TAKE 2
Take a swing off the beaten fairway with these quieter
alternatives for golf enthusiasts. Alice Barnes-Brown marks your card b 40
ird song, sunshine, fresh air and the anticipation of that
first tee – it’s easy to see why golfing breaks are so popular. Since the pandemic, interest in golf has boomed among beginners: according to the R&A golfing association, participation in the sport has risen by 15% since 2020. But planning a golf holiday can
require a little more work than a regular fly-and-flop – there are tee times, green fees and the potential cost of carrying equipment to consider. But these trips can also
7 MARCH 2024
be lucrative, with clients that catch the golf bug returning time and time again. Those who have already tried
the world’s most iconic courses – such as the windswept greens of Scotland or the fairways of Florida – may be looking for a lesser-known (and, crucially, less busy) golfing destination with not only top-class courses but ample activities beyond the clubhouse too. Thankfully, there are plenty of
under-the-radar golfing gems to suit every sort of player, each offering a truly un-for(e)-gettable holiday.
travelweekly.co.uk
LIKE THIS? SCOTLAND
The ‘home of golf’ is right on our doorstep, with almost 600 courses to try. Advise clients to visit beginner-friendly courses such as the ones at St Andrews Links – golf has been played on its Old Course since the 15th century – or the more challenging Carnoustie Golf Links, with its numerous bunkers and ditches.
NORTHERN IRELAND
WHAT TO EXPECT: Sometimes seen as a secondary stop on a golf tour of Scotland and Ireland, verdant Northern Ireland blends seafront links with open parkland courses. Thanks to its small size, the courses are relatively close to one another, so multiple vistas can be savoured with ease on a short break.
WHY GO: The British Open championship will be held at the 18-hole Dunluce course at Royal Portrush (pictured) in 2025 (for the third time), so there’s due to be a lot more buzz about the region. When clients put their clubs down, there’s plenty to do: they could discover where the clubhouse’s local whiskeys are made on a distillery visit, or learn more about Belfast and its tumultuous history on a black-cab tour.
BOOK IT: Tee the World offers a four-night golf tour based at the Me and Mrs Jones hotel in Portstewart from £1,695 per person, based on two sharing. The price is based on a May 21 departure and includes breakfasts, transfers, a welcome Guinness, farewell dinner, and a round each at the Dunluce (Royal Portrush), Strand (Portstewart) and Castlerock courses.
teetheworld.co.uk
TRY THIS
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