Stuff Happens: Common Golf Travel Challenges

And How to Avoid Them

Mike Walters

May 23, 2025

6 Minute Read

Let’s start with the good news. Most of the time, your golf trip across the pond is going to run like clockwork. Flights arrive on time. Bags are waiting on the carousel. Tee times go off as planned. The pubs pour a perfect pint.

But every now and then, stuff happens. With international travel, it just comes with the territory.

We know you want the trip to go perfectly. Trust us, we do too. That’s why, when you travel with Haversham & Baker, you’re not just getting a great golf trip. You’re tapping into decades of trusted relationships with the people who make it all run smoothly.

Golf clubs. Hotels. Driver-hosts. Restaurant owners. They know what our travelers expect, and more often than not, they fix small issues before we ever hear about them.

Still, sometimes a challenge comes along that needs a little extra help. That’s when the H&B Batphone rings and one of us steps in to get your trip back in the fairway. Other times, we hear about a wrinkle after the fact that could have been avoided with a little foresight.

So here’s a look at the most common “stuff happens” moments and what you can do to stay ahead of them.

Flight Delays & Missed Connections

This is, hands down, the number one reason the Batphone rings. A delayed departure causes a missed connection overseas, or a cancelled transatlantic flight sets you back an entire day. Suddenly, your golf trip starts with a rebooking scramble.

How to Avoid It: Fly direct whenever you can. That cheaper fare with a connection might look good at first, but it usually isn’t worth the headache. Non-stop flights aren’t a guarantee, but skipping the connection gives you one less chance for things to go sideways.

If you do have to connect, try to do it overseas instead of in the U.S. For example, there are plenty of daily flights between London Heathrow and Edinburgh. That kind of connection might get you back on track just a few hours behind instead of losing an entire day.

Better yet, arrive a day early. It gives you a cushion for delays, a head start on the time change, and a much smoother start to the trip. You’ll thank yourself when you’re rested and ready for the first tee.

Airport board with canceled flights for a golf trip

The #1 source of calls to the H&B Batphone.

Delayed Luggage or Clubs

Right behind missed connections, this is one of the most common travel-day headaches we hear about. It's never fun to have your clubs or rain gear stuck in Chicago while you’re teeing off near Dublin. But with a little preparation, this challenge becomes a minor inconvenience.

How to Avoid It: Ship your clubs ahead. It’s not a perfect solution, but since you can’t eliminate delays entirely, you might as well make travel day easier on yourself. In case there's a delay at customs, we recommend sending them a couple of days earlier than the carrier suggests.

As for your carry-on, pack smart. A couple of golf outfits, your glove, rain gear, balls, and shoes that can double for the course will have you set with the basics while the airline plays catch-up.

"Where's My Driver?"

At some airports, drivers are unable to leave their vehicles to greet you inside. Every once in a while, that causes a little confusion.

How to Avoid It: You’ll get your driver’s cell number before you leave home. Reach out via WhatsApp (most of them use it) before your flight. A quick message gets the conversation going and makes pickup smooth and simple.

Long Wait Upon Arrival

One traveler lands at 6 AM. The rest of the group? 11:45. If your first stop is nearby, no worries. The early arrival can grab a taxi, check in, and relax. But if you’re headed straight from Edinburgh to the Highlands? It’s going to be a long day at the airport.

How to Avoid It: Do your best to coordinate group arrivals within a tight window. If that’s not possible, the early bird should fly in the night before. A hotel room with a possible late checkout beats an uncomfortable chair in Arrivals every time.

Coordinate your arrival times to avoid this less-than-ideal start to your trip.

No Caddies

At H&B, we request caddies for every round unless you tell us otherwise. Most of the time, they’re waiting for you on the first tee. But every now and then, a club misses the request or simply doesn’t have enough to go around.

How to Avoid It: Go in knowing that, just like back home, caddies can be requested but are never guaranteed. Most of the time, they’ll be waiting on the 1st tee. Sometimes, you’ll get a forecaddie instead. On rare occasions, it’s a trolley day. But no matter how it shakes out, you’re still playing links golf in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Not a bad backup plan.

The Dinner Rush

Fun fact: Rounds overseas often take just as long—or longer—than they do at home. Part of that is the slow pace of visitors. Part of it is soaking in the scenery and savoring the moment. And honestly, that’s how it should be.

How to Avoid It: If you're planning 4 hours for golf, you'll want to adjust your thinking. Plan for 5 to 5 1/2 hours from tee time to back on the coach. That gives you time for the round, the clubhouse shop, and maybe a post-round pint. For H&B Members, our Concierge team handles that timing for you. So all you have to do is enjoy the day.

Ballot Blues

St. Andrews is a dream round for a lot of golfers, and rightfully so. But If you're hoping to play The Old Course through the Ballot, it’s important to remember what it is: A lottery. And as with any lottery, a few people win, but most do not. Even with multiple days in town, there’s never a guarantee your name gets drawn.

The good news is, once you're in St. Andrews, the Ballot isn't your only path to the 1st tee of The Old Course. The Singles Daily Draw is another lottery that fills individual slots the night before. Like the Ballot, it's far from a sure thing... But it's a chance. And sometimes, that's all you need.

How to Avoid It: The mindset makes all the difference. Think of the Old Course as a bonus, not the foundation of your trip. Your time in St. Andrews will be special either way. The town, the surrounding courses, and the atmosphere make it one of the most memorable stops in the game.

A special experience, regardless of whether you stroll these fairways.

The One We Don't Want to Think About

An injury. A family emergency. Something unexpected at work. Whatever the reason, sometimes you need to cancel your trip long before your bags are packed.

And with international golf travel, that cancellation can sting in more ways than one. Tee times, accommodations, and deposits to golf tour operators are all paid in advance. And they’re usually non-refundable.

How to Avoid It: There’s really only one answer here. Get trip insurance. It won’t make canceling any easier, but it can protect the investment you’ve made. We don’t care who you choose as your provider. Just make sure it’s a reputable company and that the coverage matches your comfort level with risk.

This also applies to the earlier sections on flight and luggage delays. Look for a policy that will cover things like rental clubs, transportation expenses to catch up with your group, or getting reimbursed for any rounds or reservations you might miss.

It's one of those things that you hope to never need, but if you do, it can make a tough situation a little easier.

Here's the Thing...

"Stuff" doesn’t always wait until the trip begins. Sometimes it shows up on travel day. Other times, it sneaks in weeks or months before. But whenever it happens, you're not going it alone.

When you travel with H&B, you're backed by decades of experience, trusted relationships, and a team that knows exactly how to get things back in the fairway.

And when that rare call to the Batphone is needed? You won’t hear panic on the other end of the line. You’ll hear a plan.

Because the goal has never been to eliminate every possible hiccup. It’s to make sure they never define your journey.