Spring Edition 2018
With the Australian Spring now with us, and the warmer months fast approaching, this is the perfect time to begin planning a well-deserved golfing holiday. Three of our most popular golfing destinations are Mauritius, Northern Tasmania and Perth. Each of these have various “best” seasons, however they all have great golf courses to test your golf skills and make for an enjoyable and memorable golf holiday.
If you are a keen golfing enthusiast, like to travel to exotic destinations, and enjoy a holiday in luxury, then Mauritius is for you. Great international standard golf courses and beautiful resorts await you in Mauritius with only an 8-hour direct flight from Australia. Flying 3 times a week from Perth, using modern Airbus wide body aircraft, you can leave Perth at lunchtime and be enjoying your evening meal in one of the many five-star resorts that Mauritius is renowned for.
A good night sleep and you are ready for any of the many internationally acclaimed championship courses in Mauritius … “Indian Ocean’s Golfing Jewel”!
Of the golf courses that International Golf Specialists package for Mauritius golf, two (Anahita and Heritage) received the highest 5-star ranking, with Le Touessrok, The Links & Legends and Paradis all receiving 4 ½ star ratings in the Trip Adviser review system. While the golfing facilities are superb, so too are the luxury resorts that are incorporated into the golfing complexes.
A Mauritius golf holiday offers great value for visitors with golf included in the hotel tariff, as well as the unique concept of half board accommodation. Half board means guests receive both full buffet breakfast and dinner daily as part of the package rate. International Golf Specialists has both 6 and 9-night golf packages to Mauritius. Come and join one of our exclusive golf tours listed on our website, or put your own group together, and we will package it according to your personal requirements.
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In November this year, we have a group of 5 golfing couples from Perth visiting Northern Tasmania for a short golf tour together. The group leader has asked International Golf Specialists to put together a golf tour, but ensure there are other touring aspects to trip. We have recommended a couple of nights at the beautiful Country Club Tasmania in Launceston with its combination of an international-standard golf course, together with many entertainment and recreational facilities are all part of the offerings at this exceptional and unique Australian resort.
After Launceston, it is off to the amazing Barnbougle Links Resort located 80 kilometres north east of Launceston, just near the seaside fishing village of Bridport. This is an incredible golfing destination … two purpose-built links courses, the older Dunes course and the newer Lost Farm course. Both are constructed within and around the sand dunes of the Forrester River, and sit adjacent to Bass Strait. Both courses have famous American designers, Tom Doak (Dunes) and Bill Coore (Lost Farm) and are designed on the lines of the famous British and Irish links courses. The Dunes is only 15 years old, but looks like it has been around for a hundred years. The Dunes course is Australian Golf Digest #2 rated Public Access course in Australia … Lost Farm is #3!
Apart from the golf, our clients will be wine tasting along the Tamar Valley Wine Trail and delighting in the local seafood of the Bass Strait directly from the Fishermen’s Co-operative of Bridport.
Northern Tasmania (and Barnbougle Links Resort in particular) is one of my favourite golfing destinations and is unique in natural beauty and challenging golf. If you have not visited Tasmania before for a golf holiday … then you should!
A recent Australian Golf Digest edition has rated Perth, Western Australia as one of the leading golfing destinations in Australia.
The quality of the public-access and private golf clubs combined with superb weather, al fresco dining and a vibrant bar scene make Perth a “must visit” city for a relaxed and enjoyable golfing holiday.
Lake Karrinyup Country Club, host to the Perth International golf tournament in October is the top ranked WA course in the Australian Golf Digest “Top 100” rankings at #9. This is an amazing and challenging golf course, which has recently undergone a major design and renovation change by the Clayton / Ogilvy design team.
After Lake Karrinyup comes Joondalup Country Club at #17; Links Kennedy Bay #23 and The Cut at #35. That’s 4 Perth courses rated in the top 40 in Australia. Other top-notch public access golf courses are Meadow Springs (designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr); Secret Harbour and the Vines Resort.
International Golf Specialists can arrange Perth golf packages and tours around events such as the ISPS Handa Super Six Series (14 – 17 February 2019) where you can watch some of the best professional golfers in the world … and then go and make your own golf magic happen!
We have preferred accommodation and golf rates and tee times with all the leading Perth courses and can tailor a golf package to suit your golfing requirements and budget. Just contact us and we will show you that International Golf Specialists creates “great golfing experiences”!
Email [email protected] for any of your custom golf travel requirements..
