Posted October 18th, 2008 at 7:36 pm in Golf Destinations

Broaden Your Search For Golf Destinations

How many times over the years did I answer the international golf "hotline" at John Jacobs Travel where a foursome was inquiring about golf in Scotland? They wanted our help in planning a trip to Scotland to play the "name" courses, The Old Course At St. Andrews topping their wish list. After all isn't a visit to that hallowed ground on every golfer's must play list? But for every course as famous as St. Andrews there are 50 others almost as good - at half the price.

The Quest To Find A Scotland Golf Packager With Connections

Back when I started out in arranging international golf tours there were no computers with complex reservation systems, no email confirmations and no Links Trust, St. Andrews to administer tee times (what other course in the world has a lottery to determine who can play it?) We did everything with a phone and fax machine and I was always worried something would go wrong. (Isn't it said that Mr. Murphy carries a 0 handicap?) So, being the lazy and cheap person that I am I decided not to try and re-create the wheel by attempting to negotiate my own agreements in Scotland for accommodations and golf via long-distance telephone. I needed an experienced outfit stateside and set out to find one.

PerryGolf out of Atlanta back then was very successful with the cookie- cutter trips to Scotland - they handled the actual tours, once the client was in country with accommodations, tee times, transfers, etc. and paid a nice 10% commission to travel agents like me for finding them the client. But I sensed there was more out there, I was searching for a custom experience arranged by a Scot, a golfer, a Scottish Golf Tour Operator who knew the destination as if they were born and raised there - and a nice Scottish brogue wouldn't hurt either!