Official Expert Raters

Profile page: Leonard
Follow me on Instagram: Leonardvannunen

I'm Leonard, born in 1972, and I’ve been with Leading Courses since the very early days. I joined in 2011 as the first person after the founders. Since 2019, I’ve served as an Evangelist and have been responsible for the global Ambassador program.

I have a golf handicap of 16.8 and have played over 600 courses in more than 30 countries. Alongside my role at Leading Courses, I’m also an apprentice to Alan Rijks, a renowned Dutch golf course architect.

My personal goal in golf is to complete my ultimate playlist, a selection of 381 courses worldwide based on 9 different rankings. So far, I’ve played 160 of them, which you can view on my bucket list. Also I'm chasing a 1000 reviews on Leading Courses and getting close...

In 2025, I started working on a new concept in the golf world: The Centenary, a reciprocal program for clubs that are 100 years and older. One feature I’d love to see on Leading Courses is a trip planner that combines Google Maps with LC data. It would suggest filtered courses (e.g., 8.5+ rating, woodland style, designed by a Golden Age architect) that are no more than 30 minutes off your driving route to a final destination.

Profile page: Jeroen
Follow me on Instagram: thehiddengemgolfer

I'm Jeroen, born in 1973 and founder of Leading Courses. I created Leading Courses out of frustration, as all sites back then were only focusing on the countries' top 10 or top 100 in the world. I felt there was room for a site that would locate all golf courses in the world and rank them based on the opinions of real golfers and not so-called experts or journalists. The idea resonated, and the rest is history. I've played on quite a few courses in the world, but I still need to visit Fife and St. Andrews. I was meant to go, but I couldn't join the trip last minute due to personal circumstances. My goal as a golfer is to play around handicap 10 consistently; my handicap now varies between 12 and 15.. My short game is pretty solid, putting is also fine, and my irons are ok, but I need to do some work on my drives and long irons, although it is improving. I'd love to see a golf trip planner built. So, as a golfer, you provide the dates, a region and what type of courses (and rating) you prefer, and it then books the tee times for your group. That would be bliss.

Profile page: flopic7
Follow me on Instagram: Flopic7

I'm Florian, I'm 41, I live in Austria and I have a handicap of 11.2. I got into golf through my parents-in-law. I had my thoughts about golf in the beginning, but once I went along and hit that little white ball the first few times, I was hooked. The next thing I knew, my wife and I booked a golfing holiday with a course-readiness test, and the rest is history. That was in 2005. My favourite club is the driver, although it's not necessarily the best part of my game. Overall, it's probably the putting, although I've missed a few nervous putts here and there :-). In the short to medium term, I would like to have played the best Austrian golf courses. Of the top 30 golf courses in the Austrian Leadingcourses Golfers' Choice Awards, I am currently still missing 8 courses. In the long term, I would like to play as many of the world's top courses as possible. I like Leading Courses because it's the largest golf course rating site in continental Europe and one of the best places to get information and reviews about a golf course. I would love to see the possibility of planning a route and to see the golf courses and their rating near my route. 

Profile page: Florian A.
Follow me on Instagram: world.golfer

I'm Florian Apfelbach and I started with the beautiful sport of golf in 1999 at the Golf Club St. Leon-Rot in Germany, which was only 10 minutes by bike from my parent's house. In the very first year I was allowed to meet Tiger Woods at the Deutsche Bank – SAP Open on my home course, what an encounter – back then as a teenager an experience that I will never forget. As a young player, I took part in many ranking tournaments and was able to play many courses, although I have to say I didn't have a perspective on the different aspects of a course back then. In 2009 I started a job on a cruise ship as a golf pro. What could be better than playing a different course every day and sometimes even in a different country? Now 37 years old with a handicap of 5, I still work on a cruise ship and love to play a round of golf. When using Leading Courses I immediately find what I'm looking for and get important information and a good impression of a golf facility. I'm particularly happy about all the great photos because photography is another hobby of mine in addition to golf.

