Do you want to play the Old Course in St Andrews?
How ’bout Royal County Down in Northern Ireland or Pebble Beach?
Sure you can surf the Internet for hours till your fingers cramp up and maybe you score a few morsels of information.
Why not make it easy on yourself and just click or call one of the best golf travel companies according The Golf Travel Guru.
When someone asks me who do I recommend to make their golf trip dreams come true, I suggest these ten:
{NOTE: This is not a rating system and best golf travel companies are not listed in any particular order.}
Premier Golf Travel
Founded in 1988, Premier has the most experienced team in the golf travel business with Ann Mabry, Bill Hogan and Tim Willerton. If they had a Hall of Fame for golf travel planners, these three would definitely be in it. Through years and years of planning and executing golf trips around the world they’ve learned exactly what golf travelers want and do not want. In addition to trips to popular destinations like Scotland, Ireland, England, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand and Australia, Premier also offers programs designed around golf’s biggest events like the Ryder Cup, Masters and Open Championship. Website: Premier Golf Travel Phone: 866.260.4409
Haversham & Baker Golfing Expeditions
Sam Baker, one of golf travel’s most engaging personalities, started the company in 1991. Baker created and developed the concept of customizing golf travel experiences both on and off the course. While his son John, a West Point graduate, has assumed day-to-day operations, Sam Baker’s passion for golf travel dominates the company’s attitude and purpose. Today, Haversham & Baker bills itself as “the leading provider of international golf travel to America’s private clubs.” Baker and his team bring an unmatched expertise in working with private clubs. In fact, 97% of its travelers belong to a private club and they represent nearly 1,500 different clubs across America, according to the company’s website. Haversham & Baker offers customized trips to Scotland, The Old Course, Ireland, England and Spain. Website: Haversham & Baker Golfing Expeditions Phone: 800.883.3633
PerryGolf
This multi-faceted luxury golf tour operator was founded in 1984 by Scottish brothers, Colin and Gordon Dalgleish, two of the most knowledgeable people in the golf travel industry. They offer custom itineraries, escorted tours and golf cruises to the most popular golf destinations in the world, including Scotland, Ireland, England, Spain, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal, Wales, Italy and France. If you want to play the Old Course in St Andrews (as well as other destinations), PerryGolf offers a Quick Quote feature on their site reporting price quotes in 90 seconds or less. They have an extensive golf cruise line-up including 2023 trips to South Africa, Australia/New Zealand, Argentina, Hong Kong and Vietnam and Scotland, Ireland, England & Wales, France and Italy. Website: PerryGolf Phone: 800.344.5257
Carr Golf Travel
A luxury golf travel company for over 30 years, Carr Golf Travel, based in Dublin, Ireland specializes in high-end, five-star service golf trips to Ireland, Scotland and England. Headed by Marty Carr, one of the most well connected people in the golf travel industry, the company has exceptional long-standing working relationships with the best courses, hotels, resorts, restaurants and pubs in all three countries. They’re experienced working with American golfers and determining their exact wants and needs. Website: Carr Golf Travel Phone: 855.617.5701
The Art of Golf Travel
Award-winning golf and travel writer Art Stricklin heads up this boutique style company specializing in premium golf travel experiences at the world’s most prominent golf destinations. In a 30-year career of traveling the world playing Top 100 courses and interviewing icons like Jack, Arnie and Tiger, the amiable and fun-loving Stricklin is one of the most well informed people in the golf universe. From Scotland and Ireland to American golf meccas like Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes and Pebble Beach, Stricklin provides personalized service and fascinating golf history facts and stories. Website: The Art of Golf Travel Phone: 972.989.2310
Celtic Golf
Want to play golf in Ireland? This 30-year old, family-owned company should be your first click. Celtic Golf are the only US-based golf tour operators (based in New Jersey) to hold full membership of the Irish Golf Tour Operators Association (IGTOA). They also have membership at Ballybunion, Carne, Old Head and Trump Doonbeg golf clubs. Owners Jerry and Josephine Quinlan know Ireland from the best courses to the best post round pubs and they’re well connected throughout the Emerald Isle. In addition, they and their team plan golf trips to several other destinations, including Scotland, England Wales, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy as well as special event packages to major golf events like the Open Championship and Solheim Cup. Website: Celtic Golf Phone: 609.741.1834
Irish Golf Tours
Serving clients for more than three decades, this company really knows Ireland. They know the best courses, hotels, pubs and bars and transfer companies. Better still, their skilled, knowledgeable staff can design an itinerary for a group’s specific wants and needs. Now part of the highly regarded Carr Golf Group, Irish Golf Tours is a can’t miss choicesif you want to fully immerse in premium Irish golf experience that combines fun and frivolity with play on some of the world’s best courses like Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Ballybunion, Lahinch and Waterville. Website: Irish Golf Tours
SGH Golf Travel
Started in 1982 by Scottish native Ian Jack, SGH has perfected the customized golf trip. One of the things that sets them apart is they don’t use ground handlers or representatives. SGH boasts: ” You are dealing with the same company employees throughout your trip.” The company has offices in Scottsdale, Arizona, Cincinnati, Raleigh, Augusta and St Andrews. In 40 years they’ve developed a reliable network of courses, hotels and other vendors, which allows SGH to get tee times or reservations that might not otherwise be available. The Old Course at St Andrews and Scotland are hugely popular destinations and they also offer fully customizable trips to Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Pebble Beach and others. Their helicopter transfer program allows travel in style and play on more than one world-class course in a day. Website: SGH Golf Phone: 800.284.8884
Kalos Golf
Specializing in golf cruises, Kalos introduced the concept in 1994. Kalos Golf trips incorporate top golf courses and touring with five-star service, whether by sea, air or land. They privately charter river cruisers, large yachts, sailing ships and other vessels that accommodate a small number of like-minded guests and stay at unique luxury properties throughout the excursion. A cursory glance at some of the itineraries in 2023 include destinations like New Zealand, Coast of Spain, Danube River, Rhine River and French and Italian Riviera. Website: Kalos Golf Phone: 866.942.3464
Epic Golf Travel
A major player in the golf travel world since the early 1990s, Epic Golf Travel boldly boasts they offer “The Best Golf Vacations on the Planet.” One of their appeals is that founder David Redmond and his team members are golfers and intrepid travelers who have collectively played over 1,000 of the world’s best and most well-known courses. In nearly four decades of customizing golf travel programs, Epic has nurtured relationships with top golf courses, hotels and resorts. Heading its popular destination list is Scotland, St Andrews, Ireland and England as well as U.S.A. sites like Pebble Beach, Scottsdale, Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst, Hilton Head Island and Florida. Website: Epic Golf Travel Phone: 844.446.3742
