Captain's Guide
The Captain's Guide to Planning a Golf Expedition
For Group Leaders Ready to Plan with Confidence
Every great golf trip begins with a leader. Someone who takes the initiative, answers the early questions, and sets the tone for the journey ahead. At Haversham & Baker, we call that person Captain.
Whether you’re a private club member organizing for friends, a PGA Professional guiding your membership, or simply the one others trust to make things happen, your role is both an honor and a responsibility.
This guide was made with you in mind.
For many Captains, the excitement of planning can also feel a little overwhelming. With so many decisions to make and details to consider, it's not always clear where to begin.
Here's the good news...
After decades of partnering with Captains like you, we've found that most of the early uncertainty can usually be traced back to just a handful of topics. They're the questions that come up again and again, and often define a confident start to your planning.
We've compiled those questions here, along with candid, experience-based answers and links to more detailed resources.
Take a few minutes to explore what follows. The time you invest now will make the planning experience smoother and your Expedition that much more rewarding.
What Should I Expect This to Cost?
Let’s begin with the question that’s often unspoken but always present.
Most Captains aren’t looking for an exact number right away. What they really want is an understanding of the factors that shape the investment.
Rather than generalize, we prefer to explain the variables and how your group’s goals, timing, and preferences influence the total investment.
With the right context, planning around your group’s expectations becomes a whole lot easier.
The guides below will point the way.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
Here’s the thing about international travel: even with the best-laid plans, stuff happens. Flights are delayed. Bags go missing. Reservations need adjusting.
Captains ask this question not from fear, but from foresight. They want to know that someone has thought ahead and will have their back when it counts.
The fact is, just a small handful of issues account for most of the challenges that arise on golf trips across the pond.
We’ve outlined those common wrinkles—and how to handle them—in the guide below.
Stuff Happens: Common Golf Travel Challenges (And How to Avoid Them)
Where Should We Play?
This is where Captains tend to spend the most time. And rightly so.
With so many celebrated courses across Scotland, Ireland, and England, narrowing down the itinerary can be the most difficult—and most rewarding—part of the planning process.
It helps to begin with your group:
- Is this your first golf trip across the pond or are you repeat travelers?
- Do you want to focus solely on the big names, or pair them with a few under-the-radar courses that we know you’ll love?
- Are you looking to play every day, or mix in a day or two for exploring?
Most of the best courses overseas are clustered within distinct regions. Choosing the right one—or combination—can shape the entire feel and flow of your Expedition.
The guides below will help you start to narrow the map.
What Are Other Captains Saying?
Every Captain leads with a question in mind: Am I making the right decision for my group?
The most reassuring answer often comes from those who’ve walked in your shoes.
From fellow club members and long-time friends to the family that's dreamed of crossing the Swilcan Bridge together, the Captains who've partnered with H&B return with a treasure trove of insights.
Their advice, stories, and testimonials aren’t marketing. They’re the measure of our work and a reminder that you're in the right place.
Here's what Captains like you have shared about their H&B Expeditions
How Do I Know Who to Trust?
Of the six common questions we receive from Captains, this might be the most important.
Most golf travel companies look fairly similar at first glance. But once you dig a little deeper, the differences begin to matter.
At H&B, we believe trust comes from transparency. That means producing a podcast and publishing helpful planning guides to support all golfers, even if you never travel with us. It also means being upfront when we’re not the right fit for your group, or when your desired itinerary doesn’t match with our approach to golf travel.
But when your goals align with our strengths, the planning becomes seamless and the experience truly exceptional.
So how do you land on the right partner for your trip? The guides below will lead the way.
How Does It Work with The Old Course at St. Andrews?
For many Captains, playing The Old Course at St Andrews is the dream. Naturally, one of the most common questions we receive is how to secure a tee time.
As one of a select group of Authorized Providers of guaranteed tee times for The Old Course at St. Andrews, Haversham & Baker is able to secure access that many travelers simply can’t find on their own.
These tee times are limited and in high demand, but with early planning and the right approach, we can help make it happen.
Outside of our guaranteed allocation, there are three other methods for playing The Old Course. Each comes with its own process and level of uncertainty. Rather than listing them here, we’ve laid it all out in plain terms in the guide below.
Whether your group secures a guaranteed tee time or explores one of the other methods, we will lean on our decades of experience to guide you toward the best approach.
The Complete Guide to Old Course at St. Andrews Tee Times
Ready When You Are
Some Captains begin with a detailed vision. Others just know that the time has come and need direction.
Wherever you are in the process, chances are you’ve asked some of the same questions we’ve explored above. Those answers help shape the journey ahead, and we’re here to help you lead it with clarity and confidence.
When the time comes, we’ll be ready to take the next step with you.
Ready to Experience Golf and the Good Life with H&B?
Additional Reading
Visit the Yardage Book for More Golf Travel Resources
Discover More of Golf at its Finest with H&B
