Author: Richard Smith

6 Golf Bags That Will Make Traveling A Breeze

Regardless of if you’re heading out of town for business or to visit friends and family, you might want to bring a golf bag for travel so you can play a few holes. If you’re an avid golfer, you’ve probably struggled with the question of whether it’s worth it to bring your clubs on your trip.

You can simplify this decision with the right golf bag. Any trip, short or long, can be improved by taking a couple of hours to visit a driving range or trying a par 3 course. You can play golf with co-workers, friends and family on a new course, in a new part of the country. The perfect travel golf bag can make this a reality.

What To Look For In A Golf Travel Bag

Before rushing out to buy a golf bag for travel, let’s think about your key requirements. What do you need and want in your travel golf bag? You have may have unique must-haves, but here are the critical components we recommend you consider:

  • Size: Depending on the type of trip, you may have limited space for your golf bag and clubs. You will also have other luggage to deal with, so lightweight is an advantage.
  • Supports How You Enjoy The Game: Do you like to walk or drive a cart? Are you a casual player or do you take the game very seriously? Do you enjoy a cold beverage while you play? Make sure your answers to these questions match the golf bag you select.
  • Stylish: We all like to look good. Pick a bag that allows you to confidently strut to the first tee!
  • Cost: Everyone has a budget. Make sure your selection is consistent with the funds you want to invest in your game.

The perfect travel golf bag is compact and light, supports your game, looks good, and fits within your golf budget. Need a little more help? We have selected our 6 favourite golf bags for travel below.

Top 6 Golf Bags For Traveling

1. LOMA Bag By Sunday Golf

To put it simply, this award-winning bag for travel checks all of the boxes. At less than 2 lbs, it’s easy to carry through the airport and slide into the backseat of your car. If you play golf to have a good time, enjoy getting some exercise and playing golf with friends, you’ll enjoy the LOMA bag.

The LOMA by Sunday Golf has enough storage for your golf essentials and a frosty pocket to keep your drink cold. It can hold 6-8 clubs and is perfect for that quick round in the evening or a trip to the driving range. This golf bag includes a stand to keep your clubs off the ground. You can’t beat the price – all of this for under $100!

Looking for style? Choose from 8 colours including Cobalt Blue, Seafoam, Smoked Salmon, or our personal favourite, Ron Burgundy

2. Titleist Carry Bag

 

Titleist is one of the most well-known brands in golf, and their Carry Bag is a solid option for your next trip. It weighs a little over 2 pounds and has 3 pockets to help carry the accessories your need on the course. The double shoulder straps make it easy to transport during your trip, but it does not come with a stand, so your clubs will be resting on the ground.

This golf bag for travel will cost you $100 and you can select from 4 different colours. Black/Red, Heathered Navy, Heathered Charcoal, and Heathered Forest. 

3. Shapland Sunday Bag

The Shapland Sunday bag is a luxury golf bag and the price reflects this fact. This option will cost you a little under $300. What are you paying for?

Well, it weighs 3.5 pounds and comes with waterproof zippers and premium leather trim. While the weight is a bit more than other options on our list, the “pillow-like” shoulder straps make it fairly easy to carry with your other luggage.

It’s a nice looking bag and comes in 5 different colours. Black, Gray, Green, Navy, and Burgundy. There’s no doubt that the Shapland golf bag is a high-quality product – the challenge for many of us will be fitting this expense into our golf budget.

4. Mizuno BR-D2

Function over fashion, the Mizuno BR-D2 has several features you will enjoy on your next trip. It comes with shoulder straps and a unique mini-stand. Still scared of your clubs getting wet? The underbelly of the bag is waterproof. The storage is what you would expect in a golf bag for travel.

The bag costs $120 and you can select either blue or black. The size is consistent with other options on our list, but it’s a bit heavier. 

5. PING Moonlite

PING is an iconic golf brand and the Moonlite golf bag offers you a solid option for your next journey. It weighs a reasonable 2.5 lbs and can hold all 14 clubs. The Moonlite includes reduced size shoulder straps and does not have a stand.

There’s plenty of storage in this bag and it will cost you $150. You can pick from Black/Scarlet, Bright Blue/Neon, Navy/White/Scarlet, or Tropic. 

