Benjamin Smith

The founder of The Wandering Golfers, Ben grew up on the links of Scotland learning the game from his beloved Grandpa. Previously a writer and broadcaster for The Times and BBC

Dr Golf: an inspiring journey back to the top

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In another life, Zach Gould would be a household name on the PGA Tour.  As a precocious teenager, the Welshman – who many now know as Dr Golf – had been destined for the top of the game having won some of Europe’s most prestigious junior tournaments, beating Rory McIlroy en route. He…

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‘Dramatic’ new Pinehurst No 10 course to open April 2024

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The highly-anticipated Tom Doak design, will be the first original golf course at Pinehurst Resort for nearly 30 years. Its opening comes just a few months before Pinehurst hosts its fourth US Open on Pinehurst No 2…

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Luke v Scott a thrilling chapter in adventure of a lifetime

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Pace of play has been a hot topic in golf for many years now. Rounds on the PGA Tour have gone, in some cases, north of five-and-a-half hours. But the great joy of our game is that it is far more wide-ranging than the professional game and along that spectrum, there are two…

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Brocket Hall’s Melbourne Club is the quintessential English experience

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The light is fading over  Broadwater Lake; the only sounds are the rustle of weeping willows, the flap of a swan’s wings near the reeds and, right on cue, the crisp plop of a golf ball coming up a yard or two short of the 18th green at The Melbourne Course at Brocket…

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Gareth Benson: golf lessons that will change your game

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They say great teachers don’t just fill your pail, they light a fire: after an hour or so in the company of the brilliant Gareth Benson at Hillside Golf Club, that’s exactly how I feel. Full disclosure: I have not had many golf lessons in my life. As someone who was introduced to…

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Discovering Rockliffe Hall: one of England’s premier luxury golf destinations

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It’s hard to imagine ever growing tired of long sultry, summer evenings at resplendent Rockliffe Hall.  We’ve been watching the Oystercatchers dancing in the night air and rabbits scampering across the sprawling lawns from our terrace overlooking the golf course and life feels good. On a normal day I might complain about weary…

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Amateur Championship: Hillside A fitting venue for world’s best

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It’s official, Hillside Golf Club when the wind blows will test even the very best golfers in the game. Reader, I am not one of them. I walk off the 18th green and towards the comforting embrace of the white clubhouse here, a beaten man. Hillside has got the better of me today…

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Royal Liverpool Golf Club: a true Hoylake love affair

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I fell in love with Royal Liverpool Golf Club the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once. I can still recall the first time I drove through the gates and caught sight of the majestic clubhouse which stands guard over the links land here. On that day, I walked around to…

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Grandeur and growth at the heart of Woodsome Hall success story

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The grandeur of Woodsome Hall Golf Club speaks for itself.  From the moment you drive through the gates of this handsome 134-acre estate and sweep up towards the 16th century grade-1 listed clubhouse, you get a sense of what this place is all about. The Woodsome Hall experience begins long before you step…

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Manchester Golf Club: natural wonder within sight of the city

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You might think the sight of a deer scampering down the 5th fairway at Manchester Golf Club would be a surprise given we’re within sight of the city centre. And yet amid the natural splendour all around us, we barely pay it a second glance: it’s very much at home – as are…

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Cliff Hotel Cardigan: wonderful Wales and the perfect family break

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It’s an hour before sunset at The Cliff Hotel, Cardigan and we’re watching a pod of dolphins play in the water below us.  This stunning corner of Wales has unquestionably taken a piece of all our hearts during our time here – our two-year-old will spend the much of the journey home screaming…

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Causeway Coast and Glens: the best golf courses

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Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route is a dream for golfers, showcasing world-class links like Royal Portrush, Portstewart, and Castlerock. Framed by rugged cliffs and sweeping beaches, these courses deliver breathtaking views and unforgettable challenges. Combine dramatic landscapes, rich history, and exceptional golf for an adventure every passionate golfer should experience.…

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Castlerock Golf Club: a special experience with real spirit

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Castlerock Golf Club is yet another unmissable stop on Northern Ireland’s spectacular Causeway Coast. To the west are the rolling hills of Donegal, to the east the towering dunes of Portstewart, separated only by the mouth of the river Bann. It’s a wonderful setting for two beautiful golf courses…

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Portstewart Golf Club: the best front 9 in golf?

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The Strand Course at Portstewart Golf Club is often described as a course of two 9s, with the front 9 quite rightly attracting widespread acclaim and the back nine often reduced to something a of a footnote. There was certainly a part of me who expected the front 9 to be what it…

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The Dumbarnie Experience is Hard To Better

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The beauty of Dumbarnie Links speaks for itself on a morning like this. There’s barely a breath of wind as we look out across Largo Bay and take in the majesty of this dramatic meeting of land and sea. It’s not yet 8am and a thin layer of wispy white cloud hangs over…

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Chart Hills Golf Club: new dawn for epic inland wonder

It’s a stiflingly hot summer’s day and our journey to Chart Hills Golf Club is nearing an end, as we negotiate Kent’s charming country lanes – the garden of England is a truly alluring part of the world, even in this heat.  We turn through the gates and wind our way along the…

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The Lodge at Prince’s Golf Club is the perfect golf break

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From the moment you enter The Lodge at Prince’s Golf Club it’s clear you’re following in the footsteps of champions. A photograph hangs in the reception area showing Colin Morikawa drinking from the Claret Jug in joyous celebration. It was taken in the bar here on the night he won The Open next…

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Why picturesque Prince’s is one of England’s finest links

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There can be few places to rival Prince’s Golf Club as a place to watch the sun rise on a day like this.  We’re sitting by the putting green at The Lodge at Prince’s, waiting. In the dawn mist, Sandwich Bay itself is so still it’s as if someone has placed a piece…

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Hillside Golf Club – one of England’s greatest links

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Hillside Golf Club, set among the towering dunes of England’s Golf Coast, is one of the finest courses in the UK. Known for its dramatic back nine, sweeping sea views, and immaculate conditioning, it offers a pure links test that has earned praise from legends and comparisons with its famous neighbours.…

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