UK golf trips - would you pay for a trip organiser?

[Marshy77]

Been thinking about this for a while now. Would you pay someone to organise your golf trips in the UK. Either book the full trip, put the intenary together for you or maybe just the courses?

I do it every year for us and the lads just basically agree where to go after I suggest a few places and I do all the bookings, restaurant, meet times etc they turn up and all ask the same questions all weekend even though they have it on an email!! But I'm pretty good at this and enjoy doing it.

Just wondering if there's an opportunity as a side thing to try kick this off.

Rather than it just being a hotel course Sunday driver type booking you could give options on area, courses, budget and an intenary would be put together? Would you pay for this service to not have to keep contacting/updating the group? All pay to a bank account in one or monthly etc and you'd get updates on balances, payment dates and full details before you go?

Just thinking out loud really at this point.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Been thinking about this for a while now. Would you pay someone to organise your golf trips in the UK. Either book the full trip, put the intenary together for you or maybe just the courses?

I do it every year for us and the lads just basically agree where to go after I suggest a few places and I do all the bookings, restaurant, meet times etc they turn up and all ask the same questions all weekend even though they have it on an email!! But I'm pretty good at this and enjoy doing it.

Just wondering if there's an opportunity as a side thing to try kick this off.

Rather than it just being a hotel course Sunday driver type booking you could give options on area, courses, budget and an intenary would be put together? Would you pay for this service to not have to keep contacting/updating the group? All pay to a bank account in one or monthly etc and you'd get updates on balances, payment dates and full details before you go?

Just thinking out loud really at this point.

I wouldn’t do it for trips in the UK as most companies that people go through are pretty good

Most companies can sort it all out for you

It’s what golfbreaks and YGT do

 

[Neilds]

If you were the one making the booking, I suspect most questions will still come through you instead of the 'organiser' so you won't be gaining much imo

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I have used someone in the UK before, pm on it's way to you. I found them very useful as they took all of the hassle out of it. I also find an increasing number of clubs only allow booking 7 days in advance and if you are an 'organiser' than you might build relationships with clubs and be able to circumnavigate this. That certainly has value.

I think the key is to probably specialise in a particular area rather than cover the whole country but ultimately that would be your decision.

 

[RichA]

The social groups I'm in all have one or two members who are happy to do the organising. Sorting AirBnB and booking tee times at County Card rates gives much better value and freedom than any of the booking services I've looked at.

If you find a multi-day, multi-course comp through something like Golf Pairs and organise your own accommodation and pub meals it's a substantial saving over paying somebody a big cut to book a hotel.

 

[LincolnShep]

Been thinking about this for a while now. Would you pay someone to organise your golf trips in the UK. Either book the full trip, put the intenary together for you or maybe just the courses?

I do it every year for us and the lads just basically agree where to go after I suggest a few places and I do all the bookings, restaurant, meet times etc they turn up and all ask the same questions all weekend even though they have it on an email!! But I'm pretty good at this and enjoy doing it.

Just wondering if there's an opportunity as a side thing to try kick this off.

Rather than it just being a hotel course Sunday driver type booking you could give options on area, courses, budget and an intenary would be put together? Would you pay for this service to not have to keep contacting/updating the group? All pay to a bank account in one or monthly etc and you'd get updates on balances, payment dates and full details before you go?

Just thinking out loud really at this point.

I wouldn't, but only because I tend to be the organiser rather than the organisee! The service you're describing is a very similar to a company called 'Travel Counsellors' - but specialising in golf. They're independent travel agents that put together custom packages for people who don't want to (or can't) do the research themselves. As travel agents, they might occasionally have access to rates that Joe Public does not.

If you were going to become a "golf travel counsellor", I think you'd need to offer something extra to what customers can already get from the likes of GolfBreaks and YourGolfTravel, otherwise you're going to be beaten by their buying power. Booking restaurants, taxis, pubs etc would be a good one for me. I don't much care for the traditional packaged golf breaks because I don't want to eat dinner in the hotel and stay in their bar all evening. I'd rather be in a city with some nice pubs and a curry. I wouldn't be able to get that from GB/YGT so I'd have to do it myself.

 

[3 jabber]

I would use a company, they will generally get better rates. Even after they take their cut you won't pay any more than organising it yourself and they deal with any hassle.

 

[AussieKB]

I go to Thailand every year, me and a mate do it all.......last 12 years.

a couple of friends have just gone where we go and played in an organized trip/tournament and paid 48K THB for 6 days 4 games in carts accommodation and breakfast,
plus all transfers from Bangkok and to and fro to the courses.

