Podcast · Sport

Destination GOLF

by GOLF.com · English · Sport

Golf’s greatest appeal lies in the places that it takes us, the memories we make and the people we meet along the way. That’s the game we celebrate on Destination GOLF. Co-hosts Simon Holt and Josh Sens have decades of experience hopscotching the globe to take in courses — and the areas around them

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 59 min
Latest: 1 Jun 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

1 Jun 2026 · 52 min

77: Our Final Episode... And New Beginnings

Thank you to our great fans of the Destination GOLF Podcast! But after a great run, we're morphing into something new. Check out "Playing Privileges" starting on Monday, June 8th with Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt. We'll be diving into the best premium and private experiences in the game, highlighting the best architecture, history, and people you'll find in golf. Josh Sens isn't going anywhere though, he'll continue to lead GOLF Magazine's coverage of golf travel across the world, and at your local muni. Enjoy Simon and Josh's wide-ranging chat about increasing affordability concerns and…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S2 · E21 · 26 May 2026 · 39 min
76: Rodeo Dunes with Michael Keiser Jr.
The driving force behind Sand Valley now introduces us to his next big project. Rodeo Dunes is open for play, the first of what Michael Keiser Jr. hopes will be 6 full length courses on property. 30 minutes outside of Denver, the Coore-Crenshaw design is creating quite the stir online, even though it doesn't open to the public until 2027. Michael talks to Josh Sens in this short interview, surrounded by a fun catch up with Simon Holt. Enjoy!
S2 · E20 · 18 May 2026 · 34 min
75: Trump's plans for the D.C. munis: why now, who's impacted, and what's next?
After falling into a state of disrepair, the municipal courses of the nation's capital certainly need some love. They've gotten the attention of President Trump, who's pressing the gas pedal on a plan to completely redo the course and facilities of East Potomac. But are he and Tom Fazio really the right stewards of affordable, playable public golf? Are their intentions for the new course to host big-time tournaments really possible? GOLF.com Executive Editor Alan Bastable has been reporting on this topic for weeks, visiting the folks at each of the three D.C. munis who might be impacted by…
S2 · E18 · 11 May 2026 · 41 min
74: Miami, Las Vegas, Shanqin Bay and Simon’s favorite food city in the world
It's been a few weeks of adventure for our man Simon Holt, bouncing around the world and back again. He catches up with Josh Sens to discuss the successful launch of McLaren Golf, the 8AM Invitational at the Wynn, and a great tournament weekend at our top-rated course in China. Plus, Josh just got back from 3 days of hanging out with YouTube golf stars like Fat Perez. It's a fun, wide-ranging episode, from street food in Hong Kong to fast passes in Orlando.
S2 · E15 · 4 May 2026 · 30 min
73: Pebble's New Tree, Par-3 Courses, and more
On today's episode of Destination GOLF, Josh Sens catches up with producer Connor Federico on some of the biggest happenings in course news, plus we empty our notebooks on some of our favorite places and stories we've recently worked on from coast to coast. Enjoy!
S2 · E16 · 27 Apr 2026 · 37 min
72: Dublin Travel Guide
Golf in Dublin might get overshadowed by a Guinness tour or night on the town, but it shouldn't. Anchored by a trip to Top 100 Portmarnock, plus rounds at The Island and Royal Dublin, make this itinerary perfect either on its own or as an add-on to another island of Ireland golf trip. Plus, the European Club will be coming back online next year as the Brittas Bay Club. Josh Sens and Simon Holt work their way through a fun travel guide in this one, enjoy! Use code GOLF40 for 40% off 2+ pairs of sunglasses from the Shady Rays Golf Collection.
S2 · E15 · 20 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
71: Everyday Golf Psychology
Author and avid golfer Jared Tendler is out with a new book: "Everyday Golf Psychology." The basics of the mental game are often misunderstood, he says, and there loads of better ways amateur golfers should approach the game. Running late and trying to cram in a range session? Don't. Telling yourself that it's just golf, and none of it matters? That's not helpful either. Dreaming of glory on your next golf trip? Let's start with something more realistic. Jared's ideas are easily approachable and he loves to give Josh Sens a hard time in this interview. Enjoy!
