The Golf Pilgrim Top 100
64 episodes Last Updated: May 03, 25
The essential guide to the world's top golf courses. Neil White and Ian Woods review the Top 100 courses in the UK and Ireland, continental Europe and the World!In 2020 Neil began a challenge to play all of the world's top courses. You can read his reviews at www.thegolfpilgrim.com. Now you can listen to his reviews, as he gives an honest account of the courses, the practice facilities, and the food available. Is it value for money? Will you be made to feel welcome as a visitor? There are champagne and comedy moments to discuss, in the company of his fellow journalist and pal Ian Woods. Ian's a former Sky News and BBC Correspondent, who's now working for ITV. He's played a lot of great courses too, and is a former Captain of the Press Golfing Society.In the coming months we will add to the reviews, assembling a go-to site to help you choose your next golf destination. All the episodes are stand alone - you don't have to listen to them in any particular order, but find out more about your hosts in the Who? What? Why trailer episode.
Episodes
May 03, 2025
Nairn, Highlands, Scotland
Having hosted the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup and the R&A's Amateur Championship, Nairn Golf Club is used to hosting top amateur golfers from around the world.So how would Neil and Ian, often described by playing partners as a couple of complete amatuers, cope with the challenge?On a beautiful day, and with the first seven holes running alongside the beach and the Moray Firth, there was ample opportunity for sun, sea, sand and sixes. And sevens…https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/nairn-reprisedhttps://nairngolfclub.co.uk/Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Apr 28, 2025
Nairn Dunbar, Highlands, Scotland
We begin our latest Scottish road trip with a double dose of Nairns….and we're not talking about the famous biscuits. First up is Nairn Dunbar which has been striving to emerge from the shadow of its more famous neighbour, and is ranked among Scotland's Top 100 courses.https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/nairn-dunbarhttps://nairndunbar.com/Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Apr 23, 2025
Royal St David's, Gwynedd, Wales
For centuries, Harlech Castle has seen off those who came to conquer it. Royal St David's, overlooked by the 13th Century Castle, has a similar reputation. The club described the course as the toughest Par 69 in the world, and one of the most picturesque.Would the latest Englishman to tackle the challenge use cunning tactics, or just rely on bravado?www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/royal-st-david-swww.royalstdavids.co.uk/Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Apr 18, 2025
Aberdovey, Gwynedd, Wales
The Golf Pilgrim celebrates its first anniversary by making a long overdue visit to Wales. Aberdovey lies in the heart of Eryri National Park, or Snowdonia to give it its English name. We hear how the club was founded by a soldier whose first course consisted of nine flowerpots, embedded in Aberdovey Common.It's come a long way since then - and you'll probably have a long way to come to play it. But it's well worth the journey…www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/aberdoveywww.aberdoveygolf.co.ukDo you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Apr 13, 2025
Moortown, West Yorkshire, England
While everyone's talking about The Masters, we're talking (again) about the master architect behind August National. Moortown's neighbours at Alwoodley have first claims on Alister MacKenzie's designs - but there's no dispute that he honed his craft in Leeds.And not content with having a link to The Masters, Moortown can also boast that it was the first British course to host the Ryder Cup.So plenty of history - but the present-day course is hugely impressive www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/moortownwww.moortown-golf-club.co.uk/Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Apr 07, 2025
Le Touquet (La Mer), Hauts-de-France, France
If a golf course is named The Sea, you might expect to see the sea from the links. You’ll hear the waves crashing, and the bouncy fairways will certainly indicate you’re on a coastal course, but the English Channel (or La Manche) remains just out of sight. But don’t let that put you off visiting another great value-for-money venue. Le Touquet has three courses at the resort, and La Mer has hosted the French Open, where Seve Ballesteros triumphed and Sam Torrance holds the course record. And the drama didn't finish at the 18th…..www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/le-touquet-la-merwww.letouquetgolfresort.com/en/Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Apr 03, 2025
Hardelot Les Pins, Hauts-de-France, France
It's Hardelot than you think….especially off the white tees.The second of our northern France trilogy, and another bargain compared to the equivalent, and similar in feel courses in southern England.Les Pins are the pine trees which line the course, but many have been removed in recent years to restore it to its original design.www.hardelotgolfclub.com/en/www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/golf-d-hardelot-les-pinsDo you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Mar 29, 2025
Belle Dune, Hauts-de-France, France
Travelling through the Channel Tunnel can be like entering a portal to an earlier era, where golf green fees are still reasonably priced.Belle Dune is the first of three courses Neil played within easy reach of Calais, and they're around half the price you'd pay for the equivalent standard in the UK.It’s a municipal course and it's a great example of how new courses can exist in harmony with nature.www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/belle-dunewww.golfdebelledune.fr/Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Mar 24, 2025
Goswick Links, Northumberland, England
Rail passengers speeding from London to Edinburgh will catch a glimpse of this pure links course as they approach Berwick-upon-Tweed. Golfers heading to Scotland by road will need to make a short detour off the A1. It's well worth it.Despite being highly ranked, Goswick's remote location means the club work hard to improve and promote the course to attract more visitors. It means it's great value for money.Ian gets a guided tour of the changes being planned which should make it even better.www.goswickgolfclub.com/www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/goswickDo you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Mar 19, 2025
North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
Champagne corks are popping and why not? There are very few courses in the world that are as good as North Berwick, and are as much fun to play.Other Scottish courses may host The Open and other major championshps — North Berwick isn't big enough to do that. But the number of top professionals who pay to visit when in the area is testament to how highly it is rated.Neil describes his best ever round on a Top 100 course while Ian has to make do with comedy..but both of us left North Berwick with a huge smile on our faces. www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/north-berwickwww.northberwickgolfclub.comDo you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!