Best ITV Wales Podcasts (2025)

1
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England 38:36

5d ago38:36

38:36

Sutton Coldfield, just a few miles from the centre of Birmingham has soared up the rankings after a concerted attempt to go back to its roots. It was designed by Dr Alister Mackenzie, but had gradually lost its heathland feel because trees had grown and the fairways had narrowed. The course manager and the club pro explain the changes that have bee…

1
Trump International, Aberdeenshire, Scotland 38:16

10d ago38:16

38:16

Do you care who owns the golf course you’re playing? Probably not. But you can’t ignore Donald Trump now he’s back in the White House, and you can’t ignore his name on the courses he owns. So if you don’t like the man, can you still enjoy playing Trump International in Aberdeen? There’s no doubt it’s a great course - it’s in the World’s Top 100. Bu…

1
Murcar Links, Aberdeenshire, Scotland 36:31

15d ago36:31

36:31

With its near neighbours in Aberdeen both ranked in the top 100 courses in the world, it would be easy to overlook Murcar Links. But built on the same stretch of land as Royal Aberdeen, this challenging links course is developing a growing reputation. Tommy Fleetwood won an amateur championship here when he was a teenager and still ranks it among h…

1
Royal Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland 35:50

20d ago35:50

35:50

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club traces its roots back to 1780, though the club moved to its present course at Balgownie a century after that. It's staged the Walker Cup and the Scottish Open and is ranked 63rd in Top 100 Golf Courses World List, while National Club Golfer rate it the 38th best course in Great Britain and Ireland. https://www.thegolfpilgri…

1
Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland 42:44

25d ago42:44

42:44

Cruden Bay styles itself as "unique and unforgettable", and both those qualities put it firmly in the World's Top 100 courses. An extraordinary layout with imaginitive use of the natural contours, and stunning views, mean lots of people love it. But the quirkiness and and frequent blind shots isn't to everyone's taste. Ian and Neil regretted not us…

1
Nairn, Highlands, Scotland 34:58

30d ago34:58

34:58

Having hosted the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup and the R&A's Amateur Championship, Nairn Golf Club is used to hosting top amateur golfers from around the world. So how would Neil and Ian, often described by playing partners as a couple of complete amatuers, cope with the challenge? On a beautiful day, and with the first seven holes running alongside …

1
Nairn Dunbar, Highlands, Scotland 25:47

1M ago25:47

25:47

We begin our latest Scottish road trip with a double dose of Nairns….and we're not talking about the famous biscuits. First up is Nairn Dunbar which has been striving to emerge from the shadow of its more famous neighbour, and is ranked among Scotland's Top 100 courses. https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/nairn-dunbar https://nairndunbar.com/ Do yo…

1
Royal St David's, Gwynedd, Wales 36:33

1M ago36:33

36:33

For centuries, Harlech Castle has seen off those who came to conquer it. Royal St David's, overlooked by the 13th Century Castle, has a similar reputation. The club described the course as the toughest Par 69 in the world, and one of the most picturesque. Would the latest Englishman to tackle the challenge use cunning tactics, or just rely on brava…

1
Aberdovey, Gwynedd, Wales 35:57

1M ago35:57

35:57

The Golf Pilgrim celebrates its first anniversary by making a long overdue visit to Wales. Aberdovey lies in the heart of Eryri National Park, or Snowdonia to give it its English name. We hear how the club was founded by a soldier whose first course consisted of nine flowerpots, embedded in Aberdovey Common. It's come a long way since then - and yo…

1
Moortown, West Yorkshire, England 34:49

2M ago34:49

34:49

While everyone's talking about The Masters, we're talking (again) about the master architect behind August National. Moortown's neighbours at Alwoodley have first claims on Alister MacKenzie's designs - but there's no dispute that he honed his craft in Leeds. And not content with having a link to The Masters, Moortown can also boast that it was the…

1
Le Touquet (La Mer), Hauts-de-France, France 31:41

2M ago31:41

31:41

If a golf course is named The Sea, you might expect to see the sea from the links. You’ll hear the waves crashing, and the bouncy fairways will certainly indicate you’re on a coastal course, but the English Channel (or La Manche) remains just out of sight. But don’t let that put you off visiting another great value-for-money venue. Le Touquet has t…

