A golf trip with friends promises excitement, but planning one can quickly turn stressful. Whether it’s Myrtle Beach or a dream round in Scotland, organizing the details can be daunting for the trip planner. The more friends involved, the bigger the challenge: choosing destinations, booking accommodations, selecting courses, and scheduling tee times.
While the effort is usually worthwhile, there must be a better, less stressful way to plan. Today, we introduce you to an easy solution and show you how Golfbreaks can help the traveling golfer.
Golfbreaks: The Early Days
Golfbreaks is not a new company; it was founded in 1998 by Andrew Stanley, who began organizing Ryder Cup-style events over long weekends. These events featured up to 24 golfers competing in multiple rounds and included a trophy for the winner. This concept parallels how THP developed one of our signature experiences, stemming from a simple question: “Do you want to be a tour player?” The success and interest in these events gave Andrew the confidence that there was a much larger opportunity to pursue.
To capitalize on this opportunity, Andrew assembled a team capable of managing the growth he believed was coming. When seeking assistance, it’s common to turn to familiar faces, and Andrew embraced this idea by bringing on board Guy Proddow, Daniel Grave, and Steve Hemsworth. Guy is his cousin, while Daniel and Steve were friends Andrew had made during college and other work experiences.
Each new member brought unique expertise to the team. Guy had a background in marketing and sales at a US software company, giving him a strong understanding of the evolving digital marketing landscape. Notably, Guy played a key role in establishing Golfbreaks.com. Steve contributed his experience in sales management, finance, and business operations, while Dan was skilled in sales management and had a talent for helping teams and businesses grow.
By 2000, the team was established, and their mission evolved from offering Ryder Cup events to becoming a full-fledged golf tour operator. During this time, Golfbreaks focused on northern European and British golfers, promoting trips across the UK and France. Based on customer feedback and the increasing inquiries generated through website traffic, Andrew and his team recognized they had a product in high demand. It wasn’t long before they began expanding their offerings beyond the UK, booking getaways to Portugal, Spain, and Ireland.
Expansion into Online Tee Times
As the golf travel business began to thrive, Golfbreaks launched an online tee-time service called Teeofftimes. By facilitating tee-time bookings across a wide variety of courses, they were able to assist customers even if they couldn’t secure a group at a golf resort. Over time, Teeofftimes became the UK’s leading online booking site for golf tee times. This strategic shift was crucial for future expansion, as the service’s success attracted the attention of NBC Comcast, which owned a major North American booking site and was looking to enter the UK market.
Today, most golfers have either used GolfNow or are at least familiar with the brand. In 2007, GolfNow and Teeofftimes formed a strategic partnership that continued until 2015, when Teeofftimes was sold to GolfNow. This sale was not the result of failure or an inability to succeed; instead, it provided a valuable opportunity for Golfbreaks to expand into other regions of the world.
Using the proceeds from the Teeofftimes sale, Golfbreaks took a significant leap of faith by entering two new markets outside the UK. This decision led to the establishment of Golfbreaks Inc., based in Charleston, South Carolina, and Golfbreaks Scandinavian, based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Entering New Markets
Right from the start, it’s clear that these two markets are quite different. The United States and Canada represent the largest golf market in the world, while the Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian markets are smaller than the UK’s. Golfbreaks was attracted to Denmark because Scandinavians have shown a strong interest in traveling to other parts of Europe, like Spain and Portugal, especially during the harsh winter off-season.
Daniel Grave was tasked with establishing and managing Golfbreaks Inc. in Charleston, SC. Fortunately, Dan is married to an American, which made it easier for him to take on this role in the USA. Having already played a significant role in building the brand in the UK, there was a strong belief that their proven methodology for growth could serve as a blueprint for success in the US market.
Given the size of the market, introducing a stress-free booking service with packages that offered exceptional value seemed like a perfect fit, and the results confirmed this decision was wise. From 2016 to 2019, Golfbreaks experienced three consecutive years of double-digit growth. During this period, Andrew and his team began searching for a new strategic partner to further boost business. That partner turned out to be the PGA Tour, which they announced in October 2019 with the launch of Golfbreaks by PGA Tour.
