The difficulties in arranging golf holidays for groups. Spain or Portugal or somewhere else. Everyone has different opinions on the golf courses...

[carled]

Having played while staying at Vilamoura and Albuferia. Vilamoura, esp the marina area ticks more boxes for me.

I know it'll be a lot better than this example, but golf resorts always conjure up visions of somewhere like the Manor/Ashbury complex near Okehampton. It's just likely to be full of oi oi boys and stag groups in my head! We quite like having a bit more independence really. Not ruling it out yet, but not grabbing me.

 

[carled]

I’ve championed that Costa Blanca thread as this will be our first golf trip abroad. As chief organiser I have spent many hours researching this.

What I have noticed is that things won’t always go smooth sailing. It was a trip originally for 12 but we lost a couple on the way and now have an awkward number of 9. That won’t spoil our fun and 3 x 3 balls will work with our Ryder cup being 3 teams of 3 just for added spice/banter.

Not going to lie, I really enjoy the planning side of trips. I’ve booked countless group trips in the past (non golf related) but this trip has been a little different. Mainly due to me booking it with pals I haven’t known as long.

The trip did infact work a lot easier once the divas / time wasters were filtered out.

We now have accommodation, 3 rounds + buggies, airport transfers, course transfers, flights + luggage all booked up for 9 of us without a middle man taking a big slice of the pie.

Considering this is our first trip abroad as a group , it feels oddly satisfying to have finally accomplished and secured the above.

5 days / 3 rounds (at top courses) with literally everything thrown in bar your food / drinks has cost us around £600. Having that extra bit of flexibility to eat and drink anywhere was a massive thing for us.

Really looking forward to it

Yeah, it was your thread that inspired me to ask the question here. I guess we're lucky in the group as we're all chucking £100 each per month into a pot and have been doing for a while. We've got a trip in 26 and 27 for big birthdays and will have around £2k per head budget for each. We'll do cars rather than transfers as it'll give us that bit more independence and we're all fine with driving abroad anyway. Should be plenty of money to thoroughly enjoy ourselves from what I can see at the moment. Hope yours goes well, I look forward to the trip report!

 

[Bamberdele2.0]

Yeah, it was your thread that inspired me to ask the question here. I guess we're lucky in the group as we're all chucking £100 each per month into a pot and have been doing for a while. We've got a trip in 26 and 27 for big birthdays and will have around £2k per head budget for each. We'll do cars rather than transfers as it'll give us that bit more independence and we're all fine with driving abroad anyway. Should be plenty of money to thoroughly enjoy ourselves from what I can see at the moment. Hope yours goes well, I look forward to the trip report!

£2k is more than tripple what we have paid so I’m certain you’ll be playing in Hollywood compared to us. As you said, VRBO & Airbnb is a great bargaining chip to have in the locker which bring costs down immensely.

Will be sure to post a report of ours when it comes round it May.

We have milestone bdays in 26 so be sure to keep us posted on which country and courses you finally go along and book with.

 

[Marshy77]

I’ve championed that Costa Blanca thread as this will be our first golf trip abroad. As chief organiser I have spent many hours researching this.

What I have noticed is that things won’t always go smooth sailing. It was a trip originally for 12 but we lost a couple on the way and now have an awkward number of 9. That won’t spoil our fun and 3 x 3 balls will work with our Ryder cup being 3 teams of 3 just for added spice/banter.

Not going to lie, I really enjoy the planning side of trips. I’ve booked countless group trips in the past (non golf related) but this trip has been a little different. Mainly due to me booking it with pals I haven’t known as long.

The trip did infact work a lot easier once the divas / time wasters were filtered out.

We now have accommodation, 3 rounds + buggies, airport transfers, course transfers, flights + luggage all booked up for 9 of us without a middle man taking a big slice of the pie.

Considering this is our first trip abroad as a group , it feels oddly satisfying to have finally accomplished and secured the above.

5 days / 3 rounds (at top courses) with literally everything thrown in bar your food / drinks has cost us around £600. Having that extra bit of flexibility to eat and drink anywhere was a massive thing for us.

Really looking forward to it

Same. I always sort our annual UK trip and this year's Spain trip and love it. The lads all think it's too much hassle sorting everything but I really enjoy it. I do like things all sorted etc but for me it's all part of it.

£600 is really good. We're touching £750 all in including transfers - drinks/meals on top.

