A Golfing Pilgrimage - The Golfing Pilgrim

The Quest

In November 2019, Golf.com published an updated list of their Top 100 Courses in the World. In December 2019, I listened to the No Laying Up Podcast interview with Simon Holt – the first Brit to conquer the list. I was captivated. I started to look into it further and decided that, whilst it would not be easy, it was not an impossible task. So, I set myself the challenge of completing the list by my 50th birthday … perhaps I could be the first person from England?

The approach to the first hole at Spyglass Hill.

As much as anything else, even if I don’t achieve it, I will have a lot of fun trying. Particularly as my goal is to try and ensure that I play each of the courses with an existing friend. Golf is, ultimately, a sociable activity that is best shared with a friend.

It has taken me a little while to get to this blog, but here it is. The primary intention of the blog is to keep a record of my experiences at each course on the list. I’ll share my thoughts on the course, the clubhouse and where to stay, eat and drink.

The Rules

Whilst I had played 7 of the courses on the list prior to starting this challenge, I decided to reset the clock and start again. So far this year, I should have played Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s, Swinley Forest, Rye and TPC Sawgrass. Sadly, due to the restrictions imposed as as result of COVID-19, I have only managed the first of these. I will post the Lytham review shortly and share details of upcoming trips when they are finalised.

In addition to the Top 100 in the World challenge, I was also trying to achieve the Top 100 in England. A rather more achievable goal. I have completed 34 of these and have given myself until the end of 2025 to get the remaining 66. I had plans to play Hunstanton, Royal Cromer and the Belfry in April (along with those noted above), so will have to find time to rearrange those.

The view across the course at Sheringham Golf Club. — Sheringham Golf Club.

Finally, there will be accounts of our annual group trip – The Pilgrimage. This started as a group of 4 fairly ropey golfers heading down to the Algarve in 2008. Initially the golf was definitely second priority to the nights out. It is now a fairly serious golf trip and we have played some fantastic courses. That we are still going with the same group 13 years on is a testament to golf’s ability to bring people together.