Just contact us +61 (8) 9313 8643 or email and we will show you that International Golf Specialists creates “great golfing experiences”!
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Western Australia Golf Tour - Gary Allomes
I had the pleasure of hosting James & Robert Toothill to a week of golf in Western Australia last week. Robert is James’s adult son, and they decided on a “father / son” getaway in Perth to spend some time together both on and off the golf course. The Toothills live in Mauritius and spend the equivalent of half the year in Mauritius and the other half in the Channel Islands where they both work for a large car franchise dealership. James manages the IT and “back-office” services out of Mauritius and employ over 100 “locals” on the island.
James contacted me when they were looking for something new for a golfing destination, and as they had not been to Western Australia before, I recommended a week in Mandurah (an hour’s drive south of Perth) playing the top golf courses in the Peel region. Mandurah is rated as one of the best golfing destinations in Australia, and has the benefit of great golf courses combined with beautiful weather and spectacular scenery. Add a vibrant dining & nightlife scene and golfers get great value for money when visiting Perth and Mandurah on a golf trip.
International Golf Specialists was engaged to handle the arrangements for the Toothills which included golf, accommodation and transfers. I selected Sebel Mandurah as the accommodation base for James & Robert, and contacted General Manager Dougal McConnell to ensure the Toothills had an enjoyable and memorable stay.
The Toothills played 5 rounds of golf in 6 days … fortunately the early Spring weather held fine and they enjoyed the challenges of Meadow Springs Country Club, The Cut, Mandurah Country Club, Secret Harbour and Links, Kennedy Bay. The courses were in great condition despite our wettest Winter in 50 years, with most courses being links-style and built on sand bases.
I had the pleasure of a round with James & Robert at Links, Kennedy Bay on the Friday and also invited Dougal as my guest to make up a four-ball. We had a most enjoyable round at this very challenging but fun course designed 25 years ago by the late Roger Mackay and Michael Coates.
Robert flew back to Mauritius on the Sunday morning and as James had waiting time before a late-night flight to England, I invited him for some social golf at Melville Glades Golf Club, my private golf club in Perth. Before golf, I drove James around and gave him the city tour of Perth, which he was very impressed with. A seafood lunch at Matilda Bay was a highlight of the day.
James & Robert want to return to Perth sometime in the future, and with a 7-hour direct flight from Mauritius to Perth 3 times a week on wide-bodied Airbus aircraft, it is not a difficult travel.
James parting words were “the team at International Golf Specialists looked after our golf trip arrangements very well, and everything from the golf to the excellent accommodation was well organised. The Managing Director Gary Allomes made our trip very enjoyable and personal and made for a very successful first visit to Western Australia. I would certainly recommend International Golf Specialists to any golfers looking for a personalised, great value golf package or tour to Western Australia”!
International Golf Specialists are based in Perth, Western Australia and are the leading golf tour operator in the state. We have great rates at the top golf courses and resorts, and can develop a golf travel package that includes all requirements. For more information about the amazing experiences to be enjoyed on West Australia’s golf courses and the superb accommodation and attractions on offer throughout the state, please contact International Golf Specialists to begin planning your next golfing holiday. We can tailor a golf package to suit your personal requirements.
Gary Allomes
18 September 2018
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Thailand & Vietnam 01 Aug18
Next month I head off to Thailand with a group of keen Aussie golfers playing in the Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort Singles Golf Week 16 - 22 September 2018. This event, hosted by our exclusive Asian golf supplier, Golfasian has been running for a number of years and will attract over 100 golfers this year.
The quality of the golf courses, accommodation and ground services are the reason for this event’s on-going success, with golf rounds at the three outstanding golf courses under the Siam Country Club banner and the reputable and sublime Laem Chabang course making 72 holes of international standard golf. Both Siam Country Club’s Old and Plantation courses are part of the program, with each hosting the Honda LPGA Thailand professional tournament for the last 10 years and many Asian events including the Thailand Open.
With accommodation at the Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort and pre and post golf activities each day, it is an exceptional value golf tournament for golfers of all standards and levels and our group are really looking forward to participating in the event.
Pattaya is only one of the many exciting golfing tourism precincts of Thailand. I have arranged golf groups to Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi and all offer great value and variety of golf courses, each with their own culture and local touring experiences.
Following the tournament, I am planning to visit Danang to update myself on the many golfing developments happening on the “Golf Coast” of Vietnam. Vinpearl Golf Nam Hoi An is the new addition to the local golf courses, which takes it to five championship courses in the region. Add the new Nicklaus-designed course being built at BRG Danang and due for opening in mid-2019, the choice for golfers is irresistible.