For the op, I understand the need the try get everything spot on but unfortunately it's not going to happen. You can't please everyone. Think you might need to compromise on a few things and try get the majority ticked off your list. Is the hotel rooms thing really a big deal or is something you're all used to? We've found it's sometimes needed for part of the group to go chill a bit rather than being together all day everyday. Looks like you've got a good budget so sure you'll sort the majority.

 

[Bamberdele2.0]

Same. I always sort our annual UK trip and this year's Spain trip and love it. The lads all think it's too much hassle sorting everything but I really enjoy it. I do like things all sorted etc but for me it's all part of it.

£600 is really good. We're touching £750 all in including transfers - drinks/meals on top.

For the op, I understand the need the try get everything spot on but unfortunately it's not going to happen. You can't please everyone. Think you might need to compromise on a few things and try get the majority ticked off your list. Is the hotel rooms thing really a big deal or is something you're all used to? We've found it's sometimes needed for part of the group to go chill a bit rather than being together all day everyday. Looks like you've got a good budget so sure you'll sort the majority.

Where is your trip to bud?

I think one of the main reasons I enjoy planning these trips is without blowing my own trumpet too much I just know it will be done properly with all bases covered.

Our first trip last May to St Andrews wasn’t my gig and although hugely successful there were many areas of it that absolutely rattled me. If I’m spending x amounts of money on a trip I like things to be done properly and when things go slightly off piste my rigidity finds it hard to enjoy myself.

 

[Marshy77]

Where is your trip to bud?

I think one of the main reasons I enjoy planning these trips is without blowing my own trumpet too much I just know it will be done properly with all bases covered.

Our first trip last May to St Andrews wasn’t my gig and although hugely successful there were many areas of it that absolutely rattled me. If I’m spending x amounts of money on a trip I like things to be done properly and when things go slightly off piste my rigidity finds it hard to enjoy myself.

Fuengirola in May.

 

[sunshine]

I know it'll be a lot better than this example, but golf resorts always conjure up visions of somewhere like the Manor/Ashbury complex near Okehampton. It's just likely to be full of oi oi boys and stag groups in my head! We quite like having a bit more independence really. Not ruling it out yet, but not grabbing me.

Yeah when I went to Vilamoura it was like this:

36K views · 232 reactions | Black cab song .. Hale , Pace and Bates .. | London videos North / South / East & West .

Black cab song .. Hale , Pace and Bates ..

www.facebook.com

 

[carled]

For the op, I understand the need the try get everything spot on but unfortunately it's not going to happen. You can't please everyone. Think you might need to compromise on a few things and try get the majority ticked off your list. Is the hotel rooms thing really a big deal or is something you're all used to? We've found it's sometimes needed for part of the group to go chill a bit rather than being together all day everyday. Looks like you've got a good budget so sure you'll sort the majority.

Hotels just don't do it for us. They're often out in the sticks, meaning you're stuck with one bar/restaurant or frequent taxi rides. Being in a villa with walks to local bars and restaurants is where it's at for us. People still have individual rooms to go off and nap in if they want!

 

[Bamberdele2.0]

Yeah when I went to Vilamoura it was like this:

36K views · 232 reactions | Black cab song .. Hale , Pace and Bates .. | London videos North / South / East & West .

Black cab song .. Hale , Pace and Bates ..

www.facebook.com

 

[mister v]

I've been head booker on lots of euro golf aways and i do enjoy it , but we did turkey and everyone just wants to go back to it as it was so easy,

 

[Bamberdele2.0]

I've been head booker on lots of euro golf aways and i do enjoy it , but we did turkey and everyone just wants to go back to it as it was so easy,

We are looking at Belek in 2026 but it’s more than double in price for what we are paying this year (obviously Belek is all inc)

Judging from the fact your group want to go back I’d imagine it’s well worth it?

 

[mister v]

We are looking at Belek in 2026 but it’s more than double in price for what we are paying this year (obviously Belek is all inc)

Judging from the fact your group want to go back I’d imagine it’s well worth it?

With flights and a few single room supplements and other bits and bobs it comes in at £1400 all in (going early april) 4 rounds of golf / 7 nights. and apart from a few trips into belek for a wander around and a dodgy shave and haircut , or a meal in one of the ala carte restaurants i probably wont spent more than another £100.
One of the main advantages is everything is bought and paid for, there is no awkard moment at the bar when your waiting for that one person to buy there round..... , the golf courses are great and the staff were fantastic.
it was just the easy option for our bunch

 

[Mel Smooth]

We are looking at Belek in 2026 but it’s more than double in price for what we are paying this year (obviously Belek is all inc)

Judging from the fact your group want to go back I’d imagine it’s well worth it?

