Tips & Advice from 2024 H&B Travelers

Valuable Insights from the 2024 Golf Travel Season

Planning a golf trip to Ireland or Scotland is an exciting endeavor, but the best insights often come from those who have been there before. Each year, we ask our travelers a key question in our post-Expedition surveys:

What advice would you give to future H&B travelers?

The responses are rich with firsthand tips and insights, adding to the expertise of our Expedition Planning Managers. Here’s a selection of advice shared by H&B travelers from the 2024 golf travel season.

We shared a few of these and additional insights on a recent episode of the Golf and the Good Life podcast. Tune-in below or wherever you get your podcasts.

I would definitely advise travelers to stick to 18 holes a day so that you can fully enjoy the experience of each course whether that is playing, shopping, or having a bite/pint after the round. I would also advise scheduling a mix of morning and midday tee times so that not every day is a really early start, particularly if you have a late-night crew. Making all of your dinner reservations in advance was a super stress reducer as we did not have to have a group debate over the time and/or location of dinner each night. Finally, listen to your driver!! They know the area, the pubs, the restaurants, and the best travel schedule/times.

Zack Sweet, PGA – Cape Cod National Golf Club

Put your trust in the staff at H&B. Share with them exactly what it is you're looking for YOUR trip to be, and then listen to everything the staff at H&B say. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Bill Graves – Kirkbrae Country Club

Take a day off from golf to be able to explore some local attractions and give the body a rest. Bring extra rain top, shoes, and gloves for if the weather does not cooperate. Even with dry rooms at several locations things would be damp for the next round. Change of clothes for after the round especially if there is a long commute to the next location. Don't be afraid to play a course that is not historical. Ask the caddies which pub they like to go to after a round. They will give great recommendations that aren't tourist traps.

Matt Hulse – Oaks Country Club

We did two days in London (Premier League games) as an add-on prior to the golf portion and that was a great way to acclimate to the time zone change when we were ready to play golf on the third day.

Peter Vacca – Philadelphia Cricket Club

The Field Manual is your friend. (READ IT) Pay attention to the details for packing etc. Some of our guys didn't read the details and weren't prepared.

Scotty Lou LaRiche – Walnut Creek Country Club

We switched our trip to 18 holes a day so we could experience the club atmosphere before and after the round instead of rushing around. This experience made for a better trip for our group of 12.

Nick Erlichman, PGA – Old Sandwich Golf Club

Nick Erlichman, PGA and his Old Sandwich Golf Club members enjoy a glorious afternoon at Royal Liverpool.

Play a mix of courses. We had the most fun playing some of the smaller, older and less recognized courses like Crail Balcomie and a spur of the moment stop at Lundin Links were highlights of our trip.

Casey Shure – Stonewall Links

Take a day off and explore a city close by. Don't overpack - layer. Get caddies - it make the golf easier and let's you enjoy the walk, plus they are usually great characters!

Susan Bain – Capital City Club

Plan flights well in advance - a few of our guys had issues with both timing and actually getting seats when they booked closer to the trip dates.

Zach Bloom – Gulph Mills Golf Club

1. Pack less. Although I am experienced, I never pack as light as I should. Pants can be reworn and most golf clothes will be suitable for dinner except in unusual circumstances.

2. Listen to your Driver Host. He has been with hundreds if not thousands of groups and knows what goes well and what doesn't. However experienced you are, he has more and knows what it takes to make the trip as enjoyable as possible.

3. Don't let hiccups ruin your trip. If you are traveling with H&B, it is likely that you expect the best but, no matter how carefully you plan, something unexpected will happen. Take it as part of the adventure. You are on an amazing trip with a group of good friends. Keep perspective. Those frustrating annoyances will likely become great bar room stories when you get home.

Jim Hurley – Grande Oaks Golf Club

Get a caddie for Carnoustie for sure! Be ready for anything. We had different selection of Scottish weather each day, with the capper of 40mph winds at Carnoustie. Expect good bounces and bad bounces—literally and figuratively—on your trip. Scottish golf is different and awesome at the same time.

