In this episode of Top 100 Clubhouse, James Henderson sits down with Matt Ginella, founder of Fire Pit Productions, previously the Senior Travel Editor and Director of Photography for Golf Digest.

Matt explains how the personalities of course architects are embedded in their designs, how he learned to appreciate golf course architecture, and why he believes golf travel is one of the most romantic ways to understand the sport.

Along the way, Matt shares his favourite courses, his most memorable golf trips, and how his coverage of Tiger Woods' professional debut at the Greater Milwaukee Open launched his career with Sports Illustrated; cementing him as one of golf's premier storytellers.

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

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In this episode of Top 100 Clubhouse, James and Jasper are back at Hadley Wood again to give Top 100 Clubhouse listeners a behind the scenes look at Top 100 Golf Courses, reflect on 2025, and talk about what's coming up for 2026. 

Back by popular demand, the map has returned! Catered specifically to the needs of the travelling golfer, you can now find the best courses nearby during that long business trip or week away. 

Plus, there's a behind the scenes look at how Top 100 operates, changes to leaderboards, and James' disastrous time with footwear. 

The Top 100 Golf Courses team wants to thank all who listened, commented and got involved throughout 2025. Our New Years' Resolution? Same as always: 

Play fast. Lunch slow. 

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 
02:03 - Changes to the Top 100 Golf Courses Website 
05:40 - How AI Will Impact Top 100 Golf Courses 
09:36 - Return of Leaderboards 
13:05 - The Map is Back! 
15:11 - Changes to the Review System 
19:07 - Behind the Scenes of Top 100 Golf Courses 
26:28 - Best Golf Shoes For Links Golf? 
30:20 - Social Media and Upcoming Content in 2026 
35:50 - Closing Thoughts

#top100golfcourses #golf #golfpodcast

In this episode of the Top 100 Clubhouse, James and Jasper sit down to discuss updates and changes to the rankings, including a release of the New Zealand and Australia rankings in the coming weeks, thanks to an increased pool of contributors who have a lot of depth of play in the Oceania region.

The pair also discuss what's coming up for Top 100 Golf Courses for 2026, and talk about how the new ranking system is a natural evolution, designed to help travelling golfers best navigate countries they're visiting. Later, they touch on the controversial decision to start grouping courses based on county lines, and how that will impact how courses are compared against each other.

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/me...
 

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
1:05 - Hadley Wood Appreciation
02:44 - Rankings Update
07:02 - Separating the Course from the Experience
12:38 - The Benefits of Well Traveled Panelists
17:41 - We Aren't Down on Parkland Golf!
22:37 - County Lines Rankings
28:53 - Spanish Panel Shout Out
32:57 - Irish Courses & Hidden Gems
37:13 - Plans for Top 100 Golf Courses USA
38:24 - Closing Thoughts

In this episode of the Top 100 Clubhouse Podcast, Paul Jansen, a golf course architect and founding member of Himalayas Golf, shares his journey and insights into the world of golf course design. He and James discuss the evolution of golf spaces, the role of artificial turf, and the importance of creating unique and engaging environments for golfers. 

Paul reflects on his experiences in various countries, the challenges faced in golf course construction, and the significance of a sense of place in design. He also shares his favourite golf courses and the stories behind them, emphasising the need for innovation and adaptation in the sport.

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

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

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Paul Jansen and Himalayas Golf
02:57 The Shift to Smaller Golf Spaces
05:41 The Role of Artificial Turf in Golf
08:56 Common Misconceptions About Artificial Turf
11:43 The Evolution of Golf Practice Spaces
14:32 The Intersection of Technology and Golf
17:30 The Future of Golf and Entertainment
20:32 Paul's Journey into Golf Course Architecture
23:22 The Influence of South Africa on Paul’s Career
26:27 Challenges in Golf Course Design
29:21 Unique Experiences in Golf Course Construction
32:30 The Importance of Sense of Place in Golf
35:30 Paul's Favourite Golf Courses
41:12 Final Thoughts and Reflections

In this week's podcast, James welcomes David Davis (CEO Of Top 100 Golf Courses) to the podcast, to talk about The Lockhart Travel Club, and what's coming up for 2026. The Lockhart Travel Club is a sister company of Top 100, and provides members with the opportunity to play world class golf all around the world, and meet like minded golfers.

They discuss the challenges and joys of organising golf trips, the camaraderie among members, and the exciting future of Lockhart, including upcoming trips and events around the world. David shares memorable stories from past trips, highlighting the beauty of hidden gem golf courses such as Waverley, and the importance of enjoying the journey with like-minded enthusiasts.

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

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In this week's episode, James & Jasper catch-up on various goings on from around the golfing world. In particular, they discuss the upcoming Australian Open, and whether the composite at Royal Melbourne is the best golf course in the world.

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On Instagram: @officialtop100
On Twitter: @top100golf

In this week's episode, renowned golf course architect David McLay Kidd, chats with James about his new project at the Streamsong resort in Florida.

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On Instagram: @officialtop100
On Twitter: @top100golf

In this week's episode, we revisit one of our early podcasts with Josh Ralston (A lecturer in Christian-Muslim relations at Edinburgh University) to discuss Saudi Arabia's involvement in the game of golf. What is their goal, and what does it mean for the game?

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On Instagram: @officialtop100
On Twitter: @top100golf

In this episode, James is joined by Matt Ward (Long-Time Golf Journalist) to reflect on the fallout from the recent Ryder Cup in New York. They chat about what needs to change in the US setup going into 2027.

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On Instagram: @officialtop100
On Twitter: @top100golf

This week James sits down with Cody Cunningham (a colleague at Top 100 Golf Course) to discuss the golf scene in his home state of Utah. They chat through the variety on offer, from Mountain Golf in the North, to Desert Golf in the South.

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On Instagram: @officialtop100
On Twitter: @top100golf