S2 · E15 · 13 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
70: Old Barnwell Founder Nick Schreiber
In its first year open, South Carolina's Old Barnwell cracked GOLF's Top 100 Courses in the U.S. The course is earning rave reviews now in year three, but that's not what its membership is most proud of. The mission at Old Barnwell is simple, give back to the Aiken and Augusta communities. Through its Evans Scholars Foundation caddie program, they're hoping to provide 300 local middle, high school, and college kids with caddying jobs. With the ANNIKA Development program, Old Barnwell is helping senior college golfers with the resources they need to turn pro. The man behind it all is Nick…
S2 · E13 · 6 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
69: New Zealand's North Island and Our Masters Picks
After weeks of dropping bits about our trip to New Zealand, Josh Sens walks through every highlight of the whirlwind itinerary on the North Island. From high-end resorts to working sheep farms, the courses in New Zealand are breathtaking and architecturally exciting. Simon Holt loves trips to New Zealand, and makes sure to keep Josh on task. Then the guys make their picks for the 2026 Masters this week. Enjoy!
S2 · E12 · 30 Mar 2026 · 59 min
68: Photographer Jon Cavalier
The man behind the lens of Linksgems, one of the biggest golf course photography accounts on social media, actually isn't a full-time course capturer. Jon Cavalier is a lawyer living right off of Merion Golf Club. His photos have raised hundreds of thousands for charity, and he's taken shots of over 1,000 courses in 15+ years. Josh Sens asks him all about his life in golf and how he got into the field, but more importantly, finds out how to make our own simple photos of great courses better. Enjoy!
S2 · E13 · 23 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
67: Chef Josh Emett on what makes great golf food
Hello from New Zealand! Josh Sens is traveling the North Island, visiting top-tier modern courses like Te Arai, Tara Iti, and Cape Kidnappers. Today, we walked Royal Auckland, the home course of Kiwi TV chef Josh Emett. The Joshes talk about golf in New Zealand, improving halfway house food, and the newfound crossover between high end cooking and halfway decent golf. This is another on-course pod, so you'll see some fun golf shots at Royal Auckland. Enjoy!
S2 · E11 · 16 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
66: Architect Tom Mackenzie
With extensive experience working at Open Championship venues, Mackenzie & Ebert are an accomplished firm in the UK and around the world. Tom Mackenzie talks to Simon Holt about his life in golf, a surprise caddying appearance for Seve Ballesteros, and the upcoming Open at Royal Birkdale. We also get Tom on the record about the new 17th hole at Royal Liverpool, his work at New South Wales, and whether or not he thinks green speeds and shaping have gone too far. Enjoy!
S2 · E10 · 9 Mar 2026 · 49 min
65: Asia, Aiken, and more: Catching Up with Josh and Simon
Hello, Destination GOLF fans! Simon Holt is fresh back from his trip to the likes of Hong Kong and Vietnam. We'll run through his whole golf itinerary and his favorite eats from two weeks away. Josh Sens runs us through Aiken, South Carolina, a sister city to Augusta, which is becoming a golf mecca in its own right. Which cultures have the best (and worst) breakfast? Is night golf really golf at all? And did we crack the code and find the most luxurious way to fly commercial? This episode answers all those questions and more. Enjoy!
S2 · E9 · 2 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
64: From an unwanted nine into a thriving muni, the inside story at San Francisco's Gleneagles GC
Tom Hsieh, a lifelong San Franciscan, couldn't imagine a world without Gleaneagles. So when it was near complete closure, he created a plan to save the 9-hole muni. Two decades later, it's one of the no-longer best kept secrets in Bay Area golf. In this interview with Josh Sens, Tom discusses the vast, quality muni golf courses in the region, and how absurdly great they could be if they got a little more maintenance and investment. Enjoy! Want to share the story of your favorite local muni or daily fee? We'd love to hear from you in the comments here, on social media (@destinationgolfpod) or…
S2 · E8 · 23 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
63: On Course at Broomsedge GC, with first-time architect and developer Mike Koprowski
