I received in today’s mail a summary from Tom Doak’s office of their design and potential design jobs in 2012.
Selfishly from an international travel perspective the future is bright;
Melbourne, Australia – Reconstruction work on East Course at Royal Melbourne
Rio de Janiero, Brazil – Bidding on 2016 Olympic golf venue…thankfully that will not be a political decision!
Hainan Island, China – New golf course on an island in the midst of a river, with a second course starting in late spring/early summer
Mangawhai, New Zealand – As if Cape Kidnappers was not sufficient, an American funded project approximately 100 miles north of Auckland. This will only add to New Zealand as a great golf destination.
St. Emillion, France – In the heart of Bordeaux, finishing a current project.
Aldea del Fresno, Madrid, Spain – An 18 hole co-design with Mike Clayton at the El Rincon winery – starting in July.
….and finally in the USA
Mullen, Nebraska – completion of second 18 holes at Dismal River
Medinah, Chicago, IL – the day after the Ryder Cup concludes a renovation commences on Medinah #1 to accommodate tournament facilities
Polk County, Florida – this is the resort I am told will be VERY IMPRESSIVE. The Blue Course opens in October, alongside the Coore/Crenshaw Red Course at the Streamsong Resort.
Tom is one of the premier golf course architects and rightfully very proud of his work. There is little new construction in the US, if you want to work, you need to pack your bags and passport!
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
Air travel remains a key element in our business, whether we issue tickets for travelers or they arrange themselves. Regular travelers are very familiar with many of the changes which have occurred domestically in recent years; more regional jets (read smaller), busier flights, more invasive security, etc. All this has changed at a time that international air travel has also gone through many changes.
When I travel internationally I usually take a little more time than I would on short domestic flights to consider my options and decide on best alternative, given the various elements to consider.
Items that I consider when travelling internationally include;
1. May I use a low level Business or First Class award for travel on my preferred dates with good routing. If the answer is yes, then no more work required! High level awards are a great way to burn miles if your goal is to empty your account! Low level awards are great value.
British Airways Club World Cabin - not all Business Class is so luxurious
2. Is there an airline either I like, or I would like to try that flies the route I intend to use. Not all air travel experiences in premium cabins are created equally…far from it. Flat seats/beds as opposed to angled, old seats with dated entertainment options is a consideration. Historically surly flight crews or dirty planes are also good reasons for overlooking.
3. Lounge access may seem like a small issue, but some airlines deliver a far superior lounge experience than others. Access to an Arrivals Lounge with shower facilities is key if your plan is to keeping moving after reaching your final airport. For example, when connecting in London, ideally you have sufficient time to take a shower so that upon arrival in Scotland, you can begin your day without delay.
4. Access and availability to book preferred seats is even more important if you cannot secure a Business or First Class seat. Exit row seats work well or the various upgraded economy products more airlines are offering. Generally this entails several additional inches of legroom and complimentary drinks. It may also come with added baggage allowance. British Airways have done a fine job of differentiating this product whereas Delta and United have not created a separate cabin, just more legroom and recline. I have discovered that the new Delta Economy Comfort product is pretty decent if you are careful with seat selection…couple that with a decent high level Delta frequent flyer status (for lounge and security lane access) and you have an acceptable solution at reasonable price. I have become reliant on www.SeatGuru.com for seating advise. While not as important, the right seat can make a difference in First or Business Class but is key behind the curtain….never let a computer decide your seat for you!
5.Far from the defining issue of airline selection, but worthy of considering if your goal is the least expensive fare…what type of luggage allowance do you get, if any…and what re luggage charges.
6. I have noticed that airlines serve up flight options in a variety of ways and it is remarkably easy to book the wrong connection, or at least not the best connection. Conversely, be careful not to select connections which have little chance of success, e.g. 75 minutes to clear immigration, customs and change terminals via train in Newark is not a great call. If you miss your connection, and the next flight is full….then your fun begins. Be realistic in deciding on connections and not always push for the tightest, for invariably you will get burned.
7. Important to never dismiss the upgrade possibilities. Some airlines sell upgrades at reasonable costs on the day of departure or at the check-in counter. Fair to say, every airline is different and that should always be considered a bonus if it occurs.
8. Finally, if you are travelling with a friend or friends and have the option of travelling on the same schedule, ask if any of them have premium status with an airline’s frequent flyer program. If you are ticketed on the same reservation together, you enjoy the same perks, such as seat assignments, lounge access, baggage, etc that your friend is entitled to.
As always, the Air Department at PerryGolf is delighted to offer assistance with your travel needs as we strive to stay abreast of ever changing developments and options for air travel.
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
I was returning in March from a short trip to Mexico and had 90 minutes in Atlanta to connect to the last flight of the evening back to my home in Wilmington. I disembarked first from the inbound Delta flight. I had intentionally not checked luggage to avoid any possible delays on that front. I strode purposefully towards immigration with no pressing concern about the connection. After 75 minutes I finally made it to the front of the arriving US Citizens line. I ran through customs and changed concourses, arriving at my departure gate with the aircraft still sitting there, door closed and a thoroughly unimpressed gate agent starting to rebook me on the first flight the following morning.
It was at that exact moment I decided it was time to enroll in Global Traveler. This is a fairly recent program by US Customs and Border Protection which effectively fast tracks an arriving passenger through the immigration portion of the international arrivals process. The following morning I completed the online application and within 3 weeks had received conditional approval. I then scheduled my interview online for one of their multiple processing centers around the country, e.g. major airports. The interview lasted for 15 minutes and was conducted by a professional and efficient US CBP agent. She asked me a few questions, took my picture and fingerprints and then walked me through the process using the same style kiosk that I would use when entering the US once I had final approval.
Within 24 hours I received an email with final approval and my return international journey to Philadelphia the following day would be the initial experience.
This week I used the system for the first time and it worked flawlessly. Slide in your passport like an ATM card, look at the camera, place your fingers on the scanner, answer four questions and a receipt is printed which you provide the customs officer as you exit baggage claim in lieu of the blue form which you no longer complete. Government at it’s finest.
One of the nice aspects of the system, is that it is tied to the person, not your passport, i.e. when you renew your passport you then only need to go online to update your profile in their system with your new passport details. The program is open to US Citizens, Permanent Residents and Dutch Citizens.
Last month American Express started a promotion whereby they would refund a cardmember the $100 enrollment fee if you charged it to your American Express card (only certain cards qualified). Regardless of whether it costs you some money or not, I believe that even for the twice a year international traveler, this is a worthwhile program to participate in. It may not take all of the hassle out of air travel but it will eliminate one potential frustration when you return from an enjoyable vacation or business trip.
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
Planning a successful golf trip to Ireland is not rocket science. But like a space launch, it does take some forethought and attention to detail to better guarantee a safe and memorable excursion. So here are some handy tips I share with family and friends whenever they ask me for advice about a golf trip to the Emerald Isle:
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
For several different reasons, I was enthralled by this fine book now available as an e-book. First, it’s written by John Garrity, an exceptionally talented writer. Second, its backdrop largely centers on Carne Golf Links in a remote region of western Ireland in the town of Belmullet. Although Garrity first visited Belmullet in 1989, he hadn’t any intention of returning to the area until he …
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
