Australia - 17th March 2024

WELCOME

WELCOME TO EAST LOTHIAN

Thephrase'holidayofalifetime'getsthrownaroundquiteabit ButIgenuinely thinkthistripcouldqualifyforthetitle!I'mdelightedtobeabletoofferthischance toplaysomeofthegreatestgolfcoursesintheworld.

G E O F F S H A C K E F O R D A N D D A V I D

Melbourneiswithoutadoubtoneoftheworld'sgreatgolfcitiesandwewillplaythe verybestthecityhastooffer

InrecentyearsTasmaniahasbecomesomethingofagolfingMecca,withthe coursesatBarnbougleandKingIslandbeingheraldedassomeoftheverybest coursesintheworld Wewillplayalloftheseandwillbeoneofthefirstgroupsto playthehotly-anticipatednewcourseatSevenMileBeach!

Ihavedesignedthistripwiththekeengolferinmind Maximisingthetimewehave forgolfandfunhasbeenakeyconsiderationwhenputtingtheitinerarytogether SowewillbetravellingbycharterplanebetweenMelbourneandTasmaniawhere wecanlanddirectlyonthepropertyatBarnbougle,cuttingdowntimeatairports andonroadtransfers TheplanewillalsotakeustoHobartandthenKingIsland

Marchisthebesttimeofyearforgolfinthisregion.Thecourseswillbeinpeak conditionandthetemperatureshouldbeperfect.

ThereareevenmoregreatcoursesintheMelbournearea,sowealsohaveathree day'addon'availableattheendofthetripsoyoucanplaymoreofthesequality coursesifyouhavethetime.

Ihopeyouareabletojoinme,whetheryouaretravellingonyourownorwithfriends Allofyourgolf,accommodation,transportinAustraliaandseveralmealsare includedinthetourprice.Thiswillbeagreatwaytodiscovertheseamazingcourses withlike-mindedpeople.Ican'twait!

DAVID JONES

DAY 1 SUNDAY 17TH MARCH

Guests will register at our hotel. We are planning to stay at The Crown Promenade on Southbank in the heart of Melbourne. This 4* hotel is well positioned for much of the nightlife and fun that Melbourne has to offer. We will be able to confirm the hotel in early 2023, should this need to change the hotel will be of the same standard in a similar location. Accommodation is provided on a bed and breakfast basis.

Some of you may choose to arrive in Melbourne earlier to acclimatise and we can arrange extra nights in the hotel for you if required.

On the first evening we will have a welcome drinks reception with private dining at the hotel. Over dinner you will have the opportunity to get to know other members of the group and we will talk through the agenda for the days ahead.

KickingoffatKingstonHeathwillbetheperfectintroductiontoSandbeltGolf.The coursetypifiesgolfintheregion-fairwaysbleedintoscrubbysandandthe bunkeringissimplyexquisite. Thisasmall,flatpropertyandisoftencomparedtoMerionbecauseofhowthe coursefitssoadeptlyintothespace,just50acresinthiscase.Buteveryinchof qualityisfoundfromtheland.

ThereismuchtoloveaboutKingstonHeath,butthepar315thholemightbetheone thatstayswithyoulongest.It’sa160yarduphillpar3whichissuperblybunkeredall round.Oneofthemostspecialpar3sanywhereintheworld.

DAY 2 MONDAY 18TH MARCH

We'll kick off day 2 with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before gathering for our coach transfer to Kingston Heath which will take about 30/40 minutes.

We will have the opportunity to use the practice facilities and get some refreshments before our tee times at Kingston Heath from 1:30pm.

This trip is predominantly about seeing great courses, but I know that some people will enjoy a competitive aspect on the side! So, for those who wish to participate, we'll organise a Stableford tournament over the course of the trip.

After our round at Kingston Heath we will return to Southbank. In the evenings when there is no organised dinner you are completely free to do your own thing or, for those who want to, we can go out to eat as a group (with individuals picking up their own costs). There is no pressure either way, whatever works for you!

