• Let me be your golf and travel advisor

    Chris Bentley at the US Open
    Taking it all in
    Published on | Leave a response

    A lot goes into planning a trip to a sporting event, but you should really think about other activities too.

    TV coverage in the USA is certainly a game changer when it comes to your overall golf experience. The buildup, the analysis and the 24-hour blow-by-blow takes all add to the spectacle of it all. You find yourself glued to the action as you take it all in.

    I’ve been fortunate enough to attend a lot of great sporting events, but this one is kind of raising the bar. Attending the golf is one thing, but all the elements surrounding it simply elevates it above the rest. Having my father with me is special, and we are making memories together that I’ll cherish forever.

    We’ve also visited The Masters (2016), which is on a bucket list for almost anyone, but few will perceive some of the background of the event. It’s a mind-blasting experience, just walking through Magnolia Lane. But there’s virtually nothing surrounding the course. The same goes for the Ryder Cup – it’s a day at the golf, but at night you’re exploring Paris and sipping under the Eiffel Tower, it’s just a different experience when there’s more on offer.

    It’s a massively expensive week – it is anytime you travel to the US. But having San Francisco as your base is a game changer and makes the long flights and expense worth it all. This must rank as the ultimate holiday Major. For the Masters it’s wake up and head to the golf, but yesterday we took a trip around the bay in a helicopter, flew under the Golden Gate bridge, and visited Alcatraz. Just that portion of the trip alone takes this visit to an unbeatable level.

    It’s once in a lifetime to view this city from the sky. The ferry ride to Alcatraz is special, and you don’t have to think twice about pinching yourself when you’re in the space where Al Capone once stood.

    And it’s non-stop over here. Oracle Park is a serious venue for sport – we sat high up, but there’s no bad view, especially with the backdrop being the bay. The fans are hyped up and the fan experience is one for every other sport to emulate, from merchandise to family-centred fun. They certainly know how to run events over here.

    Few Majors can offer supreme golf with these kinds of add-ons. They’re two holidays in one, really.

    It’s a must for fans thinking of going over to blend their sporting experience with a holiday, because you don’t hop on a plane to the States every month. Golf is four days, but there’s so much that can be done before play starts, and at night once it’s done.

    TPC Harding Park is hosting next year’s PGA Championship and it’s around the corner. So why wouldn’t you add all these wonderful excursions to your golf experience if you’ve made the effort to come all this way?

    Signing off as we get ready to collect our rental car for a trip down the Monterey Coast. I could get used to this…

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