Golf and the Good Life - Your Guide for Golf Trips Across the Pond

In this episode, Connor and D.J. explore the advantages and trade-offs of an October golf trip to Scotland, Ireland, or England.

From potential access to marquee courses like Muirfield, The Old Course, Royal Portrush, and Royal County Down to playing overseas while your game is still in season, October has plenty to consider.

They also cover the realities of autumn travel, including the weather, course maintenance, and what to keep in mind when planning the off-course experience.

If you’re considering a golf trip across the pond, this conversation will help you decide whether October belongs on your travel calendar.

Additional Resources

The Case for October Golf Trips Across the Pond

Shoulder Season Golf Trips to Scotland & Ireland

Most golf trips run exactly to plan. But it's easy for plans to get derailed with international golf travel, and after enough years the pattern is clear. It's almost always the same short list of problems.

Connor and D.J. work through what actually goes sideways on a golf trip across the pond, and what you can do months ahead to keep it from defining the trip.

Covered in this episode:

• The source of 90-95% of problems that arise on a golf trip.
• Why nonstop beats your preferred carrier, and why connecting overseas beats connecting at home.
• Why you should avoid Heathrow with possible, and tips for when you can't.
• Coordinating a group's arrivals and departures for a smooth start and end.
• The right mindset for The Old Course Ballot.
• Why Trip Insurance is absolutely essential and the benefit of having someone in your corner at 2am.

Additional Resources

Stuff Happens: Common Golf Travel Challenges and How to Avoid Them

Nick Papadakes, PGA Head Professional at Onwentsia Club near Chicago and a longtime friend of H&B, joins Connor and D.J. for a wide-ranging conversation on golf travel overseas.

It begins with the Morcott Challenge, the junior event and cultural exchange between Lake Forest and Royal Dornoch that just wrapped in The Highlands, then heads down the roads less traveled to the Surrey heathland and remote Askernish.

Along the way, Nick shares what two decades have taught him: how to build a group with the right chemistry, why he almost never books a morning tee time, and the vital role of the Driver-Hosts who became part of the team.

He speaks candidly about how travel reshaped his approach to the game and what he now brings home to his own club and membership.

Whether you are planning your first trip across the pond or your tenth, this conversation is a reminder that the golf is what gets everyone on the plane, but the Good Life is what makes the trip.

There is a corner of England that most traveling golfers have never set foot in, and until Connor's recent trip, one H&B hadn't reached in years. The far southwest, from Devon to the cliffs of Cornwall, has quietly held some of the game's most rewarding links all along.

In this episode, Connor and D.J. retrace Connor's ten nights in the region, beginning in the storied Surrey heathland, working down the coast from one outstanding links to the next.

Along the way they discover the Good Life that sets this region apart: Michelin-starred dining, a slower and almost Mediterranean pace, hotels perched above the beach, and some of the warmest hospitality across the pond.

This is a region for the traveler who has already done the marquee trips and is ready for somewhere genuinely new: an authentic, uncommercialized links experience paired with some of the best Good Life offerings in Britain.

If you've been there and done that across the pond, Southwest England is a corner of the map worth discovering.

We first covered caddies in Episode 8. Three years, 80 episodes, and hundreds of H&B Expeditions later, it's time for an update.

In this episode, Connor & D.J. share how caddies generally work in Scotland, Ireland, and England, as well as new details to know ahead of your trip across the pond.

By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of what to expect, and why caddies are an essential part of your travel experience.

Additional Resources

Caddie FAQs for Golf Trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England

The west coast of Scotland is the Birthplace of The Open Championship and home to some of the most storied links in the game.

In this episode, Connor and D.J. take a deep dive into Ayrshire and the West Coast, from the marquee names of Royal Troon, Prestwick, Western Gailes, and the Ailsa Course at Turnberry to the outstanding supporting cast found throughout the region.

Along the way, they cover the planning considerations that shape an Ayrshire golf trip, the appeal of unpacking once and staying in a single location, the growing popularity of pairing the region with Northern Ireland, and the Good Life experiences that complete the journey.

Whether you are planning an entire Expedition around the West Coast or adding a few days to a larger tour of Scotland, this episode offers a complete introduction to one of the game’s most historic and rewarding regions.

Additional Resources

• Regional Guide: Golf Trips to Scotland's West Coast
• Your Complete Guide to Turnberry
• Step Inside Prestwick's Reimagined Clubhouse
• The Complete Guide to Royal Troon

Our Legendary Links series returns for a look at one of Scotland's most beloved courses, North Berwick Golf Club.

Twenty-five years ago, North Berwick was unranked. Today it sits twenty-fifth in the world. Connor and D.J. unpack what that climb has meant for visitors and the puzzle of pairing the course with nearby Muirfield.

They also cover the history, notable holes, and Good Life options that shouldn't be missed nearby.

