John Helm holed the final putt of his journey to play every golf course in Yorkshire at Kingswood Golf Centre at the end of the 2025 season – completing the final round of his quest to play every course in the county.
John – a sports commentator – has worked for the BBC, ITV, FIFA and Channel 5 covering 10 football World Cups and six Olympic Games as well numerous sports around the world. His golfing journey has seen him tee it up in 56 different countries – from Nepal to Tahiti – and in his native Yorkshire, where he has played a total of 204 different courses, including every one currently open and several which no longer exist.
When we caught up with John at the end of 2024, he had 19 courses remaining on his list and he ticked all of those off in 2025 – ending the quest at Kingswood in Doncaster.
“I’m very happy to have completed them all,” said John, who was with his son and regular playing partner Nick at Kingswood. “I’ve enjoyed completing the challenge. I’ve never been better than a 15 handicap, and it’s higher now, but I love playing new courses.
“There are lots of great memories, and some special moments from last year. Playing at Gilling Castle – I hit a shocker of a tee shot, hacked it out and had to lay up with a three-wood. I was then waved up to the green and holed my fourth shot. I still get the same kick out of shots like that as I did when I was a kid.
“I also got to play the nine-hole course at Thistle Hill last year [set within Alanbrooke Barracks] which you need to play with a member, and that was great. There’s a wonderful array of courses in Yorkshire and it’s fantastic to know I have seen them all now.”
The idea to play every Yorkshire course came some 50 years ago, with John and his late friend John Jackson tallying up the courses they’d played and deciding to try and tick them all off.
“From playing Baildon [John’s home club for 77 years] for the first time as a kid with my mother to creating the first list with John, and ticking off many of the final few over the last couple of years with Nick, I’ve had a lot of fun.
“I’ll keep playing now that the list is complete, and there may be a new course open in the next few years to add on. I’ll also keep travelling and playing – I’ve played in 56 countries to-date and would like to add a few more if I can.”