6. Stitch SL1

Do you have an unlimited budget for your pursuit of golf? If the answer is Yes, you may want to give the Stitch SL1 travel bag a look. The price ($328) and the weight (3.5 lbs) are definitely on the high end.

The SL1 does not come with a stand but is designed to stand on its own. It will hold 14 clubs and has a comfortable single strap for carrying. Plenty of pockets to store your gear while travelling and it includes gunmetal hardware and finishes. The design is classic and simple, with colour options of Black, Gray, Navy, or White.

Travel With Your Clubs

Your golf clubs and the perfect golf bag for travel are the ultimate travel companions. Every trip is better if you have the chance to hit the little white ball. Try out different courses and spend time with old or new friends. Play well!

8 ways that travel to Europe has changed since the UK left the EU

 

Okay so the UK has now left the EU but what can you expect when travelling to the European member states from 1st January 2021 and how will it effect golf holidays?

The UK will no longer be treated like a member of the EU and is subject to new rules. Once the COVID situation is under control and UK citizens are generally allowed to travel abroad again, you’ll need to be aware of these 8 changes when travelling to any EU countries (plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).

Planning your trip…

1. How long you can stay

Most golfers spend less than a few weeks at time abroad playing golf at any one time, however if you are thinking of spending longer you need to be aware that you’ll only be able to stay in an EU country for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. That’s quite a bit of golf! If you want to stay longer, you’ll need the right to remain/visa. The rules for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are different – as you can be there for 90-days and not use up your 90-day allowance for other EU countries.

2. Check your passport

You’ll need at least 6 months left on your passport and it must have been issued in the last 10 years. To make sure your passport is valid please visit the Government’s passport checker.

3. Check your travel and health insurance gives you the right level of cover

If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it is valid up to the expiry date displayed on the card.

There are limited details about what will replace EHIC but the UK government has said it will be issuing UK Global Health Insurance Card, which will most likely cover chronic or existing illnesses, maternity care and emergencies. Further details will follow.

The advice is to always take-out comprehensive travel insurance with appropriate healthcare cover, including existing medical conditions and any activities you plan to do such as playing golf.

4. Mobile roaming charges may now apply

While the UK’s four main mobile operators have said they have no plans to reintroduce roaming fees, it’s a good idea to check with your provider before you head off. As of 1st Jan 2021, Brits in Europe are not guaranteed free mobile data roaming so you could be charged for calls, messages or using the internet or apps.

At the airport…

5. We love a queue but make sure you’re in the right one

You will no longer be able to use the EU passport lanes on arrival. You might also have to show a return ticket and that you have enough money for your stay.

6. Duty free is back!

Good news if you are travelling to the EU from the UK (expect Ireland) as you can now stock up on duty free shopping with tobacco and alcohol limits set to increase as well.

7. Know what food you can take with you

Meat and dairy products cannot be taken into EU countries so please check as recent news reports show they are checking. The exceptions are powdered baby milk, baby food or food required for medical reasons.

8. Driving in Europe

Take the hassle-free approach and book a transfer with Golf-Drives to ensure that your holiday runs as smoothly as possible – be met at the airport and taken directly to your accommodation and then from course to course. Noone has the hassle of driving and you can all enjoy the 19th hole! Get an instant quote here.

If you are hiring a car, you’ll need to take your driving licence (you’ll need an international driving permit if yours is the old paper version or issued in Gibraltar, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man).

If you are taking your own vehicle, you’ll also need the logbook (V5C) and valid insurance documents – please contact your insurance company four to six weeks before travel to get a green card to prove you have insurance. They may charge you an admin fee for this. You’ll still need a GB sticker on the car.

Golf Drives’ new measures for airport transfers

 

Golf Drives is committed to customer happiness as safety. As such, we know how much you’re looking forward to testing a new golf course abroad and enjoy the game. As a hassle-free airport transfer, we’re taking steps to safeguard your health, and working to prevent any unforeseen situation. Accordingly, we’ve established specific rules and restrictions to ensure a safe airport transfer for our golfers and staff, and updated our cancellation policy to include our Hassle-free COVID-19 Guarantee. 

