Everyone getting this newsletter is a golf, and golf travel, enthusiast and many of you have had your planned trips impacted by this virus. We are working hard on your behalf to get you re-scheduled or, in rare cases, get you refunds for your trips. Our commitment is to make sure your group is well looked after and all your concerns addressed.
We would prefer to be planning your next great golf adventure and expect we will be doing that for you again real soon. We bet you will all still have the travel bug when this is all over, but what can we expect to see when we get to the other side and golf travel is back on the table?
We would prefer to be planning your next great golf adventure and expect we will be doing that for you again real soon. We bet you will all still have the travel bug when this is all over, but what can we expect to see when we get to the other side and golf travel is back on the table?
Many of you will remember we identified in our newsletter last month that early planning as THE key factor in planning a successful trip. This has never rung truer than right now. Right after we sent out that newsletter, we received notification from Royal County Down that they were opening their 2021 tee times on Easter Monday and many courses in Ireland (including Royal Portrush) followed suit immediately!!
| Several groups had made plans with us already and we were able to jump on those trips and get their tee times booked and good thing too because at last report almost all high season times at both RCD and Portrush are now sold out – yikes. |  |
We believe that the most immediate impact of this virus on golf travel, especially in Scotland and Ireland, will be inventory concerns caused by pent up demand from cancelled group in 2020 combined with the usual demand they would get for 2021 times from new groups – this is a recipe for a VERY busy 2021 season across the pond.
What about 2020?
While courses are currently closed all over the world we do expect they will open over the course of the summer (needless to say that is very dependant on the virus) and when they do it may look a bit different.
A question on everyone's mind is how safe will it be to travel outside of Canada?
All countries are dealing with this pandemic and some are more successful than others. While we expect travel to open up over the summer to many traditional golf locations airline travel, hotels and transfers are still a concern for many. This concern is leading a lot of people to consider local travel in 2020 to take care of the travel bug so let’s talk about some great Canadian golf destinations for you to consider.
A question on everyone's mind is how safe will it be to travel outside of Canada?
All countries are dealing with this pandemic and some are more successful than others. While we expect travel to open up over the summer to many traditional golf locations airline travel, hotels and transfers are still a concern for many. This concern is leading a lot of people to consider local travel in 2020 to take care of the travel bug so let’s talk about some great Canadian golf destinations for you to consider.
Nova Scotia
Many know Cabot Links as a world class Canadian golf destination. Two great courses and a third 10 hole par 3 course, The Nest, scheduled to open July 1.
You can take this trip to another level with a visit to the world-famous Highlands Links and Keltic Lodge and / or a trip across to the Sydney area to play Bell Bay and Lakes at Ben Oein, or some time in Halifax to play one of their top courses like Links at Brunello or Glen Arbour.
You can take this trip to another level with a visit to the world-famous Highlands Links and Keltic Lodge and / or a trip across to the Sydney area to play Bell Bay and Lakes at Ben Oein, or some time in Halifax to play one of their top courses like Links at Brunello or Glen Arbour.
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Prince Edward Island
PEI also offers a first-rate golf experience with more than 30 courses on their small island. Some of our favourites include The Links at Crowbush Cove, Dundarave, Glasgow Hills and Brudenell River. There are many other great courses on this island that can make for a great golf get away or you can even combine a few rounds on PEI with a trip to Cabot that includes a scenic ferry ride from PEI to Nova Scotia.
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Other Canadian Destination Options
| Options are endless in Canada. Ontario offers fantastic golf thoughout the province with perhaps the most spectacular golf being in the Muskoka Region at courses like Rocky Crest, Taboo and Deerhurst. |  |
 | In Quebec Mont Tremblant has become a must see golf destination with not only the 2 Tremblant resort courses but other great options including 2 course at Grey Rocks and the beautiful Le Maitre also in the region. |
Moving west, Alberta offers championship golf and unbelievable vistas in the Rockies at many "Top 50 public courses in Canada" including Silvertip, Banff Springs and Jasper Park.
