Dreaming of a golf trip to Scotland? No better time than in 2008  Golf International Inc. There probably isn't a golfer around who hasn't dreamed of someday taking a trip "Across the Pond" to play the great championship courses of Scotland, the home of golf. The very thought of playing a few, centuries old links layouts or tackling a British Open course or two and walking in the footsteps of the greatest names the game has ever known, is enough to bring goose-bumps to even the most jaded player.  Turnberry's Ailsa Course -- ranked No. 1 in the British Isles. The problem for many is that someday never happens -- something comes up and the trip is postponed; priorities change, more excuses are found, permanent procrastination takes over and the dream remains a dream forever. If you are guilty as charged, better make amends soon and give yourself one of the best treats any golfer could ask for and there will be no better time than next year to make it all happen. Golf travel, especially to Scotland, has been booming over the past decade, each year bringing new record numbers of golfers back to experience the game in its birthplace and for good reason. They come to test their skills on the most challenging courses that exist; from rugged links to moorland and heathland layouts to spectacular parkland courses - Scottish golf is the genuine article and has no equal. Early indications are that 2008 will beat all records yet again and there will be more golfers visiting Scotland than ever before. The problem is all of these other visitors want to play the same courses you have on your wish list. With no signs of any let-up, it is only going to become increasingly difficult to obtain visitor starting times. Escalating demand to play a constant number of courses, spells disappointment for many would be future visitors.  Carnoustie is a course appearing on every visitor's must play list. My own company, Golf International, is already busy planning 2009 Scottish golf trips for those seasoned golf travel clients who know it's the early bird that catches the worm. But that doesn't mean it's too late to book a trip for next year, not if you start booking soon and stay flexible in your demands. First of all, decide what kind of a trip you would like to take. Are you ready to take a car rental and drive yourself around, or would you prefer to have someone else do the driving? Having a driver will add tremendously to your enjoyment and take away the stress of navigating your own way and maybe missing one of those valuable tee-times. For any who prefer to avoid the trauma of driving on the "wrong" side of the road, consider one of the escorted tours that combine the opportunity to view the final rounds of the 2008 British Open and playing two or three championship courses for yourself. Even though next year's Open is being hosted at England's Royal Birkdale; Golf International offers some escorted tours that spend the first few days in Scotland's St. Andrews. The courses played are the biggest names in the game, including St. Andrews Old Course and last year's Open venue, Carnoustie.  No tournament is as thrill packed as The British Open. Open tours also provide an ideal opportunity for couples to take a golf trip together, even if one is less enamored with golf than the other. The better tours always offer a full program of sightseeing for the non-golfers, while the golfers are on the course. If you are planning on an independent golf trip, save yourself the time consuming frustration of trying to handle the myriad of details without the assistance of a reputable golf travel company and preferably one that is based in the USA. This is an important trip that isn't going to be cheap and it's no time to be trusting the Internet and some guy with a website, working off his kitchen table in a country 5,000 miles away. Draw up a wish list of courses you would like to play, and then talk it over with your travel company. They will tell you what works and what doesn't; they will know if you are trying to accomplish the impossible and probably have a few ideas and suggestions that you hadn't thought of, giving you one package price that includes virtually everything  Play a few top ranked Scottish courses, then take in the final rounds of the 2008 British Open at Royal Birkdale.
Find the right American golf travel company with their own offices in Scotland and you will have the best -- a company that will take care of all the trip details before you leave home and have the on-site staff to make certain everything works like clockwork when you are there. But again, the sooner you start planning your trip the better and stay flexible. Be flexible on your travel dates, remembering that Scotland's golf season runs from April until November and some of the best Scottish weather is in the Spring and Fall. If you must travel during the peak summer months, there's probably still time to book a trip during July and August, but time is slipping away, so start the booking process just as soon as you can. Finally, stay open on the courses you play. Scotland has over 550 amazingly good layouts scattered around the country, the majority of which are championship quality, yet only a small handful have names that may be familiar. Should any of the courses on your wish list not be available, your golf travel company will be able to recommend comparable courses that won't disappoint So give yourself that special treat now and start the ball rolling today. But beware, you will quickly discover that Scottish golf is habit forming and one trip just isn't going to be enough. For a few ideas on how to get the most out of your trip back to the home of golf, click here. ©2007 Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988. |
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