a bit out there for me but very memorable, the whole meal was pure theatre, taking the lids of the glass bowls and seeing the smoke raising and wearing headphones as you eat, you hear chatter and laughter, waves crashing and seagulls squawking while you‘re eating a seafood course.

My favourite course was the chocolate fondant, that was pure heaven. I would go back there for this dessert alone.

My top travel tip

Is travelling light, I’ve also been so bad at packing, I used to use only a third of the clothes I took on trips, I now only use the cabin suitcase, but it’s taken me years to realise this.

Remember you can also pick up shampoo and toiletries when you get to your destination.

Sarah and Anton Du Beke’s golf podcast, Putt and Strut, is about to launch its second season in 2026 and will be available to download on all major podcast platforms.

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All three, Paul Bennett, Chris Meldrum and Paul Smyth, hail from Sussex and shared a deep passion for the game, but each had a different story to tell about their return to live tournament golf.

Paul Bennett:
“It had been 12 years since my last event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Before that, it was the 1994 Panasonic European Open at East Sussex National. I remember Ernie Els just starting out on Tour back then. It’s amazing to now see him as a legend among legends.”

Chris Meldrum:
“My last proper experience at a live event was the 2008 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, when Padraig Harrington clinched back-to-back titles. That was unforgettable and I had no idea this trip would bring back so many memories.”

Paul Smyth:
“Despite being a huge golf fan and watching the game on TV, I’d never actually been to a tournament in person. This was my first ever and it completely exceeded expectations.”

But it wasn’t just the stars of the senior tour that drew them in. None of the trio had ever been to Sunningdale, a course they’d heard so much about over the years.

After a smooth entry into the grounds, the group strolled through the tented village and made their way to the practice range, watching legends warm up.

A relaxed breakfast later, it was time to hit the course starting with a morning group packed with icons: Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Paul Lawrie, José María Olazábal, Darren Clarke, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Ángel Cabrera, Thomas Bjørn, and many more.

Paul Smyth:
“In the morning we walked the whole course, getting so close to so many major champions. I couldn’t believe how good they still are. The highlight? Ángel Cabrera’s second shot on the 14th..he was deep in the trees left of the fairway and somehow managed to draw the ball around the branches and onto the green for a tap-in birdie. I could never dream of pulling off a shot like that!”

Chris Meldrum:
“My first thought was how breathtaking the whole place is. You see Sunningdale on TV, but it’s nothing like being there in person. The purple heather, the immaculate fairways, it’s like the UK’s answer to Augusta National. And the distance these guys hit the ball? Unreal.”

Paul Bennett:
“The greens were like snooker tables, just perfect. Seeing the players up close, they’re so much fitter than I imagined. Langer hasn’t aged a bit since I saw him in ’94. And the way they strike their irons..it’s just next level.”

After a quick lunch and some friendly chats with other fans, the trio returned to the course for the afternoon wave, featuring even more stars: Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Fred Funk, Justin Leonard, Michael Campbell, Rich Beem, Chris DiMarco, and defending champion K.J. Choi.

Paul Smyth:
“Monty’s swing is just so smooth, it was a joy to watch. Seeing Justin Leonard with his wife and grown-up kids walking alongside him was great to see. My shot of the afternoon? Harrington’s 3-wood off the 10th tee pure class.”

Chris Meldrum:
“Being that close to so many legends in one day was incredible. Harrington looks unbelievably fit in person, and his pre-shot routine is intense! I’d played in a pro-am with Paul Broadhurst a few years ago, so I made sure to cheer him on when he came through.”

Paul Bennett:
“It was such a great day. I loved seeing Monty with his Team Europe Ryder Cup bag, what a touch. Goosen’s swing is still a thing of beauty. And like the others said, Padraig’s 3-wood will stick with me forever.”

Final Thoughts:

For all three, the experience was nothing short of perfect.

“The players, the course, the people, the marshals everything had this relaxed, garden-party atmosphere,” said Paul Bennett. “And will we wait another decade before seeing live golf again? Absolutely not.”

The trio has already started planning to make this an annual outing proof that great golf and unforgettable memories go hand in hand.

For further information visit The ISPS Handa Senior Open website for tickets this weekend.

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