Keen followers of my Twitter feed may have noticed recently that I have been playing a little more golf than normal. A few have questioned how I am able to fit in quite so many games. Well, I am currently spending some time considering what my working future looks like, and the golf course is a pretty good place to do that!
I don’t always wear the tie, but do normally carry!
I have spent the last 25 years (where did the time go…?!) working in a variety of corporate jobs. I’ve always loved what I’ve done, but a restructure last year meant that for the first time in my life I have had some time on my hands away from work.
I’ve always travelled a lot with my job and my family had got used to me being away quite a lot. Amazingly my wife and kids seemed to quite like having me around more over the last year. All this got me thinking about what the future holds. Or more accurately, what I would like it to hold.
And this, dear reader, is where you come in!
Over the years I have been fortunate enough to play some wonderful courses and meet some lovely people. From the islands of Scotland to the wilds of Australia, I never cease to be amazed at the kindness of strangers and the bond that golf can bring.
So I have decided to set up a business organising golf tours which I think will be of real interest to golf enthusiasts.
I am working with some of the people who have helped me over the years to put together some truly memorable golf trips. The plan is to take small groups of golfers to some of the best places in the world to play golf, meeting interesting characters and hearing their stories on the way.
I’m going to partner with established travel agencies, so you can be sure of a professional service, but I will be sprinkling a bit of UK Golf Guy magic on top!
For me, Twitter has been a wonderful vehicle for connecting with like-minded people. I would like to bring some of those virtual relationships into the physical world, introducing golfers to journalists, writers, architects or players and creating unforgettable experiences wherever possible. I want to give you some of the great experiences I have been lucky enough to have and see the very best the world has to offer.
Some of the trips may appeal to overseas tourists coming to the UK, while others will be also attract British golfers looking to head abroad. I’ll also be looking to arrange a range of events to suit various different price points. You could come on these trips on your own or with a group of friends - we’ll pair people up where necessary.
Here’s an idea of some of the trips I am working on at the moment -
Paris
When I am asked which area of Europe is the strongest for golf I never have any hesitation in saying Paris. The quality of golf courses in the area is simply tremendous, although accessing them has always been a challenge. The city’s proximity to Tom Simpson’s creations at Fontainebleau, Morfontaine and Chantilly makes a golf trip to Paris one of the truly great experiences in world golf. Combine that with the wonderful Parisien nightlife and you have the recipe for an unforgettable trip.
This will be the first trip, in September 2022, and hopefully will start things off with a bang!
Australia
I had the most amazing trip to Australia a few years ago and can’t wait to get back. We will play the finest Sandbelt courses in Melbourne before taking a charter plane to the terrific Tasmanian courses at Cape Wickham and Barnbougle. If we time it right, the new Seven Mile Beach will be open for our trip too. The Australian hospitality is second to none, and hopefully we will get to meet some well known local golf personalities on our way round!
Scottish Study Trip
A golf trip to Scotland is a pilgrimage for golfers from all over the world. There are so many areas to cover, but one of the first trips I am planning is along the East Lothian coast, taking in some greats, such as North Berwick, Muirfield and Gullane, before heading up the Fife coast to St Andrews. We will have talks from course historians and modern architects, play with hickories at the oldest course in the world, and walk in the footsteps of the fathers of the game.
Ireland
The quality of golf in Ireland continues to rise. With the stunning recent work at Royal Portrush, and the opening of a world class course at Rosapenna, Ireland gets get better and better as a premier golf venue.
This week-long trip will take in the great courses of Northern Ireland and Donegal, visiting some of the less heralded tracks on the way. Oh, and we’ll probably stop at a few pubs too…
The West Coast of Scotland
There is so much amazing golf to offer on the west coast of Scotland but the logistics can be a challenge for some. We will use chartered planes and boats to take all that hassle away. This stunning itinerary will deliver an unforgettable experience, taking in the best that Kintyre, Jura, Islay and the outer Hebrides have to offer.
Japan
A complaint about the modern game is that experiences can sometimes be a bit samey. Well, you can forget that on this trip. Golf in Japan is full of ritual, and the private courses we will be visiting are unlike anything you will be used to in the West. Not only will we play the very best courses the country has to offer, but we will also spend time seeing some of the sights of this fascinating country.
Picture - Mackenzie & Ebert
Picture - golfjapan.jp/
I hope these initial ideas have given you a sense of what I am trying to do? As I launch detailed itineraries over the next few weeks and months you will see the full range of experiences I will be including to make some truly special trips.
I would love your feedback on whether this concept would be of interest to you, which destinations excite you, or what else you would like to see in a UK Golf Guy trip. If you have a couple of minutes, please fill in the short survey below. And if you would like to be kept up to date with news of the trips as they are launched, leave your contact details too and I’ll be in touch.
Thanks a lot. Hopefully I’ll see you on the course before too long!,
David
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