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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 c ...
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Welcome to "Golf Lovers United," the comprehensive podcast dedicated to all aspects of golf. Hosted by @GolfLoverUK, @ProGolfCritic, and @GolfDadUK, we release episodes once a week that explore the multifaceted, ever-changing world of golf. From the professional sphere of the PGA Tour to the evolution of LIV, from the triumphs of women's golf to the heart and soul of the amateur game, we love and cover it all. Our hosts engage in thoughtful conversations with tour players, coaches, caddies, ...
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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? Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!…
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The Berkshire (Red and Blue), Berkshire, England
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35:59
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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. Do you agree with our review? Tex…
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Are Scottie and Rory off to LIV? SSG Powerplay and Frustrations!
1:03:33
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Takeaways The absence of LIV players in the President's Cup is not a reflection of the PGA Tour's obligation to select them. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy participating in an event with Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau could have significant implications for the PGA Tour. SSG and the PIF are influential entities that are shaping the future …
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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. Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!By Neil White and Ian Woods
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Gratitude, Greenbrier, Getting dropped by LIV
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Summary In this conversation, Ben, Jay, and Red discuss their recent experiences and plans for the future. Ben expresses gratitude for the support he received after his father's passing, and Jay acknowledges the importance of empathy and support during difficult times. They introduce Red as a new member of the team and discuss their plans for diffe…
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PGAT in big financial trouble? Bob Ball joins to tell you his thoughts!
1:00:03
1:00:03
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Summary The conversation between the hosts and the guest revolves around the sustainability of the PGA Tour and the potential benefits of a coexistence with the Premier Golf League (PGL). They discuss the challenges faced by the PGA Tour, including declining viewership and outdated TV contracts. They also explore the idea of creating a more interna…
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Portstewart, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
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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. Do you agree with …
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Royal Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
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53:55
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A special episode on the fabulous Dunluce Championship Links which hosted The Open in 2019, and will again in 2025. With a special guest appearance from actor James Nesbitt who is a Royal Portrush member and lives in the town. It's Ian's favourite course for many reasons - and he has family connections to the club...but listen right to the end for …
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The course which Bernhard Langer made famous - by climbing a tree to play a shot. And he wasn't the only top player to leave his mark on this famous Yorkshire course. Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!By Neil White and Ian Woods
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LIV JCB recap, big issues for the PGAT and limitations of the Olympic golf event
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summary In this episode, Pro Golf Critic is riding solo with Golf Lover stuck on a train somewhere between Reading and Bristol, PGC provides a rundown of his time in the UK, discusses the Olympics and potential changes to Olympic golf, and shares news and notes from his recent experiences. He highlights the success of the JCB event in the UK and th…
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Ashridge is a great example of how your enjoyment of a course can depend on whether it's set up for recreational golfers or top amateurs. When we played a couple of years ago on the eve of a high-level competition, the rough was so punishing, the round became an ordeal. But on our latest visit, Ashridge was a delight. Did that mean it was easy? Of …
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Boots on the ground at LIV JCB - Interviews with Sergio, Ancer and Puig
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Golf Lover UK and Pro Golf Critic share some thoughts from the first two days at LIV JCB. This shorter 15 minute chat is followed by interviews with Sergio Garcia, Abe Ancer and David Puig. Golf Lovers United Fanzone! Fan of the show? Get involved even more by visiting our fanzone, with a range of membership and support options to bring you even cl…
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Summary In this conversation, Ben, Red, and PGC discuss their predictions for the Open Championship and reflect on their accuracy. They also highlight standout players, including Justin Thomas, DJ, and John Rahm. The conversation covers topics such as the performance of English players, the struggles on the par fives, and the challenging conditions…
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Woodbridge is a hidden heathland gem within the beautiful Suffolk countryside. Its quirky holes spurred Neil on to believing he would manage a stellar round but there was a sting in its tail - and a recently discovered Second World War look-out. Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!By Neil White and Ian Woods
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We are back! LIV Andalucia and Scottish Open recap
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Golf Lovers United Fanzone! Fan of the show? Get involved even more by visiting our fanzone, with a range of membership and support options to bring you even closer to the action and to give you chance to have your say on the show! Vist the fanzone now: https://www.glugc.com/support -- Thanks to our current GLU Brand Ambassadors: LIV Golf Forecasti…
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Mrs W collects the champagne again as Neil imagines Parkstone's former pro and famous BBC commentator Peter Alliss having a right good giggle at his attempts to ascend its dramatic false fronts. Meanwhile, Ian and Neil discuss how nature conversation has been critical to making this one of the England's most picturesque courses. https://www.thegolf…
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A gift from East Devon's Captain briefly elevates Neil's game to rarely-seen levels of golfing skill! Lots of conservation work is changing East Devon for the better and check out the green fees for visitors...some bargain prices for visitors to this very scenic course. https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/east-devon https://www.eastdevongolfclub.co…
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Remedy Oak may only be twenty years old, but ancient woodland and a 16th century monarch help to make it feel a lot more mature. And with lots of water to swallow errant shots, a member's advice is to give your Pro V1s a rest and use cheaper balls! https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/remedy-oak https://www.remedyoak.com/ Do you agree with our revie…
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Remember the golf course that saw the start of the LIV revolution, with black London taxis ferrying the players to each hole for a shotgun start? After two years, the LIV circus has moved on - to JCB in Staffordshire, but Centurion still hosts an Aramco event for the top female players. It's a private club, only members and their guests can play - …
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We're all looking for hidden gems to play....Tandridge certainly isn't hidden, but it is a gem that you might not know much about. Surrey is blessed with so many great heathland courses, but this is a parkland track that took our breath away with some dramatic holes. In it's centenary year, has it ever looked better? Well...that's a subject for deb…
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Two great courses side by side, and a club that has had four prime ministers and a King among its members. More recently it's hosted a Ryder Cup and tournaments featuring some of the best male and female. players in the world. Our special guest is Tom McKibbin, who talks about how his two rounds at Walton Heath earned him a place in his first major…
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We're back....after a bit of a break while Neil travels to a golf course far, far away. Lofoten Links may be like no other course on earth. It's in northern Norway, and because it's in the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets in the summer months. So if you've ever wanted to play golf 24 hours a day, this is the course for you. Bring plenty of balls a…
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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…
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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 cha…
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"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…
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Eugenio Chacarra Returns! Live from LIV Jeddah!
