Destination GOLF

This quarter of GOLF's World Top 100 list are some of the most hotly contested courses out there. Some get votes as high as top 10, and others are left fully out of the best 150. In the end, the votes all average out to end up in this incredibly prestigious bucket.Scotland's Prestwick hosted the first ever Open Championship, and has inspired holes around the world for a century. Kawana in Japan is home to a course that we say still has the most potential of any established design in the world. And Norway's Lofoten Links and China's Shanqin Bay jumped up the most spots of any other courses on the list.This is an exciting part of our list, and Josh Sens and Simon Holt go deep on each. Enjoy!

After a career built on restoring classic template holes in the U.S., renowned modern architect Gil Hanse now gets to work on a handful of the originals at North Berwick.Longtime North Berwick member, and the leader of GOLF's Top 100 panelists, Simon Holt, sits down with Hanse to discuss his design philosophy, his career working on some of the greatest courses in the world, his original work, and his relationship with his partner Jim Wagner. Enjoy!

These are the courses that really deserve the most conversation, according to Top 100 panelists Simon Holt and Josh Sens.Cabot Cliffs & Links, Bandon Trails & Dunes, and the lesser known courses at Royal Melbourne and Winged Foot are just some of the headliners from the first quarter of our World Top 100 course breakdowns.Simon and Josh run through them all, plus give their reactions to the feedback you've given us so far on the newest Top 100 Courses in the World. Enjoy!

The newest ranking of GOLF Magazine's Top 100 Courses in the World is out now! Simon Holt, who leads the panel, and longtime course rater and GOLF Magazine editor Josh Sens go through all the headlines.Which new courses entered the Top 100? And which courses made meteoric rises? Plus, for our 40th anniversary of the list, we'll take a special stats-driven look back at how trends impact the rankings today.To view the full list, head over to GOLF.com or pick up a copy of GOLF Magazine today.

How much does a Top 100 ranking mean to an architect? One of the modern golden age's most prolific designers, Jim Wagner, weighs in on the list and the courses on it. As a longtime partner of Gil Hanse, Jim has traveled the world restoring the best of the best, and has already cracked the list with their own original projects. If you want to get inside the head of an architect, this interview with Josh Sens is for you. Enjoy!

Razor thin margins decide whether a deserving course earns a spot in GOLF's Top 100 Courses in the World.Ahead of our latest 2025-2026 World list release, we take you behind the curtain for the very first time, revealing every course that just missed out between spots 101 and 150.Simon Holt, who collates the votes, and longtime course rater Josh Sens walk through the process and give their thoughts on all fifty courses in this group. Enjoy!

Groupthink, bias, and gatekeeping are accusations often levied at a list of the best golf courses in the world.But how much of that is true? Simon Holt, the engine behind GOLF's Top 100 Courses in the World, and longtime GOLF Magazine travel editor Josh Sens have an honest conversation about how these human factors come into play in our own rankings.Plus, we'll get into the nitty gritty on architecture, setting, and what our panelists are looking for. If you can't wait for the Top 100 Courses in the World to drop on November 19th, this is the episode for you. Enjoy!

Immerse yourself in some of the world's elite golf clubs, known for amenities far beyond their great golf courses. If you don't happen to have the millions in initiation fees, you might not get access without knowing someone. What's it like inside the gates of Tara Iti, Haesley, Ardfin, and more? Simon Holt and Josh Sens dive deep to bring you these experiences, and at the end of the episode, tell you where in the world you can go to spend a day in luxury with publicly available tee times. Enjoy!

Near San Francisco, an Alister MacKenzie gem serves up glistening views of the California coast. And no, we're not talking about Cypress Point.Sharp Park is the only publicly-owned seaside MacKenzie course in the U.S., making its very existence special. It's one of the incredibly popular Bay Area munis, despite its less than perfect condition.In this episode, Josh Sens interviews Richard Harris of San Francisco Public Golf Alliance. They dive into everything important about municipal golf, and how every golfer is indebted to these courses around the U.S.Looking to improve or save a muni near you? This conversation should give you a great sense of where to start. Enjoy.

What makes the linksland of Kent, England so special? Three world class courses: Royal St. George's, Royal Cinque Ports, and Prince's line the coast. But they also share a unique moment in history, when Walter Hagen created his own routing of the three tracks after he was denied access to the clubhouse.John and Alex, the creators of the golf apparel brand Holderness & Bourne, played in this special event newly open to the public with Simon Holt, and relive their experience in this fun conversation. Enjoy!

