This may sound counterintuitive, but sometimes the best thing you can plan during a golf trip to the British Isles is a day with no golf. Over the past decade or so, a growing number of our travelers have shared their desire for an itinerary that rolls at a slightly slower pace. A quick Google of the phrase “slow travel” reveals this phenomenon has spread across the entire travel industry.
Now, don’t get us wrong, the majority of the H&B Forces are still looking to enjoy as much golf during their trip as their time and bodies will allow. But as we’ve seen time and time again, many return home wishing that they’d followed the frequent advice of our Expedition Planning Managers and built some free time into their itinerary. If you’re planning a golf trip to Scotland, Ireland, or England, there are many compelling reasons why you should consider doing the same.
Soak Up the Culture
This may come as a shock, but thousands of tourists visit the British Isles every year… Without golf clubs. To put it mildly, there is enough history and culture here to fill an entire trip of its own. And while your primary objective is to discover the great golf courses overseas, to return home without savoring at least a small portion of their heritage would be like attending The Masters and not ordering a pimento cheese sandwich.
“Insist on taking one day off to do other things besides golf, whether it be shopping, touring museums, distilleries, skeet shooting or anything else that gives one a flavor of the wonderful country of Scotland. Just as in golf, there is a history, lore, and a culture that is rich and full of excitement and color.“
Dennis Weiss – Hillcrest Country Club
Get Off the Beaten Path
You don’t have to travel far from the great golf courses overseas to enjoy a little sightseeing. Many of the most popular attractions are located within a short drive of the 18th green or a nice stroll from your hotel in cities like Edinburgh, St. Andrews, and Dublin.
Of course, popularity also usually equates to crowds and sometimes a loss of authenticity. But with the luxury of extra time at your disposal, you can venture off the well worn path and discover sites that the giant tour busses rarely reach. Once you’ve experienced places like the Loop Head Peninsula and Slea Head Drive in Ireland or the far reaches of the North Coast 500 in Scotland, you may find that one day off golf the course wasn’t nearly enough.
“Set aside more than one day for sightseeing. There’s just too much to see between rounds of golf, from the Cairngorm to Loch Ness to John O’ Groats to the falconry at Dunrobin Castle to distillery tours. We couldn’t do half the things we wanted to do. But we played a LOT of golf.”
Eddie Sutton – Franklin, North Carolina
Let the Body Rest
During the typical week-long Expedition, most of our travelers will play more rounds of golf in six or seven days than they typically do in two or three months. In addition, the courses across the pond are almost exclusively played on foot, as opposed to behind the wheel of a golf cart. Toss in a few late nights in the local pubs, and you may end the trip in need of a vacation from your vacation. On the other hand, taking a day off from golf to relax in the hotel spa or enjoy a little sightseeing may give your body the jumpstart it needs to finish the trip on a high note.
“As fun as it is, I would recommend taking a day or two off of golf during the trip. Playing every day for two weeks gets a little tougher every time I go back.”
Mark Owen – The Canyon Club
Reset Your Game
When you’re playing this much golf in a short period of time, problems with your game have a funny way of coming out of nowhere. Whether it’s a frightening snap hook, terrible putting, or a mental block in the bunkers, having a portion of your game derail over multiple rounds can be maddening.
But as every golfer can surely relate, sometimes the best thing for your game is to simply put the clubs away for a bit. By planning some time off the course in the middle of the trip, you may find that it resets both your game and your frame of mind.
“It was a great experience. I’m not sure how it could have been any better, except maybe we could have taken one day off from golf to better enjoy the country.”
Craig Miller – Goshen, IN
Play it Again
Contrary to the tips above, planning a day off the course gives you some flexibility to add… More golf. Have you ever walked off a golf course that you enjoyed so much that you wanted a second crack at it? If every day of your itinerary is filled from morning to night, pulling off that second round is all but impossible. But if you’ve planned an open day within the trip, you’ll have the time to play that course again or discover a new one altogether. More often than not, it’s during those spontaneous rounds that the best memories of the trip are made.
For more insight on planning an overseas golf trip, visit the pages below or have a look through our Yardage Book, where you’ll find answers to many of our most frequently asked questions.
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