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Friend of the show, Eugenio Chacarra, returns for a live, in-person interview recorded at LIV Golf's Jeddah event. Golf Lovers United Fanzone! Fan of the show? Get involved even more by visiting our fanzone, with a range of membership and support options to bring you even closer to the action and to give you chance to have your say on the show! Vis…
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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.thegolfpilgri…
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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.…
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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 …
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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-ha…
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Rosapenna, County Donegal, Ireland. Part 2: St Patrick's Links
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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 pla…
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Rosapenna, County Donegal, Ireland. Part 1: Sandy Hills and Old Tom Morris
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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 i…
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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.thegolf…
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Peter Kostis: The Importance of Experience and Wisdom in Golf
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Ben, Jay, and Peter Kostis discuss various topics related to golf broadcasting, coaching, and the state of the game. They touch on the importance of experience and wisdom in golf, the role of coaches as analysts, the decline in quality of golf broadcasts, and the need for more engaging and knowledgeable commentators. They also discuss the Live Golf…
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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 th…
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Join Ben & Wade Ormsby live from LIV Golf Jeddah! Golf Lovers United Fanzone! Fan of the show? Get involved even more by visiting our fanzone, with a range of membership and support options to bring you even closer to the action and to give you chance to have your say on the show! Vist the fanzone now: https://www.glugc.com/support -- Thanks to our…
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Gleneagles (King's and Queen's), Perthshire, Scotland
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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.thegolfpilgri…
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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/carnoustie www.carnoustiegolflinks.com Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!…
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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/seignosse www.seignosse-golf.com/en/ Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!By Neil White and Ian Woods
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In this episode, Ben and PGC discuss Scotty Scheffler's dominance in golf and the lack of competition from other players. They also touch on the Asian Tour and the success of John Catlin and Wade Ormsby. The conversation highlights the importance of star quality and personality in attracting viewership and the challenges faced by players in maintai…
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In this conversation, Golf Lover UK and PGC review the Masters tournament, rating its excitement, legacy, and talking points. They share their thoughts on Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Aberg, highlighting their strengths and discussing their star power. They emphasize the importance of having an identity and personality in the golf world. In this pa…
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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/worplesdon www.worplesdongc.co.uk Do you agree with our r…
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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-review www.bdgc.co.uk Do you…
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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-old www.sunningdalegolfclub.co.uk/old_course Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!…
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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/chiberta www.golfchiberta.com Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!By Neil White and Ian Woods
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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-pedreña https:/…
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Neil makes the short journey from his home in Nottingham to play Hollinwell, and naturally if you're going to play golf in Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood will get a mention. Was our golfing guide a merry man at the end of his round? www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/nottingham-golf-club-at-hollinwell-review www.hollinwell.co.uk Do you agree with our review?…
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Who are we and why are we reviewing top golf courses? www.thegolfpilgrim.com Neil 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, th…
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In this episode of the Golf Lovers United podcast, Ben and Jay discuss various topics related to golf, including their opinions on the different majors and their picks for the upcoming Masters tournament. They also touch on the influence of LIV golf and the potential merger of golf organizations. The conversation highlights the passion and exciteme…
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Graeme McDowell - Behind the Scenes with LIV
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23:14
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Join Ben as he chats to Major winner and European golf legend, Graeme McDowell, in this BTS chat from LIV Golf Jeddah. Golf Lovers United Fanzone! Fan of the show? Get involved even more by visiting our fanzone, with a range of membership and support options to bring you even closer to the action and to give you chance to have your say on the show!…
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