It’s every avid golfer’s dream to play at St. Andrew’s one day. I know, it’s definitely on most golfers’ “bucket list.” But if you don’t plan ahead you could find yourself at the end of your financial rope by the time you and your golf clubs arrive.
Guest author, Mark Bunce of ParcelHero.com, an international courier service, has some essential advice to help you plan this great golf adventure.
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Imagine you are finally going to fulfill your lifelong dream of playing on St. Andrews’ Old Course. You’ve managed to book in ‘High and Shoulder Season’ thanks to your diligence and persistence.
You’ve planned every last detail of your trip to one of the oldest and most illustrious golf courses in the world, but did you plan on Europe’s budget airlines charging you astronomical fees to transport your equipment from London to Edinburgh? Flying with your own clubs can set you back a significant chunk of change, especially if you change flights in London to a budget carrier like Ryanair.
Flying with Your Clubs
If you are planning a trip to Edinburgh from the US, chances are you’ll have to change airlines in London.
Although round trip tickets cost less than $60.00 from London to Edinburgh, the strict luggage allowance means many unsuspecting Americans end up paying extortionate baggage fees.
British newspaper, Daily Mail found that to check in clubs airlines like Ryanair can charge up to £500 to check in golf clubs on short journeys within the UK and Europe. Just to put this figure in perspective that’s over $775.
By using a courier service to transport your clubs from London to St. Andrews, it would cost just $45. With a little bit of planning you can save over $700 by booking with a courier service like ParcelHero®.
The Daily Mail found courier services are particularly useful when it comes to sports equipment. With the added protection of insurance cover and the latest parcel tracking technology, you can arrange for your clubs to be collected at your London hotel and be shipped to the St. Andrew’s 5-star Old Course Hotel.
A word of caution, you will need to make sure someone is present for collection and delivery. Though most parcel delivery companies like ParcelHero® offer door-to-door service, it’s important to check with both your London and Edinburgh hotel that someone will be present to sign the paperwork, otherwise the courier may not be able to collect or deliver successfully.
St. Andrews Links Fees
It goes without saying if you’ve invested time and energy in making your dream of playing at St. Andrews’ come true, you will want to bring your own clubs. Bringing your own clubs will not only ensure you are playing at your best, it will also save money on hiring equipment.
While the St. Andrews Links provides the latest Big Bertha drivers, X2 Hot irons and White Ice Putters, the cost can quickly add up. Clubs costs £45 per day and shoe hire is £12.50. Trolleys cost up to £18.00. Golf Carts costs £25 per day and are hired out on a limited basis for senior citizens and players with a medical certificate.
If you require a caddie, it will cost around £50 plus gratuity, which starts at £15. If you are lucky enough to be traveling with your own caddie, he or she must be licenced by St Andrews Links. A trainee caddie costs slightly less at £30.00 plus gratuity. As you can see from the above costs, a day at the Old Course can easily costs £100. This equates to roughly $155.00.
Conclusion
While you might think that St. Andrews would be prohibitive in terms of players’ handicap, this is not the case. The Old Course requires a suitable handicap (24 for men and 36 for women) which wouldn’t be a problem for most golf enthusiasts.
In fact, a handicap of 36 is pretty generous, when you consider that most recreational courses in America have a have a handicap between 15 and 25. The real issue with St. Andrews is the cost of hiring equipment. With careful planning and the right courier service, you can play with your own clubs at the fraction of the cost of flying with them or hiring them for an extended period. Just make sure you package your clubs correctly to protect them during transit. For expert tips visit ParcelHero’s blog on How to Pack Your Golf Clubs for shipping.
Guest author, Mark Bunce works for ParcelHero.com, an international courier service
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Have you traveled internationally for golf? What’s your best advice for travel? Add your comments below.