Profile page: GolfingAlman
Follow me on Instagram: golfing_alman

I'm 37 years young, currently playing off a handicap of 17 (13 before the lockdowns, working hard to get back down there). I'm based in the South West of the UK, roughly 30 minutes south of Bristol, a few miles away from Weston-super-Mare. I grew up in a household which was firmly anti-golf. At the age of 32, I picked up my first club at a 9-hole course at Trevose in Cornwall and instantly fell in love with the game. Fast forward five years, and I have passed the 200 courses played mark and organised multiple trips a year with friends. I discovered Leading Courses while researching a Lisbon golf trip, and from there I became friends with Dagmarbuysse and Leonard. Leonard was a huge help with a Dutch Tour I completed last month and met in person. A feature that I would like to see on Leading Courses would be Golf Tour or Trip Helper. For instance, you can pick a country/region/city, and then choose a time frame (week, long weekend etc), the distance one is prepared to travel each day from a base, and then a budget. Then a rough itinerary would be produced. 

Profile page: BartBikker
Follow me on Instagram: NA

I’m Bart Bikker. I live in The Netherlands, near The Hague. Some stats: I'm 55, I've played and rated over 469 courses (I played all courses in The Netherlands) and uploaded over 4.500 photos. I've been golfing since 2006, but despite this, I still have a handicap of only 19.1. That may be because every time I play a new course I’m busy enjoying the course, nature, the clubhouse…  just having a good time. To me, golf is so much more than just a game. It's a holiday for half a day. I like to share my experiences and Leading Courses is a perfect platform to do this. I also plan my trips with the help of Leading Courses and use the map to make my itinerary. And I don't only visit the top-rated courses, a course with no pictures or ratings does appeal to me strongly. In those cases, I hope my photo and review will help other golfers and will trigger other people to visit that course.

Profile page: davidesantandrea1
Check my website: davide_santandrea1

I'm Davide, 27 years old and I live in Imola (Emilia Romagna). I'm almost scratch (hcp 1,2) and I started to play golf when I was 10 years old. The best part of my game is the driver and my chipping. My goals are to become a scratch player and to visit and play a lot of golf courses all over the world, especially the most iconic ones like St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Le National, Valderrama, Pebble Beach, TPC Sawgrass. I think Leading Courses is a very nice platform for golfers. As I use TripAdvisor to select a restaurant or pub, I also use Leading Courses to select golf courses. Unfortunately, it is not well known yet in Italy. It would be great if Leading Courses would have a sort of social space, like a social network, where golfers can post photos, and videos and can chat with each other. The app 'Relive' is a good example (but it isn’t a golf app).

Profile page: MathiasSlabbinck

My name is Mathias Slabbinck and I live in Bruges, Belgium. I’ve been playing golf since 1987 (blame Seve). My lowest handicap was 14.4 but I’m an 18 now. I’m married (playing golf was a pre-nuptial condition, we went to Pebble Beach on our honeymoon) and we have a son. I’m passionate about golf history and links courses, especially the “lost links” of the Belgian coast (Lekkerbek, Lombardsijde and St. André). My home club is Royal Ostend, the only true links in Belgium. Over the years I must have played well over 200 courses, with many more on bucket list! I’m honoured to be a member of the Leading Courses experts and look forward to sharing my reviews. Fore!!

Profile page: Dirk
Check my website: Golfen mit freunden

I was born in November 1963 in Düsseldorf and now live in Grumbach in the heart of the Pfälzer Wood with my wife, our grandson and 4 little dogs. I was infected with the „Golf Virus" at the age of 49 on a trip to the Midlands. I still remember that moment very well sitting in the clubhouse of Welshpool Golf Club. A golf pro asked me if I would like to try a few shots. My first shot got me hooked. Nowadays I play off a 24.5 handicap. My goal is to go under 18. At the moment I am loving my short game and have to work hard on the distance with the driver. Leading Courses is perfect to get ideas on which courses to play (especially with the bucket-list function). I loved the idea of writing down my thoughts about a course, trying to give others an idea of what to expect. Missing feature: perhaps the option to see where my Leading Courses buddies are playing or where they booked.

Profile page: ManuGolfing
Follow me on Twitter: Manugolfing

Hi, I'm Manu. I'm French, but I've been living in Madrid for almost 20 years, and before that in London, where I started playing golf at the age of 20. I play from a handicap of 15 but I always strive to improve and keep going down, to see if I get to "single digit" even if it's difficult! The driver is my favourite club and "hitting bombs" is always fun, but I need to improve the short game! I try to keep up with my 12-year-old son who already beats me from time to time. Leading Courses is the platform that best represents my idea of "golf for everyone", far from stereotypes and precooked golf course descriptions. It would be great to create a "playing tips" section for each course/hole, where local players could indicate what "there is to know" about a specific golf course.

