The Niggle: Where is the best golfing trip abroad?

If you hadn’t noticed, the weather has been less than desirable for golf on these shores in recent weeks.

When people start using words like “weatherbomb” you know it’s bad (on many levels).

So where is your dream golfing trip abroad? It can be somewhere you’ve been or somewhere on your Bucket List.

Members of the team at National Club Golfer give their views.

James Savage (JS) – My favourite golfing trip so far has been Belek in Turkey. Six star all-inclusive hotels, great golf, great weather. The only downside is you could be in Spain or Portugal and not notice much difference.

I think a South-East Asia golfing trip would offer the chance to properly ‘travel’ and take in some amazing golf. Ernie Els’ new course in Langkawi, Malaysia would be on the itinerary. Like the idea of relaxing in a hammock with a cold beer on the beach after a round…  

Mark Townsend (MT) – Top of my Bucket List would be Royal Melbourne and the other sand-belt courses around there. Favourite city in the world and one I’ve only pathetically experienced with a backpack and penchant for Carlton Cold. 

Best trip so far is Pinehurst. Eight courses, chipping green a few steps from the tap room and a pace of life in North Carolina that doesn’t seem to exist elsewhere in the States.
All of the action takes place in a ’49 Hudson ideally with Jack Kerouac navigating" Tom Irwin (TI) – California – Some of the world’s best golf, and a climate that is somewhat ideally 74f every day. 

I would start in San Francisco play Olympic Club and Pasatiempo, popping into town for a quick espresso in Caffe Trieste, then I would be on my way to Carmel to do laps of Cypress Point and Spy Glass. I might play Pebble if someone else paid. 

My trip would end at the Valley Club in Santa Barbara including tea and toast with Oprah. NB: All of the action takes place in a ’49 Hudson ideally with Jack Kerouac navigating.

Tom Lenton (TL) – TPC Scottsdale to be a little different, quite like the idea of a golf course lush green and lines by desert all around.

Best trip so far would be the Algarve – San Lorenzo. The new North Course at Quinta Do Lago looks amazing…

Dan Murphy (DM) – You’re all too soft. How about a game at North Berwick with a easterly whipping off the North Sea to keep you honest. Layer up, bobble hats on, handwarmers in pockets, tee off at 8am, back in the clubhouse before 11 for soup and sandwiches. Back out agin by 12 for a second 18, possibly foursomes.

Tight lies, forward tees, no messing about, a warm ruddy glow. a bit of fresh air and proper golf.

Karl Hansell (KH) – I have to agree with you DM but I don’t know about being soft. After hearing the news of the South African golfer that got attacked by a crocodile on the course, I’m a bit wary about travelling anywhere. 

I was thinking India could be a really nice place for a golf trip. But there are tigers in India.

In North America there are bears, in South America there are jaguars, and in Australia pretty much everything is designed to bite/stab/poison/kill you. 

And the one thing all these things have in common is they like the peace and quiet afforded by a golf course.

So I’m going to stay a little closer to home and say that my ideal golf trip is St Andrews or Royal Portrush. Who cares if it’s raining, at least I’ll survive.

JS – Are Scotland and Northern Ireland abroad? I should disqualify you both but I’ll let you off because it’s Christmas.

WHERE IS YOUR DREAM GOLFING TRIP?

GIVE US YOUR VIEWS IN THE COMMENTS BOX BELOW

For more golf news, discussion and videos follow @NCGmagazine on Twitter, like us on Facebook, subscribe to our YouTube video channel, and sign up to our newsletter