Danang, which is located on the east coast of Vietnam, labelled the “Golf Coast” is growing at an amazing rate, and reflected in that is the opening of Danang International Airport in 2017. Singapore is a great hub for Australians visiting Danang, with now just one stop from all major Australian cities using both Singapore Airlines and Jetstar.
It is hard to rate comparatively the existing courses in Danang. Certainly, Ba Na Hills (a Luke Donald signature design) is the most spectacular located in the mountain behind Danang and floodlit for night golf access. BRG Danang is a tough Greg Norman designed test, and the Sir Nick Faldo designed Laguna Lan Co is beguiling in its routing and location adjacent to the South China Sea and towering mountains overlooking the golf course. I must say one of my perennial favourites is Montgomerie Links, designed by the famous English professional golfer who at one time was #1 in Europe for 7 years straight. The layout is challenging to the eye, but fair and playable for all golfing levels and they seem to have the very best caddies. I can’t wait to return to this golfing “nirvana”!
No visit to Vietnam would be complete without a stopover in Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) and spend a few days discovering what a fascinating city this. A wonderful and exotic mix of old & new cultures represented by the people, food, shopping and historical tours and buildings. Singapore is another great stopover option, with some of the exclusive and private golf clubs now becoming more accessible through special golf tour operator arrangements.
Whatever your golfing interests, Asia, and in particular Thailand and Vietnam offer some of the best golfing experiences possible. For more information about these, and other golfing destinations contact me at International Golf Specialists for a tailored and memorable golfing holiday.
Gary Allomes
Managing Director
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IGS Golf Travel - Winter Edition
Our Winter weather is now with us with the first of the cold fronts arriving and bringing colder temperatures and heavy rains. Good for the farmers, but not so good for us golfers, and now is the time to be considering a golfing holiday to warmer climes!
This time of the year has me thinking about golf trips to Asia … Thailand and Vietnam in particular, but also Indonesia and Malaysia where the weather is warm and the golf fees are reasonably priced. Leave the thermals and winter gear behind and plan your next golf holiday through International Golf Specialists and escape the cold!
Bali is a must visit destination for every Australian golf traveller. Easily accessible from all major cities, Bali offers incredible golf and many other activities for non-golfing travellers to enjoy.
Our Asian tour operator Golfasian has recently established an office and team in Bali to take advantage of the growing golfing fraternity that are making Bali a “must play” golfing destination. Through Golfasian, International Golf Specialists has access to special wholesaler rates at both the hotels and golf courses and now promote a variety of golf packages from 3 to 7 nights. We have carefully selected a range of hotels that will fit all budgets, from our lead-in 3-star hotel, Hotel Santika Siligita to the luxurious 5-star Bali Melia and the Bali National Golf Villas. All hotels are located in the up-market Nusa Dua district and are only a short drive to the main golf courses.
My business partner, Brendan Wright has recently visited Bali and played both the new Bukit Pandawa Golf Club and the leading golf course in Bali, Bali National Golf Club. They were both in excellent condition and truly memorable. Bali National Golf Club has been awarded the Best Golf Resort 2017 Indonesia by Golf Digest USA, and has just opened the David Leadbetter Golf Academy Bali as part of its golfing offerings.
Give Gary a call on 0409491081 for more details of our new golf packages to Bali or view our 3 night Bali Package from $1,050.
At International Golf Specialists (IGS), we pride ourselves in offering interesting and affordable golfing experiences to popular destinations. There is no better golfing destination in Asia than Pattaya, Thailand and IGS has been offered a special opportunity to participate in a renowned golf tournament hosted by our exclusive Asian partner, Golfasian.
The 2018 Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort Singles Golf Week is an annual event hosted by Golfasian, and usually attracts around 100 golfers from around the world! This year, the event is staged the week of 16 – 22 September and involves many golfing & non-golfing activities including 4 rounds of golf at some of the best golf courses in Asia. Details on the link below.
https://www.pattayasinglesgolfweek.com
This event is not one of IGS’s scheduled hosted tours, however having already booked two clients into this tournament, I have decided to join them as I believe the package represents great value with many inclusions not normally included in this type of amateur tournament. Now committed, I can offer a special group price to those interested in joining us in Pattaya in September. The group is limited to twelve in total, so I recommend you get in early if you want to participate in this event. Details and group prices are available on application.
