Top 100 Clubhouse - Golf Podcast

In this episode of Top 100 Clubhouse, James speaks with Gilles Gagnon, the long-time ambassador of Casa de Campo and one of the most recognisable figures in Caribbean golf.

Gilles reflects on his remarkable journey from a hockey-playing kid in Montreal to becoming an integral part of one of the world's great golf destinations. The conversation explores his decades-long friendship with Pete Dye, the creation and evolution of Teeth of the Dog, and the philosophy that made Dye one of the most influential architects in golf history.

The discussion also covers the recent renovation of Teeth of the Dog, the growth of Casa de Campo from a remote resort into a global golf destination, and some unforgettable stories involving presidents, celebrities, and golf's biggest personalities.

Play fast, lunch slow.

Chapters

00:00 – Intro
02:20 – Gilles Gagnon's Journey Into Golf
06:50 – The Early Days of Casa de Campo
10:15 – Working Alongside Pete Dye
14:30 – Pete Dye's Design Philosophy
23:20 – The Teeth of the Dog Renovation
30:00 – Celebrity Guests & Presidential Golf Stories
37:00 – How Pete Dye Changed His Own Courses
43:30 – What Makes Casa de Campo Special
49:00 – Life Inside the Resort Community
57:30 – More Pete Dye Stories & Memories
01:02:00 – Final Thoughts

🔗 Links & Resources

🌐 Top 100 Golf Courses Website:
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/

🧢 Official Merch:
https://shop.top100golfcourses.com/

✈️ Lockhart Travel Club:
https://www.lockharttravelclub.com/

📸 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/officialtop100/

👍 Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thetop100golfcourses

#golf  #golfpodcast #top100golfcourses

In this episode of the Top 100 Clubhouse Podcast, host James Henderson is joined once again by Jasper Miners, Editor of Top 100 Golf Courses, for a catch up on some of their recent trips, stories from excursions with Lockhart, and some of the most fascinating courses they've encountered across the UK and Europe.

The conversation begins with Crownwood Golf Club and the work of friend of the show, Christian Lundin, exploring what makes his work at Crownwood so visionary. James and Jasper discuss how a golf course architect's own playing ability can influence their design philosophy, before diving into Crownwood's exceptional conditioning and attention to detail.

The pair then turn their attention to some of England's most revered layouts, including Rye and Littlestone, discussing their rich histories, strategic challenges, and enduring appeal. Later, they explore the unique character of Addington before highlighting the innovation found at Northcliffe, Royal Copenhagen, and Falsterbo. 

Play fast, lunch slow. 

Chapters

00:00 – Intro
01:31 – Highlights of Crownwood Golf Course & Christian Lundin
08:30 – How a Golf Course Architect's Game Influences Design
12:22 – Crownwood's Conditioning Is Next Level
15:57 – Is Rye One of the Toughest Golf Courses in the UK?
23:32 – Highlights and History of Littlestone Golf Club
28:16 – The Uniqueness of Addington
37:35 – North Foreland Short Course
39:19 – Courses Played with Lockhart Travel
48:25 – Big Walks in Links Golf
51:37 – Switching Off at Royal Copenhagen
57:30 – Falsterbo & Closing Thoughts


Top 100 Golf Courses Website 🛜:
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/

Top 100 Golf Courses Official Merch 🧢:
https://shop.top100golfcourses.com/

Lockhart Travel Club ✈️:
https://www.lockharttravelclub.com/membership/

Follow Top 100 Golf Courses:

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/officialtop100/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thetop100golfcourses/

In this episode of Top 100 Clubhouse, host James Henderson is joined by Jasper Miners and Simon Barrington for a deep dive into the latest GB&I rankings and the factors shaping the future of golf course architecture across Great Britain & Ireland.

From the influence of unique UK landscapes on course design to the movers and shakers in the rankings, the team breaks down which clubs are rising, which are falling, and which courses narrowly missed out on the coveted Top 100. They also take a closer look at the bottom 10, discuss the vital role of course management and conditioning, and explore what clubs should be doing more of to improve both their ranking potential and the golfer experience.

Play fast, lunch slow.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro
01:00 – GB&I Rankings
07:25 – How Unique UK Landscapes Impacts Golf Architecture
12:10 – GB&I: Fallers and Risers
24:43 – Near Misses: Courses Just Outside the Top 100
26:47 – Bottom 10 Golf Courses
36:13 – The Importance of Golf Course Management
48:23 – How Could The Top 100 Golf Courses Change?
54:00 – What Should Clubs Be Doing More Of?