With that said, we’ve implemented new measures in all our transfers. With these recent actions, we’ll ensure your journey is as safe as possible.

Please note that to guarantee our best practice and following the regulations, the following rules might be changed, but we’ll update you as soon as possible. 

General vehicle measures – as of 05/10/2020 

  • All passengers must cover their nose and mouth for the full duration of the journey – please bring your own face masks 
  • Passengers are asked to handle and load their own luggage – unless you have any additional mobility needs, then our staff will help
  • Passengers will be asked to sanitise their hands with hand sanitiser provided on entry to the vehicle 
  • Drivers may be separated from passengers by a screen 
  • Passengers are not permitted to sit next to the driver 
  • There are enhanced vehicle cleaning and airing procedures in between transfers, in addition to the daily clean
  • Disposable seat covers may be available on request
  • Golf equipment continues to be welcomed at no extra charge, providing they are booked in advance
  • Child seats continue to be available on request at no extra charge

Private Transfers 

The occupancy level for a Private Transfer is slightly reduced, as people will not be permitted to be seated with or next to the driver:

  • Vehicles with a normal capacity of 8 passengers + driver –> now reduced to 6 passengers travelling to the same property.
  • Larger vehicles with a capacity of 13 passengers + driver –> now reduced to 10 passengers all travelling to the same property. 

 

In addition to our hygiene measures, we’ve launched our brand new Hassle-Free COVID-19 Guarantee!

As a result of international pandemic travel measures, all our transfers now have an updated cancellation policy.  This means in the event of any officially announced government, or relevant authority travel restrictions, Golf Drives has reduced their cancellation deadline to just 72 hours before your transfer.

We work so our golfers can have the safest possible transfer as we’re sure everyone is eager to enjoy a good game.

Please, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team at [email protected]. We’re looking forward to seeing you soon!

5 things golf-related that you can do at home

Following the government advice, the best place you can be is at home, and still, there are so many things golf-related you can do! ⁠Here are five things you can start with:

#1 Keep your golf knowledge up to date

Do you know the latest golf gear and equipment? The most iconic game in the PGA Tour? Where to go on your next golf break? Well, now is a good moment to take the couch and learn about all the things that make this sport amazing.

You can start by reading our article about the best golf magazines: Keep updated: Top 5 golf magazines

 

#2 Outline your career as a professional caddy

 

If you have a positive mindset, your mates trust you and rely on your opinion to make a successful stroke, you have skills to start a professional career as a caddy.

Wondering where to start? Check our blog post What makes a great golf caddy?

 

#3 Understand the details of a golf course

Many elements must be carefully combined to create a challenging, stunning and enjoyable golf course, not only to design a great layout but also to manage the team and understand the local environment.

Understand better the greens you are going to test in our article You might know the course but not the name; Golf’s most famous architects.

 

#4 Learn the lingo

Do you know what is a “fried egg”? And, yes, we’re talking about golf!

Discover more words of the golf slap in our article Learning the Lingo: Golf Slang & Terms

#5 Share your trick shots using the hashtag #StayAtHomeChallenge

Grab your toilet roll and keep it up as long as you can. Of course, don’t forget to film it and share it on social media with the hashtag #StatAtHomeChallenge.

What makes a great golf caddy? 

While watching a golf tournament, past the 10th hole, the tension on the course is visible. It’s the turn of your favourite player. They watch the ball, the course, the tee, and they start talking to the person holding the bag. They point to the tee and the caddy (or caddie) starts whispering to the player. The golfer returns to the ball, gets ready, stroke, and right into the hole! It’s like the person holding the clubs whispered a magic spell! 

More than a magic spell, the caddy recommends strategies to the player to make an outstanding stroke. A caddy is a mix of a personal physicist, a landscape analyser, a psychologist and a bestie. There are so many skills required in a professional golf caddy that their paycheck can get up to $2,000 per week. Not bad, eh?

But, what makes a good caddy? 

Understanding of the course

At Golf Drives, we know that being aware of the difficulties that a golf course presents is the key for a successful game, that’s why we care so much about details, such as who was the architect? Likewise, a good caddy will know the golf course better than the 19th hole, and they will be able to recognise the golfer’s challenges. You should provide the golfer insightful information that will help them to make the right decisions to make a bogey, especially if they’re playing at a new golf course. 

