Merry Christmas!!

Christmas time is here and with it snow! Just like the 8th at Royal Dornoch.

From our family to yours, we hope you have a blessed holiday and a happy new year!

Merry Christmas!

Matt






Picture used from golfclubatlas.com taken by Brian Ewen.

"Liam's Ace" at Waterville...

How about this for a ball striking round at Waterville Golf Links...

The view to the right from the tee....

The view from the clubhouse:

We'd love to help you see Waterville.  Just shoot us an email and we'll get started planning your special trip.

Bart

The beauty of a rain suit

No matter what the venue might be, especially if you are playing on one of your memorable vacations, don't forget the wet gear!

 

The 18th at Royal Dornoch as another storm approaches.

And you might enjoy playing in the elements! I know I certainly do.



Connemara Golf Club, Connemara Ireland

The weather can even be inspirational! I have been the witness to a certain round in my dad's lifetime in which he cooly fired a 77 at Ballybunion during a monsoon ;-)

Let Bradley Golf Travel plan youre next trip and never under estimate the value of a good rain suit!

 

Matt

The Mass Hole --the 12th -- at Waterville

and the story behind it:

Myth: Using a Travel Company Costs You Money

I can't help but wonder why so many of our clients come to us with the belief that using a travel agent makes travel more expensive. They all seem to believe that if they book the trip themselves, they will be getting the lowest price. Most of the time, that notion is completely false. Using us to book the trip nearly always saves money, because golf courses and hotels offer travel agents reduced rates. Let me give you some examples.

Many of the big name courses in Ireland and Scotland give a 10 to 15% discount on green fees to tour operators. There are even bigger savings on lodging. For those same Ireland and Scotland trips, the tour operator rates on accommodations come at a 20-30% discount! While I am sure that some of the "big name" golf travel companies turn around and charge the client full price or even higher, our modest fee (8% for single travelers, 6% for groups) still provides a substantial discount to our customers. So using a service like ours saves you substantial cash and lots of time. Plus, with our experience, you'll end up with a better trip.

(the beauty of links golf....we can help you see for yourself)

What are you waiting for? Gives us a try and find out for yourself.

Bart

Want to play where the pros play?

I always think it is fun to tee it up and play courses that I have seen on TV:  remembering famous shots or even infamous ones.  We can help you with special days like that.

How about Spyglass, seen anually during the Clambake...

A new gem, Erin Hills outside Milwaukee, host to the 2017 US Open

Would you like to see Whistling Straits and check out where Dustin Johnson grounded his club in the "bunker" on 18?

We can help plan a great trip to Pebble Beach ...remember Tom Watson's chip in on 17 or Tom Kite's victory -- here is the 18th tee shot?

Or here, where they will play the 2013 US Open... (Oops, wait, you'll have to arrange this one yourself!)

Whether you want to play the British Open Rota courses, Pebble Beach, Pinehurst #2 or Whistling Straits -- we have been there and can help maximize your enjoyment and minimize your expenditure.  Contact us today and we'll get you playing where the pros play!

Bart

Our favorite restaurant in the SF Bay Area

Chez Panisse!

What is your favorite golf memory?

Getting to play and enjoy the game of golf growing up, and being able to share this with my dad is one of the things I cherish greatly in my life.



From being a small kid, to the teenager I am now, I love playing golf no matter the venue.



These are memories that will last as long as I live.



So contact Bradley Golf Travel now and let us plan the trip that will create your memory that will last a life time!


Thanks Dad,
I love you.
--Matt

Where do you want to go?

It's a simple yet complex question.. Whether its...

Traveling the world with your dad...

Or playing a major champioship site...

Or just having to play in some goofy looking socks!

Whatever it is,

Bradley Golf Travel will get you there and enjoying the trip of a lifetime!!

http://www.bradleygofltravel.com/

The Trouble with Africa

Whenever I am travelling, I try very hard to exercise restraint in the buying of books.  It probably does not look as though I exercise any restraint at all, given the number of books I typically bring home, but trust me, I do.  Sometimes it backfires.  In bookstores in foreign countries you will often find books you cannot find at home; pass them up, and you may not get a chance at them again.  On the other hand, airlines are charging an awful lot for overweight luggage now, and books are heavy.  And my husband doesn't completely appreciate my filling his golf bag with them.

