Peninsula Papagayo Golf Club

“What’s your favorite golf course?”
It’s the question I’ve been asked more times than I can count. After playing or inspecting more than 2,000 courses in 95 countries over three decades, you’d think I’d have an answer. But I don’t—because golf isn’t just about fairways and greens. Each course is more than a name, a dot on a map, or a spot on a ranking—it’s a gateway to a moment, a feeling, a story. And those stories have unfolded in a kaleidoscope of colors, cultures, and landscapes as diverse and rich as the world itself.
I’ve been fortunate to experience some of the game’s most iconic venues—from the Old Course at St Andrews, Pine Valley, and Royal County Down to the stunning Cypress Point Golf Club. I’ve walked the hallowed fairways of Augusta National and played the ultra-private Shanqin Bay Golf Club in China. I’ve teed off on oceanfront masterpieces like Punta Espada in the Dominican Republic and arrived at Cabot Cliffs in Canada by Zodiac, straight from a maritime golf expedition. I’ve explored “millionaire’s golf” in New Zealand and hosted a private jet golf adventure around the globe.
And yet, many of my most lasting memories have been shaped by hidden gems and far-flung, exotic golf destinations.
Japan was the first to truly captivate me—with its magnificent courses, distinct golf culture, refined cuisine, deep-rooted traditions, and extraordinary hospitality. Golf there feels both deeply local and strikingly global, where every round plays out like a ceremony. It’s no wonder I return year after year.
In Vietnam, I’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation since my first visit in 2004—a fast-evolving nation that has become one of golf’s most dynamic frontiers. With dramatic coastal layouts, championship-caliber design, and a rich cultural backdrop, this South-east Asian country has confidently claimed its place on the global golf map.
Morocco, too, has emerged in quieter tones—especially around Marrakesh, where world-class courses stretch between desert dunes and snow-dusted peaks. Steeped in history, vibrant color, and an unmistakable sense of place, it’s a destination where golf is woven into the very fabric of the land.
One morning on the private island of Laucala in Fiji, I had an entire top-tier course to myself —just me, the jungle, the Pacific, and a smiling Fijian waiting at the turn with fresh delicacies. The overwhelming beauty of the moment and my immense gratitude brought tears to my eyes.
In Nepal, I experienced Mustang Golf Course—15,239 feet above sea level, the highest in the world—framed by the towering majesty of the Himalayas. In the thin mountain air, my drives carried farther than ever, setting personal records in one of the most surreal settings imaginable.
In South Africa, I’ve shared greens with roaming wildlife at Hans Merensky and helicoptered to the tee of the 19th hole at Legend Golf & Safari Resort—a challenging par-3 so outrageous it begins with a chopper ride to a cliff-top tee box and ends with a 400-yards drop to a massive green shaped like the continent of Africa.
There have been golf cruises through Bermuda and the Caribbean, and exhilarating fam trips across western Canada—36 holes a day, hotel inspections by night, and early alarms that felt like wake-up calls to my dream job. I’ve also had a police escort in Indonesia just to make a tee time. In the Argentine Andes, I waited through mountain fog at Chapelco Golf Course, only to watch the peaks emerge under a fresh blanket of snow.
But in the end, it’s not just the courses I remember – it’s the people. I’ve attended clinics with Tiger Woods, played with legends like Langer and Olazábal, and—by sheer coincidence—finished a round walking alongside Ernie Els at Fancourt, South Africa´s Augusta. More often, it’s been the strangers-turned-friends, the laughter shared across languages, and the caddies who told better stories than any guidebook. Golf travel has this rare ability to connect us—to places, to people, and to something deeply human.
For me, golf has always been a passport to the world. It has opened doors I never imagined—from a morning workout with Gary Player in Sicily to walking inside the ropes with Team USA at the Olympics. But as much as I love exploring the far reaches of the golf world, I find even more meaning in helping others do the same. Crafting extraordinary journeys for discerning golfers—on legendary links or hidden gems—isn’t just my career, it is my calling.
What’s next?
Maybe Tasmania. Maybe Mongolia. Maybe somewhere I haven’t even imagined yet. But wherever it is, I know this: it won’t just be about the course—it never is. It’s about what happens between the tees. The moments that surprise you, the stories you carry home, the memories that last forever.
In the end, the most extraordinary course is the one that connects us—to the world, to others, and to something greater within ourselves.
So… where do you want to go?