I have a group of 8.

This started with a 10 day trip to Ireland in 2015. My HS best friend got invited to go with his dad and their group. He asked me, and so we went

Had a great time. Decided we had to do it again.

Life got busy, and a couple years when by. We decided it was now or never, so planned we (I) started to plan trip to Scotland.

We each asked a few people. Ended up going with 6.

After that trip it started up annually. We had a hard time limiting it to 8 afterwards. Our original group was somewhat random… a couple friends from high school, a couple from med school and a couple from residency. People were all over the country. I think that makes it fun, but also makes the "waiting list" high, as we each have a different group of friends in our own lives that want to come.

A couple time one person couldn't come for some reason or another and we added someone. We now tell the add on person that they aren't guaranteed a spot in the future.

We more or less say you are the first invited the more trips you've been to. So we try and invite all our original 6 and the oldest "members" of the add ons. So far all of the original 6 have made every trip

For whatever reason we generally go in early fall.

Our past and future tips:


2026: planning for St Andrew's (50th birthday for most on the trip)
2025: Sand valley (will book when open on January)
2024: Cabot
2023: bandon
2022: Kohler/Erin hills;
2022: Ireland (bonus spring trip)
2021: sort of random Louisville trip, planned in Covid with thoughts of opening up to a larger group and do a bourbon tour as well
2020: Kiawah was the plan but changed to big cedar Missouri due to Covid. Turned out to be the opening weekend of Paynes Valley
2019: Pinehurst
2018: Scotland
2015: Ireland (went with high school best friend, is where we decided to "do this again"… the seed for starting the trip up in 2018

DDub74 said:

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Called Bandon today for a summer 2025 trip. Going to try 8 this time around instead of 4. Only booking through June so should open up July/August in next month.

Will try Sand Valley next summer but not sure how long the wait is to get on?

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They opened 2024 bookings in February 2023. If you want to stay on property they fill up for the year (which is May - Oct) in just a few days. Get on their email list

Sounds like a great group and a ton of great trips.

One of my best friends who I'd ordinarily do these trips established a regular annual golf trip group before I had the time or money to start doing them. So my current group has become a bit more of a "friends built along the way". We had my neighbor and I, where we each brought 1 guy for a foursome. Now he and I are both bringing a foursome so we have 8. Maybe it'll keep growing, who knows. The key is that we don't have too may competing voices on the planning front. They're all good with my planning, and then show up and pay their money.

The Milkman said:

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The key is that we don't have too may competing voices on the planning front. They're all good with my planning, and then show up and pay their money.

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You're absolutely right about this part. In my group of 6 - 10 who have taken trips over the last 30 years or so, there are 2 of us who are the primary trip planners. The 2 of us have a good feel for what the group wants to do, but if it's ever a decision to go one way or another, he and I always say "well, let's do X, everybody will go along with it", and everybody does. Being involved in the planning is part of the fun for me.

Fellow trip planner here. There is a commercial on Golf Channel that says something to the effect of...nobody wants to deal with the hassle of planning the trip.

I live for the planning. As I have 10 tabs open related to our Scotland trip right now...

My buddy likes to plan. The only way to travel... I just Venmo him my share and show up where he tells me to.

Yeah, it has to be a benevolent dictatorship.

Our first trip it was sort of me and one other guy, but he lived in Chicago and I live in central Texas; we both had busy jobs and these decisions have to be made a year in advance. So, even though interest in the trip is always high at the time of, planning things 12+ months in advance is never a priority among a group when we all scattered around the country

After the first trip, I went more unilateral with decisions.

At his point (planning for 9th-10th trip), I fully realize the way to do it is for me to just plan it entirely

I'm not willing to plan for more than two foursome. Bandon was a 24 month planning and trying to get a third tee time each day would have been impossible. After I planned that one a couple years ago I fully decided to take over


It already was that way, but. Ow I have zero concerns if people don't like it… they don't have to come ; )

But they've all voiced, they want it this way too. I've become a free planner for everyone. They like it and I guess I like being in control of it

I set up all tee times, lodging, room assignments, the game, tell them what flight they need to be on if transportation is required to and from the site/airport, and set up one nice meal for our final night

DallasAggie89 said:

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This thread inspired me to sit down and try and remember all the trips we have taken. I know I'm missing some.

2009 Bandon
2012 Biloxi
2012 Truckee
2013 Albuquerque
2013 Biloxi
2014 Las Vegas (Shadow Creek / Cascata)
2014 Whistling Straits / Erin Hills
2015 Scottsdale
2015 Kiawah Island
2016 Pebble Beach
2017 Streamsong
2017 Ireland
2019 Biloxi
2019 Pebble Beach
2020 Mississippi (Dancing Rabbit / Old Waverly / Mossy Oak)
2020 Pebble Beach
2020 Sand Valley / Whistling Straits
2021 Cabo
2021 Michigan (Arcadia Bluffs, Forest Dunes)
2021 Pebble Beach
2022 Chicago
2022 Pebble Beach
2022 Scotland
2023 Branson
2023 Cabot Links
2023 Palm Springs
2023 TPC Sawgrass / Sea Island
2024 Ireland
2024 Pinehurst

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Dibs as an alternate!

are you for hire cb1919?

This is a text I got from the group recently: "God forbid you ever found yourself unemployed. Just open a golf specific travel agency. You're a natural."

so is that a yes ?

I went in 2018 and am going back in September. Looking forward to the sheep ranch and playing better at trails. That course tore me up, even though I played good at the other courses there.

For those that have done Scotland, any booking companies to recommend and/or avoid? Looking for 2026.

_lefraud_ said:

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For those that have done Scotland, any booking companies to recommend and/or avoid? Looking for 2026.

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I'll just throw this out, if you have the time or want to book yourself.

Perry Golf: $8,526 (Quote) per person

Self Booked: $2,621 per person

That's for golf and accommodations for 6 nights. Self booked includes an additional round of golf. Perry Golf quote includes stays in hotels vs AirBnb, which probably would add ~$1,500 to the self booked.

_lefraud_ said:

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For those that have done Scotland, any booking companies to recommend and/or avoid? Looking for 2026.

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Hidden Links

$5,500, 7 rounds, lodging, meals and transportation excluding airfare in August 2024

Need to have dates set then they'll arrange it for you.