                So when I was in the Johannesburg airport's very fine bookstore, a few hours before our trip home, I did not buy a book called The Trouble With Africa.  I did, however, read enough of it while standing there to understand the title.

                The trouble with Africa is that it stays with you forever.  The trouble with Africa is that it is different from everywhere else you have ever been.  It feels like an old continent, wise and sentient but also placid and still.  It feels like home to me.

                This trip, we saw a baby leopard and its mother eating an impala.

                We saw a huge herd of elephants come out of the woods and down to a river to drink.

                We saw a female leopard who, because our jeep was in her path, walked straight under our jeep.

                We saw southern stars and baobab trees, and went from frigid near-desert in Botswana to a lush tropical South African mountaintop covered in vineyards and macadamia trees, only a few hours' drive away.

                When I was quite young, I stumbled across the book Out of Africa, by Karen Blixen (originally published under her pen name, Isak Dikesen).  It made a big impression on me, particularly the evocative first line, which I found myself repeating as I stood in the Johannesburg bookstore:  "I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong hills."  I sighed, put down The Trouble With Africa, and went to look for a new copy of Out of Africa to read on the trip home.  Then I left Africa--but I go back.

guest blogger:  Kim Bradley

Paired with golf at Humewood, Durban, or Leopard Creek, a safari and sight-seeing tour of Africa makes for a spectacular family trip.  Contact us and we'll help you see the wonders of Africa for yourself.

Bart

Notre Dame Cathedral... in Paris

While you are in France playing St. Germain and Fontainebleau, make sure you see the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Built in the 14th century, the cathedral is most well known for its flying buttresses supporting the walls of the church.

Make sure you see this great cathedral on your next trip to Paris and make sure you let Bradley Golf Travel book it for you too!

What's the Deal with Royal Cinque Ports?

Just a few miles down the coast from Royal St. George's, lies Royal Cinque Ports (also affectionately known as Deal)

 

Deal's greens and their wild undulations make them by far Deal's most outstanding feature.

 

I had a fantastic time with my dad at Deal and I'm sure that anyone that who plays Deal will enjoy there time as well. Let Bradley Golf Travel book your next trip to England.

Royal Ashdown

The best bunkerless course in the world?

Royal Ashdown must rely on slopes and contours to create interest around the greens - check out the slope leading to this green!   Pretty cool.

I know that the choices in this category are limited, and truthfully, I am glad.  I found Royal Ashdown Forest to be fun and interesting.  In my opinion, it would probably be a better golf course with a few strategically placed bunkers.  For the golf course architecture student,  however, Royal Ashdown is a must see.  The use of countour and ground movement creates interesting shots and allows for a myriad of options.  The ground game is certainly en vogue at Ashdown and the course plays firm and fast.   If you haven’t seen it and are planning a trip to London, let us arrange for you to see it for yourself.

Just a reminder...booking with Bradley Golf Travel will not only be more convenient, but it will save you money too! 

Bart

A Day at Sunningdale

A day at Sunningdale.

The 18th green of Sunningdale with the clubhouse and iconic Sunningdale tree

Freshly rested after a spending the night at Stirrups County House, our group set out to Sunningdale for another day of fun.  We had been on quite a trip, exploring some of the best courses of SE England.  The previous day’s play had ended on Royal Worlington and New Market:  Darwin’s sacred nine.  I had longed to see Worlington since I first met my friend Ran.   Ran is a well known golf course architecture aficionado who has seen most of the world’s greats.  As I was thrashing him at a game of billiards during the first weekend of our acquaintance, I asked Ran which course was likely to be the greatest in the world that he had not yet seen.   It took Ran no time to reply:  “The Sacred Nine”.  Sadly, I had to admit that I didn’t know what he meant.   Now 3 years later, I not only understood the reference but had walked that ground and hit those shots.  It is a magical place, elegant in its simplicity.  I regret that we had arranged our schedule so that it seemed imprudent to try the club drink after our round.  The “Pink Jug” sounded quite intriguing,  but driving unimpaired to Stirrups seemed the better choice.

