Get the Most from Scotland Golf Travel

International golf travel is one of the hottest vacation ideas in the upcoming seasons. If you’re planning on traveling overseas to play golf, can you imagine a better place to visit than the birthplace of the royal game? Scotland golf courses are among the most beautiful and undoubtedly the most historic in the entire world. if you’re planning golf travel in the coming year, these tips can help you get the most out of a Scotland golf vacation.

Do Your Research

Scotland proves the old saying that good things come in small packages. The tiny country manages to fit more golf greens, courses and links into its borders than any other country, at least if you count by size. There are several different ways to create an itinerary for golf travel to Scotland. You could create a list of historic and famous courses you want to play and build your travel plans around them. Conversely, you choose an area of the country and research links and greens within that region. Whatever you do, be sure to check the booking requirements to book a tee time. Some of the better courses are booked months in advance while others are open to members only.

Insider Tip: A travel agent experienced in putting together Scotland golf vacations can be invaluable in helping you build the best itinerary for your personal style.

Speaking of Golf Travel Agents

While there are certainly modern golf courses in Scotland, many of the most challenging, most beautiful or most enjoyable courses were established 200 or more years ago. No one then considered the logistics of access and parking for golf fans, so a lot of them are local secrets known only to those who happen to stumble upon them – or know where to look. A lot of these gems are high on the recommendation list for golf travel agents and tour operators who maintain their own lists of the “best courses” to play in Scotland.

Insider Tip: Book tee time at Western Gailles if you can do it. It’s one of the top 100 courses in Scotland, but the play is only part of the appeal. Western Gailles has a reputation for giving golfers the royal treatment that’s hard to beat.

Learn Local Etiquette – And Observe It

Bottom line – you’ll get better service and enjoy your golf trips to Scotland far more. Some things to keep in mind when golfing in Scotland:

Never wear your hat indoors. Dress appropriately for the course, and bring a jacket and tie for the club. Always call ahead to book your tee time. Walking in unannounced is considered bad form and will get you branded as a boor.

Finally, if this is your first golf trip to Scotland and you suspect your opportunities for golf travel will be limited, splurge and pay for guaranteed tee time at the Old Course at St. Andrews. If it’s too late to book a tee time, try at least for a tour of the course. It’s an experience not be missed.

2012 Is the Year for Ireland Golf Vacations

If you’ve been holding out for lower prices before heading over to tee off in the Emerald Isle, it may be time to make your reservations. There hasn’t been a better time for Ireland golf vacations in years. After several years of unfavorable rates, the exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar has tipped on its side.

With the current exchange rate down 15 percent since 2008 – and predicted to slide even more over the next few months – you’ll get to pack more fun and more golf into your golf travel than at any time in the past four years. In fact, one prominent golf writer estimates that you’ll get up to 40 percent more for your money if you take a golf trip to Ireland this year.

For the record, this nifty little discount only applies to Ireland proper. Northern Ireland or Scotland aren’t on the Euro and aren’t seeing the same steep cuts in the value of their money, at least not this year. So skip the plans to tee off at the Old Course at St. Andrews – which you’d be lucky to do this summer anyway, since the tee times have been booked since September – and set your sights on some southwestern Ireland golf courses.

The southwestern region of Ireland is dotted with some of the most outstanding golf courses in the world. Heading south from Shannon Airport, you’ll run into such famous caourse as Ballybunion, Waterville, Old Head, Lahinch and Tralee, and such undiscovered gems as Castlegregory and Beaufort Golf Club.

Because of the number of courses and their popularity, the golf courses of the southwest can be a little more crowded and “tourist-y” than some of the lesser known regions, but the last few years of depressed travel have dulled the travel bug in many. If you book your golf vacations in the spring and early fall, you’ll get fabulous golf weather without the crowds.

These Ireland golf courses are historic gems, but far from outdated. They offer challenging holes set against some of the most memorable and impressive scenery in the world. The seaside courses often require tricky maneuvering and a steady, sure shot, whether you’re shooting with a driver or your camera.

Many of Ireland’s 300 golf courses are located in the island’s southwest region with fairways overlooking the ocean and links meandering along the shores of lakes. The discerning golfer can plan weeks worth of golf vacations that take in historic courses, modern golf courses, luxury resort golf clubs and the public club that opens its greens to the stray tourist looking for the best and most congenial golfing in all the world.