Hi Pam, I have worked with Bonnie Wee Golf Tours in the past and they are a great group of people. 3 Ways To Get A Quote Are all of these destinations truly great for golf? What a list of courses, too have a great trip! golf operator inbound africa tour south winners awards Have you ever noticed how some golf travel companies talk about custom planning, yet their website is overflowing with pre-packaged itineraries? The time savings can be worth the cost of using a tour company for some travelers. There arent too many reviews to be found, but the ones we have uncovered are very positive. Thanks Graylyn. Payment may be paid by check, American Express, MasterCard or VISA. Since we are only playing in the St Andrews area only there might be some local companies I should talk to rather than those companies that arrange trips all over the world. By submitting this form, I agree to the TourRadar T&Cs and Privacy policy. We dont begin crafting your itinerary until weve gotten to know you, your travel companions, and each of those desires and expectations. hands on planning with tour operator and then let them run with getting details in place. After reading your comments about groups larger than four, I have come to the conclusion that a tour company is the way to go for our first trip. Haversham & Baker Expeditions emphasizes small group travel to Britain, Ireland and Europe, using private buses and exclusive-use accommodations. Follow me on Instagram travelfoodguy or Twitter @travelfoodguy. For most of the rest of the world, I heartily suggest using a good tour operator, especially when you are combing golf with other activities, as you are likely to do when visiting such golf travel hotspots as Melbourne, Australian; New Zealand; South Africa; Spain and Portugal; China; Vietnam; Thailand; or South America. You dont always have much input in the planning process, but many consumers dont need or want it. As you read, getting multiple quotes is definitely best practices here, especially with a large group. Of course, this decision then leads to yet another question. If you have questions, shoot another reply here and well brainstorm! Of course, your itinerary from H&B will never fall into this category. Because of the coronavirus, theres a ton of pent-up demand. Additionally, driving and time distances between what appear to be straightforward routes on the map are legendarily dramatic, especially in Ireland, and good tour operators already know you cant play A&B the same day even though you think you can. Or might you suggest us splitting in to two vehicles (not ideal)? I actually wrote to each of the clubs we hope to play and asked them how far in advance theyd allow me to book even offered to pre-pay for our foursome but havent heard back yet. Once youve combined the insight on how to choose the right golf travel company, with what youve learned about Haversham & Baker, if you think were the right choice for your trip, theres only one thing left to do. Id think about Perry Golf, Haversham and Baker, Bonnie Wee Golf Tours, and others. At least on paper, the trips seem to be almost identical, yet one is significantly less expensive than the other two. Planning a trip to southwest Ireland in 2019. Golf England If youve already decided where youd like to go, check out our list of golf tours categorised by continent, or take a look at the top-rated operators below. For more valuable insight on golf travel across the pond, sign-up for our Among Friends newsletter. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The truth is, any of these firms would be great help in planning a golf trip anywhere. Ive worked with and spoken to many happy clients from PerryGolf, Haversham & Baker, Bonnie Wee Golf Tours, Carr Golf, Connoisseur Golf, and others. Carr Golf and Celtic Golf are outstanding for Irish trips. For instance, almost all the top courses of the British Isles are technically private clubs, but unlike the US versions, welcome outside play. So when you see Scotland golf packages featured right alongside those to Sao Paulo, Santorini, or Shanghai, you might want to ask yourself. Throughout your process of comparing golf travel companies, youve probably come across a few who seem to promote every destination under the sun. Please leave a comment at the end of the article! I once had to go to Chicago to play a round of golf with a CEO I was interviewing for a magazine story on very short notice, and through United Vacations I was able to book an air and hotel package with a nice hotel in downtown Chicago for less than the same exact flights without the hotel through Uniteds regular website. Hi Gray. If the courses and accommodation are similar across those quotes, I dont see any reason to not go with the less expensive options I dont know of any reasons not to if the quotes are similar. Are Guaranteed Old Course Tee Times Worth the Money? We want to go over a week or so ahead of that and travel and play in Wales. The First Tee There proposals are very competitive and can supply me with what I need. You do not need a tour operator for golf trips to Scotland or Ireland, the two most popular foreign destinations for golf fans. Our advice: Contact them all to see what theyve got and what they charge. A common mistake made by golf travel companies is believing that they are right for everyone. Which company best listened to your desired trip and delivered in their quote?. PerryGolf is uniquely qualified to arrange every aspect of a luxurious, international golf vacation. In all cases, Id love to hear about your experiences and recommendations for a tour company. There is never a surcharge for credit card payments. We rented an apartment near the Old course and stayed there for 6 nights. Hogan does a lot of custom trips for professional athletes and small corporate groups, a lot of private jet stuff, and a lot of more exotic