Golf England

England is home to more of the world's highest rated golf courses than any other country except the United States. Though two of England's top ten golf courses, Ganton in the northeast and Woodhall Spa in the Midlands, are somewhat remote from the other great courses, the remainder can be found in three clusters.

The rolling, wild dunes land bordering the Irish Sea stretching along the Lancashire Coast from Liverpool to Southport to Blackpool harbors the best collection of links courses in the world. Within an hour's drive of Southport there are six courses that have hosted the Open, the Amateur, the Walker Cup, and the Ryder Cup, and three of these are ranked in the world's best 100: Royal Lytham & St. Annes (where David Duval won the 2001 Open), Royal Birkdale (Mark O'Meara won there in 1998), and Royal Liverpool, recently restored to the Rota after an absence of almost 40 years. Hillside features perhaps the best twelve closing holes in golf and is worthy of an Open. Southport & Ainsdale has hosted two Ryder Cups, and Formby is one of the great championship golf venues for amateurs.

Though a mecca for golfers, the Lancashire coast is not a golf holiday destination where one should take a partner who does not golf, as any touring of real interest is nearly two hours away.

London and the Channel Coast, on the other hand, are ideal destinations for golfers and tourists alike-a veritable paradise for couples on holiday. Suburban London boasts at least a dozen superb heathland and parkland courses ranging from three of the world's top ranked (Sunningdale Old, Wentworth Burma Road, and Walton Heath Old) to two delightful but obscure gems (The Addington and St. Georges Hill). Exclusive Sunningdale (comparable to Muirfield) features two outstanding golf courses.

For seasoned travelers, the attractions of shopping and touring in and about London are obvious, and there is a plethora of impeccable lodging choices for your golf holiday trip; the luxurious Stoke Park Club, the filming location for the famed golf match between James Bond and Goldfinger, comes to mind as an example.

On the Channel Coast, less than two hour's drive from London, are Royal St. George's (venue for the 2003 British Open) and historic Rye -both links are ranked among the best in the world. The Kent region is the 'garden of England", and contains more English history, castles and manor houses converted to luxurious hotels and inns than anywhere else - a splendid destination for both golfers and their non-golfing mates on their custom planned, Tee is Served golfing holiday in England.

Unique Golf Ideas:

Luxury River Barges Magna Carta/Actief:

No need to change hotels as your hotel floats from one golf course to another! Your group will have this barge all to themselves as you are pampered by your own private chef and staff.
Golfers will love playing some of the world's best golf courses, minutes away from where your hotel has docked. Non- golfers will be taken by the barge's motorcoach sightseeing, cycling, horse-riding or even shopping.

Magna Carta Golf Courses: Wentworth, Sunningdale, Hampton Court
Actief Golf Courses: Wentworth, Sunningdale, Stoke Poges

King of the Castle

Live like royalty for a week in your own private castle. We can arrange for you and your group to have an ancient castle or elegant manor as your personal residence, with a full complement of staff for those who are looking for privacy and personal service. Perfect for a large group or a family reunion.

RYDER CUP (starring you)

We believe that one of golf's greatest benefits is the way it brings people together and builds friendships. For larger groups we can arrange for you to meet some local golfers and play a round at one of the country's smaller, intimate clubs. You will be treated like VIPs and make friendships that will last a life-time.

Golf Plus

Tee is Served is one of the few golf companies that offers a full range of travel services. We believe that golfers are travelers too and wish to take full advantage of their journey to experience the culture and hospitality of their destination.

We offer a full range of activities and entertainment to complement your golf. Ask us about adding in some extra activities such as horse-riding, hunting and fishing, attending the theater, shopping, sight-seeing, family friendly entertainment, the changing of the guard or afternoon tea.

For more information about playing golf in England, please call us anytime at 1-888-TEE-4ME2 (833-4632) or locally in Washington D.C. at (202) 882-2127.

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Wales

With a marvelous, if somewhat obscure, collection of links and parkland golf courses that are enjoyable to vacationing golfers of almost any skill level, the Principality of Wales is well worth the trip.

Most of the better Welsh golf courses are clustered within an easy drive of one another in the midst of stunning scenery and numerous historic vacation sites. These attributes make Wales an excellent destination for those who want to play golf every day without a lot of driving or change of lodging, and for those golfers who are vacationing with partners who play golf seldom or not at all.

The two most renowned courses in Wales are Royal Porthcawl in the south and Royal St. David's in the north. Porthcawl, commonly rated amongst the top twenty golf courses in the British Isles, has hosted every major championship save the Open. Although every hole offers a view of the sea, the last four are the best known and so diabolically challenging as to rival the finish at Carnoustie. Nearby are the links of Pennard, Southerndown, Ashburnham, Pyle & Kenfig and Tenby - all more than worthy of a play during one of your golf holidays in Wales. Pennard features the vistas of Cruden Bay, the roaming animals of Brora and skittering links bounces all its own. Tenby, the oldest club in Wales, besides being a good test, is home to the Divots Society that plays golf on Sunday mornings in the winter. A former Captain explained the name this way: "Well, a divot is basically a clot and all those who play in some of the weather we endure deserve the title."

Royal St. David's, the links course that bears the name of Wales' patron saint, ironically is in the shadow of Harlech, the towering castle that England's Edward I built to subdue the Welsh. Unfortunately, there are no other courses nearby of equal stature, so its play best suits those who are as interested in Harlech, Caernarfon and the other great castles of north Wales as they in the wonderful stretch of dunes holes on St. David's homeward nine. The Golfing Tourist can potter about in the north most cheerfully, whereas the Serious Golfer, who comes down with a debilitating illness when he hears the word 'tour', will do much better in the south.

Wales more than golf !

Wales is a Celtic nation like Ireland and Scotland and is one of the oldest nations in the world with a civilisation stretching back many thousands of years. As such Wales has a proud history which can be seen in the patriotism of the people and the abundance of ancient buildings and castles. Although English is spoken by all, the national language, Welsh, is a living language and spoken by a good percentage of the population. Welsh culture is celebrated by Eisteddfodau festivals where people travel from all over the world in dance, song and music.

Wales has much to offer the tourist and is renowned for its hospitality. It is a land of rolling moorlands, glaciated mountain areas, unspoilt coastlines, mellifluous male-voice choirs, very long place names, Rugby Union, romantic castles, people with querying lilts and old mining towns and great golf!

North Wales is the most popular holiday region and has several resorts and national parks, notably Snowdonia and Angelsey. Railway enthusiasts will particularly enjoy the region as several of the old steam railways have been restored and put to work. What better way to enjoy the wonderful views as you traverse the countryside over hills and mountains.

South Wales is where you'll find the major cities including the capital Cardiff - a dynamic and vibrant city. Once again there are several national parks including the Brecon Beacons which is particularly popular with ramblers and climbers (not to mention the Royal Marines).

If you've never thought about golf in Wales or Wales as a holiday destination then perhaps now you'll have some inkling of what you might be missing.

The 9th green at Royal Porthcawl.

For more information about playing golf in Wales, please call us anytime at 1-888-TEE-4ME2 (833-4632) or locally in Washington D.C. at (202) 882-2127.

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