Profile page: Johnhall61
Follow me on LinkedIn: Johnhall61

I'm John, I'm 61 and live in the middle of Scotland’s Golf Coast, at North Berwick. My handicap is 3.6 and I’ve had a Category 1 handicap since I was 16. In my youth, I played representative golf for the Bradford & District Golf Union, Yorkshire Colts and was Captain of the St Andrews University Golf Team in 1984. I’m lucky to have played many of the top 50 courses in the US through my membership of the Renaissance Club and I was lucky enough to play Augusta in December 2022. Putting is probably my strength, but that doesn’t stop me from looking for that magic putter on Ebay every week! I’m a member of the UK Top 100 society, and my medium-term goal is to play all 100 courses, as well as all of Tom Doak’s designs. I like Leading Courses because it looks at all aspects of the golf experience, not just the golf course, and so offers a more rounded view. Suggested itineraries for (say) 1, 2 or 3-week holidays to specific destinations would be a welcome addition to the current offer. 

Profile page: nicolastephane
Follow me on Instagram: stefman38

Stéphane, 42 years old, index 13, French, originally from the Alps but living in the North of the Paris region - near Chantilly, always ready to discover a new course!I discovered golf at the age of 35 after a bet with colleagues that it wasn't really a sport ! But above all, it was the setting that I literally fell in love with: outdoors, in nature, with vegetation, animals, often in magnificent places, but what more could I hope for ? The next day, I got my license and a discovery program, two months after my first competition, then a challenge to lower my index. But today, more than the level of play, it's discovering new courses that interests me. I quickly took pleasure in discovering new courses, new landscapes, new facilities, and new restaurants.In seven years, I've managed to play every course in the Paris region (over 80). Two years ago, I decided to embark on courses abroad. And my first course was... the Old Course at St-Andrews ! After Scotland, I was able to discover several countries such as Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Holland, Dubai, Abu Dhabi... I have also had the chance to play some of the most beautiful courses in the four corners of France such as Fontainbleau, Chantilly, Pont Royal, Seignosse, Hardelot, Les Aisses, Le Kempferhof, Granville... I have played more than 200 golf courses and I intend not to stop there !I am a huge fan of LINKS type courses. What I also like is sharing the rounds with friends, players connected via social networks, or simply club members who generally tell you about the history of the course.Discovery, sharing, fun... this is my vision and philosophy of playing golf!"

Profile page: Benoit Facon

My name is Benoit Facon, and I am a 50-year-old golfer with a lifelong passion for the game. Golf has been an important part of my life for many years, and I continue to enjoy both the challenge and the camaraderie it brings.
Because of my professional career, I have the privilege of traveling frequently around the world. These travels have allowed me to play on a wide variety of renowned courses across different countries and continents. Along the way, I have also had the opportunity to participate in pro-am events, which have further enriched my experience of the sport and allowed me to connect with players and professionals in unique settings.
I value golf not only as a sport but also as a way to connect with people everywhere. Whether on a local course, an international one, or in a pro-am, I approach each round with respect for the game, a focus on continuous improvement, and genuine enthusiasm for meeting fellow golfers. I look forward to future opportunities to share my passion, exchange experiences, and continue learning through the global community of golf.

Profile page: Kevin Ross
Follow me on Instagram: single_digit_drive
South African heritage, English accent based in Amsterdam, you’re probably as confused as I am. Huge sports fan and keen to play golf in as many countries around the world as possible. Grew up playing golf at Durban Country Club before moving to the UK and not playing for a number of years. Now fully caught the bug again and trying to get into the single digits handicap wise, currently at 10.9. I came across leading courses about a year ago and honestly found it the best and most interactive site to find courses and ignited a passion to try and play as many different ones as I can. 

Profile page: Markus4Mueller
Follow me on Instagram: markusgolftravelaroundtheworld

I started my golf career late in life, aged 34. In the last 14 years, golf has become a quest and I get an incredible amount of energy from the game. I'm happy with a handicap of 8, but today it's more the special experiences that make me happy. Whenever I'm on a business trip I always try to find some time to play a nearby course. This is why I like Leadingcourses so much. It's great for finding the perfect golf destinations for me, based on my location. My actual handicap is 5 years old and this shortens my training time a bit, but I still try to be at the driving range at least 2 times a week. While working in Scandinavia as well as South America I try to play (and review) golf courses unknown to most of us.