1
Hardelot Les Pins, Hauts-de-France, France 34:23

2M ago34:23

34:23

It's Hardelot than you think….especially off the white tees. The second of our northern France trilogy, and another bargain compared to the equivalent, and similar in feel courses in southern England. Les Pins are the pine trees which line the course, but many have been removed in recent years to restore it to its original design. www.hardelotgolfc…

1
Belle Dune, Hauts-de-France, France 35:42

2M ago35:42

35:42

Travelling through the Channel Tunnel can be like entering a portal to an earlier era, where golf green fees are still reasonably priced. Belle Dune is the first of three courses Neil played within easy reach of Calais, and they're around half the price you'd pay for the equivalent standard in the UK. It’s a municipal course and it's a great exampl…

1
Goswick Links, Northumberland, England 33:01

2M ago33:01

33:01

Rail passengers speeding from London to Edinburgh will catch a glimpse of this pure links course as they approach Berwick-upon-Tweed. Golfers heading to Scotland by road will need to make a short detour off the A1. It's well worth it. Despite being highly ranked, Goswick's remote location means the club work hard to improve and promote the course t…

1
North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland 41:47

2M ago41:47

41:47

Champagne corks are popping and why not? There are very few courses in the world that are as good as North Berwick, and are as much fun to play. Other Scottish courses may host The Open and other major championshps — North Berwick isn't big enough to do that. But the number of top professionals who pay to visit when in the area is testament to how …

1
Alwoodley, West Yorkshire, England 40:03

3M ago40:03

40:03

When doctor-turned-golf archietct, Alister MacKenzie unveiled the design for his very first course, even fellow members of this Yorkshire club were a little sceptical. They asked for a second opinion. Harry Colt took a look and gave it the thumbs up. After that, MacKenzie was in demand designing courses which are still among the very best in the wo…

1
Olgiata, Rome, Italy 32:18

3M ago32:18

32:18

This week we are in Italy - the tenth country on our podcast travels. If you're a tourist who wants to visit Rome, but don't want to miss out on the opportunity of a round of golf, then Olgiata is for you. Half an hour from the famous sights in the Eternal City is a course which Neil reckons is one of the toughest he's played - but he wasn't helped…

1
Burnham & Berrow, Somerset, England 33:15

3M ago33:15

33:15

Beware the injured golfers! Ian is forced to skip playing Burnham & Berrow because of a broken finger as well as foot surgery, while Neil isn't much better - hobbling round Burnham & Berrow with a painful toe affliction! Which is a shame because this Open Qualifying Course is a gem - and counts Justin Rose among its top admirers. The list of men wh…

1
La Manga, (South), Murcia, Spain 36:12

4M ago36:12

36:12

Ian returns to the place where he first learned to play golf - in between reporting on the England football team who used this luxury resort as a base before the 1998 World Cup. Back then, La Manga attracted many sports stars and celebrities. But when Neil and Ian last visited a decade ago, the condition of the courses was definitely below par. We'…

1
Las Colinas, Costa Blanca, Spain 28:20

4M ago28:20

28:20

Las Colinas near Alicante is rated as Spain's 20th best golf course, but we give it top marks for value for money in January. Three nights in a two bedroom apartment, including two rounds of golf for two players was £500. Definitely a more attractive option than enduring cold and wet weather back home. We can't promise your balls will stay dry thou…

1
How Good? How Much?? 31:43

4M ago31:43

31:43

To mark the start of our partnership with National Club Golfer, we find out how courses earn their ranking in the Top 100. And we ask whether some clubs in Britain and Ireland are now out of reach for regular golfers. We are joined by two guests: Dan Murphy is the Editor of NCG's Top 100 list, and this year Ian and Neil have joined his ratings pane…

