Never have so many questions swirled around my head after playing a top 100 golf course as they did after our game at The European Club in Brittas Bay. I had played here before, when the Pat Ruddy design was ranked among the world’s best, with some highly acclaimed holes.  This was Ruddy’s baby: a fearsome layout with railway sleepers propping up every bunker and hellish rough, which made losing balls a certainty. Oh, and there were two extra holes in case 18 wasn't enough. L

I only spent four hours playing golf at The Island, and I could easily imagine that being here daily must be a joy.

this superbly manicured woodland course, located on the outskirts of Arnhem, Rosendaelsche is near the A12 motorway. Yet the moment you arrive, you’re transported to a tranquil scene where a tumultuous history blends with modern ambition.

"Our key aim is to restore one of the finest Golden Age courses in the British Isles and couple it with first-class hospitality and service." If the astounding work on The Addington’s course is replicated across all other facets of the club, its owner’s vision will surely be fulfilled.

It was a pity the weather was not kinder on the day we played Kennemer, because better light would have showcased the course at its best.  Nevertheless, it was still obvious why it is so highly rated and demands quality golf to achieve a decent score. And I loved its history.

Kilspindie is one of 22 golf courses in East Lothian, and several of its first nine holes are played right beside the sea.  Its history is rich, and the links are unusual. They are shoe-horned into a small parcel of land and add up to a mere par 69. 

Royal Hague, or Koninklijke Haagsche Golf & Country Club, as the Dutch call it, was one of the most memorable visits on my top 100 quest.

The visit was extra-special for me because it marked the completion of my quest to play all 14 Open venues. The contrast with the other 13 could not be starker.

De Texelse was an exciting course with a vibrant clubhouse.

Our visit (to Lanark) allowed us to return to my wife's spiritual homeland, as her parents hailed from Carluke, just a few miles down the road.  We stayed there before tackling this beautiful, hidden gem. 

"And the award for the cheapest round of top 100 golf in 2025" goes to... Powfoot . While "cheap" might deter some, the green fee of £40 to £75 should be a lure.  For players taking the short drive off the M74, the reward is a fun and challenging round on a course in excellent condition, with great views across the Solway Firth to Silloth. Surprisingly, despite its proximity to our home course in Silloth, Powfoot 's fairways were in better shape than those of its English neig

"It's not the destination, it's the journey." As we reflected on our week on the Wild Atlantic Way, Ralph Waldo Emerson's words couldn't have been more fitting.  Pearls of wisdom are on plaques on each tee-side bench at Enniscrone golf course. And this one was most apt for us. Our quest to play the world's top 100 golf courses may never end, but the joy we're finding along the way is the true reward. We arrived at Enniscrone on the last of five brilliant days of golf in Ire

"Tom Weiskopf was so hands-on when designing the course that he and his wife lived in a caravan on site.  "One day, he left at 7 a.m., and by noon, his wife grew worried.  "It turned out he had wandered into a peat bog on the 13th hole, which had sucked him down to his waist. Fearing for his life, he finally managed to grab hold of something and pull himself to safety, but he lost his trousers and underwear in the process!  "Can you imagine him turning up at the caravan like

Two days on the rugged links at Carne were very well spent. I can certainly understand the love for this place and am delighted that the club is now in excellent health.

The applause came from onlookers on a balcony of the Old Course Hotel.  Mrs W had just chipped in for an eagle!  She was a foot away from repeating the feat on the 12th, but had to settle for a tap-in birdie. Those two shots were the highlights of our round at St Andrews, but there were many more memorable moments.

As we stood looking down on the fifth fairway and across the bay beyond, we could understand why this was "The Land of Heart's Desire." ...

The Castle course is a rarity, featuring six par-fives, six par-fours, and six par-threes. The Berkshire Red is the only other course I can recall with a similar layout.

isn't it about time the Ryder Cup came to Sweden—and where else but Bro Hof Slott? This is a venue that was made for big-time golf.

A breathtaking course on the Atlantic coast. For those who enjoy quirky links, this is heaven

To round off this great course with a par and a win was a genuine thrill.