For the first time, the Destination GOLF podcast takes you on the course! Josh Sens plays a two-man scramble with Mike Koprowski, the co-founder, co-developer, and co-architect of Broomsedge Golf Club in South Carolina. The club has captured lots of attention during a huge golf boom in the SC sandhills, both for its UK access model, allowing plenty of public play, and the unique story of the man who brought it to life. Mike Koprowski served in the military, worked in education and D.C. politics, then suddenly found himself in an excavator working with Kyle Franz. Watch him tell his story,…
S2 · E7 · 16 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
62: Architect Kyle Phillips
The man most known for creating Kingsbarns dives into his career with Simon Holt. Kyle Phillips is an unsung hero of the golf course architecture industry, working largely in Asia and continental Europe. Now, he'll work to transform the difficult, brawny European Club into Brittas Bay Club, which will be much more fun and playable. He'll talk about working with the illustrious Jones family, golf as a way to travel the world, and of course answers Simon's questions about width in today's design world. Enjoy!
S2 · E6 · 9 Feb 2026 · 53 min
61: Plan Your 2027 Trip Now!
If you want to take on the likes of Muirfield, St. Andrews, Royal County Down, and more next year, now's the time to get organized. Simon Holt and Josh Sens have a lot of catching up to do, then we'll get into everything you need to know if you're feeling inspired to book your next great golf trip. Enjoy!
S2 · E5 · 2 Feb 2026 · 54 min
60: Phoenix & Scottsdale
Out on Tour, it's WM Phoenix Open week! To honor one of the most fun events on the golf calendar, we're bringing you videos highlighting public golf in the Arizona desert. Night golf at Grass Clippings and the competitive Grass League, the Monday skins game at Papago, and bachelor parties at Troon North are all on display in "Destination GOLF: Phoenix" which is out now on YouTube. You'll also hear from Charles Barkley and Brandel Chamblee at We-Ko-Pa. GOLF editor Jessica Marksbury moved to The Valley for the warm weather, great golf, and exciting atmosphere. She'll walk us through the video…
S2 · E4 · 26 Jan 2026 · 42 min
59: U.S. Open Champ Michael Campbell
From the beautiful Punta Mita resort in Mexico, Simon Holt interviews former PGA Tour pro Michael Campbell. The New Zealander talks about beating Tiger Woods at Pinehurst, overcoming racial discrimination as a young man, and picks his favorite course at Te Arai. Simon and Michael talk on these scenic shores during the annual Punta Mita Invitational. It's our first video pod, so enjoy!
S2 · E3 · 19 Jan 2026 · 1 hr
58: GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jennifer Hudson
Great golf trips take all sorts of shapes and sizes, but an especially unique concept comes from LifeLong Golf. Jennifer Hudson is the founder of the program, which takes golfers looking for daily instruction on a journey to untraditional locations for golf trips. Explore Greece, Anguilla, and more in this conversation with Destination GOLF producer Connor Federico. Enjoy!
S2 · E2 · 12 Jan 2026 · 49 min
57: What Makes a Great Golf Logo?
Seth McWhorter is the man behind some of the best new golf club logos, featuring work at The Tree Farm, Sweetens Cove, and Pinehurst Resort. He's also responsible for our Destination GOLF logos! In this interview with Josh Sens, he dives into what makes a great golf club logo, plus some of the challenges and processes in creating them. Seth dishes on what makes the icons of the industry stand out, and in some cases, says they break all the rules of graphic design. It's one of our most unique conversations yet, so enjoy!
S2 · E1 · 5 Jan 2026 · 46 min
56: How the AI Boom Could Threaten Your Local Golf Course
The biggest financial, technological, and societal story of 2025 surrounded advancements in artificial intelligence. These AI engines require massive supporting infrastructure projects, and in several cases now, developers are hunting golf courses as sites for future AI data centers. GOLF.com Executive Editor Alan Bastable has done extensive reporting on munis and public courses in Pennsylvania, California, and Virginia that are all at risk of getting paved over to fuel the future of AI. Alan and Josh Sens go deep on the factors that led to this reality, and how much of an issue it might…
S1 · E55 · 29 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
55: Top 100 Breakdown - Courses 1-25