Give the right advice

While playing a game, and especially during a tournament, the golf player might need help to make the right stroke, and this is when the job of being a caddy gets the most exciting. Knowing the course without flaw and having a perfect understanding of the game will allow you to give the right advice to the player. Therefore, this requires time, a lot of practice and dedication. 

Watch the ball

A good caddy doesn’t miss the ball. Doesn’t matter how hard the golfer shot or if the wind modifies the trajectory of the ball, you have to know where the ball ended. By understanding the course well, it will be easier for you to see where the ball landed and guide the player to their next point. 

Emotional boosting

Mastering all the technical aspects of the course and the player is crucial to be a good caddy, but is also relevant to give emotional support and share a positive set of mind with the player. Playing such a challenging game sometimes can be frustrating for the golfer, with balls that end in ponds or hazards that over-complicate the game. If you want to be a good caddy, you will have to keep the player optimistic and boost their morale, complimenting them as much as possible when things go right.

Trust

As a caddy, players will ask you for advice when they don’t know what to do and, sometimes, you will give recommendations based on their flaws. To build the confidence to hear and say these things, it requires a lot of trust, especially considering they are the only person they speak to during some tense moments on the greens. 

For this reason, it is easy to find a professional golf player having dinner and some good laughs with their caddy. After a short time, you’ll build a solid bond that will help both to give your best on the course. For example, when Tiger Woods stopped playing, he suggested to Joe LaCava to take someone else’s bag and get back to the game. The answer of the caddy was unanimous: “No, no, I’m committed to you. I’m committed to your return and you playing golf again”. Find yourself someone that tells you those things. 

The bag

Carrying the bag and keeping the gear in optimal conditions might be a small portion of the work and may be less exciting. However, still, it must be done correctly, so the golfer can focus on the game. Make sure you carry a towel and clean the clubs after each shot and give them a deep clean before the game.

Being a caddy requires many different skills, from physical to mental, and mastering these tasks take time and hard work. You can start by joining the Professional Caddies Association (PCA) and get some official training from their apprenticeship programmes. Also, you can check the golf courses around your area and ask for caddying opportunities. But the best advice we can give you is to talk to other caddies and ask them for information or go for some drinks!

Keep updated: Top 5 golf magazines

The coronavirus outbreak has already changed many things in our daily lives and the golf industry hasn’t been exempt from the situation. Golf tournaments have been cancelled and many golf courses are closed. 

However, when everything settles, there will be plenty of time to prove yourself on the course, go to the 19th hole with your mates and enjoy a great golf break abroad. But for now, the best place you can be is at home, and still, there are so many things golf-related you can do! 

For example, you can read tons of articles, watch videos and listen to podcasts, so the next time you meet the lads at the club, you’ll be up to date on your golf knowledge. You can start with these 5 digital and printed magazines that will make you feel the excitement of a golf game from the sofa.

Golf Magazine

Suitable for golfers at all skill levels, Golf Magazine is one of the most-read magazines in the industry. On their cover, we’ve seen Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods, amongst other amazing golfers. They publish detailed articles about the latest gear and equipment in golf, interviews of your favourite professional golf players, tour coverages, hot news, and more! But probably the best part is the special section, a featured instruction from the TOP American teachers. 

On their website, you can also find the latest news in the golf industry, photos, hours of exciting videos and podcasts for free. Also, you can have the online and printed version for $30 a year and read your favourites articles whenever you want.

Golf Digest

Established in 1950, Golf Digest is the most popular magazine in the golf industry. On their social media platforms, they gather almost 2 million fans that enjoy their fantastic content daily. In Golf Digest they write about the latest news in golf, keep you updated with the newest gear in the market and analyse the professional golfer’s games. Also, they share hotlists of everything in the industry and, our favourite, detailed tips and guides to be successful on the green. 

We definitely suggest you join the Golf Digest’s community on social media, so you can keep updated on what’s going on in the industry. Also, if a daily post on Facebook is not enough for you, visit their website and read amazing articles, hear full podcasts and watch beautiful videos. To receive the printed issue, you can subscribe to the magazine for only $15 a year and also get the digital version for your tablet or phone.