Jamie's golf coach runs a trip to Turkey every year, and it does look appealing - however, I was asking him about future trips a few weeks back with a view to maybe going on one, and he said South Africa was the trip to go on. I'll have to keep an eye out for some details coming through but fear it might be out of me price range.

 

[carled]

Jamie's golf coach runs a trip to Turkey every year, and it does look appealing - however, I was asking him about future trips a few weeks back with a view to maybe going on one, and he said South Africa was the trip to go on. I'll have to keep an eye out for some details coming through but fear it might be out of me price range.

We looked at South Africa too, but were put off by the long flight. We'd need to do 8 or 9 days to get 5 rounds in, but then there's the whole "being stuck in a compound for safety" thing and it just seems a bit of a faff getting around/finding places/avoiding being hassled to go on a safari or something. Or being eaten by hyenas or stampeded by wildebeest.

 

[D-S]

It’s a long flight but overnight and zero jet lag so we have often played on the day of arrival. We stayed a couple of times in Jo burg (Sandton and Rosebank), good bars and restaurants, cabs to very good, very, very good value courses. Not so touristy so pricing is good for everything.
We have then gone on to the Kruger and played around the edge (Nelspruit, Leaopards Creek, Hans Merensky etc.) although Skukuza in the park itself is one of the best golfing experiences anywhere. Although for a pure golf trip obviously you don’t need to go that far.

 

[hors limite]

We looked at South Africa too, but were put off by the long flight. We'd need to do 8 or 9 days to get 5 rounds in, but then there's the whole "being stuck in a compound for safety" thing and it just seems a bit of a faff getting around/finding places/avoiding being hassled to go on a safari or something. Or being eaten by hyenas or stampeded by wildebeest.

I mentioned South Africa I my earlier reply and acknowledged the what a pain the long flight is. Feel compelled to dispel your concerns about safety, faff and hassles. The Western Cape is idyllic with not a hint of menace or threat. Getting about by car couldn't be easier - they even drive on the right side of the road! Hassle free - not a dodgy pedlar of fake Raybans in sight. Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Plettenberg - great places to stay. When you are there, green fees, eating and drinking out are super affordable as is top quality accommodation.
A visit to a " big Five" reserve is a must - just don't get in the way of a bull elephant when he is visibly "in the mood"- I have the t shirt.
The only negative thing is the stark contrast between the manifestations of extreme wealth and poverty. However, you are supporting the local economy and the locals who work in it.
PS I'm off there for an extended stay soon.
PPS The Windhoek beer is excellent.

 

[mister v]

I think South Africa golf with a visit to see the Big 5 would be an off the charts trip..... Im in!!

 

[WinstonsMyth]

Will this do you - 12 beds shared between 7 bedrooms - 5 bathrooms. La Zenia is right in the heart of a strip of land just south of Torrevieja that has some great beaches, bars and restaurants, plus the La Zenia Boulevard if you want to do a bit of shopping.

You can jump on the AP-7 motorway to get access to courses further north and south although it is a tolled section, the locals tend to avoid it, you just need to add a little bit onto your journey time.

You'd have Las Ramblas, Campomoar Golf, Villamartin Golf, and Las Colinas all within 5km. La Finca is 20 minutes heading north up the motorway, as is Vistabella Golf.
Heading south down the AP7 - you have Lo Romero - Roda and the La Manga courses are a little further.

If the prices are consistent with what they were when we lived there, Las Colinas will be top end, La Finca maybe a little cheaper, then Villamartin, Vistabella, Lo Romero and Las Ramblas all coming in further down the price range - I'd class all 4 of these courses as good value. Never played Campomoar but drove through it plenty of times as it was a little shortcut from the country road we'd use to get to that area, but it never looked particularly interesting to me.
When I moved there, having played numerous courses on the Costa Del Sol, I was more than surprised by the standard of the courses - I'd have no hesitation in booking the ones I've mentioned if I was organising a trip there.

Check out this place in Spain I found on Vrbo! https://t.vrbo.io/c0ljJqcR5Pb

Edit: Looking at the pics, the decor looks a bit dated so you might want something a little more stylish inside, but outside looks like it's been recently updated.

I can vouch for every word of this. And Villamartin is absolutely wonderful!

 

[Deuzekko]

We’ve done a few trips where one person just picks the location and courses, books it all, and everyone else either says yes or no—saves endless back-and-forth.

 

[IanM]

I never go on lads trips overseas.

Too much aggro to arrange, and too many only there to see how drunk they can get.