itineraries like South African Golf & Safari combos. In addition to this interactive documents photography and text descriptions, you will be able to click hyperlinks for even more detailed information. I would suggest you speak to Links Golf St Andrews, Bonnie Wee Golf Tours, and St Andrews Golf Travel (all three have websites youll find in Google). golf safaris kenya tobs crowned operator tour travelcommunication africa To my own (and my wifes) detriment, Im always the guy who tries a task myself. The tour company drivers are also often helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. This can be especially useful for larger groups where a rental car doesnt make sense. A very important but entirely different dimension these tour operators add is the option of turnkey transportation. One of the logistics Im struggling with is the rental vehicle. Explaining why Haversham & Baker is a little more expensive than other golf travel companies requires a post of its own. This point is especially true for larger groups. Just wanted to make sure they are legitimate. Golf Ireland So youve been appointed to the rank of Captain for your upcoming golf trip. In non-pandemic times, the former hosts multiple father-son and father-daughter tournaments each year and the latter has built a nice business out of pairing golf travel with big international events such as the Solheim Cup. I hope that helps! Set off on a golf holiday and play your favourite game on spectacular courses in some of the worlds greatest golfing destinations. Recognizing that some clients may enjoy their own research and schedule design, we make both possible and convenient here at our website. Should I just get a room near the old course, or look another place? Others dont have the time! PGA Travel Benefits Google both of those and theyll be a good starting point for you! Booking through an operator can be advantageous but with the amount of things you can book online I think any future trips that we take will be done without a tour operator. Do you know of a company that would have something large enough for us? The company? Why would we be willing to promote our competition on our own website? Every H&B Expedition is custom designed to the precise desires and expectations of your group. I would only use a tour operator I viewed as a consultant, one with true expertise. Golf Cruises 22 passenger bus with drivers. Can I get around by train or other ways? Those dates fall right during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which means that depending on your days, the Old Course and Carnoustie will be closed for the tournament (see the actual dates the Old Course is closed here: https://www.standrews.com/play/busy-dates). 2022 Forbes Media LLC. quoc phu vinpearl viet olmsted forbes operator whiskies operators wgtd raichlen pressrush My wife is going to play in the British Womens Senior Amateur at Royal St. Davids in Wales. Ive received emails in the past where a client presented a tour company with a general outline for their desired trip. Looking for reliable ground operators to get us around. But if all it takes to plan an overseas golf trip is entering your name, dates, and selecting a few courses on a contact form, what value is the company really bringing to the equation? Ive dedicated hundreds of hours to content about courses and how to a trip plan yourself. Complete Guide to Golf in Ireland, 12 Important Decisions When Planning a Golf Trip to Scotland, 5 Benefits of Custom Golf Travel Packages, Why Haversham & Baker Costs a Bit More than Other Golf Travel Companies, The Best Destinations for 2023 Golf Trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England, 2022 Haversham & Baker Golf Expeditions, A Week in Edinburgh and Scotlands Golf Coast, Golf Digest thinks are the Best Golf Tour Operators, why Haversham & Baker is a little more expensive than other golf travel companies, The Must-Play Harry Colt Golf Courses Across the Pond, The First-Timers Guide to Golf in Scotland and Ireland, Tips for Using Your Cell Phone on an Overseas Golf Trip, We were the first some might say, still the only golf travel company to adopt the belief that your time off the course during an overseas golf trip is just as important to the overall experience as your time on it. Some (not all) companies will steer your trip toward places they receive preferential rates and therefore have higher margins. As for transportation, trains and buses are definitely do-able if you want to avoid driving. PerryGolf is luxury golf tour operator with a unique portfolio of worldwide travel experiences. P. lease leave a comment at the end of the article! We wouldnt dream of hosting an international Father-Son or Father-Daughter tournament because we dont organize and promote pre-planned events, yet Carr Golf has been doing it successfully for years. Its also one that operates on relatively thin margins. With most tour companies, there is an initial discussion about where you want to go and play, but once youve confirmed a quoted itinerary, you just sit back while they do the work. Dont call the plumber. I would suggest going for 2020. The only reason to use a tour operator is if you have money to burn and value your time enough where you simply want someone else to take care of all the details, in which case it makes sense. Several members of our team are frequent cruisers, but Kalos Golf is more equipped to navigate the high seas. ~ Sep 8, Mediterranean Islands Golf Cruise - PRE-RYDER CUP CRUISE! Upon reaching your destination, and throughout your visit, PerryGolf will be available for assistance. All of which is to say, when choosing a company, dont equate the range of destinations to the depth of expertise. I cant speak from personal experience, but all signs point to legit on my end. Hi Rob, thanks for adding to the conversation!
Pam, I have worked with Bonnie W