A recent Australian Golf Digest edition has rated Perth, Western Australia as one of the leading golfing destinations in Australia. The quality of the public-access and private golf clubs combined with superb weather, alfresco dining and a vibrant bar scene make Perth a “must visit” city for a relaxed and enjoyable golfing holiday. Perth is a year-round golfing destination, however Spring and Autumn offer the best weather and golf course playing conditions.
There are 4 Perth golf courses rated in the top 40 public access courses in Australia including Joondalup Country Club; Meadow Springs Country Club; Links Kennedy Bay and The Cut offer the keen golfer world-class facilities and memorable golf course design and conditioning. We have preferred accommodation and golf rates and tee times with these and other leading Perth courses and can tailor a golf package to suit your golfing requirements and budget.
Just contact us +61 (8) 9313 8643 or email and we will show you that International Golf Specialists creates “great golfing experiences”!
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IGS Golf Travel Autumn Edition
Bali is a must-visit destination for every Australian golf traveller. Easily accessible from all major cities, Bali offers incredible golf and many other activities for non-golfing travellers to enjoy. I recently visited Bali to appoint a new golf tour partner; inspect some Nusa Dua hotel and resort properties and also review the newest golf course on the island, Bukit Pandawa Golf Club.
Golfasian have now established an office and team in Bali to take advantage of the growing golfing fraternity that is making Bali a “must play” golfing destination. Through Golfasian,
International Golf Specialists has access to special wholesaler rates at both the hotels and golf courses and now promote a variety of golf packages from 3 to 7 nights. We have carefully selected a range of hotels that will fit all budgets, from our lead-in 3-star hotel, Hotel Santika Siligita to the luxurious 5-star Bali Melia and the Bali National Golf Villas. All hotels are located in the up-market Nusa Dua district and are only a short drive to the main golf courses.
Bukit Pandawa Golf Club is unique in its concept … an 18-hole Par 3 golf course that ranges from short (100 metres) to long (225 metres) holes played through jungle, over lakes & ponds and all with amazing views over the southern peninsula and out to the Indian Ocean. The course is spectacular as is the opulent Clubhouse where a day of golf at Bukit Pandawa will be truly memorable. Bukit Pandawa has just been awarded the “Best Par 3 Golf Course in the World” by the World Golf Awards … some accolade for a course that has only been open for 12 months!
I also visited Bali National Golf Club, the leading golf course in Bali. I was hosted by the General Manager, Mark Holland, who took me on a tour of the course and showcased some of the signature holes and a couple of changes being planned to make Bali National an even more exciting course to play. Bali National Golf Club has been awarded the Best Golf Resort 2017 Indonesia by Golf Digest USA and has just opened the David Leadbetter Golf Academy Bali as part of its golfing offerings.
Give Gary a call on 0409491081 for more details of our new golf packages to Bali or view the package online.
Gary Allomes
Managing Director
New Zealand is home to a stunning array of golf courses. From the most magnificent ocean-side layouts to those courses carved out of the mountainous backdrop of Queenstown, New Zealand is a must do destination for golf enthusiasts the world over. Marquee golf courses such as Kauri Cliffs and Jack’s Point have been designed to make the most of the natural terrain and to show off the amazing scenery. But accessibility is the aspect that really sets apart New Zealand from other countries with more than 400 golf courses to choose from.
One of the most popular golfing destinations in New Zealand is Queenstown in the South Island. Queenstown is an all-year-round tourist destination where Winter sports combine with other outdoor activities such as golf during the warmer months. I have a regular golf group that have asked me to put together a golf trip to Queenstown in December this year. Apart from preparing the golf package, I will also be hosting the group of couples and singles with my wife Sally and looking forward to returning to this memorable and spectacular part of the world.
We will be playing such exciting golf courses such as Jack’s Point, Millbrook and Queenstown Golf Club. Jack’s Point, situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and with a backdrop to the slopes of the spectacular mountain range, The Remarkables, the scenery is so visually stunning that golfers could be forgiven for losing focus on the game at hand. Millbrook has recently hosted the New Zealand Open to rave reviews and Queenstown Golf Club is a golfing perennial favourite due to its peninsula location with Lake Wakatipu on three sides of the layout.
International Golf Specialists can take you to Jacks Point and other great golf courses around the Queenstown and Otago region of New Zealand on one of its exclusive golf tours.
View one of our golf packages, or ask Gary for a specialised New Zealand golf package itinerary.
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great golfing destination!
