The Golf Pilgrim Top 100

Neil White and Ian Woods

This is the essential podcast for those planning to play the world's top golf courses.

We now have dozens of reviews from Top 100 courses in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Scandinavia, the USA and Australia…and the library is building every week. All the episodes are stand alone - you don't have to listen to them in any particular order.

In 2020 Neil White 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.

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152 episodes
Updated Saturday

Episodes152

Newest first

Dec 22, 2024 · 33 min
Hayling, Hampshire, England
The search for a golf course in great condition in the middle of winter, where fairway mats aren't compulsory, takes us to this highly-rated south coast links. But if you can wait until summer, this is a great place to take advantage of cheaper twilight rates. https://www.haylinggolf.co.uk/ https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/hayling Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Dec 19, 2024 · 35 min
Royal Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
It's our 50th episode!!! The 40C heat made Neil wilt at gorgeous Royal Adelaide but, fortunately, when it had dropped, he was fit to join Mrs W in an Ashes-style battle with their Aussie hosts. With the iconic train in the background, the fun (and the sledging) began. www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/royal-adelaide www.royaladelaidegolf.com.au/cms/ Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Dec 15, 2024 · 34 min
Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England
From its elevated position close to the coast, the Isle of Purbeck features views as good as any in the UK. The owners have put a lot of effort into improving the condition of the course in recent years. Ian enjoys a winter round with champagne and comedy in equal measure, and chats to the club's head greenkeeper about the challenge of keeping a course playable all year round. www.purbeckgolf.co.uk/ Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Dec 12, 2024 · 26 min
Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia
Here's a course you might not even have heard of - unless you live in Australia. It's not in the World's Top 100 - but it is in the Top 50 in Australia. Ian and Neil argue over whether it's even worth devoting an episode to discuss it….but Neil has played it, and reckons it's got some of the most memorable holes anywhere! So do let us know if you enjoyed it! www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/port-fairy www.portfairygolf.com.au/cms Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Dec 3, 2024 · 38 min
Knole Park, Kent, England
Deer me! Golfers at Knole Park must share the course with several hundred deer, as well as visitors to the National Trust's impressive stately home and grounds, once frequented by Henry VIII. But lovers of more recent history can walk in the footsteps of The Beatles, who filmed two music videos here! Some steep climbs provide splendid views of the Kent countryside, but a misplaced shot could leave you feeling like The Fool On The Hill.... www.knoleparkgolfclub.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/knole-park Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Nov 28, 2024 · 44 min
Royal Melbourne (West & East), Victoria, Australia
Strewth! What a pair of golf courses! Neil goes Down Under and finds that it's not just Australian beaches that have sand as far as the eye can see. Perfect your bunker shots here and you'll never have a problem getting out of them anywhere. Melbourne West is regularly rated in the top 10 courses in the world, and the East course is also one of the best in Australia. https://www.royalmelbourne.com.au/ https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/royal-melbourne-west https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/royal-melbourne-east Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Nov 17, 2024 · 36 min
Seacroft, Lincolnshire, England
Who doesn't like a bargain? Seacroft is the cheapest Top 100 Course in England, with a round available for less than £40 in winter, and even in summer you can get a twilight round for less than £50. And being a links course, it's still very playable in winter, with a different set of seasonal tees to provide a fresh test. https://www.seacroft-golfclub.co.uk/ www.thegolfpilgrim.com Win a round of golf with Neil and Ian at Top 100 Course Silloth-on-Solway! Enjoying the podcasts? We hope so….but we’d love it if you would rate and review us to help spread the word - and help more golfers find information about the best courses. If you rate and review us on this site, send us a copy of what you’ve written by clicking on the link “Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!” Include your email address when you text. The first fifty people to send us their review and their details will be entered into a draw, and we will invite one winner and a friend to join us for a fourball at Silloth on a mutually agreed date. Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Nov 11, 2024 · 49 min
Chart Hills, Kent, England
Is there a course in the UK with more sand? Let us know...but it certainly has the longest bunker we've ever seen, running more than two hundred yards along a fairway. We didn't count how many rakes it needed..... Chart Hills was designed by Sir Nick Faldo but after suffering from poor drainage has undergone major renovations in recent years, and has been rewarded with a place in England's Top 100. THIS EPISODE HAS NOW BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE AN INTERVIEW WITH CHART HILLS’ GENERAL MANAGER. www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/chart-hills www.charthills.co.uk Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Nov 4, 2024 · 41 min
West Hill, Surrey, England
Back to Surrey for the third of the famous three Ws. In recent years it has replaced thousands of trees with an abundance of heather. And we delve into West Hill's fascinating history, which has a touch of the macabre. www.westhillgc.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/west-hill Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Oct 20, 2024 · 32 min
Hindhead, Surrey, England
