The Golf Pilgrim

Neil White and Ian Woods

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 chanpagne 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 desination. All the episodes are stand alone - you don't have to listen to them in any particular order, but find out ore about your hosts in the Who? What? Why trailer episode.

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Who? What? Why?

Who? What? Why?

Send us a Text Message.Who are we and why are we reviewing top golf courses?www.thegolfpilgrim.comNeil White is a retired journalist who is obsessed with lists. Every year he attempts to see and review every movie released in the UK, and now he is attempting to play every course in the Top 100 list in England, the UK and Ireland, continental Europe...and ultimately, the world. He's an accredited rater for National Club Golfer, and a member of Chilwell Manor and Silloth on Solway. His golf course reviews can be found at www.thegolfpilgrim.com.Ian Woods is a freelance TV reporter with ITV News, after a long career at BBC News and Sky News. He's a former captain of the Press Golfing Society and a member of Fulwell Golf Club.

Episodes

Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Send us a Text Message.In sport, everyone knows how important it is to be First.Prestwick's fame is largely based on being the first venue of the Open Championship. That contest, over the original 12 holes, was won by Willie Park. Prestwick hosted the Open a total of 24 times, but it hasn't staged golf's oldest and most famous competition since 1925.So, a century later, does it still stand the test of time, as a true test of lnks golf?https://www.prestwickgc.co.uk/https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/prestwick

Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland

Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland

Send us a Text Message.NOW UPDATED!One of the world's greatest golf courses, owned by one of the world's most controversial men. Is it possible to discuss Turnberry without mentioning Trump? Of course not.One is universally praised; the other divides opinion like no man on earth.Would Turnberry be so good without Donald Trump's involvement? Would it stand a better chance of hosting another Open without his presence?Ian and Neil debate these questions - but the focus remains on one of the truly great places to play golf. And they hear why from Quintin Dunlop, Captain of Turnberry Golf Club and Leonard Van Nunen from LeadingCourses.com https://www.turnberrygolfclub.net/https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/turnberry-ailsa

Silloth on Solway, Cumbria, England

Silloth on Solway, Cumbria, England

Send us a Text Message."I loved the place so much I bought it."Well not quite...but Neil and his wife played one round at Silloth on Solway and immediately applied for membership. This is a hidden gem and probably the best value top 100 course in the UK, despite rating higher than many illustrious names in the list of great British courses. It can be a trek to get there, but if you do, you'll be rewarded with spectacular views and challenging links. https://www.sillothgolfclub.co.uk

Sunningdale New, Berkshire, England

Sunningdale New, Berkshire, England

Send us a Text Message.We're back at England's premier two-course club to play Sunningdale New - which is now more than a hundred years old. It's not quite as highly rated as the Old - but they're both in the Top 100 in the world!It's a tough round for Neil, but even more painful for his playing partner...https://www.sunningdalegolfclub.co.uk/https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/sunningdale-new

Moor Park, Hertfordshire, England

Moor Park, Hertfordshire, England

Send us a Text Message.Moor Park may have one of the grandest clubhouses in the UK, but was Neil's driving as majestic as the surroundings? Spoiler alert...no. This is a club which is steeped in history. And this is certainly the only episode where Capability Brown and Jane Austen will get a mention.Plus Ian confesses to locker room pilfering!https://www.moorparkgc.co.ukhttps://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/moor-park-high

Woking, Surrey, England

Woking, Surrey, England

Send us a Text Message.Woking - the first of the famous 3 Surrey Ws to be built and the second we've reviewed in recent weeks. It's a fantastic course to play, but Woking has also written a significant chapter in golf history. When the club introduced the first fairway bunkers on an inland course, it revolutionised golf architecture around the world.It also has some of the most undulating greens in the UK....which is Ian's excuse for three-putting on almost every hole... https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/wokinghttps://www.wokinggolfclub.co.uk

North Hants, Hampshire, England

North Hants, Hampshire, England

Send us a Text Message.The course where US Open champion and Ryder Cup hero Justin Rose mastered the game. Don't get lost on the way....it's North Hants, not Northants! It's about to undergo major renovation work which should help it retain its place in England's Top 100. Did Neil succeed in nailing his first ever hole in one?https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/north-hantshttps://www.northhantsgolf.co.uk

Rosapenna, County Donegal, Ireland. Part 2: St Patrick's Links

Rosapenna, County Donegal, Ireland. Part 2: St Patrick's Links

Send us a Text Message.Is this is the most spectacular course we've ever played?St Patrick's Links opened only three years ago, but a layout some have hailed as Tom Doak's masterpiece has already leapt into the top 50 in the world!We played it on a beautiful day when the course had surely never looked better. The scenery takes your breath away. But how did St Pat's play? And does its lack of on-site facilities let it down?Plenty to talk about in this episode...including how Ian had his BEST ROUND EVER! But don't let that put you off listening....https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/rosapenna-st-patrick-swww.rosapenna.ie/st-patricks-links-by-tom-doak-2021.html

