Top 100 Golf Courses of the World 2014
Our latest and most eagerly awaited World Top 100 ranking list is unveiled
12th December 2013
We now have two hundred and eighty-seven golf courses vying for a ranking position within our Top 100 Golf Courses of the World.
It’s certainly no easy task, as I explained from atop my soap box last time round, but I’m not going to go over old ground. If you are remotely interested in the challenges we face, click here to read more. So, without further ado, I’ll get on and focus on our new 2014 World Top 100 rankings.
Once again there are numerous positional changes, but there are only six new entries, three of which are classic Golden Age layouts, two from the USA, both designed by Alister MacKenzie and one from England, designed by Harry Colt. It therefore gives me great pleasure to welcome Pasatiempo, Valley Club of Montecito and St George’s Hill into the world hundred.
Those who know a thing or two about South African golf courses regard Leopard Creek (opened in 1996) as the best Rainbow Nation layout. Host to the Alfred Dunhill Championship since 2005, Leopard Creek is a unique cocktail of golf and safari and we welcome this Gary Player-designed course back onto our top-flight ranking list.
We also welcome two brand new courses that break into the hundred for the first time. Trump International Golf Links opened its tees for play in July 2012. European Tour officials spoke of the Scottish venue as worthy of hosting major professional events in the future. One of our reviewers stated “it’s more painting by numbers than a real masterpiece… more Disney than dune land”. However, the majority of our reviewers believe Martin Hawtree’s layout is magnificent and will only get better as it settles in.
It’s said that a number of design companies declined the chance to work on our second brand new entry. The developer of Shanqin Bay, located in the south east of Hainan Island, eventually acquired the services of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Constructed in a manner unlike anything that’s been built before in China, the Shanqin Bay golf course might just become the benchmark for those still to come. Our International Consultant Masa Nishijima played the course earlier this year and also last year and he believes that Shanqin Bay is the best that China has to offer but, being picky, mentioned that there may be too many short par fours on the card.
Unsurprisingly, the USA has the most world ranked courses featured on our 2014 chart, many more than any other country. Forty-six American courses (one down from last year) make our list, and there is still no doubt that the quality of US golf facilities is second to none. The number of Asian courses featured is still too few for my liking, but the good news once again is that more Asian courses than ever before made it onto our shortlist.
European courses continue to struggle to make the World rankings and we sadly wave goodbye to the fabulous Les Bordes this time round. Canadian courses also find it hard and many will be disappointed to find that Cabot Links narrowly missed out, but we think that next time round it will be included.
Unfortunately, we lose two Antipodean courses, one from Australia (Royal Adelaide) and one from New Zealand (Paraparaumu Beach), but there’s a massive rise of forty-eight places for Bill Coore’s Barnbougle Lost Farm, which debuted at 85th last time.
We’ve previously said that the Baja California Sur Peninsula is a golfing hotspot and Diamante Dunes continues to hold its own against the Ocean course at Cabo del Sol in Mexico.
Once again there are mixed fortunes for British and Irish courses, with some climbers and fallers. But with two new additions to the hundred, the total number of courses listed from this small part of the world now totals an impressive thirty-two.
We always welcome feedback, so please feel free to let us know what you think of our latest 2014 World Top 100. We don’t claim to be “definitive” but we do like to think that we’re the most “informed” and considered golf course rankings in the business. If you’ve played any of our featured courses in the World Top 100, we’d love to know what you think, so why not post a course review?
