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The Away Trip
In every sport I’ve ever played – mostly the ones where you try to beat the tar out of someone before he beats the tar out of you – one of the greatest things has been the away trip. It never mattered if we were on the other side of the world or just down the road, only that we were a bunch of guys out to play sport, have some fun and maybe, just maybe, drink a couple of beers.
Some of my best memories and some of my best lack of memories have been on tour: being handcuffed to a minibus in Wales, waving my friend off in an Argentinian police car (lobbing firecrackers under police cars is never a good idea, especially when you don’t speak the language and especially when you are drunk) and watching the final nail-biting match of the 2005 Ashes in a Melbourne pub. Most of all there is the great camaraderie that is generated from living cheek by jowl out of a suitcase with a bunch of blokes that just happen to be as mad about sport as you are.
Having played no other sport but golf for a couple of years now (since I got too old and too broken for organised violence like rugby or AFL) I realised that the only way I was going to go on an away trip was to sort one out myself. Anyone who has organised a sports trip either for just a couple of days or a full-on tour will know that this is no easy task. Not only do you have to take into account what dates everybody who has expressed an interest is available for, you also need to match the location and facilities to everyone’s budget and sporting ability. Herding cats would be simpler, easier and decidedly less painful.
When you first suggest the idea to your friends, every man and his dog wants to come. Very soon after their enthusiastic protestations that they ‘absolutely will come’ they realise that either the date is wrong as it clashes with Auntie Margaret’s 90th birthday or they are counting the pennies to send little Tabitha to private nursery or more often that the wife has put her foot down and said no (that word often being followed by the phrase ‘those shelves won’t go up by themselves you know’ or something similar). Suddenly the 30 people you thought were going have become you and some friend of a friend who you have never met and apparently has body odour issues.
I figured that the easiest way to do it would be to find a place and time that suited me perfectly and sod everyone else. Completely selfish, it sounded brilliant provided I could convince at least 2 other people to come with me.
First things first, I needed to see what options were available. Pretty much every golf magazine you pick up has a large section of the back dedicated to golf trips abroad. I don’t know of any other sport where the magazines have so many adverts for trips away. While the magazine adverts were great for people who already knew what they wanted, the internet seemed the place to go as I has no idea what our destination would be.
There is an absolute plethora of companies out there who deal with golf trips. These specialised travel agents are effectively one stop shops, covering everything from flights, accommodation, green fees and even car hire or transfers from the airport to the hotel and everything in between. Not only do they seem to cover everything that a golf trip could involve they also offer the widest range of locations. As it was the depths of winter, somewhere hot was a must. As an Englishman, when I say hot I don’t mean the sort of place that will have the skin falling from my back in great sunburnt sheets (yes Australia, I’m talking about you) but the sort of place where lying in the sun by the pool with a refreshing beverage is the required behaviour for a golfer who has just finished his round. Preferably this balmy idyll would not involve going halfway around the world so no more than a few hours flight at most would be nice.
If you are making the effort to go on a golf trip, it only makes sense that the course you play on is a decent one. I fancied testing my skills against something that the pros would and preferably do play on. And one that would be pretty enough to make me bite my putter in half at its manicured beauty. Also, and most importantly, it should not require the selling of one of my kidneys to finance the trip.
In coming up with this list I thought that the shortlist would be just that, short. The reality is that there are an incredible number of top class courses out there ready and able to take a bunch of hackers and show them what a golf course should look like.
After much deliberation, the winner was Penina in southern Portugal. Only a couple of hours flight from London, it met all the requirements and more: balmy weather, a top quality hotel with a championship course (designed by 6 time major winner Henry Cotton) that has hosted Tour events, brilliant facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts and no less than 6 bars. At the price the travel agent was offering, it was a steal.
Mentioning it quietly to about 15 guys produced about half a dozen interested parties and from that group, 3 that were prepared to put their money down.
Having not gone on a golf trip before, I checked out some forums to see if I could get any advice that would make it as painless as possible. The advice boiled down to a few things. Most of them were generic travelling tips but there were also a few that were specific to travelling with golf gear. Of the ones that weren’t just the standard ‘travelling to a foreign country’ type advice: ‘take sunscreen’, ‘check the weather before you go’ etc, I’ve included the more useful ones at the end of this (see, aren’t I nice!).
Not that I’ve ever needed much of a reason, this was a great excuse for a bit of equipment ‘hoing’. Unless you’ve been on a trip, there is no reason for you to have travel case but frankly you’d be mad to go away without one. As in all other areas of golf equipment, there is something for everybody, from cheap and cheerful (and apparently made out of old T-shirts) to hard cases tough enough to canoe down the Colorado River. I chose a soft case that would be secure and study enough to keep my beloved clubs in one piece rather than a hard case purely as it would be easier to get into the transport at the other end. The fact that it is a lurid red colour that makes it easy to see on the baggage carousel is pretty nice too. It’s embarrassing enough picking up the wrong suitcase and then having to explain it was a genuine mistake and not an attempt to nick someone’s dirty laundry, let alone someone else’s phenomenally expensive and lovingly collected clubs just because the have the same drab coloured travel bag.
The arrangements have all been made, money has been paid and I’m looking forward to this like a kid before Christmas. I’ll let you know how the trip pans out.
Top Travel Tips for Golfers
• Get a travel case, absolutely 100 percent get one. Soft cases are fine 99% of the time, especially if you put in a ClubGlove Stiff Arm or bit of broom stick longer than your driver to take any blows. Hard cases offer more protection but are a pain to get into any car, especially when there’s a group of you.