AlisterMacKenzie'screation,theWestCourseatRoyalMelbourne,isthemost famous,mostprestigiousgolfcourseinthecountryandisheraldedtheworldover. Thecoursehasmorewidthfromtheteethanyoumightexpect,buttheimmense strategyofthecoursemeansdrivingprecisionisrequiredtogetyourapproach shotsneartotheflags.

ThebunkeringatRoyalMelbourneisamongsttheverybestintheworld,andthe greenshavetobeseentobebelieved.Thewholescaleofthepropertyisaweinspiring.RoyalMelbourneistrulyoneofgolf'sgreatplaces.

DAY 3 TUESDAY 19TH MARCH

We will leave the hotel mid-morning to take the 30/40 minute drive to Royal Melbourne.

Please note guests will require a letter of introduction from their home club or current handicap certificate to be offered the opportunity to play at Royal Melbourne.

The clubhouse at Royal Melbourne is packed full of history so we will leave plenty of time for a good look round and to soak in the atmosphere at this very special club. We will also have plenty of time to use the practice facilities - it is worth spending some time on the practice green to get used to the unique surfaces of Royal Melbourne!

We are teeing off on the West Course from 1:30pm.

(At the end of the trip we will be having a dinner together where we will vote on the best holes and rank the courses we've played, so you may want to take some notes on the way round!)

It's back to the Crown Promenade following the round where, again, guests can make their own arrangements for dinner or dine as a group.

DAY 4 WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH

After an early breakfast we will transfer to the nearby airfield at Essendon for our hour-long flight to Tasmania and the Barnbougle resort.

We have charted a plane with Sharp Airline and the 16 seater will be our main form of transport over the next few days as we travel on to Hobart, then from Hobart to King Island and finally, back to Melbourne.

On arrival at Barnbougle we will check into our lodge accommodation at Lost Farm before heading over for our afternoon round at Barnbougle Dunes.

After the round we will enjoy dinner together as a group to discuss our first experiences of Tasmanian golf!

FollowingthesuccessofDoak'sBarnbougleDunescourse,ownerRichardSattler turnedhisattentiontobuildinganotherworldclassgolfcourse.BillCoorewasgiven thejobofmakingthisTasmaniandestinationa'mustvisit'venue. HesucceededinbuildingacoursewhichstandsuptoitsnextdoorneighbourindeedmanypeoplewhohaveplayedbothprefertheLostFarmcourse.Thedunes are,inplaces,evenhigherthanontheDunescourseandCoorespentahugeamount oftimeonthepremisesensuringtheroutingdidthecanvasjustice.Therecanbeno doubtthathesucceeded!

DAY 5 THURSDAY 21ST MARCH

Following breakfast we will play Bill Coore's Lost Farm course - where there are 20 holes to enjoy! - and will really get to explore the rest of the site at Barnbougle. In the early afternoon we will play the 14 hole short course - Bougle Run (pictured below). With twelve par 3s and two par 4s this is a great way to have some fun after lunch. The rest of the day is up to you. You could play either of these courses again for a modest replay fee, spend some time walking on the beach, or just have a well-earned rest!

Photo - Golf Australia

Photo - Lukas Michel

DAY 6 FRIDAY 22ND MARCH

After breakfast we will head back to our planes and make the short flight to Hobart, at the southern tip of Tasmania. From there we will take the (very short) bus ride to 7 Mile Beach.

7 Miles Beach is due to open in late 2023. This DeVries/Clayton course is set on a spectacular piece of land and the golf world is keenly anticipating its opening. Should there be a delay in the course opening we will make an appropriate contingency plan!

After playing 7 Mile Beach we will take the bus into the city of Hobart for our night's stay at the Mantra Collins Hotel. Located in the centre of Hobart the hotel blends old with new, combining an atmospheric, historic building with contemporary rooms. We will be able to confirm the hotel in early 2023, should this need to change the hotel will be of the same standard in a similar location. We will book a local restaurant for those who would like to join for an evening meal.

DAY 7 SATURDAY 23RD MARCH

We'll be back on the plane on Saturday morning to fly from Hobart to King Island - a tiny island between 'mainland' Tasmania and Melbourne.