Keith Baxter
Editor-in-Chief
www.top100golfcourses.com
| 2014 | Course | Move |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pine Valley | No change |
| 2 | Cypress Point | No change |
| 3 | Royal County Down (Championship) | No change |
| 4 | St Andrews (Old) | Up 5 |
| 5 | Shinnecock Hills | Down 1 |
| 6 | Augusta National | Down 1 |
| 7 | National Golf Links of America | Up 8 |
| 8 | Royal Melbourne (West) | Up 4 |
| 9 | Muirfield | Up 1 |
| 10 | Sand Hills | Down 4 |
| 11 | Oakmont | Down 4 |
| 12 | Royal Dornoch (Championship) | Up 1 |
| 13 | Merion (East) | Down 5 |
| 14 | Pebble Beach | Down 2 |
| 15 | Royal Portrush (Dunluce) | Down 1 |
| 16 | Bandon Dunes (Pacific Dunes) | No change |
| 17 | Crystal Downs | Up 3 |
| 18 | Turnberry (Ailsa) | Down 1 |
| 19 | Royal St George's | Up 3 |
| 20 | Kingston Heath | Down 2 |
| 21 | Ballybunion (Old) | Down 2 |
| 22 | Chicago | Up 1 |
| 23 | Winged Foot (West) | Down 2 |
| 24 | Sunningdale (Old) | Up 4 |
| 25 | Fishers Island | Down 1 |
| 26 | Pinehurst (No.2) | Up 1 |
| 27 | Prairie Dunes | Up 4 |
| 28 | Barnbougle Dunes | Up 2 |
| 29 | Royal Birkdale | Down 3 |
| 30 | Carnoustie (Championship) | Down 1 |
| 31 | Seminole | Down 6 |
| 32 | San Francisco | Up 8 |
| 33 | Friar's Head | Down 1 |
| 34 | Hirono | Up 8 |
| 35 | Lahinch (Old) | Up 8 |
| 36 | Cape Kidnappers | Down 1 |
| 37 | Barnbougle Lost Farm | Up 48 |
| 38 | Riviera | Up 3 |
| 39 | Los Angeles (North) | Up 24 |
| 40 | Kingsbarns | Down 3 |
| 41 | Country Club (Clyde & Squirrel) | Down 5 |
| 42 | Oakland Hills (South) | Down 4 |
| 43 | New South Wales | Down 10 |
| 44 | Portmarnock (Old) | Up 2 |
| 45 | Kiawah Island (Ocean) | No change |
| 46 | Whistling Straits (Straits) | Down 12 |
| 47 | Ballyneal | Up 2 |
| 48 | Sunningdale (New) | Up 9 |
| 49 | Royal Lytham & St Annes | Down 5 |
| 50 | Bethpage (Black) | No change |
| 51 | North Berwick (West) | Up 19 |
| 52 | Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog) | Down 4 |
| 53 | Morfontaine | Up 6 |
| 54 | Muirfield Village | No change |
| 55 | St George's | No change |
| 56 | Olympic Club (Lake) | Down 9 |
| 57 | Highlands Links | Down 6 |
| 58 | Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) | Down 19 |
| 59 | Bandon Dunes (Bandon Dunes) | Up 3 |
| 60 | Golf Club | Up 1 |
| 61 | Waterville | Down 3 |
| 62 | Kawana (Fuji) | Up 2 |
| 63 | Royal Troon (Old) | Down 3 |
| 64 | Sebonack | Up 7 |
| 65 | Castle Stuart | Up 31 |
| 66 | TPC at Sawgrass (Stadium) | Up 12 |
| 67 | Diamante Dunes | Up 2 |
| 68 | Old Sandwich | Up 8 |
| 69 | Garden City | Up 4 |
| 70 | Kauri Cliffs | Down 17 |
| 71 | Walton Heath (Old) | Up 9 |
| 72 | Bandon Dunes (Old Macdonald) | Up 11 |
| 73 | Shoreacres | Up 22 |
| 74 | Ganton | Down 18 |
| 75 | Camargo | Up 24 |
| 76 | Cabo del Sol (Ocean) | Down 4 |
| 77 | Oak Hill (East) | Down 25 |
| 78 | Loch Lomond | Down 12 |
| 79 | Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie) | Down 2 |
| 80 | Quaker Ridge | Up 11 |
| 81 | Somerset Hills | Up 1 |
| 82 | Baltusrol (Lower) | Down 15 |
| 83 | European Club | Down 15 |
| 84 | Pasatiempo | NEW |
| 85 | Royal Liverpool | Down 1 |
| 86 | Royal Porthcawl | Down 11 |
| 87 | Swinley Forest | Down 6 |
| 88 | Maidstone | No change |
| 89 | Noordwijkse | Up 11 |
| 90 | Shadow Creek (North) | Down 11 |
| 91 | Cruden Bay | Up 1 |
| 92 | PGA de Catalunya (Stadium) | Up 6 |
| 93 | Trump International Golf Links | NEW |
| 94 | Shanqin Bay | NEW |
| 95 | Tokyo | Down 2 |
| 96 | St George’s Hill | NEW |
| 97 | Valderrama | Down 8 |
| 98 | Valley Club of Montecito | NEW |
| 99 | National (Moonah) | Down 9 |
| 100 | Leopard Creek | NEW |
Click to see the new World Top 100 Golf Courses in detail.
Breakdown of courses by country (previous number in parenthesis):
USA 46 (47), Scotland 13 (12), England 11 (10), Australia 6 (7), Ireland 5 (5), New Zealand 2 (3), Japan 3 (3), Canada 2 (2), China 1 (0), France 1 (2), Northern Ireland 2 (2), Spain 2 (2), Mexico 2 (2), Dominican Republic 1 (1), Netherlands 1 (1), Wales 1 (1), South Africa 1 (0)
The six courses that made way for the new are: Les Bordes, Wade Hampton, Southern Hills, Bandon Dunes (Bandon Trails), Royal Adelaide and Paraparaumu Beach.