• Remember your passport and make sure it is valid. Now this one is not something I’ve ever thought about too much but a travel agent of my acquaintance tells me that one of the commonest cries for help they get is when someone turns up and the airport either without their passport or with one that has expired. Remember also that some countries require at least 6 months validity past your travel date and can also require at least one clear page in your passport.
• Get travel insurance. No on wants to get to the baggage reclaim to find out that their equipment off to Zanzibar via Ulan Baator but it’s nice to know that if it does happen hiring a replacement set is covered and should your kit never make it back, someone else buys you a brand new set.
• Check your free luggage allowance when booking your flights. Many airlines are cutting back on the size of your allowance but you should be aware that some airlines exclude sporting equipment from this restriction. For example, on both British Airways and American airlines flying with a golf bag is free but on Air France it depends on the destination and on Ryanair it costs 25 euros (34 USD).
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News
Five Things We Learned: Thursday at the PGA Championship
It was a year ago that we the north, found ourselves with toes and fingers crossed. The Oak Hill PGA Championship of 2023 finished on schedule, despite the iffiness of weather in upstate New York. It’s 75 degrees today across the Niagara Frontier, which makes it two out of three (2022 was the same way) for sultry, unseasonal weather.
Louisville is, let’s be honest, a much better bet for a May PGA Championship, and Valhalla is an exciting venue for the year’s second major championship on the men’s circuit. Brooks Koepka came in as the defending champion, and Rory McIlroy arrived as the last golfer to win a major at the Nicklaus-designed course. That was a decade ago, and lord, have things changed in the world and golf.
Day one at Valhalla offered walk-in eagles, buckets of birdies, and potential for a record-low, winner’s score. We’ll get right to the meat of the matter, with five things that we learned. After all, if you can make par from the muck, anything’s possible in the land of the horses.
Cam Smith made par from here …#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/BY5ZFCiH45
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
1. X marks this spot
Xander Schauffele went head to head last Sunday with Rory McIlroy, at least on the practice green. By the end of the round, Rors had won for a fourth time at Charlotte, while the X Man sat scratching his head, wondering what went wrong. Fortunately for us, Xander didn’t sulk.
The San Diego State alumnus absolutely torched Jack’s track with 62. Four birdies on the front nine, were followed by five more on the inward side. Schauffele never looked as if bogey was a consideration, and he might have gone even lower. Despite winning the Covid-delayed Gold medal at the Japan Olympics (I consider it a major, btdubs) Schauffele continues to chase an initial men’s major, and the validation that it brings. If 62 doesn’t get you over the hump, who knows what will.
Cam Smith made par from here …#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/BY5ZFCiH45
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
2. Scottie starts strong? Aye.
Last month, Mr. Scheffler won a second green jacket at Augusta National. Last year in Rochester, Mr. Scheffler tied for second in this event. Mr. Scheffler began play today with a walk-in eagle, a one-hop affair that never looked as if it might go anywhere but to its home. Scheffler had a few rough holes, but that’s to be expected from a new dad. Each time he made bogey, he bounced back with birdie, so he has that short memory that winners crave. Surprisingly, Scheffler failed to manage one last birdie at the reachable 18th. Perhaps that miss will motivate him in round two.
Scottie’s shot was so nice we had to see it twice ?#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/eR1UUsyi3a
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
3. LIV Check-In
It’s good to check in on the departed from time to time, to ensure that the fellows formerly known as PGA Tour members are doing well. It’s safe to say that some of them can still play. Defending champion Brooks Koepka posted 67 on the day, He had an eagle and three birdies on the day, with only a stumble at the 17th. He’s tied for 7th. Bryson DeChambeau made an eagle of his own, but also had a bogey, at the 12th hole. He cohabits eleventh position with Cameron Smith, who ALSO had a bogey on his card. They are one shot behind Koepka, and a fistful more behind the leader.
ON THE MONEY ?
Bryson DeChambeau for eagle! #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/Gz24VikAGQ
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
4. Sahith and Tony at Schauffele’s heels
Both Finau and Theegala represent a special sort of athletic golfer. Their power and their charisma blend to draw golf fans to their groups. Let’s be honest, too, and say that they don’t look like the traditional professional golfer. As much as Tiger Woods did in the 1990s, they have the power to bring greater diversity to the sport.
In terms of their play today, well, only Xander was better. Finau had a clean card, with six birdies and twelve pars. Theegala had seven birdies, ten pars, and one bogey. Each combined power and finesse to insert themselves squarely in contention, ahead of round two. How will they, and Xander as well, manage the afternoon putting surface on Friday? That’s the great unknown!
SAHITH. THEEGALA. ?
This hole out puts him in a tie for the lead early at the #PGAChamp.
? @PGAChampionship pic.twitter.com/s3vLZNBQI7
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 16, 2024
5. All those other guys are here!
Rory, Tom Kim, Collin, and Viktor are all at minus-three or lower. Valhalla may not be a traditional golf course, but it is the type of course that the world’s best play well. McIlroy currently sits at minus-five, tied with Robert MacIntyre, Kim, and three others in fourth position. Maverick McNealy finished fast to reach the same figure, as did Tom Hoge. Morikawa closed with birdie to join the sextet at five below. Both Scheffler and Morikawa finished their rounds late on Thursday, meaning they should see smoother greens on Friday morning. If someone is a betting sould, wiser wagers could not be placed on better names than those two, two-time, major champions. Rory will tee off in Friday’s afternoon wave but, hey, he’s Rory, and he won going away last week at Quail Hollow, a course not unlike Valhalla.
The 2020 PGA Champion is making moves.
A solid approach shot from Collin Morikawa ?#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/DpD7QNfbSM
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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