A recent Australian Golf Digest edition has rated Perth, Western Australia as one of the leading golfing destination in Australia. The quality of the public-access and private golf clubs combined with superb weather, al fresco dining and a vibrant bar scene make Perth a “must visit” city for a relaxed and enjoyable golfing holiday.
Lake Karrinyup Country Club, host to the Perth “Super Sixes” each February is the top-ranked WA course in the Australian Golf Digest “Top 100” rankings at #17. This is an amazing and challenging golf course, which has recently undergone a major design and renovation change by the Clayton / Ogilvy design team.
After Karrinyup comes Joondalup Country Club at #21; Links Kennedy Bay #28 and The Cut at #37. That’s 4 Perth courses rated in the top 40 in Australia. Other top notch public access golf courses are Meadow Springs (designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr); Mt Lawley Golf Club and Secret Harbour.
International Golf Specialists can arrange Perth golf packages and tours around events such as the “Super Sixes” where we can arrange golf in the morning and watching some of the best professional golfers in the world in the afternoon.
We have preferred accommodation and golf rates and tee times with all the leading Perth courses and can tailor a golf package to suit your golfing requirements and budget. Just contact us and we will show you that International Golf Specialists creates “great golfing experiences”!
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Bali is a must visit destination for every Australian Golf Traveller
Bali is a must visit destination for every Australian golf traveller. Easily accessible from all major cities, Bali offers incredible golf and many other activities for non-golfing travellers to enjoy. Golfers visiting Bali can play their round without the worry of having to keep family and partners occupied.
I recently visited Bali to appoint a new tour operator; inspect some Nusa Dua hotel and resort properties and also review the newest golf course on the island, Bukit Pandawa Golf Club.
Golfasian have now established an office and team in Bali to take advantage of the growing golfing fraternity that are making Bali a “must play” golfing destination. Golfasian are International Golf Specialist’s exclusive ground operator for both Thailand and Vietnam and it was with some anticipation that I met the manager of the new Bali office, Bagus Ngurah Pertama Yasa (call me Bagus) at the Novotel Nusa Dua to discuss how the two companies could work together.
Through Golfasian, International Golf Specialists has access to special wholesaler rates at both the hotels and golf courses and now promote a variety of golf packages from 3 to 7 nights. We have carefully selected a range of hotels that will fit all budgets, from our lead-in 3-star hotel, Hotel Santika Siligita to the luxurious 5-star Bali Melia and the Bali National Golf Villas. All hotels are located in the up-market Nusa Dua district and are only a short drive to the main golf courses.
Bukit Pandawa Golf Club is unique in its concept … an 18-hole Par 3 golf course that ranges from short (100 metres) to long (225 metres) holes played through jungle, over lakes & ponds and all with amazing views over the southern peninsula and out to the Indian Ocean. The course is spectacular as is the opulent Clubhouse where a day of golf at Bukit Pandawa will be truly memorable. I did not have time to play the course on this visit, however it is on my “bucket list” for my next trip to Bali. Bukit Pandawa has just been awarded the “Best Par 3 Golf Course in the World” by the World Golf Awards … some accolade for a course that has only been open for 12 months!
I also visited Bali National Golf Club, the leading golf course in Bali. I was hosted by the General Manager, Mark Holland, who took me on a tour of the course and showcased some of the signature holes and a couple of changes being planned to make Bali National an even more exciting course to play. Bali National Golf Club has been awarded the Best Golf Resort 2017 Indonesia by Golf Digest USA, and has just opened the David Leadbetter Golf Academy Bali as part of its golfing offerings.
Mark also showed me around the Bali National Villas which are very impressive. These 5-star Villas have views over the golf course, individual ensuites, pools and even your own butler. Located right on the golf course, there is no more convenient place to call “home” when visiting Bali National Golf Club.
I also visited the other leading golf course in Bali … New Kuta Golf Club! Located just 30 minutes from the airport, New Kuta Golf Club has hosted the Indonesian Open and provides a truly challenging test of golf for players of all abilities. With options of five different tee positions and the courses location overlooking the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean and the surf breaks of Uluwatu, New Kuta can play completely differently from one day to the next. This course is another fantastic Bali golf treat and a “must play” for your golfing holiday.
I am excited about promoting our new Bali golf packages and ensuring our clients have a “great golfing experience” in Bali! Give me a call on 0409491081 for more details of our golf packages to Bali.