South East England - Top 50 Golf Courses 2017 This release for England’s South East is the seventh and final update that will inform our upcoming English Top 100 rankings. The South East region is where you’ll find the nation’s largest swathe of heathland, where there is seemingly an infinite number of classic heathery courses from which to choose. There’s also a trio of Open Championship venues in this region (one current and two former), and it’s the venerable Royal St George’s that heads our inaugural South East Top 50 table. England’s South East region incorporates the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex. It’s the most densely populated of England’s nine “official” regions where more than eight and a half million people reside. Their golfing needs are served by approximately 475 golf clubs in this region. Selecting the best 10% for our inaugural Top 50 was surprisingly easy because the vast majority are already ranked nationally in our England Top 100. Our new South East regional Top 50 features six World Top 100 ranked courses, twenty-four layouts that are currently ranked in our GB&I hundred, and forty-four that are listed in our current English Top 100. The South East is undeniably the strongest golfing region in England – whichever way you care to analyse it. Underpinning Royal St George’s (#1), the Old course at Sunningdale Golf Club (#2) and its younger sibling the New (#3) are the two premier heathland courses in the country. Many well-travelled golfers believe that Sunningdale is the best 36-hole golf club in the world. Richard Smith, one of our respected reviewers, played here in July: “A day at Sunningdale is a treat to treasure. This is great golf in a beautiful setting on courses oozing with history. This was one of the great golfing days in my life to play the Old and New together.” Swinley Forest (#4) is Harry Colt’s “least bad course” and it’s enjoying a renaissance following the addition of new back tees, which now stretch the layout to around 6,400 yards from the tips. Richard Smith commented as follows: “My first impression after finishing was that this was the hardest 6,400- yard course I had ever played… Swinley is a course that absolutely demands precision and the ability to work the ball in all directions. Every shot needs to be thought and played with a purpose. I think the thing that elevates Swinley to the highest level is a combination of the strategic options available on each shot and the testing greens and approaches.” St George’s Hill (#5) is another outstanding Harry Colt layout which is still vastly underrated by some publications. It has featured in our World Top 100 for a number of years now and its place in that esteemed list is really well deserved. Walton Heath’s Old course (#6) does tend to divide opinion somewhat and its detractors tend to complain about the holes around the turn – which had to be altered to accommodate London’s M25 orbital motorway – but the Old is perhaps the most authentic heathland layout in the South East, where the tangly heather is at its most tenacious. West Sussex (#7) at Pulborough is one of my personal heathland favourites and Bernard Darwin described it as “a little sandy jewel set in the Sussex clay”. It’s considered to be too short by modern standards and maybe it’s one par five away from magnificence, however, along with Rye, it’s one of the toughest par 68s I’ve ever played and holding a score together on the back nine is easier said than done. Talking of brutal homeward nines, few come much tougher than the backside at Royal Cinque Ports (#8) in Deal. Despite its Open pedigree, the rumpled and crumpled links at Sandwich overshadows Deal, but the greensites at Royal Cinque Ports are every bit as good as its more illustrious regal near neighbour. The West course at Wentworth (#9) has been through some tough times in the last decade or so. We did wonder whether lost love would ever return to Virginia Water’s West course – The rise and fall of the troubled Burma Road. We teed it up on the West a couple of weeks ago and the improvements are stark. There is no doubt that the recent multi-million pound revamp, which included creeping bent re-seeding and installation of sub-air greens, has made a marked difference. Retuning the course back to the old Harry Colt design has not only pleased us, but also many of the Tour players – and the work is not yet finished. Further improvements will be undertaken over this coming winter in readiness for next spring’s BMW PGA Championship. Shhh naysayers. Nobody could possibly accuse the Berkshire’s Red course (#10) of being dull. Its exciting 6-6-6 routing keeps you on your toes and there’s only one consecutive pair of holes with the same par values at the back-to-back short par fours (11 and 12) and both these holes are set magnificently on the higher ground. The Old course at Rye (#11) was Harry Colt’s inaugural design where the routing has been altered and improved down the years by several architects, including Tom Simpson and Sir Guy Campbell. Many wonder why Rye is not a permanent feature in the World Top 100, others think – rather like West Sussex – that it’s missing a strong enough mix of holes. Queenwood (#12) is the course that David McLay Kidd built for the club’s small but perfectly formed membership and their very fortunate friends. With probably the best tee to green grooming in England, Queenwood is where many top players hone their game. In the words of Fergal O’Leary: “Expect to feel like a king off the course, and then be challenged like a PGA Tour professional the minute you step on the first tee.” According to Tom Doak, Hankley Common (#13) “provokes mixed emotions; if the strategy ever matched the setting, you could have a world beater.” Undeniably a most enjoyable element of the course is the majesty of the situation, which is quiet and genteel in the classical English mould. Woking (#14) for some is already a world beater and it was here where a few golf mad barristers, with the help of Tom Dunn, created the first experimental heathland layout in 1893. Worplesdon (#15) is perhaps the prettiest of Surrey’s trinity of “Ws” and it was John Abercromby’s inaugural design that dates back to 1908 with the greens and bunkers constructed by Willie Park Junior. Little has changed here after more than 100 years. The East course at Wentworth (#16) was the first course Harry Colt built at Virginia Water. It has remained largely untouched since it was laid out two years before the second unofficial matches between American and British professionals were staged here in 1926, one year prior to the inauguration of the Ryder Cup. Hindhead (#17) has come on in leaps and bounds in the last decade and it’s now one of the premier courses in Surrey thanks to a plethora of subtle modifications and a step change in greenkeeping standards. It’s one of the most memorable