Links

Top 100 Golf Courses Website 🛜
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/

Top 100 Golf Courses Official Merch 🧢
https://shop.top100golfcourses.com/

Lockhart Travel Club ✈️
https://www.lockharttravelclub.com/membership/

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/officialtop100/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/thetop100golfcourses/

In this episode of Top 100 Clubhouse, the guys explore whether England now offers better value golf than Scotland, and there’s also a closer look at how lesser-known, more affordable courses are climbing the rankings; raising questions about what truly defines a “top” course.

🔗 Links & Resources
🌐 Website: Top 100 Golf Courses
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/
🧢 Official Merch:
https://shop.top100golfcourses.com/
✈️ Lockhart Travel Club:
https://www.lockharttravelclub.com/me...


Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:48 Upcoming England Rankings and Their Importance
04:03 Value of Golf in England vs. Scotland
06:54 Best Value Golf Courses in England
09:35 Challenges in Ranking English Golf Courses
20:52 Golf IQ on Display at The Masters
22:53 The Augusta Effect on Golf Course Architecture
30:00 What Makes English Golf Courses Different?
34:46 Increasing Awareness of Golf Course Architecture
44:27 Augusta Going Firm and Fast
49:55 New Entries in the Top 100 England Golf Course Rankings
59:59 Honourable Mentions & Clyde Johnson
1:05:03 Technical Mentions on Rankings & Fake Panellists

In this episode of Top 100 Clubhouse, host James Henderson sits down with Tim Neill and Joe Petrucci, the founders of Fescue and Dunes, to explore the fascinating intersection of golf course architecture, branding, and visual identity.

From their early beginnings to working with some of the game’s most recognisable clubs, Tim and Joe break down how logos shape perception, drive engagement, and elevate a club’s presence both on and off the course. The conversation dives into the cultural differences between UK and US golf markets, the rise of alternative logos, and what truly makes a golf club identity resonate.

Along the way, the group also shares personal favourites, discusses the enduring appeal of Royal Birkdale, and reflects on what defines a truly great golf trip.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
01:15 – The origin story of Fescue and Dunes
03:23 – How logos influence club visibility and perception
09:37 – Early challenges, navigating regulations, and dream collaborations
15:40 – Are golfers buying logos from clubs they’ve never played?
20:00 – Key differences between UK and US golf markets
32:00 – Alternative logos, marketing strategies, and member identity
39:29 – Favourite golf club logos
41:59 – Why Royal Birkdale stands out
44:00 – What makes a great golf trip & favourite courses

🔗 Useful Links

Top 100 Golf Courses Website 🛜
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/

Top 100 Golf Courses Official Merch 🧢
https://shop.top100golfcourses.com/

Lockhart Travel Club ✈️
https://www.lockharttravelclub.com/membership/

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/officialtop100/

In this episode of Top 100 Clubhouse, James and Jasper dive deep into the Scotland Rankings and the architectural principles that inspire good golf. They look at everything from the subtleties of ground movement and bunkering to the philosophy behind the “bucket system,” and how it relates to the ranking process in 2026.

There's also a somewhat heated discussion about what modern golf architecture might be missing today...

Play fast, lunch slow.

Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Southport and Ainsdale Appreciation
02:38 – Top 100 Golf Courses Scottish Rankings Explained
11:33 – The Role of Ground Movement
13:41 – Top 100 Principles & Fundamentals
19:09 – The Bucket System Explained
21:19 – Turnover in the Rankings
22:36 – Which Scottish Golf Course Surprised Jasper The Most
25:58 – Jasper’s Rough Time at Trump New
30:59 – Scotland’s Best Architect Debate
35:00 – What’s Missing From Modern Architecture?

🔗 Links & Resources
🌐 Top 100 Golf Courses Website:
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/
🧢 Official Merch:
https://shop.top100golfcourses.com/
✈️ Lockhart Travel Club:
https://www.lockharttravelclub.com/membership/
📸 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/officialtop100/
👍 Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thetop100golfcourses/

#golf #golfpodcast #top100golfcourses

In this episode of Top 100 Clubhouse, James and Jasper sit down at Porthcawl to discuss changes to the Irish Rankings. 

Jasper's three month stint in Ireland has culminated in new appreciation for old favourites such as County Louth, and given everyone at Top 100 a glimpse into the evolution of some outstanding Irish courses.

This episode questions if bad weather can inadvertently impact perception of a course, whether subtle courses get overlooked in the age of social media, and touches on upcoming Top 100 Golf Courses events in Ireland. 