1
Real Club Sevilla, Andalucia, Spain 27:45

5M ago27:45

27:45

And it's off to sunny Spain to shake off the winter blues and kick off a new year of Top 100 golf reviews. This course in Seville was designed by two-time Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal and, since it opened in 1992, it has staged three Spanish Opens. sevillagolf.com/en/home/ www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/real-club-sevilla-golf Do you agree with o…

1
The best of the best of 2024. 36:25

5M ago36:25

36:25

It's our final podcast of the year, so rather than reviewing one course, we are looking back over our previous episodes and choosing the best of the best. Which courses, holes and centres of golfing excellence really stood out? And because we are talking about members of the Top 100, rest assured that there will be no turkeys in this Christmas spec…

1
Hayling, Hampshire, England 33:30

5M ago33:30

33:30

The search for a golf course in great condition in the middle of winter, where fairway mats aren't compulsory, takes us to this highly-rated south coast links. But if you can wait until summer, this is a great place to take advantage of cheaper twilight rates. https://www.haylinggolf.co.uk/ https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/hayling Do you agree w…

1
Royal Adelaide, South Australia, Australia 35:56

5M ago35:56

35:56

It's our 50th episode!!! The 40C heat made Neil wilt at gorgeous Royal Adelaide but, fortunately, when it had dropped, he was fit to join Mrs W in an Ashes-style battle with their Aussie hosts. With the iconic train in the background, the fun (and the sledging) began. www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/royal-adelaide www.royaladelaidegolf.com.au/cms/ Do y…

1
Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England 34:46

6M ago34:46

34:46

From its elevated position close to the coast, the Isle of Purbeck features views as good as any in the UK. The owners have put a lot of effort into improving the condition of the course in recent years. Ian enjoys a winter round with champagne and comedy in equal measure, and chats to the club's head greenkeeper about the challenge of keeping a co…

1
Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia 26:57

6M ago26:57

26:57

Here's a course you might not even have heard of - unless you live in Australia. It's not in the World's Top 100 - but it is in the Top 50 in Australia. Ian and Neil argue over whether it's even worth devoting an episode to discuss it….but Neil has played it, and reckons it's got some of the most memorable holes anywhere! So do let us know if you e…

1
Knole Park, Kent, England 38:11

6M ago38:11

38:11

Deer me! Golfers at Knole Park must share the course with several hundred deer, as well as visitors to the National Trust's impressive stately home and grounds, once frequented by Henry VIII. But lovers of more recent history can walk in the footsteps of The Beatles, who filmed two music videos here! Some steep climbs provide splendid views of the …

1
Royal Melbourne (West & East), Victoria, Australia 44:42

6M ago44:42

44:42

Strewth! What a pair of golf courses! Neil goes Down Under and finds that it's not just Australian beaches that have sand as far as the eye can see. Perfect your bunker shots here and you'll never have a problem getting out of them anywhere. Melbourne West is regularly rated in the top 10 courses in the world, and the East course is also one of the…

1
Seacroft, Lincolnshire, England 36:49

7M ago36:49

36:49

Who doesn't like a bargain? Seacroft is the cheapest Top 100 Course in England, with a round available for less than £40 in winter, and even in summer you can get a twilight round for less than £50. And being a links course, it's still very playable in winter, with a different set of seasonal tees to provide a fresh test. https://www.seacroft-golfc…

1
Chart Hills, Kent, England 49:38

7M ago49:38

49:38

Is there a course in the UK with more sand? Let us know...but it certainly has the longest bunker we've ever seen, running more than two hundred yards along a fairway. We didn't count how many rakes it needed..... Chart Hills was designed by Sir Nick Faldo but after suffering from poor drainage has undergone major renovations in recent years, and h…

1
West Hill, Surrey, England 41:05

7M ago41:05

41:05

Back to Surrey for the third of the famous three Ws. In recent years it has replaced thousands of trees with an abundance of heather. And we delve into West Hill's fascinating history, which has a touch of the macabre. www.westhillgc.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/west-hill Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!…

1
Hindhead, Surrey, England 32:17

7M ago32:17

32:17

The writer who created Sherlock Holmes played a major role in the creation of this heathland gem. Arthur Conan Doyle was a founder member and the club's first President, and lived nearby. As did legendary golf commentator Peter Alliss, who was also a big fan of Hindhead, which boasts some spectacular holes you will never forget. www.hindheadgolfclu…

