How to Organize Your Trip

by Gordon Dalgleish — President, PerryGolf

So where do you start. For years you have discussed an overseas golf trip with the “guys”.

Everyone has an opinion and until now most of the proposed participants had an excuse why

they could not go!

Amazingly, everyone seems to be agreeing to a trip next summer, even penciling in dates in

June when no one has a conflict. Softball season is finished, the kids are in camp, the in-laws

always come the week before the 4th of July...we have heard all the excuses.

So what happens next?

(1) Designate one person to organize the trip. There are a

number of moving parts to an international golf trip which

become difficult to manage if different group members are

working in different directions.

(2) Decide where you want to go; Ireland, Scotland or

wherever. What courses are “must plays”. Agree to a general

framework of expectations.

(3) Discuss your budget comfort level. Is it a $3,000 trip or

$7,000. But get a range that all participants are comfortable

with the trip costing.

(4) Research some tour operators (vendors) who specialize

in golf trips. If you have the time and patience you can even

research the idea of booking it yourself. Speak to friends

who travel and solicit their input on vendors, golf courses

and hotels.

(5) Given your group’s budget and time constraints decide

on your course of action. Do I book myself or use a tour

operator. If using a tour operator be sure to get references

and contact them with as concise an outline of your

parameters as possible. Ask for their suggestions and input.

(6) The trickiest part of the entire process can be how to

make apples to apples comparisons of the various proposals.

Each tour operator will have their own format and their own

language. And even though you will have provided identical

input to each, you will inevitably encounter different

interpretations and different recommendations. Some will

be better than others of course but one thing that always

raises a red flag is a price oddly high or low. Supplier costs

are relatively similar for each tour operator so any extremes

you see could be a function of something like a room with a

parking lot view vs a room with a seaside view. You should

never hesitate to ask explicit questions and it doesn’t hurt to

ask one tour operator to help you interpret another operators

proposal. Even with my 30 years of experience this part can

be a puzzle. At the end of the day I would advise you to rely

on the person or company that presents their information

the most professionally and makes good common sense as

to why they are suggesting this or that hotel or route or golf

course.

800.344.5257

Information@PerryGolf.com

PerryGolf.com

(7) The trip should be structured in such a fashion you

can let each of the participants deal directly with the tour

operator for payments, paperwork, etc.

(8) At this point, once all deposits are collected and the trip

is booked you should be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the

good natured banter of a group of friends preparing to travel

overseas for a golf vacation.

Red flags to be aware of as your departure date approaches;

• All tee times should be in place and on your schedule at

least 4- 5 months in advance, usually longer.

• Does the confirmed schedule you have clearly lay out the

golf courses you are playing and at what time; the hotels

you are staying in and what room category…either single

or twin occupancy.

• Is it clear what your transportation in country looks like

and what is included. If you cannot answer yes to all of

the above…..be sure to resolve the area of doubt sooner

than later.