The Magic of Golf Travel

When I was working at East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, DC one of my favorite things to do was to stroll through the parking lot and see how many license plates there were from different states. It wasn’t unusual to have twenty or more states represented on a given day, and occasionally there would be the odd international plate. It always gave me a little jolt of pride that in a city with so many attractions, people would choose to come play golf at our course as a part of their travel.

There was a much-documented increase in the number of golfers in the U.S. during the pandemic. However, restrictions and precautions put limitations on the ability of golfers to travel. But people are once again packing their clubs, gathering their friends, and heading off to experience the magic of golf travel.

There is a saying that nobody travels to play a bunch of tennis courts, but they’ll wait a lifetime to travel and play a golf course. It’s funny and it's true. I don’t know a single person who plays the game who doesn’t dream of a trip to play Pebble Beach or one of the other glorious tracks in and around the Monterey Peninsula. In recent years, Bandon Dunes in Oregon has become a coveted golf mecca for people to connect with the game and with each other. And what bucket list doesn’t include a visit to Scotland to play St. Andrews and Carnoustie, or to Ireland to tee it up at Ballybunion or Waterville.

But a golf trip is more than just playing famous courses. It’s the opportunity to experience the people and culture that produced and sustain that course. The landscape, the cuisine, the style of hospitality are all a part of the joy of travel in general and golf travel in particular. And after a long period of forced isolation and distance from loved ones, friends and families are now reconnecting by hitting the road and then hitting the links.


The International Association of Golf Travel Agents is predicting a huge comeback for travel golf both domestically and internationally. This is obviously great for golf course owners who are welcoming travel groups with open arms and preparing to create memorable experiences for long-time players and those new to the game.

I’m fortunate and grateful that traveling to play golf is a big part of my job, but it never feels like a chore. It feels good to see old friends and new courses, to swap stories and collect on a $2 Nassau. After the last two years, I appreciate the joys of travel golf more than ever. I’ll see you on the road.