1
Wentworth (West), Surrey, England 44:07

8M ago44:07

44:07

A celebratory episode, as Wentworth West, the home of the BMW PGA Championship, is the hundredth of the Top 100 Courses in England that Neil has managed to play. So we have cameo appearances from BBC cricket oommentator Jonathan Agnew (who's seen hundreds of centuries in his career, but none that have taken four years to complete.) Plus former Ryde…

1
Granville, Normandy. France 37:01

8M ago37:01

37:01

France's only links course, originally designed by Harry Colt, plays host to a Ryder Cup-style match between French and British journalists. Would Neil and Ian write themselves into Wryter Cup history? Sadly, if we said yes, it would be fake news.... www.golfdegranville.com www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/granville-links Win a round of golf with Neil a…

1
Bethpage Black, New York, USA 42:18

8M ago42:18

42:18

Ryder Cup Special! It may be 12 months away but we are all looking forward to Europe defending the trophy on American soil. Our special guest is Sky Sports golf reporter Jamie Weir, who managed to stir up the crowd at the last Ryder Cup in Italy with his Capgate story about Patrick Cantlay. Jamie visited Bethpage Black a couple of days before Neil …

1
Somerset Hills, New Jersey, USA 38:01

8M ago38:01

38:01

How do you get to play exclusive courses which are normally reserved for members and their guests? One solution is to pay to play in a charity golf day. Every year, Somerst Hills, a quirky but highly regarded Tillinghast creation, opens its doors to raise funds for a worthwhile cause. www.somersetcc.org www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/somerset-hills Do…

1
Winged Foot (West), New York, USA 33:54

8M ago33:54

33:54

If Colin Montgomerie has nightmares, they are likely to feature the 18th at Winged Foot, where he had a great chance of finally landing an elusive major title in 2006. Yet Americans tend to remember Phil Mickelson blowing his chance to win that US Open on the same hole. More recently Bryson DeChambeau tamed the famous course, but there were no spec…

1
Baltusrol (Lower) New Jersey, USA 31:08

8M ago31:08

31:08

The Golf Pilgrim heads to the USA! Baltusrol, 25 miles west of Manhattan has hosted 18 major championships, including victories by Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. It's rated number 97 in the Top 100 Golf Courses of the world, and is the first of a quartet of AW Tillinghast courses that Neil is playing this week. baltusrol.org www.thegolfpilgrim.c…

1
The Berkshire (Red and Blue), Berkshire, England 35:59

9M ago35:59

35:59

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. www.theberkshire.co.uk www.thegol…

1
Little Aston, West Midlands, England 34:12

9M ago34:12

34:12

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. www.littleastongolf.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/little-aston Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!By Neil White and Ian Woods

1
JCB, Staffordshire, England 29:24

9M ago29:24

29:24

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? www.jcbgolfandcountryclub.com www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/__jcb Do you agree with our revie…

1
Portstewart, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland 35:08

9M ago35:08

35:08

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. www.portstewartgc.…

1
Royal Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland 53:55

10M ago53:55

53:55

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 …

1
Fulford, North Yorkshire, England 32:03

10M ago32:03

32:03

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. www.fulfordgolfclub.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/fulford Do you agree with our review? Text us your opinion!By Neil White and Ian Woods

1
Ashridge, Hertfordshire, England 34:37

10M ago34:37

34:37

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 …

1
Woodbridge, Suffolk, England 29:47

11M ago29:47

29:47

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. woodbridge.intelligentgolf.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/woodbridge Do you agree with our review? Te…

1
Parkstone, Dorset, England 28:14

11M ago28:14

28:14

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. www.parkstonegolfcl…

1
East Devon, Devon, England 33:57

11M ago33:57

33:57

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. www.eastdevongolfclub.co.uk www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/east-devon Do you agree…

1
Remedy Oak, Dorset, England 27:29

11M ago27:29

27:29

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! www.remedyoak.com www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/remedy-oak Do you agree with our review? Text us your o…

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