The Ryder Cup marks the unofficial end of the golf season. To mark the occasion, Josh Sens and Simon Holt recap a great year traveling around the world. Enjoy!

Introducing one of GOLF's youngest Top 100 course panelists, army veteran Pete Phipps. The Ohio native became obsessed with golf early in life while playing his local Donald Ross designs, and now lives in Ross-rich North Carolina. Pete competed in NCAA tournaments on the golf team at West Point, playing all over the U.S. before serving in Afghanistan in the early 2000s. He's a seasoned traveler who takes pride in saving cash where he can while exploring the world's great golf courses.We hope you enjoy this unique conversation with Pete and Josh Sens.

This panel conversation between the greats of modern architecture was perviously only available to InsideGOLF members. Now, our discussion with Tom Doak, Bill Coore, Andrew Green, and Rob Collins is here for you to listen too. For more exclusive course and travel coverage when it arrives, sign up for InsideGOLF today at https://golf.com/subscription/

Golf Channel's Mark Rolfing is the biggest advocate for the diversity and quality of golf in Hawaii. The islands boast several different climates: along the ocean, high in the mountains, deep in the forest, and even on black lava. Josh Sens and Simon Holt explore the special world of golf on the Hawaiian islands to help you plan your next trip. Enjoy!

The northwest of Ireland is one of the most underrated golf destinations in the world. A trip there is now anchored by St. Patrick's Links at Rosapenna Golf Resort, a magnificent seaside links only a few years old. Frank Casey Jr. and his family are the caretakers of the resort, and they're the reason St. Patrick's came to life the way they did, after a start-and-stop attempt over a decade ago. Frank and Simon Holt discuss the Rosapenna story, lay out a trip to NW Ireland, and go deep on some of their architectural preferences in this wide-ranging interview. Enjoy!

Royal Dornoch, Old Petty, and Nairn are among the tracks that steal the show in Scotland's northernmost links land. Golf in this region is defined by dramatic views, quality architecture and friendly locals. More courses are coming to the area, with Rob Collins and Tom Doak designs coming online in the next few years. Simon Holt and Josh Sens lay out an exciting weeklong itinerary for your next trip to the Highlands. Enjoy!

The Tennessee native behind Sweetens Cove is making huge progress on a new venture in his home state. Bounty Club, just 15 minutes from Nashville's Broadway, is set on wild, rolling land perfectly set for a golf course. Simon Holt and Rob Collins have walked it together, and now bring you a detailed walkthrough of what's to come when the work is finished. Rob and Simon talk about design philosophy (courses should NOT be easier), Rob's journey to where he is today, and exciting projects coming up next. Enjoy!

What do Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines, and East Lake all have in common? Besides hosting some of the most memorable events in pro golf, they all have the character they do today because of Rees Jones.A prolific course architect with a legendary father, Rees walks us through his life growing up around Robert Trent Jones. He discusses his work on Bethpage Black, and how two decades of changes there lead us to the course that will host this fall's Ryder Cup.Josh Sens presses Rees on the changes he's seen in the last 80 years he's spent on golf courses, and where the industry goes from here. Enjoy!

Bethpage State Park is famously known as "The People's Club" for its five courses open to all. But the world-renowned Black course is surrounded by a collection of some of the world's greatest private courses. To the east: Shinnecock, National Golf Links, and Maidstone. Closer to New York City you'll find The Creek, Piping Rock and Rockaway Hunt Club. If you get one single invite to a private club on Long Island, it's time to say yes and make the trip for yourself. Producer Connor Federico walks us through the public courses to fill out your journey all over Long Island with Josh and Simon. Enjoy!Here's the link to watch our videos featuring golf all over Long Island: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY50fiEpEyX-VLD5JxQtLPCOvCbp0CjZX

Golf in the UK nation of Wales is known widely for Royal Porthcawl, where they say you can see the water from all 18 holes. Friend of the pod Hayes Jackson just recently wrapped up a last-minute trip to Wales, where he was easily able to get on at all its local gems. Hayes joins Simon Holt and Josh Sens to take us through this beautiful country and all the great clubs it has to offer. Enjoy!