This year I have put the package together, 37K THB for 12 days 8 games in carts accommodation and breakfast,
plus all transfers from Bangkok and to and fro to the courses.

We charge nothing for doing this, (have the time) plus over the years we have made good contacts plus learned a few tricks in reducing the cost.

Groups have ranged from 14 to 32 people.

 

[Backache]

The group I go with usually self organise, taking it in turns.
I might use a company if they can get discounts for a package, but generally when I have looked at prices we have been better self organising.

 

[timd77]

We do a uk trip every year. Started using gb/ygt the first couple of years but found that the courses within our budget weren’t great. So the last few years we’ve been taking it in turns to organise ourselves.

We decide on a rough area, north wales for example, find prices for the courses in that area, narrow it down a bit, get some prices direct from the course and book directly. And then we just book into a local hotel.

These courses don’t tend to be on on the gb/ygt websites, at least not in our price range.

Not sure if this is helpful at all.

 

[Marshy77]

I wouldn't, but only because I tend to be the organiser rather than the organisee! The service you're describing is a very similar to a company called 'Travel Counsellors' - but specialising in golf. They're independent travel agents that put together custom packages for people who don't want to (or can't) do the research themselves. As travel agents, they might occasionally have access to rates that Joe Public does not.

If you were going to become a "golf travel counsellor", I think you'd need to offer something extra to what customers can already get from the likes of GolfBreaks and YourGolfTravel, otherwise you're going to be beaten by their buying power. Booking restaurants, taxis, pubs etc would be a good one for me. I don't much care for the traditional packaged golf breaks because I don't want to eat dinner in the hotel and stay in their bar all evening. I'd rather be in a city with some nice pubs and a curry. I wouldn't be able to get that from GB/YGT so I'd have to do it myself.

Yes, your last paragraph is what it would be rather than a stay and play hotel course. You're like me, don't mind doing it rather than the lads not having the time or organisation to do it. It's more that group of golfers rather than the organised. It also got me thinking about after been asked for the 50th time the tee time for tomorrow or what time the Travelodge breakfast is!!!

 

[Bazz]

I do all the planning for my group, courses, flights, hotels and down to what time pick up is. Also make sure I have restaurant recommendations planned out, and let everyone pick.
I actually enjoy it, over the years we've weeded out the late payers, the non payers and the moaners but not doers. I personally wouldn't pay someone else to do it.

 

[IanM]

I am usually the trip organiser, have been for years, but I'd pay someone to do it "if" they clearly added value to the process.

That might mean, access to discounts that were unavailable to me, had local specialist knowledge I didn't or access to courses I couldn't get on.

There's some decent players in the market, so if you fancy it as a side-line, you need to differentiate yourself some how.

 

[sunshine]

I am usually the trip organiser, have been for years, but I'd pay someone to do it "if" they clearly added value to the process.

That might mean, access to discounts that were unavailable to me, had local specialist knowledge I didn't or access to courses I couldn't get on.

There's some decent players in the market, so if you fancy it as a side-line, you need to differentiate yourself some how.

This describes me too.

I’m happy organising trips for small groups. Friends or close friends of friends.

If it was a large group I’d want to outsource it. When the group expands inevitably you end up with a couple of muppets who make life difficult (late payers, complainers), someone else can deal with them.

 

[pendodave]

I organise our UK trips and the only added 3rd party added value I'd be interested in is getting the b%£#%s to stick to their previously stated availability!

 

[BrianM]

You’ve got to bring something different to the mix, what extras can you give the golf party for the money….
We like to eat at different restaurants on a night then go to a pub somewhere, normally walking distance to the accommodation.
Accommodation has to be clean and tidy and you get a decent breakfast.
If you build good working relationships with restaurants/hotels etc, it’s a win, win.
Golfers spend a lot of money, so they’ll get a lot back through food and drink.

 

[AussieKB]

Over the years we have weeded out the late comers moaners etc......

At the beginning of each trip I always state what time the bus leaves, with the proviso if you are not on the bus that I assume you having the day off,
why should everyone have to wait for you....if you have an emergency fine, let us know.

Have left once without one player (good friend) who always wanted to be last on the bus, surprise... he has never been late again.

 

[Orikoru]

That's a good shout. I normally arrange the Golf Trips for my mates so I might start charging them as well.