Top 100 Golf Courses Website 🛜:
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/

Top 100 Golf Courses Official Merch 🧢: 
https://shop.top100golfcourses.com/

Lockhart Travel Club ✈️: 
https://www.lockharttravelclub.com/membership/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/officialtop100/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetop100golfcourses/

Chapters

00:30 - Intro
01:29 - Porthcawl Atmosphere
03:42 - Top 100 Golf Courses Irish Rankings
09:17 - American Perspectives on Parkland Golf
12:50 - Courses Rising in the Rankings
16:03 - Is Weather Impacting Course Rankings?
18:51 - Underrated Irish Courses
21:34 - Do Subtle Courses Get Overlooked?
25:30 - Upcoming Ireland Events

#golfpodcast #top100golfcourses #golfireland

In this episode of Top 100 Clubhouse, James and Jasper sit down with amateur golfer and golf videographer Luke Hodgetts to explore the game through the lens of a competitive amateur player. 

From storytelling in golf videography to filming at Royal Melbourne, Luke shares how his perspective has evolved, and how his playing style informs how much he enjoys the architecture of a course. Jasper also provides us with deep bunker insight, and briefly explores why different players might prefer strategic vs. penal designs. 

Top 100 Golf Courses Website 🛜: 
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/ 

Top 100 Golf Courses Official Merch 🧢:

https://shop.top100golfcourses.com/ 

Lockhart Travel Club ✈️: 
https://www.lockharttravelclub.com/membership/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/officialtop100/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetop100golfcourses/

Chapters

00:00 – Intro
01:00 – How Luke Hodgetts Got Started in Golf
04:51 – Luke’s Amateur Golf History
10:30 – Rory McIlroy & Royal Melbourne
12:45 – Filming at Kingston Heath
14:58 – YouTube Plans, Business Model & Rankings
18:50 – Capturing the Essence of Courses
25:39 – The History and Thinking Behind Naturalised Bunkers
30:30 – Luke’s Personal Favourite Golf Courses
36:30 – Why is Conditioning Often Overlooked?
39:59 – Closing Thoughts

#golfpodcast #top100golfcourses #golfcoursearchitecture

On this episode of the Top 100 Clubhouse podcast, host James Henderson sits down with David Davis, CEO of Lockhart Travel, for a deep dive into what it really means to chase the world’s greatest golf courses. 

David shares stories from his golfing pilgrimages, reflecting on the mindset, logistics, and relationships required to play the Top 100 courses, and how being a relentless networker has opened doors that most golfers assume are permanently closed. 

They explore the practical challenges many golfers face when trying to experience bucket-list venues, including what to do if you don’t have direct access to private clubs. David offers candid insight into how rankings influence demand, how lists evolve over time, and why changes to Top 100 tables often spark more debate than celebration. 

Having played more than 1,000 courses worldwide, David reveals the most surprising golf club he’s encountered, his picks for the best sets of par 3s, par 4s and par 5s, and the finest fairways he’s walked. It’s an episode that blends travel, architecture, rankings culture and pure golfing passion — essential listening for anyone serious about the world’s greatest courses.

Play fast. Lunch slow.

Ecco Biom C5:
https://gb.ecco.com/product/ecco-golf-biom-c5/132614/50874

Top 100 Golf Courses Website 🛜:

https://www.top100golfcourses.com/

Top 100 Golf Courses Official Merch 🧢: 

https://shop.top100golfcourses.com/

Lockhart Travel Club ✈️: 

https://www.lockharttravelclub.com/membership/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/officialtop100/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetop100golfcourses/

#golfpodcast #top100golfcourses #golftravel

In this episode of Top 100 Clubhouse, James Henderson is joined by renowned golf course architect Christian Lundin for a wide-ranging conversation on modern golf course design, global development trends, and the subtle architectural decisions that separate good courses from great ones.

From the philosophy behind Crownwood to designing golf in emerging regions like Saudi Arabia and Asia, Christian shares first-hand insight into how culture, geography, media influence, and developers shape courses.

Christian also talks Trump Aberdeen, and how his relationship with Eric Trump has inspired bold architecture, usurping minimalistic approaches that have defined the past generation. 

🔗 Useful Links

🌍 Top 100 Golf Courses
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/

🧢 Official Top 100 Golf Courses Merch
https://shop.top100golfcourses.com/

✈️ Lockhart Travel Club
https://www.lockharttravelclub.com/me...

📸 Instagram
  / officialtop100 

📘 Facebook
  / thetop100golfcourses