Happy new year, golf travelers! In our final episode of 2025, Simon Holt and Josh Sens go into detail on each of the greatest courses in the world. From Scottish links to the California coast, and Australia's Sandbelt to Nebraska's Sand Hills, take a deep dive inside the experiences and architecture at the definitive best of the best golf courses on the planet. Both in the U.S. and abroad, there are a number of these world-famous courses that you can play with proper planning. Start here for your golf travel inspiration for 2026 and beyond. Enjoy!
S1 · E54 · 22 Dec 2025 · 54 min
54: Top 100 Breakdown - Courses 26-50
A host of Open Championship courses, available for public play, make their mark in the top 50 of our world rankings. Plus we'll highlight the shortest course on the list (which is surprisingly in the U.S.!) and some private gems in global cities like Paris and Tokyo. Simon Holt and Josh Sens continue to break down every course on GOLF Magazine's Top 100 Courses in the World list. Enjoy!
S1 · E53 · 15 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
53: Architect Jay Blasi
What's life like for an up-and-coming golf course designer working to make a name for himself? Jay Blasi, who's done some outstanding public and private work in California, walks through a life in the industry. Jay worked on Chambers Bay ahead of it hosting the U.S. Open, and has most recently transformed a clunky routing at Poppy Ridge, a beloved Bay Area public facility, into a walking golfer's paradise. In this interview with Josh Sens, Jay lays out the challenges and successes of living in the golf design world.
8 Dec 2025 · 59 min
52: Top 100 Breakdown - Courses 51-75
This quarter of GOLF's World Top 100 list are some of the most hotly contested courses out there. Some get votes as high as top 10, and others are left fully out of the best 150. In the end, the votes all average out to end up in this incredibly prestigious bucket. Scotland's Prestwick hosted the first ever Open Championship, and has inspired holes around the world for a century. Kawana in Japan is home to a course that we say still has the most potential of any established design in the world. And Norway's Lofoten Links and China's Shanqin Bay jumped up the most spots of any other courses…
S1 · E51 · 1 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
51: Architect Gil Hanse
After a career built on restoring classic template holes in the U.S., renowned modern architect Gil Hanse now gets to work on a handful of the originals at North Berwick. Longtime North Berwick member, and the leader of GOLF's Top 100 panelists, Simon Holt, sits down with Hanse to discuss his design philosophy, his career working on some of the greatest courses in the world, his original work, and his relationship with his partner Jim Wagner. Enjoy!
S1 · E50 · 24 Nov 2025 · 51 min
50: Top 100 Breakdown - Courses 76-100
These are the courses that really deserve the most conversation, according to Top 100 panelists Simon Holt and Josh Sens. Cabot Cliffs & Links, Bandon Trails & Dunes, and the lesser known courses at Royal Melbourne and Winged Foot are just some of the headliners from the first quarter of our World Top 100 course breakdowns. Simon and Josh run through them all, plus give their reactions to the feedback you've given us so far on the newest Top 100 Courses in the World. Enjoy!
S1 · E49 · 19 Nov 2025 · 45 min
49: The Top 100 Courses in the World!
The newest ranking of GOLF Magazine's Top 100 Courses in the World is out now! Simon Holt, who leads the panel, and longtime course rater and GOLF Magazine editor Josh Sens go through all the headlines. Which new courses entered the Top 100? And which courses made meteoric rises? Plus, for our 40th anniversary of the list, we'll take a special stats-driven look back at how trends impact the rankings today. To view the full list, head over to GOLF.com or pick up a copy of GOLF Magazine today.
S1 · E48 · 17 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
48: World Top 100 Preview with Jim Wagner
How much does a Top 100 ranking mean to an architect? One of the modern golden age's most prolific designers, Jim Wagner, weighs in on the list and the courses on it. As a longtime partner of Gil Hanse, Jim has traveled the world restoring the best of the best, and has already cracked the list with their own original projects. If you want to get inside the head of an architect, this interview with Josh Sens is for you. Enjoy!

About Destination GOLF

Destination GOLF is a English sport podcast from GOLF.com. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: GOLF.com
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 59 min
Latest episode: 1 Jun 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1778856440
Rights: GOLF.com

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