The writer who created Sherlock Holmes played a major role in the creation of this heathland gem. Arthur Conan Doyle was a founder member and the club's first President, and lived nearby. As did legendary golf commentator Peter Alliss, who was also a big fan of Hindhead, which boasts some spectacular holes you will never forget. www.hindheadgolfclub.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/hindhead Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Oct 15, 2024 · 44 min
Wentworth (West), Surrey, England
A celebratory episode, as Wentworth West, the home of the BMW PGA Championship, is the hundredth of the Top 100 Courses in England that Neil has managed to play. So we have cameo appearances from BBC cricket oommentator Jonathan Agnew (who's seen hundreds of centuries in his career, but none that have taken four years to complete.) Plus former Ryder Cup player Rafa Cabrero Bello on why Neil is the worst golfer he's ever seen! www.wentworthclub.com www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/wentworth-west Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Oct 4, 2024 · 37 min
Granville, Normandy. France
France's only links course, originally designed by Harry Colt, plays host to a Ryder Cup-style match between French and British journalists. Would Neil and Ian write themselves into Wryter Cup history? Sadly, if we said yes, it would be fake news.... www.golfdegranville.com www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/granville-links Win a round of golf with Neil and Ian at Top 100 Course Silloth-on-Solway! Enjoying the podcasts? We hope so….but we’d love it if you would rate and review us to help spread the word - and help more golfers find information about the best courses. If you rate and review us on this site, send us a copy of what you’ve written by clicking on the link “Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!” Include your email address when you text. The first fifty people to send us their review and their details will be entered into a draw, and we will invite one winner and a friend to join us for a fourball at Silloth on a mutually agreed date. Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Sep 28, 2024 · 42 min
Bethpage Black, New York, USA
Ryder Cup Special! It may be 12 months away but we are all looking forward to Europe defending the trophy on American soil. Our special guest is Sky Sports golf reporter Jamie Weir, who managed to stir up the crowd at the last Ryder Cup in Italy with his Capgate story about Patrick Cantlay. Jamie visited Bethpage Black a couple of days before Neil played the course which is regarded as one of the toughest anywhere. But the good news is that anyone can play, and it's a bargain....so long as you can manage to secure a tee time. parks.ny.gov/golf/11/details.aspx www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/bethpage-black Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Sep 27, 2024 · 38 min
Somerset Hills, New Jersey, USA
How do you get to play exclusive courses which are normally reserved for members and their guests? One solution is to pay to play in a charity golf day. Every year, Somerst Hills, a quirky but highly regarded Tillinghast creation, opens its doors to raise funds for a worthwhile cause. www.somersetcc.org www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/somerset-hills Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Sep 26, 2024 · 33 min
Winged Foot (West), New York, USA
If Colin Montgomerie has nightmares, they are likely to feature the 18th at Winged Foot, where he had a great chance of finally landing an elusive major title in 2006. Yet Americans tend to remember Phil Mickelson blowing his chance to win that US Open on the same hole. More recently Bryson DeChambeau tamed the famous course, but there were no spectators to cheer him on because of Covid restrictons. So how would Neil cope? wfgc.org www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/winged-foot-west Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Sep 24, 2024 · 31 min
Baltusrol (Lower) New Jersey, USA
The Golf Pilgrim heads to the USA! Baltusrol, 25 miles west of Manhattan has hosted 18 major championships, including victories by Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. It's rated number 97 in the Top 100 Golf Courses of the world, and is the first of a quartet of AW Tillinghast courses that Neil is playing this week. baltusrol.org www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/baltusrol-lower Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Sep 18, 2024 · 35 min
The Berkshire (Red and Blue), Berkshire, England
Some flags are Red Some flags are Blue Why play one great course When the Berkshire has two? You can tell we love these wonderful heathland courses. And with so many Surrey gems in the vicinty, we ask why more tourists don't come to the west of London for golfing holidays, rather than head for Scotland and Ireland. www.theberkshire.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/the-berkshire-blue www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/the-berkshire-red Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Sep 5, 2024 · 34 min
Little Aston, West Midlands, England
What's great about Little Aston? Well, apart from a magnificent course and possibly the best putting green anywhere, they make a point of welcoming visitors with a small gift. www.littleastongolf.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/little-aston Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Aug 25, 2024 · 29 min
JCB, Staffordshire, England
If you build it, who will come? The big yellow diggers have transformed this part of Staffordshire into the JCB owner’s fields of dreams. It’s now hosting LIV events, so it’s good enough for the professionals. But is it somewhere mid-handicappers will enjoy? www.jcbgolfandcountryclub.com www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/__jcb Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!
Aug 21, 2024 · 35 min
Portstewart, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Are there more dramatic opening holes in the UK and Ireland? The scenery and the giant dunes help make Portstewart's front 9 among the best links courses anywhere. But is it a game of two halves? Well, the club are improving holes on the back 9 to keep the thrills coming. And even in a three club wind, Ian manages a decent round. www.portstewartgc.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/portstewart Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!