Hands up if you'd hit a tree... 🙋‍♂️ (🎥: @bryanbrosgolf)

Posted by Golf Monthly magazine on Tuesday, 17 March 2020

Golf Monthly

Founded in 1911, Golf Monthly is known as the world’s oldest golf magazine. Since the beginning, they’ve been keeping their readers updated with the successful careers of their favourite golf players, discovering the latest gear and equipment, and any other news related to this brilliant game. Over a century later, they are still a reference in the golf industry, sharing seasonal features, including topics such as how to improve your swing or how to deal with blustering winds or changes in terrain.

You can read Golf Monthly online or have a printed copy. For the online magazine, you can download the app on the Apple Store or Google Play. On the other hand, to enjoy the high quality of the printed version, you can subscribe to the magazine for £48.49 a year. Also, you can follow the latest golf updates or hear their podcast on their website.

Tiger Woods was among the celebrities to weigh in with a calming reminder in an uncertain time.

Posted by Golfweek on Monday, 16 March 2020

Golfweek

We know, waiting a month to receive your next golf issue and read the latest news can be a long time. That’s why Golfweek slips a digital publication into your inbox every seven days! So you can read the core news in golf, updates of your favourite tournaments, business and golf lifestyle. They take golf seriously and apply high standards of journalism in their articles, following their motto of “enhance the enjoyment and understanding of golf”.

Golfweek website is regularly updated, but you might prefer to hold the magazine in your hands and curate a good collection of golf publications. Each to their own! You can have 11 printed issues per year delivered to your house for $74.95, plus the digital version to read on your electronic devices and weekly digital editions in your email.

Women & Golf

Established in 1991, Women & Golf is a magazine for any player. From beginners to experienced, the aim of the magazine is “to help women golfers everywhere get the most out of the game they love”. Amongst their articles, you can read the inspiring stories of female golfers, tips and guides to improve your stroke and discover some of the most luxurious golf resorts around the world.

Women & golf also can be read online or on paper. You can subscribe to the digital edition from £2.17 per issue and read it on your tablet or phone at anytime you want. Also, you can have it delivered every month to your house for £17 a year. Their web page and social media are also worth checking out regularly to keep updated with the core news of the industry.

Top-ranked female golfers on the LPGA

In 2018, the National Golf Foundation (NGF) showed that only 24% of the golf players on the course were female, and since then, we’ve seen the golf industry taking steps towards inclusivity. They’ve developed campaigns and initiatives to invite women to the courses, such as the actions taken in Northern Ireland, where they are making easier the membership for women at the golf clubs or giving dedicated tuition for women and girls, amongst other brilliant ideas. 

Still, the gap between genders is immense and affects the daily life of the women in golf, from ranking the players by their looks to prize money disparity. It’s clear that more needs to be done at a grassroots level to encourage female participation in the sport and develop inclusivity. 

At Golf Drives, we want everyone to challenge themselves on the courses while they have a good laugh with their friends. For International Women’s Day, we’ve made a list of the 10 of the top golfers rocking the LPGA Tour.

Jin Young Ko

South Korean golfer Jin Young Ko, who recently broke Tiger Woods’ record, leads the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking. Ko is the only known person on the planet to have gone more consecutive holes in a professional tournament play without making a bogey, doing 114 holes while Woods did 110. 

During her career as a professional golfer, she has earned almost $4million and collected several major awards for her shelves. At 24, she is an 11-times winner of the LPGA of Korea Tour, 6-times winner if the LPGA Tour, second at the 2015 Ricoh Women’s British Open, winner of the 2017 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship and has been named LPGA Rookie of the year in 2018. 

Nelly Korda

Nelly Korda is the runner-up in the list, which doesn’t surprise us. The American golfer has already won the LPGA Tour three times, the Australian Open and the Solheim Cup at only 21, so we can look forward to seeing plenty more Korda scissor kicks in the future.