courses in the county. West Hill (#18) is the third member of the trio of W’s and it too has improved markedly in the last few years. A massive tree-clearing programme has now completed, creating more width and enabling an already heathery layout to flourish. The Addington (#19) has been underrated for a while now, largely due to tree encroachment which is gradually being addressed. However, there’s no denying the course’s dramatic, tumbling topography that takes golfers on a wild and exciting ride under the watchful gaze of the London city skyline. The Blue course at The Berkshire (#20) is the Red’s understudy. Ed Battye, the founder of Golf Empire, reckons that “the run of holes from the 11th onwards are really what define the Blue… They are all energetic holes and there is more going on over this closing stretch than what has gone before it.” Our first South East Top 50 features courses in the 21-50 range that we’d happily play every week. The undeniable quality and quantity of golf on offer in this region is second to none in the British Isles. It doesn’t make sense to mention every layout here, but we feature each one prominently within our Top 100 web pages. However, we’ll mention a few South East courses that have pleasantly surprised us recently. These have flown under the radar and we think they are worthy of highlighting. Knole Park (#42) has yet to appear within our English Top 100, but that will change very soon. This 1924 John Abercromby design is laid out within an enormous 1,000-acre estate and it’s a thrilling layout which plays firm and fast over an old deer park where fallow deer still roam freely today. We should perhaps pay closer attention to the writings of Bernard Darwin who, in 1925, wrote the following passage in The Golf Courses of Great Britain: [Knole Park] “is still very new, but I think, when it is a little older, few, if any, park courses will be better. Certainly none will be prettier. There are the loveliest holes down winding forest glades, full of romantic possibilities…” Royal Wimbledon (#43) is another club that has perennially missed out on a national ranking position, although in 2008 it did make a brief appearance in our English Top 100. The club really couldn’t care less whether or not their course is ranked, such is their indifference to ratings, however, anyone can play here by following simple protocol. Those that have teed it up at this Harry Colt-touched heathland cum parkland track delight at Colt’s signature par threes. Piltdown (#47) is yet another club in this region that is investing heavily in its primary asset, the golf course. We were very impressed when we played here on two separate occasions recently. Just like its neighbour on the other side of Ashdown Forest, Piltdown is bunkerless, and the absence of sand traps somehow play trickery with distances. It’s a charming course that doesn’t have strong architectural provenance but it’s a solid layout nonetheless. Brokenhurst Manor (#49) is set in the heart of the New Forest and it’s another unsung Harry Colt design which is unusually configured in three returning 6-hole loops. As is often the case with Colt layouts, the stars of the show are the one-shotters which look longer than they actually play, but there are plenty of other solid holes throughout the card. There’s undeniably a heathland look and feel to the entire layout but with a distinct lack of heather which the club is trying to introduce in places. Despite a tree-clearing programme, there’s an opportunity to open the site up further. Farnham (#50) has languished for too long in the lower reaches of our Surrey Best In County rankings. A recent visit to the club proved how important it is to regularly re-play courses. Located in a charming village called The Sands, Farnham is half parkland and half heathland. The course starts and ends on the flatter, parkland ground, and the holes in between are routed across the heathery ground where the land movement is more stirring. Some of these sandy holes would grace any Top 100 heathland course. We played the new and ultra-exclusive David McLay Kidd and Tom Watson co-design at Beaverbrook Golf Club earlier this year and felt it has great potential, but we decided not to list it in our Surrey Best In County rankings this time, largely due to insufficient votes. Finally for those eagle-eyed observers, we’ve extended our Kent Best In County rankings from a Top 25 to a Top 30. We decided there were a number of solid courses in this golf rich county deserving credit. South East England - Top 50 Golf Courses 2017 Rank/ Click the following links to see in detail our latest Best In County rankings for the eight South East England counties: Berkshire Top 15 Golf Courses 2017 Buckinghamshire Top 10 Golf Courses 2017 Hampshire Top 20 Golf Courses 2017 Kent Top 30 Golf Courses 2017 Middlesex Top 10 Golf Courses 2017 Oxfordshire Top 10 Golf Courses 2017 Surrey Top 40 Golf Courses 2017 Sussex Top 20 Golf Courses 2017 Keith Baxter Top 100 Golf Courses
Top 100 has launched its podcast series hosted by our own James Henderson called Top 100 Clubhouse. James' unique approach often explores the people behind the places we love to visit and play. What Are The Top 100 Clubhouse Podcasts About? Top 100 Clubhouse is the ultimate podcast for golf enthusiasts! Join us as we delve deep into the minds of fascinating individuals from every corner of the golfing world. From players to course designers, caddies to golf historians, we'll leave no stone unturned in our quest to share unique insights and experiences with the Top100 Community. Together we'll explore the stunning courses and breathtaking landscapes, enjoying the unforgettable stories that bring the game of golf to life. How Do I Listen To The Latest Top 100 Clubhouse Podcast? You can download and listen on the following links. Listen now, wherever you download your podcast! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcast Podtail Who Should Be Our Next Guest? Top 100 members can share their views on who should join the next Top 100 Clubhouse podcast show. If you have an idea who you would like to hear, why not drop our Top 100 Clubhouse host James Henderson an email at: james@top100golfcourses.com Latest 2025 Top 100 Clubhouse Episodes Episode 62: Ru McDonald, Cruden Bay and Scottish Golf In this week's pod, Ru McDonald (Formerly DP World Tour Social Media Manager) joins Jasper to discuss his home club of Cruden Bay, his new golf holiday rental business, and golf in Scotland more broadly. Listen on Apple Podcasts Episode 61: DJ Piehowski In this episode, No Laying Up's DJ Piehowski joins the podcast to discuss his journey in the golf industry. He then gives us his thoughts on the latest goings on around the golfing world (TGL, PGA Tour/LIV unification, The distance debate etc), and his favourite courses from the last few years of travel. Listen on Apple Podcasts Episode 60: 2025 PGA Show In the last few weeks, James & Jasper headed to Orlando to explore the PGA Show. In this episode, they discuss their thoughts on the experience, and some broader themes in the golf industry. Listen on Apple Podcasts Episode 59: The Valley Course at Royal Portrush In this episode, Jasper sits down with Gary McNeill (head pro at Royal Portrush) to discuss the changes on the Valley Course and what it will be like when it reopens next year. Listen on Apple Podcasts Episode 58: Brett Hochstein - Building a Career in Golf Course Design In this episode, Jasper is joined by golf course designer Brett Hochstein. He discusses how his career got off to a rocky start during the 2008 Financial Crash and how he used that time to develop skills in greenkeeping and course management. He also discusses his recent input at various golden-age courses, including Pasatiempo. Listen on Apple Episode 57: Golf in New Zealand In this episode, Jasper joins James to discuss his recent trip to New Zealand and the golf scene on the North Island. He discusses Te Arai, Tara Iti & Waverley, among others. Listen on Apple Episode 56: The Most Golf Courses Play In A Year? In this podcast, Jasper is joined by Josh Simpson (AKA The Ginger Golfer) to discuss his 2025 attempt to break the Guinness World Record for most golf courses played in a year. Listen on Apple Episode 55: Walton Heath Golf Club James & Jasper got the chance to visit the beautiful Walton Heath, in Surrey, and recorded a brief 15 minute chat in their historic clubhouse. Listen on Apple Episode 53: Royal Burgess Golf Club - The Oldest in the World James chats to two members of Royal Burgess (Willie Finlayson & Dr Douglas Stuart) about the history of this great golf club. Listen on Apple 2024 Top 100 Clubhouse Episodes Episode 52: USA Rankings Update In this episode, Jasper & James discuss our latest Top 100 USA list, and the big runners and riders. They also discuss the future of golf course architecture, and some industry trends to look out for in 2025 and beyond. Listen on Apple Episode 51: Lockhart Travel Club In this week's podcast, James welcomes David Davis (CEO Of Top 100 Golf Courses) to the podcast, to talk about The Lockhart Travel Club. It is a sister company of Top 100, and provides members with the opportunity to play world class golf all around the world, and meet like minded golfers. Listen on Apple Episode 50: Year in Review In this episode, James & Jasper reflect on their golf course highlights of 2024, and look ahead to Top100's 2025 plans. Listen on Apple Episode 49: Forward Golf - The Next Evolution in Club Fitting In this episode, Jasper is joined by Chris Birch, who is the first person in the UK to adopt the Foreward Golf model of club fitting. They discuss what the method involves, and why it can be more effective than traditional, manufacturer led club fitting. Listen Here Episode 47: Sunningdale New with Adrian Pepper In this first episode with Adrian Pepper, he gives an introduction into why he has decided to write a book on the history of the New Course, for it's centenary. Part One Part Two Episode 46: CA & NY Rankings In this episode, James & Jasper discuss the recent release of new Top 100 lists in California and New York. They go through some of the social media response to the lists, and outline some of the work that goes into creating them. Listen on Apple Episode 45: Evan Olauson - Maintaining Golf Greywolf This week, Evan Olauson joins the podcast to discuss how he is able to maintain Greywolf Golf Course in the Rocky Mountains through the long Canadian winter. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 44: Brian Schneider - Building Old Barnwell In this episode, golf course architect Brian Schneider joins James & Jasper to discuss the building and development of Old Barnwell. He also discusses his background in golf, and his work on recreating The Lido. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 43: The President's Cup Of Golf Course Architecture In this episode, James & Jasper take charge the US and international Teams respectively, and are charged with choosing a golf course from each player's home country/state. Who would win in a President's Cup Of Golf Courses? Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 42: Beau Welling - Working with Tiger Woods In this episode of The Top100 Clubhouse, James is joined by golf course architect Beau Welling to discuss his illustrious career, his relationship with Tiger Woods, and his involvement in the PGA Tour's TGL project which is due to begin next January. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 41: Robin Sieger - Silent Mind Golf In this episode of The Clubhouse, James is joined by Robin Sieger, and they discuss the psychological side of playing golf. They also chat about some of Robin's favourite courses, and his golf-related world record! Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episodes 39 & 40: John Low - Golf Course Architectrure's Forgotten Man In this episode of The Top 100 Clubhouse, James and Jasper are joined by Golf Historian Bob Crosby, to discuss the life and legacy of John Low. He was an influential figure in shaping the direction of golf course architecture, and yet he is little known today. Listen To Episode 39 (Part One) Here Apple Podcasts Listen To Episode 40 (Part Two) Here Apple Podcasts Episode 38: Christine Fraser - A Fresh Perspective on Golf Course Architecture In this episode, James and Jasper are joined by Christine Fraser to discuss her unique perspective on golf course architecture. She began her career with Martin Hawtree in the South East of England and now runs her own company where she looks to use golf course architecture to drive meaningful change in communities. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 37: Jasper Miners - Introducing the Editor of Top 100 Golf Courses In this episode, James is joined by the newest member of the Top100 team, Jasper Miners (AKA @Evalu18Golf), to discuss the world of golf course architecture, and what is coming next for Top100. Listen in, and let us know in the comments what you would like to see next from Top100 Golf Courses. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 36: Wilma Erskine OBE - Bringing The Open to Royal Portrush In this episode James Henderson is joined by Wilma Erskine OBE, BEM. Wilma was the manager at Royal Portrush Golf Club for 35 years, and played a key role in bringing the Open Championship back to Northern Ireland in 2019. Wilma shares some fascinating insights into golf club management and explains how Royal Portrush has progressed from the dark days of the Troubles, into one of the highest-ranked courses in the world. We hope you enjoy! Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 35: Part 4 - Northern Irish Golf Road Trip: Royal County Down In the final episode from our NI Golf Road Trip, James chats to the legendary Kevan Whitson; The head professional at Royal County Down Golf Club. They talk about Kevan's route to the game, the club's history and what makes the course so special. Check out the accompanying videos on our YouTube channel. Search 'Top 100 Golf Courses' on YouTube. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 34: Part 3 - Northern Irish Golf Road Trip: Portstewart Golf Club In the third episode of our new series, the Top100 Golf Courses team visit Portstewart Golf Club. James Henderson chats with General Manager, David MacLaren.Make sure to watch video reviews of each course on our YouTube channel, and keep an eye out for the rest of our Northern Irish Golf Road Trip series! Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 33: Part 2 - Northern Irish Golf Road Trip: Castlerock Golf Club In the second episode of our new series, the Top100 Golf Courses team visit Castlerock Golf Club. James Henderson chats with Caddy Master Gordon Patterson, and Head Pro Robert Irvine. Make sure to watch video reviews of each course on our YouTube channel, and keep an eye out for the rest of our Northern Irish Golf Road Trip series! Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 32: Part 1 - Northern Irish Golf Road Trip: Royal Portrush In the first episode of our new series, the Top100 Golf Courses team visit the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club. This venue will play host to the 2025 Open Championship, and in this episode, James Henderson chats with Gary McNeill (head pro at Royal Portrush) about the preparation required to host such a prestigious tournament. Make sure to watch video reviews of each course on our YouTube channel, and keep an eye out for the rest of our Northern Irish Golf Road Trip series! Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 31: Why is Augusta National 12th in our World Rankings? A special episode to discuss why Augusta National is ranked 12th in our Top100golfcourses.com World Rankings! Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 30: Matt Adamski - General Manager at Sweetens Cove In this episode James Henderson is joined by Matt Adamski, who is the GM at Sweetens Cove in Tennessee, USA. He talks about how he got the job, and how the interview experience was in stark contrast to all of his prior experience in the golf industry. He talks about the merchandise offering from 'the shed', the course itself, and what makes the Sweetens experience so special. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 29: Tyler Rae - Golf Course Architect & Donald Ross Expert In this episode, James is joined by renowned golf course architect Tyler Rae. Tyler has worked on many high profile restoration projects, and also works on original courses. In this episode he talks through the challenges and joys of working in this industry, and expounds on what makes golf so special to him. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 28: Ryan Fox We welcome Ryan Fox to the Top 100 Clubhouse. Ryan a pro golfer currently ranked 41st in the world and 1st in New Zealand. He talks about how the All Blacks rugby team, most notably his legendary father Grant, have impacted his golfing career. We discuss his experience playing on the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour and the European Tour, as well as New Zealand's rise to becoming a leading golf destination. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 27: Colin Burns - Managing Winged Foot In the first new episode of 2024 James is joined by Colin Burns, the former GM at Winged Foot Golf Club. They have a wide ranging discussion about managing a prestigious golf club, hosting a US Open during Covid and Colin's favourite golf courses. Listen Here Apple Podcasts 2023 Top 100 Clubhouse Podcast Releases Episodes 24-26: 2023 Year-End Review - Parts 1-3 This week on Top 100 Clubhouse James Henderson, Simon Holt and David Davis get together to carry out a review of the 2023 golfing year! They chat about the amazing courses they have visited in the past 12 months, and discuss the places you should be adding to your golfing itinerary in 2024! Listen to Part 1 Apple Podcasts Listen to Part 2 Apple Podcasts Listen to Part 3 Apple Podcasts Episode 23: Josh Ralston - Saudi Arabian Involvement In Golf In this week's episode of The Clubhouse James is joined by Josh Ralston (a professor at Edinburgh University). They discuss the ongoing LIV/PGA Tour negotiations, and why Saudi Arabia decided to get involved in golf in the first place. They also talk through Josh's favourite courses from around the world on the back end. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 22: Allesandra Kutz - Being A Female Club Fitter & Playing England's Top100 In this episode of The Clubhouse, James is joined by Allesandra Kutz. Allesandra played high-level golf at college but then fell out of love with the game. Recently, she got the bug again and is now trying to crack England's Top100 Golf Courses and document her journey. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 21: Kyle Cruickshank - Course Manager at The North Berwick Golf Club This week we welcome Kyle Cruickshank to the Top 100 Clubhouse. Kyle's a fascinating individual who's worked all over the world from Royal Melbourne to Muirfield and is now the course manager at the fantastic North Berwick. We discuss his career journey so far, the current renovations taking place at North Berwick, and his Top 5 Favourite Courses. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 20: Jim Rohrstaff - Te Arai Links In this episode of The Clubhouse, our CEO (Simon Holt) is in New Zealand for a golf trip. He checks in with Jim Rohrstaff, the managing director at Te Arai links, to chat about the incredible visitor experience, their favourite holes and much more. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 19: Nordic Special - Frode Hov (Lofoten Links) & Per G. Nyman (Växjö Golf Club) In this episode of 'Top100 Clubhouse' James is joined by Frode Hov, the driving force behind the sensational Lofoten Links in Norway. They discuss what makes Lofoten such a special place, and why it's a must-visit for any golf course lover! Next, James chats to Swedish pro golfer Per G. Nyman about his time competing on the European Tour and Challenge Tour, and how he then made the move from pro golf to golf course management, he's currently managing Växjö Golf Club in Sweden. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 18: David McLay Kidd - Designing The Castle Course & Dealing With Controversy In this episode of 'The Clubhouse' James is joined by a Scottish golf architecture legend; David McLay Kidd. The Glasgow-born Kidd founded DMK Golf Design in 2000, and ultimately went on to design incredible (but sometimes divisive) courses such as Bandon Dunes, St. Andrews (Castle) & Gamble Sands in Washington State. In this interview, James talks to him about his life in golf, and how he approaches/thinks about course design. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 17 - Matt Ward - Journalist at 100 Major Championships & 12 Ryder Cup's This week we welcome golf journalist Matt Ward to the Clubhouse. Matt is the top reviewer on top100golfcourses.com, he's played over 2000 golf courses, and written 831 reviews! As a journalist, Matt has attended 100 Majors and 12 Ryder Cup's, and has interviewed countless high-profile golfers. In this wide-ranging interview, Matt discusses his prestigious career, the game's all-time great players, and sheds light on what makes a top golf course. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 16: Patrick Koenig - Breaking World Records With The RGV Golf Tour This week, legendary golf photographer Patrick Koenig joins us in the Clubhouse. We discuss his current endeavour on the RGV golf tour, where he has broken the world record for most 18-hole rounds of golf played in a year. He also discusses some of his favourite courses and locations from years of travel as a photographer. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 15: John Caven - St. George's Golf and Country Club This week we welcome John Caven to the Clubhouse. John is the General Manager at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Ontario, Canada. He previously worked at the exclusive Loch Lomond Golf Club and has a lot to say about life in the golf industry and what it takes to host professional events in the current climate. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 14: David Davis: International Golf Course Rater & Co-Founder of The Lockhart Travel Club This week we welcome David Davis to the Clubhouse. David is a Partner at Top100golfcourses.com and Co-Founder of The Lockhart Travel Club. The 43rd person to finish playing the World Top 100 (November 2018). A true golf travel and golf course architecture enthusiast who has been a golf course panelist and international course rater for over 15 years. A father of 3 kids and a lifetime expat, originally from Oregon, having now lived overseas (in The Netherlands) for the better part of 30 years. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 13: Kurtis Bowman - Augusta National & La Haciena This week we welcome golf course architect Kurtis Bowman to the Top 100 Clubhouse. Kurtis talks to us about his new design at La Hacienda in Spain; he also details the reasons for his sabbatical from golf and his subsequent return to the industry. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 12: Javier Reviriego - CEO at Real Club Valderrama This week we welcome Javier Reviriego to the Top 100 Clubhouse. Javier is currently the CEO at Real Club Valderrama, one of the world's Top 100 courses. He has a highly impressive CV having previously been head pro at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, and general manager at both Fuerteventura, and Finca Cortesin, which hosted the Solheim Cup this year. We talk about his career journey, the importance of running a sustainable golf course, and the decision to host LIV golf at Valderrama. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 11: Chandler Withington - Life as a Golf Artist Chandler has worked as the assistant pro at Seminole, the number one assistant at Merion, and was head pro at Hazeltine National during the Ryder Cup 2016. We discuss what it takes to win a Ryder Cup, his good friend Davis Love, and his new career as a licensed artist for the PGA, the USGA and the R&A. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 10: Martin Ebert Martin Ebert is one half of the legendary design duo 'Mackenzie & Ebert'. In this episode, we discuss his involvement in world-class layouts such as Hirono, Royal Liverpool, Royal Portrush and Turnberry. He is open about the challenges and joys of working on such renowned courses, and talks about the controversy surrounding the new 17th hole at Hoylake (Royal Liverpool). Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 9: Bob Ford - Seminole & Oakmont We caught up with the legendary Bob Ford during our week at the Walker Cup. He told us about his experiences as a club pro at Oakmont and Seminole and talked about the importance of merchandising in golf. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 8: Joshua Pettit - Founder of the Alister MacKenzie Institute This week we welcome Joshua Pettit to the Top 100 Clubhouse. Josh is an architect with a focus on the work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie. He's the founder and curator of the MacKenzie Institute and editor of the 'MacKenzie Reader: Writing on Golf Architecture and More'. Join us to discover more about one of golf's legendary architects. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 7: Jim McCann & European Top 100 Special We get to know Jim, hear about the sand course he helped build in Libya and learn about the methods we use to create our Top 100 lists, including a breakdown of the brand-new European Top 100 Rankings. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 6: David Scott - General Manager of Dumbarnie Links Simon Holt chats to David Scott, the General Manager of Dumbarnie Links in Leven, Scotland. They discuss David's golfing journey, the devastating impact caused by the nematode parasite, the value of using a golf tour operator when playing in the UK, the course architecture at Dumbarnie, and the significance of golf course rankings. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 5: Iain Forrester - Dutch Golf & the European Hickory Scene In this episode, Iain Forrester, Head Pro at Hoenshuis Country Club in the Netherlands, talks us through the golf scene in the low country and tells us about the growth of the hickory golf scene around Europe. We discuss the greatest courses in Holland, and whether The Netherlands has a legitimate claim to being the true home of golf. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 4: Zac Blair - Building The Tree Farm In this episode, we welcome Zac Blair to the Top 100 Clubhouse. Zac shares some of his experience on the PGA Tour, highlighting his preference for playing exceptional golf courses rather than engaging in practice rounds. We discuss his venture to establish The Buck Club, and learn about his significant project to build The Tree Farm, a brand new course in South Carolina, developed in collaboration with Kye Goalby and Tom Doak. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 3: Nairn Golf Club - From 1887 to Present This week on Top 100 Clubhouse we talk to the captain of Nairn Golf Club, Ali Asher, and the Nairn archivist, Hugh Sutherland. We sit down in Nairn's fantastic archive room and discuss the history of the club and the room, and also why the R&A really enjoy hosting tournaments there. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 2: Stuart McColm - General Manager of Cabot Highlands This week we welcome Javier Reviriego to the Top 100 Clubhouse. Javier is In Episode 2, our host James Henderson chats to Stuart McColm, the General Manager of Cabot Highlands near Inverness. They discuss how Stuart began his journey in golf, and how he came to be involved in the development of world-class courses like Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart. They also discuss the new course being developed at Cabot Highlands. Listen Here Apple Podcasts Episode 1: Simon Holt Welcome to Top 100 Clubhouse! In Episode 1, our host James Henderson chats to Simon Holt. They discuss how Simon came to be involved with Top 100, the future direction of the business, and the best courses he's had the chance to play! Have a listen and get involved in the Top 100 Community! Listen Here Apple Podcasts
