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

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.

“AI is a great researcher — but a terrible trip manager.”

In this episode, Connor and D.J. offer a candid look at how AI is shaping the way golfers are planning their overseas trips.

They unpack the benefits, the blind spots, and what makes a golf travel company like H&B essential for turning research into reality.

Additional Resources

• ⁠AI & Golf Travel Planning: Even ChatGPT Knows the Difference⁠

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.

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.