View this post on Instagram

Fun trip over to Korea!!#Week2of5Complete

A post shared by Nelly (@nellykorda) on

Sung Hyun Park

After joining the LPGA tour in 2017 as a rookie, the self-taught South Korean golf player is a regular in the top three LPGA rankings. She has already won two LPGA, one US Women’s Open Golf Championship and a Women’s PGA Championship, generating winnings of more than $5million.

Danielle Kang

Kang has been part of the LPGA Tour for almost nine years and has been the winner three times, with her first win coming in 2017. Kang has also won the US Women’s Amateur two times.

View this post on Instagram

Thank YOU X2 ♥️

A post shared by Danielle Kang (@daniellekang) on

Nasa Hataoka

As an amateur golfer, Hataoka won the Japan Women’s Open Golf Championship, part of the LPGA Japan Tour, becoming the youngest player and first amateur to win a JLPGA major. After the victory, she became a professional golfer and her current earnings are $2.7million. 

View this post on Instagram

今季メジャー第3戦 KPMG WOMEN’S PGA Championship が終わりました！ 4日間通しては納得のいくゴルフが出来ませんでしたが、最終日は途中からショットを修正できて7アンダーで回ることができました！ 今年に入ってメジャーでアンダーで回れていなかったので、最終日のスコアは嬉しいです😆 アマチュアの時からの友人であるHannahが優勝して嬉しかったですし、私も負けずに頑張ろうと思いました🤜🏻 今年はなかなかメジャーにピークをもっていくのが上手く出来ていないですが、残り2つのメジャー、エビアンと全英では上手く調整して戦えるように頑張ります！ Congratulations @hannahgreengolf 💚 #lpga #majer @hazeltinenational #nasahataoka #畑岡奈紗

A post shared by Nasa Hataoka (@nasahataoka) on

Sei Young Kim

After 15 professional victories, the career earnings of Sei Young Kim stand at $8.7 million. The South Korean golfer has won the Korea LPGA 10 times, the LPGA Tour 5 times, and became Rookie of the Year in 2015. 

Brooke Henderson

At only 18, she won her first major, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, becoming the event’s youngest winner. With nine LPGA wins as of June 2019, Henderson has the most victories of any professional golfer on major tours in Canadian history.

View this post on Instagram

A dream come true. 🇨🇦🏆❤️

A post shared by Brooke Henderson (@brookehendersongolf) on

Minjee Lee

The Australian golf player had a successful start to her career. At only 13 years old, she became the youngest winner of the WA Amateur Open. Since then, she has gathered prizes such as five LPGA Tour, one Ladies European Tour and two ALPG Tour. 

Lexi Thompson

At 15, Lexi Thompson turned professional and a year later she won an LPGA tournament, becoming the youngest person ever to win one. The American golfer has won a total of 11 LPGA Tour, one Ladies European Tour and one Japan LPGA Tour.

Jeongeun Lee6

When she started the Korean LPGA Tour for the first time, there were already other five Jeongeun Lee, so she began to be called “Jeongeun Lee6”. She has won a total of 6 Korean LPGA Tour, one LPGA Tour and she’s working her way towards winning this one too! 

Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland

You might know the course but not the name; Golf’s most famous architects.

Many elements must be carefully combined to create a challenging, stunning and enjoyable golf course, not only to design a great layout but also to manage the team and understand the local environment. To highlight the fantastic work of some golf architects and understand better the greens you are going to test; we’ve made a list of the best golf courses architects.

 

Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

Robert Trent Jones is probably one of the most repeated names in golf architecture, and not only because his father was also a well-known architect, but it’s also because in a career spanning over 50 years he built more than 300 courses all over the world. Some of these golf courses are The Real Club Valderrama, an exclusive golf course located in the south of Spain, Troia at Portugal, and even the 11th and 16th holes at Augusta National Golf Club. 

After so many years, and with the help of his team, “Bobby” Trent Jones has developed a bold style of bunker patterns, wherein he mixes a classical theme with sophisticated and modern shapes. Also, his golf courses have blended perfectly with the local environment but always keep refined sense. Some of his famous trademarks are narrow fairways, bold bunkers protecting the holes and raised greens that will engage you with every hole. 