Additional Resources

7 Things to See at North Berwick Golf Club

North Berwick & Muirfield Golf Trips

We've spent plenty of time talking about how to lead a great golf trip across the pond. This episode is for everyone else. The group members. The friends along for the ride. The 90% who didn't volunteer to be the Captain (the H&B word for the person organizing the trip).

Connor and D.J. walk through what it means to be a great traveler when you're not the one leading, from respecting the decisions to showing up prepared to simply not being "that guy."

Because the best trips allow the Captain to enjoy the fruits of their labor as much as everyone else.

Additional Resources

Tips & Advice for Golf Trip Captains

With The Open returning to Royal Birkdale this summer, D.J. and Connor sit down with colleague Mike Walters for a deep dive on England's Golf Coast, fresh off his trip through the region.

They walk through all three Royals (Liverpool, Lytham & St Annes, and Birkdale), make the case for the deep supporting cast that often gets overlooked, and explore the Good Life in Liverpool.

Whether you're heading to The Open, planning a trip to England's Golf Coast, or just armchair traveling, the one's worth your time.

Additional Resources

The Complete Guide to England's Golf Coast

How Much Does a Golf Trip to England Cost?

Where to Play on a Golf Trip to England: A Regional Guide

In Part 3 of the series, D.J. and Connor close out the 15 most important decisions for your overseas golf trip.

The focus shifts to the choices that often get made later in the planning process: where you'll sleep, the case for caddies, packing choices, dinners and your time off the course, plus getting ahead of the inevitable question: where to next?

Key Points:

• Why "we don't care where we stay" sounds reasonable at home and falls apart once you're overseas.

• Why caddie requests should be made in advance, and the cancellation policies now in place at most clubs.

• Pack less than you think, but cover all four seasons.

• The two-pairs-of-shoes rule, and why one wet round can derail the next morning.

• Why dinner reservations are not a day-of decision, even in the shoulder season.

• The case for starting the conversation about your next trip before you've finished this one.

Additional Resources:

⁠How to Plan a Golf Trip to Scotland – 14 Key Decisions⁠

⁠How to Plan an Ireland Golf Trip – Breaking It Down

In Part 2 of the series, D.J. and Connor get into the decisions that start to give an overseas golf trip its shape: when to go, where to go, which courses to play, how much golf, and how you'll get around.

Connor reframes the timing question in a way most travelers haven't considered, D.J. breaks down the divide-and-conquer approach to choosing regions, and they both make the case for adding a course you've never heard of.

Key Points:

• Why framing your travel dates as "when can't you go" is more productive than "when can you go."

• The daylight advantage of June and July, and the September wrinkle at St. Andrews that catches some groups off guard.

• How to divide and conquer: picking one or two regions for a 7-night trip, and why a third usually means shortchanging one of them.

• The anchor-course strategy: pick your marquee course first and build the rest of the itinerary outward from there.

• Why the course nobody in your group has heard of often becomes the highlight of the trip.

• The difference between a trip that's been planned for you and a trip that's been hosted, and why a driver-host turns transit time into part of the experience.

Additional Resources:

How to Plan a Golf Trip to Scotland – 14 Key Decisions

How to Plan an Ireland Golf Trip – Breaking It Down

The Benefits of a Driver-Host on an Overseas Golf Trip

Best 36-Hole Days in Scotland and Ireland

Planning an overseas golf trip involves more decisions than most travelers expect, and the ones you make early on tend to shape the entire experience.

In this first episode of a 3 part series, D.J. and Connor walk through five key decisions every group faces before the planning even really begins: the type of trip, the invite list, your budget, DIY vs. a golf travel company, and custom vs. stock itineraries.

If you're in the early stages of putting a trip together, this is the foundation.

Key Points:

• Why mixing group types (buddies, couples, families) on the same trip creates more friction than most people anticipate.
• The #1 reason you should be selective with your invite list.
• Why the average overseas golf trip involves 40 to 50 individual plans and reservations.
• The difference between a trip being made for you and you being made for a trip.
• Connor's breakdown of how destination and season choices will impact your budget.

Additional Resources

How to Plan a Golf Trip to Scotland – 14 Key Decisions

How to Plan an Ireland Golf Trip – Breaking It Down

In this episode, Connor serves as interviewer as D.J. takes us through his long-awaited solo drive of Scotland's North Coast 500.

Along the way:

• Rounds of golf at Royal Dornoch, Wick, and Durness.
• Single-lane mountain roads through snow and hail.
• The wildly stressful descent of the Applecross Pass.
• A dinner 20-years-in-the-making at The Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye.

Plus, what he'd do differently, who this trip is really for, and the fish and chips that dethroned Tailend in St. Andrews.

Additional Resources

Scotland's North Coast 500: A Golfer's Guide

We first covered packing way back in Episode 7. That was 72 episodes and a lot of Expeditions ago. It's time for an update.

In this episode, D.J. and Connor break packing into two categories: your golf gear and your luggage.

From shipping your clubs and the AirTag rules you need to know, to the overnight outfit trick that could cut your suitcase in half, this one is full of firsthand advice from Members who've gone before you.

