Attending a golf tournament in person is a completely different experience to catching the action on TV. For one, there’s a distinct buzz in the air which hums from the crowded grandstands to the souvenir-packed gift shops.
Secondly, you get a much better feel for the nuances of the course when you’re there on the day: its fairways, the speed of the greens, the thickness of the rough or the overall difficulty of a shot. And then there’s the unique perspective you have on how the players approach a hole – seeing which side of the tee box they start from, how narrow the fairway is when viewed from the tee, their intended line and landing area and how much they shape their shot to avoid a bunker.
If you love golf, attending one (or more) of the world’s biggest tournaments in person is a special experience, which is why we’ve curated our list of the top 3 golf events to add to your wish list. Tee off for excellent golf travel with these events:
1. The British Open
The oldest international championship in professional golf is definitely one for your bucket list. Since its inception in 1860, the British Open has been played over some of the world’s most renowned links courses and has produced an incredible legacy of great champions, including Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. The Claret Jug, first presented in 1873, is one of the most iconic trophies of all time.
In 2018, the British Open returns to Carnoustie for the first time since 2007. Golf has been played at Carnoustie since the early 16th century and the links have earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the toughest golf destinations in the world. Buffered by strong winds which blow along this exposed stretch of the Angus coast and challenging bunkering, it is also a very narrow golf course that is the longest of any of the Open venues.
2. US Open
The U.S. Open 2018 will once again see the world’s top qualifying golf players meet in the American summer to compete for the title. Characterised by tight scoring, the championship is popular with both players and spectators.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in Southampton, New York, will host the U.S. Open for the fifth time in June 2018. The venue shares a common heritage with the United States Golf Association, both of which date back to the origins of golf in America. The 2018 U.S Open championship will mark the 19th time the championship will be hosted by the state of New York and the 10th time on Long Island. Shinnecock Hills boasts America’s first golf clubhouse (complete with locker room, showers and grill room), which was designed by Stanford White. This is also the course that saw South African Retief Goosen outlast Phil Mickelson by two strokes to claim his second U.S. Open title.
3. US Masters
The Masters is one of the four major championships in men’s professional golf. In 2018, the tournament will stand as the 82nd edition. The Masters is considered an invitation event, although there is a set of qualifying criteria that determines who is included in the field. In April 2017, US Masters winner Sergio Garcia clinched his first major after beating Justin Rose in a dramatic play-off.
If you are planning an American holiday, it is not too difficult to take a detour through Georgia and watch this classic golf tournament live. Famous for its history of testing even the greatest of golfers, getting your hands on tickets can be tough – the Augusta National Golf Course is one of the most famous golf courses in the world and the club is exclusive to members only. However, this should not discourage you from experiencing it, as we will be releasing our tailor-made US Masters packages soon.