Christian Kemp – Fishers, Indiana

Be careful with 36 hole days. My foursome are golf nuts so the 3 36 holers we had was fine, but wouldn't do more than that. I imagine for many groups, 18 per day is more than enough. Also, book restaurant reservations even earlier than we did. The other advice is go off the beaten track for a round or two. We were pumped to play North Berwick, The Old Course, Muirfield, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns. But maybe the most fun round of the trip was Elie. I was very glad we had that one in there, along with the short but fun Kilspindie.

Ian Haas – Canoe Brook Country Club, Hamilton Farm Golf Club

Tell your traveling companions to take pictures of each other. Besides the pictures of the foursome, I took pictures of individuals. I have their pictures but none of me. Make sure everyone you want to communicate with has a WhatsApp account and is aware you will be using WhatsApp.

Jim Chambasian – Racine, Wisconsin

Take time to enjoy the areas as though you were a resident. A little off-the-cuff dining was lots of fun for us. Just let some things happen.

Lyn Bertke – Summit Hills Country Club

- Bring something memorable to give to each one of your caddies
- Play fast golf... be patient in the restaurants
- Drink what the locals drink... you're not America!
- 18 Holes a day is all you need!
- Bring a water bottle that fits into your golf bag easily. "

Bobby Jacks, PGA – Wichita Country Club

Bobby Jacks, PGA and his Wichita Country Club members ready for an unforgettable round at The Old Course.

Our group opted to replace one links course with an inland course (Gleneagles Kings) in the middle of the trip and the change of play was wonderful. It gave us a fuller appreciation for Scottish golf courses and eliminated any "links fatigue."

Craig Thompson – Madison, Wisconsin

Get a driver. I drove the first four days and then joined the balance of our group on Saturday with a driver. With driver, a stress free, enjoyable experience. Driving on the A9 a very stressful experience. Take off a day to tour and relax - 7 straight days of golf, too much. Mix fine dining with casual dining (Pub food is good)

Bill Herkamp – Hyde Park Golf & Country Club

Definitely pack rain gear, layers for clothing, reuse shorts and pants, eat and drink locally if you can, be sure to bring local caddy tip money in the proper denomination before you leave your home country, and bring your own electric outlet adapters. If you are tall, accept the fact you'll sleep in a twin bed. Check your mobile phone carrier to be sure you will be covered. Also, if paying by credit card, pay the amount in local currency and let the credit card due the conversion rate.

Ian Lamp – Gilberts, Illinois

Pack in medium duffle. Your suggestion that less is more is a good one. Besides if you need anything you will likely bring home souvenir sweaters and coverups to round out what you did not bring. Also play one tee box up from what you are use to. 6100 yards is a good number even for lower handicaps. As a 7 handicap used to 6500 yards 6000 yards was perfect and remained challenging.

Steve Lane – North Oaks Golf Club

The weather is unpredictable, which we expected. Make sure to have in your golf bag a number of layers including rain gear. Fog was the strangest, cold and damp. Arrived at course clear and sunny warm fog rolled in with 100 yard visibility and cold. Happened to us twice.

Norbert Burch – Sugar Land, Texas

Enjoy every minute! Definitely recommend using a driver for the trip. Made for less stress and much better overall experience of Ireland.

Terry O'Toole, Jr. – Coldstream Country Club

Simply follow what H&B has put together and have the trip of a lifetime.

Rob Calvo – Sweetwater Country Club

Go! What are you waiting for?

Guy Steuart – Chevy Chase Club

We’re grateful to our travelers for sharing their advice and tips to help future H&B explorers make the most of their golf journeys. Their insights reflect the spirit of camaraderie that defines every Expedition, and we’re proud to pass along their wisdom. As we look ahead to the 2025 golf travel season, we can’t wait to create even more unforgettable experiences of Golf and the Good Life.