I had long understood Sunningdale to be an outstanding facility in all regards and my anticipation grew as we approached.  It was beautiful weather, and perhaps a bit warmer than a usual British day.   Our plan was to play 36 that day:  a round on the New course followed by a round on the Old.  Arriving at the club, my attention was immediately drawn to the gigantic and beautiful tree situated just in front of the clubhouse.   The tree serves as the club logo, I had seen it many times on TV and in pictures.   It was our last day in England as a group and so, for the final time, our group unpacked the car.  Each time we unpacked it must have looked like a clown scene from a circus where there is more stuff in the car than seems possible.  We  headed to the caddie master to check in.  After a few swings at the range, we ventured out on the New course.  The New course is stunning and beautiful; the fairways run through seas of thick heather.  It is a true championship test of the highest order.  Be certain to eat a sausage at the halfway house.  Word from my caddy is that Darren Clarke is the record holder at 9 sausages.  That is an accomplishment I don’t envy.

Here are some highlight photos from Sunningdale New:



The par 3 5th at Sunningdale New



The spectacular downhill par 5 #6 sweeping right



View of the 6th green from the back tee




The downhill par 3 10th at Sunningdale New

Lunch on the porch was a delight looking out over both courses and the iconic tree.  On your next trip to England on a warm day, I highly recommend that you try a Pimm’s cocktail.  Refreshing.  Cleansing.  Fortified by lunch and a few drinks we headed out on the Old.  The Old is a bit gentler, with wider fairways and the opportunity to get a fortuitous lie even after a poor shot. 

Some highlight photos of Sunningdale Old:



The 16th on Sunningdale Old

The 17th and 18th at Sunningdale Old

The final 3 on the Old are an amazing finish to 36 wonderful holes.  Check out my post on GCA.com about these 3 closers: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49117.0.html

 I don’t know of a place where there are 36 better holes served by a single clubhouse.  For me, both courses at Sunningdale deserve recognition among the World’s best.  What a day!  Please contact us and we will arrange all the details so that you too can experience a day at Sunningdale.

Bart

Greetings from Botswana

Greetings from Mashatu Tent Camp in Botswana.   Here are a few highlights of our first game drive.

Cheetahs are absolutely beautiful.  After seeing an elephant knock down this Acacia tree, the whole herd came and snacked.

Check back here soon for more posts about our recent trip to England and to see more about our trip to Africa.  We highly recommend both as golf and vacation destinations.

Bart

Happy 4th of July

Bradley Golf Travel wishes you a safe and happy July 4th.  Remember to ALWAYS wear eye protection and exercise extreme caution when using fireworks. 

Bart and Matt Bradley

The Sacred Nine...

Bernard Darwin christened Royal Worlington and Newmarket "The Sacred Nine":

(upon entering the clubhouse, you can see the Darwin article on display on your right)

With a wild set of greens, and charming sense of stepping back in time, Royal Worlington is largely considered the best nine hole course in the world. Despite its lack of space, Royal Worlington requires a plethora of interesting shots, including teeing off over previous greens.

With a 220 yard par 3, a 450 par 4 and a 475 par 5, Royal Worlington provides the ultimate 9 hole variety.

Let Bradley Golf Travel book Royal Worlington for you on your next trip to England!

Some pictures were used with permission from http://www.golfclubatlas.com/

Matt

Don't miss the Monterey Bay Aquarium....

When in Monterey, be certain to save a few hours to visit the Bay Aquarium.  Fun for the whole family.

 

All of the exhibits are great and well done.  My daughter loved the sea otter exhibit.

For me the highlights were the seahorses and jellyfish.

Check out the Leafy Sea Dragon:

Not to be confused with the Weedy Sea Dragon:

The Beauty of the Jellyfish:

Bart