Robert Rock shares his Top 20 courses European Tour star lists his favourite courses at the opening of his new Golf Academy in Vietnam England’s Robert Rock, a two-time European Tour winner, recently launched his Golf Academy at the Greg Norman-designed Bluffs Ho Tram Strip, our No.1 golf course in Vietnam. This is the third Robert Rock Golf Academy to open, joining forces with two English facilities at Darnford Moors Golf Club in Staffordshire and Kings Hill Golf Club in Kent. We thought it would be fun to ask Robert to list his favourite courses. After much thought and deliberation, the golfer with the enviable swing came up with his personal Top 20. Most of us would include the odd course that is close to the heart and Robert is no exception. On his list is Ingestre Park, a scenic parkland layout that's nestled in the rural countryside near to Stafford in the English West Midlands. It was here at this tree-lined track where as a junior member Robert honed his swing. Unfortunately Ingestre Park narrowly missed our Staffordshire Best In County rankings, but every other course on Robert’s Top 20 is listed somewhere within our extensive worldwide golf course listings. Robert Rock’s Top 20 follows and we’ve highlighted where each course is currently ranked: 1. Kingsbarns [ranked 6th in Scotland] 2. Sunningdale Old and New [ranked 2nd and 4th respectively in England] 3. St. Andrews (Old) [ranked 1st in Scotland] 4. Walton Heath (Old) [ranked 7th in England] 5. St. George’s Hill [ranked 11th in England] 6. Leopard Creek [ranked 1st in South Africa] 7. The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip [ranked 1st in Vietnam] 8. Emirates (Majlis) [ranked 2nd in United Arab Emirates] 9. Wentworth (West) [ranked 12th in England] 10. Golf National (L’Albatros) [ranked 5th in France] 11. Kuala Lumpur (West) [ranked 1st in Malaysia] 12. Royal St. George’s [ranked 1st in England] 13. Hong Kong GC [Eden ranked 5th and New ranked 4th in Hong Kong] 14. Royal Liverpool [ranked 9th in England] 15. Links at Fancourt [ranked 2nd in South Africa] 16. Kennemer [ranked 3rd in the Netherlands] 17. Kings Hill [ranked 23rd in Kent] 18. Royal Park I Roveri [ranked 2nd in Italy] 19. Ingestre Park [not ranked] 20. Castle Stuart [ranked 9th in Scotland] The official release on the new Robert Rock Golf Academy at The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip follows: Robert Rock Rolls Out Golf Academy in Vietnam European Tour star and swing expert heads instructional ‘dream team’ at the new Bluffs Ho Tram Strip Robert Rock, a two-time European Tour winner with one of the most enviable swings in professional golf, has launched The Robert Rock Golf Academy at The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip, one of the world’s most acclaimed new courses. Rock’s academy officially opened last month with the commencement of a 10-week junior golf program led by Australian Patrick Kelly, the course's head professional and a former winner at the highest level of US collegiate golf. Kelly is shaping the academy with input from Rock and Luke Ringrose, mentor of some of the world's best players and an instructor who prides himself on his ability to make “anyone who’s coachable a great ball striker.” "It’s my dream team,” said Ben Styles, The Bluffs’ general manager. “In Robert, Patrick and Luke, we’ve got the makings of something very special here. With these guys leading the way, I firmly believe The Bluffs is poised to make the next generation of Vietnamese golfers a force to be reckoned with.” Rock, an Englishman who describes himself as a “swing nerd,” became a world-class player after spending years elevating other people’s games. In addition to competing on one of golf’s biggest circuits, he has helped boost the careers of tour pros such as Charley Hull and Oliver Wilson, who claimed the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews last October after receiving some sage pointers from Rock a month prior. Rock made a name for himself as a player in 2012 when he outplayed Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in the final round to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. He finished third at the Lyoness Open in Austria last month. Ringrose is based in London and currently working with Felipe Aguilar and Fabrizio Zanotti, both of whom have at least one European Tour victory. To facilitate the learning process, The Robert Rock Golf Academy at The Bluffs features a spacious, open-air room with impact bags, floor-to-ceiling mirrors and an array of monitors -- tools Kelly uses to great effect. “The lab, as we call it, really allows us to illustrate the correct positions and angles a golfer needs to understand to form a dependable swing,” said Kelly. “If you’ve got that understanding, you’re on your way, because many of the same principles apply to other facets of the game, such as chipping and putting.” Lessons at the academy -- the third Robert Rock Golf Academy in the world and the first in Asia -- are available to anyone. But the primary goal for the foursome behind it is to make golf accessible for kids, and ultimately produce champions on the professional level. “No one knows how good they can be at something unless they get the opportunity,” said Styles. “We fully support junior golf. We want youngsters to come and try golf, like we all got to when we were young.” Designed by legendary golfer Greg Norman amid towering sand dunes two hours northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, The Bluffs has received high praise since debuting in October 2014. In January, GOLF Magazine USA hailed it one of the best courses to open last year. In May, HK Golfer wrote that “geography aside, the course could host the U.S. Open and earn plenty of plaudits. It’s that good.” The Bluffs will receive another significant measure of coverage Dec. 3-6, when it hosts the inaugural Ho Tram Open, the most lucrative, single-sanctioned event (US $1.5 million) on this year’s Asian Tour calendar.