Profile page: Milan Blazek aka Czexican
Follow me on Instagram: czxleadinggolf 

Hi, my name is Milan aka Milano. I'm 50years old, with a 6 year old son (future pro :-) ) and loving spouse who also plays golf and understands my obsession with the sport. We love traveling for golf and plan all our vacations as a golf vacation. I have been playing golf about 21 years now. I started in beautiful Colorado USA, at Pole Creek Golf Club, where it all begun. My current handicap is 10,5. We live in the Czech Republic, an undiscovered golfing paradise. The best part of my game is and always was putting. Thanks to our passion for golf and love to travel, I discovered Leading Courses and I have to say out of experience that it's the best website for golfers. I tried them all, my friends can confirm this. The best part about Leadingcourses is the complex info about each course, and I like rating courses. I missing more social part, like messaging with golf buddies.

Profile page: thegolfpilgrim
Follow me on Instagram: thegolfpilgrim

 I am 59 and my world handicap is 11.8 (my best was 10.3). I live in the UK and began playing golf at a municipal course in Coventry where I grew up. The best part of my game is probably my straight (but not especially long) drives. My goal, set in June 2020, is to be the first person to play the top 100 courses in England (currently 76), GB & Ireland (53), Continental Europe (4) and The World (19). I like that Leading Courses takes into account the whole golfing experience rather than just architecture. I believe that adding a 'fun' rating and maybe a question about what was fun would be helpful. I strongly believe that golf should put a smile on your face. Too many golfers take it way too seriously. We aren't professionals. This is our hobby!

Profile page: Richard Bostam
Instagram: richard_bostam

My name is Richard Thygesson Bostam from Lund, Sweden. I'm married and I have 3 kids (2 bonus ones). I started playing golf 1993 after watching Greg Norman win The Open. After a 13-year break, I picked up golf again 2020 and got the bug. I love golf, wine, good food and travel.  I’m just an average golfer (hcp 5) that loves all aspects of golf - socialising, competing and most of all - having fun! There is always a bet ongoing when I play 🙂  I'm looking forward to collaborating and getting inspired by fellow golfers! What I like about Leading Courses is the objective rating and the possibility to book tee times. I also really like the community engagement among the members. A feature that could be of use is a course comparison tool and the option to personalise search filters. 

Profile page: stephenv1nce
Instagram: v1nce_golf

I’m Stephen Vincent, 53 (age not handicap) and I have been playing golf since finding a set of clubs in a house we moved to when I was a kid. I’ve been smitten with the silly game ever since and after 45 years of playing I really should be better than my Handicap Index of 9.   I live in Berkshire, west of London, have been a member at Bearwood Lakes since 1999 & was its Club Captain in 2012/13. More recently I’ve also joined West Sussex, Parkstone and Carne. When someone suggested to start collecting golf clubs, I think I misunderstood!  Despite mainly playing at a parkland & 2 heathland courses I adore links golf over all other forms, especially when it’s ‘blowing a hoolie’. Putting is the strongest part of my game & I’m pretty good out of bunkers - I get a lot of practice. I love to travel & estimate I’ve played 550+ different courses. I research and self-book a lot of trips and like that, you can book directly with clubs throughout Europe through the Leading Courses website. This saves the embarrassment I always feel when phoning a club but only being able to speak in English.  If I could choose to add an element to the LC platform, I’d like to see a more social / community element develop; and/or a forum to ask & respond to questions about courses, trips, etc. See you on the links!

Profile page: DaveFinn
Check my website: Golftravel and leisure

I'm Dave, age 66 and a 6-time national-award-winning golf travel writer and photographer. I've been in the golf business for almost 45 years when I started the first mail-order golf catalogue and e-commerce site in Canada. I have a passion for golf travel in general and I've written about 25 countries. Still, there is so much more to discover. I have a handicap of 22 and live in Canada. I began golf at the age of 16 when a co-worker and eventual best friend at my part-time grocery store job got me hooked. Something I really like about Leading Courses is the ability to find unbiased reviews of golf courses around the world and be able to book your tee time online. I miss the feature that you can add photos before you review a golf course (note: this is possible, but only via our app).