We will then make the 45 minute drive up the island (watching out for wallabies on the way) to the magnificent Cape Wickham. We will tee off tee off late in the morning and there will be time for a second round for anyone wanting to relive the experience!

We are staying in the accommodation overlooking the golf course and will have a group dinner in the clubhouse in the evening.

DAY 8 SUNDAY 24TH MARCH

After breakfast at Cape Wickham we will head back towards the airport, stopping to play Ocean Dunes on the way.

Following our late morning game we will take our plane for an afternoon flight back to Moorabin in Melbourne. From the airfield we will return to the Crown Promenade hotel for our last two nights in Melbourne.

DAY 9 MONDAY 25TH MARCH

On the last full day of the trip, following breakfast, we will transfer south of the city to Peninsula Kingswood where we will play the North Course. We have tee times booked for early afternoon.

Then we will return to Melbourne where we will enjoy a final group dinner. Over a meal we will present the prize for the trip tournament and voting on the courses and holes we enjoyed the most

DAY 10 TUESDAY 26TH MARCH

Day 10 is the last day of the main part of the trip, with guests making their own way to the airport for their flights home.

For those who are on a later flight we can organise a sightseeing tour of Melbourne, or indeed another round of golf somewhere!

We have also recognised that some guests may wish to see some more of the golf in and around Melbourne. So, we can organise an extension for those who would like to stay on for an extra three days to play Victoria, Metropolitan, St Andrews Beach and National - Gunnamatta. It is anticipated cost would be c. AU$3,000 per person sharing depending on number of people wanting to stay on.

If you would like to visit Sydney or Adelaide then we will be happy to help with golf and hotels there too.

Host to the 2022 Australian Open, Victoria has benefited from another great renovation from OCM in recent years. A classic Sandbelt course in wonderful condition and a really welcoming club with high levels of service.

UK Golf Guy Review

Metropolitan-orMetro-isalwaysinphenomenalconditionandtheiconic,razorsharpbunkeredgeshavetobeseentobebelieved.It'sareallymemorableplaceto playandshouldbehighupyourlistifyouhaveafewextradaysinMelbourne.

WHOISTHISTRIPAIMEDAT?

Anyonewholovesgolf!Whetheryouwanttocomewithagroupoffriendsor onyourown,Ithinkyouwillhaveagreattimemeetinglike-mindedpeople whoalsolovethegame.Wewillhavenomorethan16peopleonthetrip.

ISTHEREAHANDICAPRESTRICTION?

Menshouldhavehandicapsof24orlowerandwomenshouldhavehandicaps of30orlower.AnumberoftheprivateclubsontheSandbeltrequirethat internationalvisitorsaremembersofagolfclubintheirhomecountry,and evidenceofsuchwillberequiredviaahandicapcertificateor‘letterof introduction’fromyourhomeclub.Wecanadviseonexactrequirementsand pleaseletusknowofanyissues.

CANIHIREABUGGYORTROLLEYORTAKEACADDIE?

Thesecoursesarepredominantlywalkingcourses.Manualpushtrolleysare includedineveryround Caddiescanoftenbearrangedifrequestedin advance.TheyaremandatoryatRoyalMelbournehowever,tobepaidonthe day.

HOWDOIBOOK?

Justemaildavid@ukgolfguy.comandwewilltakeyourinitialdepost.When theminimumnumberpeopleareconfirmedonthetripTheGolfTravel Agency,Australia,willtakeyourfurhter25%deposit.

WHATHAPPENSIFIHAVETOCANCEL?

Ifyouhavetocancelafterbooking,yourinitialdepositof25%willnotbe refundable Thefullcostofthetripisnon-refundableifyoucancelwithin100 daysoftravel.Westronglyrecommendyouhavecomprehensivetravel insuranceincaseyoudoneedtocancelforanyreason.

WHATISTHECOSTOFTHE3-DAYEXTENSION?

Thiswillpartlybedeterminedbythenumberofpeoplewishingtostayonand wewillprovideoptionsforaccompaniedandunaccompaniedstayswhenwe haveabetterideaofnumbersinterested.