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 | Just across the border in B.C. lies some of the best quality and value golf in the country with Greywolf, Shadow Mountain and Trickle Creek being just a few of the many options throughout the East Kootenay Region. |
| Moving a bit more west you have what may be one of the most stunning golf courses in Canada - Tobiano Golf Club in Kamloops. A great test of golf, and views you will not find anywhere else, awaits you at this gem of a course. A short drive up to the Kelowna area opens up many great options including Predator Ridge, Gallagher's Canyon and Tower Ranch. |  |
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Whistler is another great option with Nicklaus North, Big Sky and Chateau Whistler just a few of the options you have in this outdoor wonderland.
Around the Golf Away office, we are all passionate about global golf and are always looking for new and exciting places to play golf and experience new adventures. These are unusual times however and if you are concerned about travel outside of Canada we completely understand and can help you find a great golf adventure somewhere in this amazing country of ours!
What about this coming winter?
When we say good-bye (and good riddance!) to 2020, an off-season celebratory trip to a warmer climate may be in order.
Casa de Campo offers a wonderful resort experience with all the great golf you could ask for on three championship courses (including Teeth of the Dog) combined with the beaches and warm weather we all look for in the Dominican during our long Canadian winters. Bermuda offers another get away opportunity with the Fairmont Southampton offering luxury accommodation and stay and play packages to meet everyone’s needs.
Casa de Campo offers a wonderful resort experience with all the great golf you could ask for on three championship courses (including Teeth of the Dog) combined with the beaches and warm weather we all look for in the Dominican during our long Canadian winters. Bermuda offers another get away opportunity with the Fairmont Southampton offering luxury accommodation and stay and play packages to meet everyone’s needs.
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Longer term travel?
What is travel going to look like moving into 2021 and beyond?
One of the big questions on everyone’s mind is airline travel post Covid-19. Many are concerned over the close quarters and air circulation and wonder just how safe it will be to fly in the coming months.
One of the big questions on everyone’s mind is airline travel post Covid-19. Many are concerned over the close quarters and air circulation and wonder just how safe it will be to fly in the coming months.
| Experts say flyers should expect to see health screenings and longer waits when flying. With the pandemic screening for coronavirus will likely become the new norm of the travel experience, at least until a vaccine is created, and put into widespread use. Crews may be in PPE and passengers may also be required to wear their own masks and will be required to practice social distancing when at the airport and while on board the plane. Other likely changes are cleaner cabins and more distant flight attendants. According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, officials have ordered that restrooms be cleaned in-flight after being used by ten passengers, or every two hours to reduce risks of virus transmission. |   |
It is also likely will likely keep vacant seats in between individual passengers or family groups and not allowing cabin baggage on flights.
| Deals? Well, we will need to see. As everyone looks to get rooms and tee sheet filled we can expect a competitive world. While many of the big name course (think Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Muirfield, Kingsbarns) will, without a doubt, bounce back very nicely the real opportunity might be to see some of those hidden gems, or regions, at some reduced prices. North-west Ireland, one of the more interesting golf destinations in the world, has always been great value and might they sharpen the knife to get some people back? Portugal and Spain have been great value, and could they become even better value over the coming months? |   |
We are already seeing that even most top courses are not raising their prices for 2021 so depending on how things rebound, you may find a way to get in a bucket list trip to a new destination at a fantastic price. We will be monitoring all opportunities and will be happy to chat with anyone about great deals to amazing destinations.
From an airline perspective, despite the expected capacity from fewer people allowed on each plane, another change consumers may see in a post-coronavirus world are cheaper flights, a welcomed idea for many. Once stay-at-home orders and lockdown are lifted, airlines may offer hot deals to hopefully get the cautious to set aside their fears and travel again.
As an aside, one interesting discussion we had around Golf Away Tours (safely on a telecom of course!) was how caddies would be impacted. With social distancing guidelines likely still in place will they need to throw your club at you from 2 metres away? OK, silly example but while it is easy for them to walk 2 metres away from you and still have a great experience how can they handle your clubs and give them to you (and you back to them) safely? The likely short term situation will be you need to push your own clubs around and the caddy will become your consultant only and hopefully that will include a cost reduction for the service and we can all support the new, short term “normal” to help out this hard working contractors.
There is a lot to see over the coming weeks and months as we see countries around the world bounce back from this awful pandemic. We wish we had a crystal ball to tell everyone how this will turn out, but we can guarantee we will be working hard to get you the best, and most accurate, information on travel and travel safety. We are looking forward to turning a corner on this and getting you set up for your dream trips but in the meantime stay safe and stay in touch.
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