Golfing holidays

[scottac20]

Hi everyone,

I've never been on a golfing holiday before but have been lucky enough (incredibly lucky given the qualifying conditions) to get to the volvo matchplay final in Portugal in January and on top of that I'd promised my Wife a holiday and am trying to persuade her somewhere with a golf course might be an idea. Does anyone have any tips for golfing abroad and more importantly for getting clubs there in one piece?

Any help would me much appreciated

 

[MikeTimbers]

Never had any trouble getting golf-clubs safely on and off airplanes. Airlines may charge extra for them but they tend to look after them from my experience. If you're really worried, invest in a hard-shell travel bag.

As for golfing abroad, make sure you have planned your golf, contacted the relevant clubs and checked on their requirements. Nothing worse than turning up somewhere only to be told you absolutely have to wear yellow socks and red shoes.

 

[mmgp7sp]

Aer Lingus were doing free carriage on golf clubs up until 28th Oct.
Heading to Malaga in Feb. Can't wait!!!

 

[Andy]

Golf almost every year in Costa Blanca Spain and as per above pay extra for the clubs and your sorted.

Some amazing courses in and around Murcia or more specific Playa Flamenca.

Some courses to look at. La Finca, Lo Romero, Hacienda del Alamo, Las Colinas, La Cala and Campoamor

Andy

 

[mmgp7sp]

La Cala resort
Photos look fantastic - anyone been out there?

 

[Andy]

La Cala resort
Photos look fantastic - anyone out there, been?

Years ago I was. Was pretty good but no idea if it's still as good.

Andy

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Get a travel cover for your clubs with a padlock and you should be fine. Do your homework and make sure there is plenty for HID to do if she isn't going to be out there playing with you too. Nothing worse than having a great round and coming back to a hacked off wife moaning she was bored on her own

 

[Andy]

The Mrs is there to drive the buggy and open the beers Homer

 

[upanddown]

La Cala resort
Photos look fantastic - anyone been out there?

I have played La Cala, when the wind blows it is a real tough test. Cracking views and a very nice clubhouse.

Oh and the courses are nice aswell, preferred La Cala Asia.

If you are going Costa Del Sol way get yourself to Santa Maria, my favourite course. Absolutely beautiful.

 

[mmgp7sp]

Wife not going - just our usual fourball - its gonna be great!!!

 

[SonicBoom]

Be preapred that it's not like golf over here but taking your own clubs helps. The grass is different in Spain Portugal Florida etc.
I played in Portugal and there seemed to be no rough longer than 3 inches anywhere. But when you went in it the ball just sits up. You think you can get a long club like a rescue or a 4 iron under it easily but it's a nightmare. A full swing moved it 10 feet. Take your medicine and chip out! It does take some getting used to.

 

[Billysboots]

Airlines may charge extra for them but they tend to look after them from my experience.

You're kidding, right?! Have you seen the way baggage handlers throw luggage in the hold? I have been either ski-ing or golfing every winter for the last 25 years and have lost count of the number of breakages members of my travelling parties have had to endure. I have been lucky, due in part I suspect to the fact that I do my utmost to protect my gear.

With skis I have always wrapped bubble wrap and ski clothing round my bindings to make sure they are intact when I arrive in resort. Similarly, with golf clubs, even though I have a hard travel case, I wrap towels and waterproofs round the clubheads and zip up the rain hood on my bag to try and protect my clubs. So far, so good.

The older I am getting the more I am tending towards a few days' golf in February rather than ski-ing, and I agree that golf abroad is a very different experience to golf in the UK. Invariably you get really tight lies which can cause issues with irons unless you strike them very cleanly. But where I have always really noticed the difference is round the greens. I have never played on slow greens abroad and consequently you can get very badly punished if you get out of position with your approach play.

Chipping and putting from tight lies onto greens running at 11/12 or even faster is not for those of a nervous disposition!

 

[cheezburga]

For airline travel, cut a length of broomstick to shove in the bag, cut just a bit longer than your driver. just in case your bag come down head-first on the baggage carousel. Some place they come down with a fairly hefty thump.

 

[scottac20]

Cheers guys for the tips. Think I'll probably buy a travel cover - possibly a hard case depending on the price and whether it would take me over the weight limit. Might be totally wrong but having seen baggage handlers unload bags from a plane, it doesn't fill me with confidence that my clubs will get there in one piece

 

[chris661]

Cheers guys for the tips. Think I'll probably buy a travel cover - possibly a hard case depending on the price and whether it would take me over the weight limit. Might be totally wrong but having seen baggage handlers unload bags from a plane, it doesn't fill me with confidence that my clubs will get there in one piece

I flew with easyjet to edinburgh for the forum meet at goswick and booked my clubs on, you were allowed a combined 50kg as long as no one bag was over 32kg. You will be hard pushed to max that out believe me

 

[Simbo]

i personally, turn all my irons upside down in the bagm i also put a brush in beside the woods so if the bag gets bashed the brush takes the brunt of it and not your driver, bubble wrap all the oen spaces roundabout the bag top
i wrote a big detailed report of my golf experience at la cala, should be in the travwl section somewhere mate

 

[19thagain]

Have played abroad many times BUT be aware, on one flight we taxied out and saw our clubs - 12 bags - sitting on the runway below us.

They were delivered to our hotel the following day but we had lost:-

a) A days golf

B) three hours filling in a lost property claims form at the airport (X12)

Not a happy way to start a golfing holiday and if we were playing in a competition with hired clubs I would have been really hacked off!

The only other bad experience was when Thompsons Travel refused to accept our clubs as the pick-up bus hold was 'too full' - twelve sets of clubs in a cab to the airport was the answer. Small print said this was within their legal right to only accept golf clubs if there was enough room in the hold.