Rosapenna, County Donegal, Ireland. Part 1: Sandy Hills and Old Tom Morris

Rosapenna, County Donegal, Ireland. Part 1: Sandy Hills and Old Tom Morris

Send us a Text Message.A three-day competition leads to a two-part podcast! Ian and Neil play in the Muckish Links Classic over the three courses at Rosapenna. (Muckish is the name of the mountain that looks down on this fantastic landscape.) In Part One we discuss Sandy Hills, which is ranked 61 in UK and Ireland. and Old Tom Morris which is rated the 32nd best course in Ireland.But don't miss Part 2 when we take on the new St Patrick's Links which has already leapt into the top 50 in the World!www.rosapenna.ie/sandy-hills-linkswww.rosapenna.ie/old-tom-morris-links

Woburn (Duchess), Bedfordshire, England

Woburn (Duchess), Bedfordshire, England

Send us a Text Message.The Duchess isn't rated as highly as the Duke's or Marquess courses, but all three benefit from a majestic setting at Woburn, and members there reckon it deserves higher praise. Ian and Neil are guided around the course by David Hay, son of Alex - Woburn's first Director of Golf who became known to millions as a BBC commentator.https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/woburn-duchesshttps://www.woburngolf.co.uk/visiting-woburn/

Huntercombe, Oxfordshire, England

Huntercombe, Oxfordshire, England

Send us a Text Message.What does Tim Henman have in common with James Bond? Does the former tennis player have a licence to kill? Or is 007 partial to a game of mixed doubles? Well, neither, actually. Bond author Ian Fleming was a member of Huntercombe Golf Club, and Henman regularly wins competitions at his home club.Ian and Neil reflect on not one but two rounds at this quaint course in Oxfordshire.https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/huntercombehttps://www.huntercombegolfclub.co.uk/

Gleneagles (King's and Queen's), Perthshire, Scotland

Gleneagles (King's and Queen's), Perthshire, Scotland

Send us a Text Message.The UK's Number One golf resort and a "glorious playground", according to their website. How were the swings of Neil and Mrs W in a competition organised by the Hole In One club? They played two of the three Championship courses at Gleneagles, the King's and Queens. Find out if they played like Jack (Nicklaus) or a pair of Jokers.www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/gleneagles-king-swww.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/gleneagles-queen-sgleneagles.com/golf

Golf De Seignosse, France

Golf De Seignosse, France

Send us a Text Message.Gorgeous Seignosse, near Biarritz will take your breath away- especially if you decide to walk rather than use a buggy! And save some energy for the big finish - a Par 6!www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/seignossewww.seignosse-golf.com/en/

Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus, Scotland

Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus, Scotland

Send us a Text Message.Carnoustie will be forever synonyous with Jean Van De Velde's meltdown which cost him The Open championship. So how would Neil and Mrs W cope with the burn on the 18th? And could they meet the challenge and avoid all the bunkers? www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/carnoustiewww.carnoustiegolflinks.com

Beau Desert, Staffordshire, England

Beau Desert, Staffordshire, England

Send us a Text Message.Beau Desert may have a French name, but it's in the heart of England. Neil and Ian pose the question - are Midlands courses are underrated? It's a current favourite of top 100 connoisseurs.And find out why the comedy moment was inches away from being a magnum of champagne moment.www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/beau-desert-reviewwww.bdgc.co.uk

Worplesdon, Surrey, England

Worplesdon, Surrey, England

Send us a Text Message.In the coming months Ian and Neil will play on all three of Surrey's famous 3 Ws. Woking, West Hill and Worplesdon. Like so many courses this winter, W also stands for Wet. But Worplesdon copes well with the deluge, and another W - wind - provides a comedy moment.www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/worplesdonwww.worplesdongc.co.uk

Real Golf De Pedreña, Spain

Real Golf De Pedreña, Spain

Send us a Text Message.Neil is back In Spain to pay homage to his hero. Pedrena was the course where a young genius called Seve Ballesteros first caddied and put into practice skills he learned by playing on a nearby beach. An exclusive club with fast and tricky greens - stay tuned for what happens on the 18th..... www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/real-golf-de-pedreñahttps://www.realgolfdepedrena.com

Golf De Chiberta, France

Golf De Chiberta, France

Send us a Text Message.Mr and Mrs W travel to Biarritz, to a club with more than a thousand members. And one of them, like a fine French wine, seems to improve with age.www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/chibertawww.golfchiberta.com

Sunningdale Old, Berkshire, England

Sunningdale Old, Berkshire, England

Send us a Text Message.This week Ian and Neil play one of the very best courses in the world - and discover the joy of golf with two canine companions. There'll be a bit of name-dropping too - as we play spot the celebrity.www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/sunningdale-oldwww.sunningdalegolfclub.co.uk/old_course

Who? What? Why?

Who? What? Why?

Send us a Text Message.Who are we and why are we reviewing top golf courses?www.thegolfpilgrim.comNeil White is a retired journalist who is obsessed with lists. Every year he attempts to see and review every movie released in the UK, and now he is attempting to play every course in the Top 100 list in England, the UK and Ireland, continental Europe...and ultimately, the world. He's an accredited rater for National Club Golfer, and a member of Chilwell Manor and Silloth on Solway. His golf course reviews can be found at www.thegolfpilgrim.com.Ian Woods is a freelance TV reporter with ITV News, after a long career at BBC News and Sky News. He's a former captain of the Press Golfing Society and a member of Fulwell Golf Club.