 

Pete and Alice Dye

The American architect, Pete Dye, once said, “Golf is not a fair game, so why build a course fair?”, and he meant it. Pete Dye designed more than 100 golf courses and many of them with his wife Alice Dye. Their golf courses constantly challenge you without relent. Some of their key elements are narrow greens, hazards and trees strategically placed to keep the game exciting and “unfair”.

Some of the golf courses that have the Dye’s signature are Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean) in the USA, a delightful link where the green blends into the sand of the beach; and Golf de Barbaroux at France, with seven significant water hazards and numerous bunkers. Also, their children have joined the family business, with his son Perry Dye having designed Parco di Roma in Italy, amongst other great courses. 

 

Henry S. Colt

Have you ever arrived at Royal Portrush Golf Club, planned your stroke carefully at the 5th hole, a downhill par four with a left to right dogleg, and thought, “whoever designed this golf course must be a genius!” Well, all the credit goes to Henry S. Colt!

After studying at Clare College, Cambridge, Harry Colt quit his job as a lawyer to become a golf architect – and we’re grateful he did! The English architect has been involved in the design of over 300 golf courses,  115 of his own creation, including the mentioned redesign of Royal Portrush Golf Club. He did many relevant modifications such as the two new holes in an area known as “The Triangle”, and the 5th hole, called “WhiteRocks”.

 

Ida Nixon

The professional career of Ida Nixon wasn’t as plenteous as her aforementioned peers, since she only had the chance to design one golf course in her life. In 1904, the American architect designed an 18-hole golf course for The Springhaven Club. With impeccable fairways and greens, The Springhaven Club is suitable for golfers of any level. 

Her work at The Springhaven Club made her part of golfing history as the first female architect of golf courses in the world. 

 

Allan Robertson

The master architect of the world-famous golf course St. Andrews was mother nature. Besides her though, we have to credit the amazing work of Allan Robertson. In 1848, the Scottish architect made wide fairways, created the challenging Road Hole green and the famous giant double green, remarkable hazards that all golfers remember when they visit St. Andrews – apart from the windy weather. 

Robertson also designed the golf courses Carnoustie and Monifieth, both in Scotland. Also, he shared his knowledge with a young Old Tom Morris, an impressive golfer and an exceptional golf course architect in his own right. 

How the Northern Irish golf industry is fostering female inclusivity

With only 1.88 million inhabitants, Northern Ireland is the least populated country in the UK. Even so, it is home to almost 100 golf courses, has some of the best links in Europe and entertains golfers from all over the world. For these reasons, it has been the target of organisations looking to increase the inclusivity of golf for everyone’s enjoyment. 

Little by little, the golf industry is taking steps to be more gender-inclusive by offering dedicated tuition for women and girls or trying to make easier membership requirements to increase their ladies’ sections. 

In Northern Ireland, organisations such as the R&A’s Women in Golf Charter are developing a more inclusive culture within golf as well as making more opportunities for women and girls in the golf scene. 

These initiatives are seeing positive results in the industry, since the latest full report of the Irish Sports Monitor, unveiled in May 2018, showed that the number of women actively participating in the game increased from 0.9% in 2015 to 1.2% in 2017, while overall golf participation rose from 2.3% to 2.5%.  

Under the claim “Made for golf”, Northern Ireland is taking advantage of its natural green charm and is investing in the golf industry. Whether you’re seeking a championship experience, dramatically scenic settings, a slice of history, links or parkland, or simply idyllic tranquillity, Northern Ireland has it all. 

If you are going to the north of the emerald island, there are two golf courses everyone should visit: Portstewart Golf Club and Royal Portrush Golf Club.

 

Portstewart Golf Club (Strand)

At Portstewart Golf Club, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Belfast City Airport

Located at the seaside, Portstewart Golf Course has been hosting golf games since 1889 and had significant development in the 1980s to divide the link into three mighty courses: The Old Course, The Strand and The Riverside. The Strand course opened in 1992 following the designs of the architect Des Giffin, who updated Willie Park’s original layout mixing the new and the old concept. 

Keeping the essence of the Northern Irish coast, with gigantic dunes and a beautiful panoramic view of the Atlantic, Giffin placed strategic challenges to make a golf course with many excellent holes and thoroughly enjoyable. The first hole is an intimidating downhill 425-yard par four. Additionally, the 3rd hole is a long single shot of 207-yards; and the 6th, with a plateau green, will stay in your mind for a long time.