Becoming a PGA Tour partner proved mutually beneficial for both parties. The tour was looking to expand its travel options, helping fans reach destinations that coincide with specific PGA Tour events. For Golfbreaks, this partnership presented an excellent opportunity to increase brand visibility and attract new clients. Association with the PGA Tour added instant credibility to their brand. The increased visibility during telecasts and on the Golf Channel also provided significant marketing advantages.
The PGA Tour Partnership
The announcement of the partnership between Golfbreaks and the PGA Tour came just months before the COVID-19 pandemic began, leading to significant and unforeseen challenges. The travel restrictions and cancellations during this time caused major disruptions to Golfbreaks’ operations.
In response, Golfbreaks implemented flexible measures, including adjustable cancellation policies and improved communication with customers and suppliers. After the pandemic, a renewed interest in golf and leisure travel helped the company make a strong recovery, allowing Golfbreaks to reclaim its position as the number one-rated golf tour operator.
Golfbreaks currently employs just over 200 people worldwide, with 80% of them based in the UK. The company has 35 associates working out of Charleston and five based in Copenhagen. Impressively, the founding team of Andrew, Guy, Daniel, and Steve has continued to work together for more than 25 years. Their vision and passion remain strong as they strive to provide golfers with the best and most stress-free golf getaways possible.
Planning a Trip with Golfbreaks
Now that we understand the brand’s history, let’s explore the advantages golfers may experience when booking through Golfbreaks. First and foremost, no trip is too big or too small. With thousands of destinations to choose from each year, Golfbreaks has established strong relationships with various venues, allowing them to cater to everything from budget-friendly trips to luxurious 5-star getaways.
In the United States, the current breakdown of trips shows that 75% are domestic and 25% are international. While many dream of a pilgrimage to Scotland, Golfbreaks also recommends that travelers looking for great value consider destinations such as Spain, Portugal, and Greece. Given that Golfbreaks originated in the UK and has a deep understanding of the European golf scene, I would certainly trust their recommendations.
When planning your next golf trip, visit golfbreaks.com to explore potential destinations. The website is user-friendly and provides a clear breakdown of costs per person. Once you submit an inquiry, you can schedule a call with a representative who will guide you through various options and recommendations. During this call, you can discuss accommodations, tee times, and transportation arrangements if needed.
Golfbreaks will manage all the details, including creating an itinerary in their online portal, where trip participants can access all trip information and make payments directly through Golfbreaks. As the trip organizer, this means you won’t have to worry about charging everything to your card and then chasing your friends for reimbursement.
After booking, Golfbreaks prides itself on its ability to address any issues that may arise before, during, and after your trip. Their customer service team is available 24/7 to assist you with any concerns.
Why Golfbreaks Stands Out
One aspect that really stands out is that Golfbreaks conducts thorough research on destinations worldwide. As part of this initiative, members of their sales, customer service, and marketing teams travel to different regions to learn about what each area and its resorts have to offer. For example, they might send a team to Scottsdale for five days, during which they visit multiple golf courses, resorts, and hotels in the area.
These trips result in a team that develops a deeper understanding of the region, which they can then share with customers planning golf breaks in that specific location. This approach ensures that when Golfbreaks highly recommends a venue for your next getaway, they are doing so based on first-hand experience.
Final Thoughts
Golfbreaks has a long-standing mission to help golfers save time and money by simplifying the trip-planning process. This approach minimizes the headaches and stress typically associated with organizing such trips.
Starting as a one-person operation in Andrew Stanley’s home in 1998, the company has grown significantly and now facilitates trips for over 230,000 golfers each year. This impressive growth highlights both their ongoing commitment to improving the golf travel experience and their sustained operational success.
For more information on Golfbreaks and a look at their travel packages, visit their website at www.golfbreaks.com.