Plus: the apps worth downloading before you leave, and a key update for the required UK ETA.

If you're counting down to a golf trip to Scotland, Ireland, or Beyond, it's a must-listen.

Additional Resources

What to Pack for a Golf Trip Across the Pond

How to Pack Your Golf Travel Bag

If you’re thinking about a 2027 golf trip across the pond, you’ve likely noticed the noise.

Deadlines. Openings. Applications. Limited tee sheets. Ryder Cup. The Open. It can all start to feel like a race before you’ve even settled on a plan.

In this episode of Golf and the Good Life, Connor and D.J. provide a clear-eyed update on where things stand with 2027 planning, particularly for The Old Course, Muirfield, Royal County Down, and Royal Portrush.

We discuss what’s different about this booking cycle, why certain windows are more condensed than in years past, and how major events are shaping demand.

More importantly, we share perspective from the planning side: what truly requires urgency, where flexibility creates opportunity, and how to approach the process without letting it overshadow the excitement.

The goal isn’t to add to the noise. It’s to replace it with clarity.

If 2027 is on your radar, this conversation will help you understand the landscape and move forward with confidence.

Additional Resources

The Complete Guide to 2027 Golf Trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England

In this episode, we're making the case for building breathing room into your overseas golf itinerary and why it's something captains need to plan for upfront, not figure out on the fly.

Drawing from Member feedback, we discuss the tension between wanting to play every marquee course and the reality of what makes a trip truly memorable.

We cover strategic timing for days off, low-key golf alternatives, and the unexpected highlights that emerge when you give your group permission to explore, decompress, or simply do their own thing for a day.

Whether it's a walking tour in Edinburgh, a pub crawl in Belfast, or an impromptu round that becomes a trip favorite, we break down why less golf often leads to better stories.

Additional Resources

Permission to Pause - Why Your Golf Trip Needs Some Downtime

Our Legendary Links series returns for a conversation with Bill Donald, General Manager of Royal County Down Golf Club.

Bill offers a rare, thoughtful look behind the scenes at what it takes to steward a club like Royal County Down.

We discuss how RCD balances global demand with its member traditions, the refinements underway to elevate the visitor experience, and why planning a golf trip here is best approached the same way you would a world-class event: with intention, patience, and an appreciation for just how special the opportunity is.

We also touch on Bill's favorite moments around the course and a few can’t-miss spots in Newcastle that complete the experience beyond the fairways.

Additional Resources

The Complete Guide to Royal County Down

Explore Northern Ireland Golf Trips

Mentioned in this Episode

Slieve Donard

Brunel's

Villa Vinci

Harbour House

The Buck's Head Dundrum

Nugelato

Our Legendary Links series returns with a conversation from one of the game’s most storied venues, Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

Andy Leadbetter from Royal Liverpool shares an inside look at Hoylake, what it truly means to host The Open Championship, and how those moments shape a club long after the grandstands come down.

Andy also makes the case for England’s Golf Coast as one of the most compelling destinations in the game, offering world-class links golf, deep history, and a journey that rewards those willing to look beyond the usual first stops.

Additional Resources

• Royal Liverpool Golf Club website

• The Complete Guide to Royal Liverpool Golf Club

The calendar may have just turned to 2026, but for anyone considering a 2027 golf trip to Scotland, Ireland, or England, the planning window is already open.

In just a few short weeks, some of the most sought-after courses across the pond will begin opening their tee sheets for 2027 visitors.

At some of these marquee venues, most, if not all, visitor availability often disappears in a matter of days. And in some cases, just hours.

In this episode, Connor and D.J. share key details for planning your 2027 trip, as well as destination-specific insights and the impact of major events like The Open and the Ryder Cup.

It's a timely conversation, rooted in the current realities of overseas golf travel, and a valuable listen for anyone looking ahead to 2027 or beyond.

Additional Resources

The Complete Guide for 2027 Golf Trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England

In the final episode of the year, Connor and D.J. look back on recent and extensive travels across Great Britain and Ireland.

From Royal County Down and Royal Portrush to Liverpool and the London heathland, they share some key takeaways, new discoveries, and why time spent on the ground each season is essential to delivering Golf at its Finest and Life at its Best.

Have a question about golf travel or a story of your own to share? Record your message at ⁠⁠⁠haversham.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠ and you may hear it featured in a future episode.

Mentioned in this Episode

-Royal Portrush Golf Club

-Royal County Down Golf Club

-Old Head Golf Links

-Ballybunion Golf Club

-Tralee Golf Club

-Royal Liverpool Golf Club

-The Municipal Hotel, Liverpool

-Walton Heath Golf Club

-The Fairmont Windsor Park

About H&B

⁠⁠⁠⁠Haversham & Baker Expeditions⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the leading provider of international golf travel to America's private clubs and their members. Known as the "country club of golf travel," H&B has specialized in Golf and the Good Life in Scotland, Ireland, and Beyond since 1991.