 

Royal Portrush Golf Club

At Royal Portrush Golf Club, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Belfast City Airport

Portrush is a charming and colourful small town where many Northern Irish people go for a coastal break from city life. Not far from the city and near to Dunluce Castle and the Giant’s Causeway, you’ll find the Royal Portrush Golf Club. The link is blessed with an ocean view and, if it’s clear, you can see the Paps of Jura. 

When it was founded in 1888, the link used to have 9 holes but, after a few reformations, it ended up having 18 holes. The last redesign of the course was by the architect Harry S. Colt in 1932, making many relevant modifications such as the two new holes in an area known as “The Triangle”. Also, the 5th hole, called “WhiteRocks”, is one most praised holes in the link, a downhill par four with a left to right dogleg.  

How will Brexit affect my golf holiday?

With Brexit, the United Kingdom and the European Union have a new political relationship, which establishes new agreements and arrangements. These new policies change the way we’ve been travelling and visiting European golf courses and might make you wonder how Brexit will affect your next golf holiday.

Even if since the 31st of January the UK is no longer part of the EU, British golf players travelling abroad haven’t experienced any critical changes in their holiday arrangements yet. You won’t have needed a visa to enter an EU country or had to pay extra charges, and it’s because travelling conditions will stay the same until the end of the current transition period. 

 

What is the transition period and how long it will take?

The transition period goes from the 31st of January 2020 until the end of December 2020, meaning that the UK is considered an independent country from the European Union. However, many agreements decided before this stage will still be active, especially the ones related to travellers. After the transition period, the United Kingdom and the EU will have new rules and agreements that haven’t yet been defined.

 

Do British citizens need a visa to travel to the EU?

The first question that comes to the mind of many British golfers planning their golf break in a European country is: will I need a visa to travel to Europe? The answer is no. Well, not for now. During the transition period, British citizens won’t need to get a visa if they’re going to stay as a tourist for up to 90 days in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Therefore, if you’re planning to travel after the 1st of January 2021, it’s likely that you need more requirements that the ones you have required for now and British citizens might have to pay for ‘visa-exempt travel’. Also, the European Union will implement the European Travel Information and Authorization System (Etias) by 2022, a specific programme for non-EU citizens that would like to travel in Europe, including British citizens. The application for Etias will cost 7 Euros.

 

Do I need a new passport?

After the transition period, if the expiration date is shorter than 6 months or if it’s more than 10 years old, you’ll need to renew your British passport. Keep in mind that replacing your passport usually takes 3 weeks. 

 

What will I need to travel after Brexit?

Currently, many non-EU citizens need to show their return ticket and prove that they have enough money for their stay and it’s possible that Britons will have to fulfil the same requirement after the transition period. Once at border control, British citizens will have to queue in different lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. Besides, when travelling between the UK and the EU, you’ll need to declare cash of £10,000 or more (or the equivalent in another currency).

 

How long can I stay in the EU?

If you are planning to live in an eternal golf break, you might keep in mind that British citizens will be able to stay as a tourist for up to 90 days in any 180 days in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. 

 

How will Brexit affect travel insurance?

Until the end of 2020, citizens with the European Health Insurance Card (Ehic) are entitled to have healthcare in any EEA member state as well as Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Switzerland. 

Therefore, it’s always recommended to have travel insurance that covers your healthcare and pre-existing medical condition.

 

What will happen to roaming charges after Brexit?

After the transition period, the guarantee of free-roaming for British mobiles in EU countries will stop. We recommend you check the new terms with your phone operator to avoid any weird bills from getting that perfect photo for the ‘Gram. However, a new law protects you from getting phone charges over £45 without you knowing.

 

Brexit brings new policies when it comes to crossing borders, but once you arrive at the golf course, the enjoyable golf rounds with your friends will be the same. 

We hope we’ve covered your questions about travelling or planning a golf break after Brexit. In case you need more details, you can find more advice here: https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021

If you are going on a golf holiday after the 1st of January 2021, we recommend visiting gov.uk to check the latest news about Brexit.