Gary Allomes
Managing Director
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Tasmania Golf Tour Package - Hosted Tour by Gary
I hosted a golf group from Singapore to Tasmania in December 2017 that was probably one of the most fun groups I have had the pleasure to escort. There was 6 couples and 4 single ladies who travel each year to a golfing destination. Usually, they stick to Asia, however this was the first time the group have visited Tasmania for golf.
Christina Tan was the group leader, and the brief was to combine great golf experiences with some local touring and enjoying the famous Tasmanian food & wine products. I did my best to get the combination right, and certainly the group were very satisfied with the Itinerary & experiences.
I met the group at Launceston Airport after an overnight flight from Singapore and some transit time in Melbourne and then we made the short transfer to Sebel Launceston which would be their base for the next few days. The next day we were off by private coach on the 1 ½ hour’s drive through the Tamar Valley to Barnbougle Links Resort. Barnbougle is an amazing golfing destination, located 80 kilometres north east of Launceston, just near the seaside fishing village of Bridport. There are two purpose-built links courses, the older Dunes course and the newer Lost Farm course. Both are constructed within and around the sand dunes of the Forrester River, and sit adjacent to Bass Strait.
Both courses have famous American designers, Tom Doak (Dunes) and Bill Coore (Lost Farm) and are designed on the lines of the famous British and Irish links courses. The Dunes is only 10 years old, but looks like it has been around for a hundred years. The Dunes course is Australian Golf Digest #1 Public Access course in Australia … Lost Farm is #2! The group played the Lost Farm course and its unique 20-hole layout. Each golf day the group had a different golf attire then and this day was “partners”. It was very colourful and lots of fun!
The next day was a non-golfing one where the group did a cruise along the Tamar River and went up into the reaches of the Tamar to Cataract Gorge. Following the cruise, the group did a visit to the Boags Brewery before spending a leisurely lunch at what is one of the best Wineries & Restaurant in Tasmania. The Josef Chromy Winery is a short drive south east of Launceston with a high-class restaurant with the accent on local produce paired with seasonal wines in a relaxed and up-scale environment.
The following day was a round of golf at beautiful Launceston Golf Club. Launceston Golf Club is the best private club in Northern Tasmania, and has been established for over 100 years. It is an enjoyable parkland course with lots of dog-legs and ponds to make the course as challenging as you require depending on which tees you use. It was another colourful event with the group dressed in the Singapore national colours of red & white! The group finished the day with a walking tour of Cataract Gorge and a ride on the longest chair lift in the Southern Hemisphere and then dinner at the Gorge restaurant was a great way to finish their short visit to Launceston.
An early start the next day had the group on the road and heading to Hobart via the historic stage coach town of Ross. I would recommend using Ross as a stop for the drive between Launceston & Hobart. It is like a step back in time to the colonial days of “landed gentry” and agriculture as the main source of wealth and employment. It has some beautiful churches ands visit to the cemeteries will show you the incredible history & age of the area.
An hour & a half later and we were entering Hobart city with the Salamanca Markets the major focus of the group (especially the ladies). Only held on a Saturday, our timing was spot on, and the group spent the afternoon exploring this unique Hobart marketplace. Once the group were checked in to the famous & luxurious Wrest Point Resort, it was dinner at Constitution Dock, before a visit to the Wrest Point Casino and then to bed in preparation for their last round of golf.
Tasmania Golf Club is a private club located around Barilla Bay, about 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre. It is a spectacular course surrounded on three sides by the waters of Barilla Bay, with magnificent views across to Sorrel, Coal Valley and back to Hobart. Tasmania Golf Club was regarded by the group as a memorable golfing experiences and we celebrated by heading back to the city for a very late Yum Char lunch and a couple of bottles of Coal Valley wine and local Cascade beer.
Some more time at the Wrest Point Casino that night brought the golf tour to an end the next day. I flew out with the group to Melbourne and said my goodbyes on what has been one of my most enjoyable golf hostings. I get to do it again later this year as the group have asked me to arrange a golf trip to Adelaide in late 2018. I am looking forward to meeting this lovely group again for another “great golfing experience”!
Gary Allomes
Managing Director
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Joondalup Golf Course Review
I was recently lucky enough to be invited to play in a corporate golf day at Joondalup Country Club.
As one of the best golf courses in Australia, Joondalup was in pristine condition with perfectly manicured fairways and greens running true.
Many of the competitors took the opportunity to combine their Friday afternoon game at this great complex, with an overnight or weekend break at the resort’s fantastic hotel and enjoy all of its pools, restaurants and day spas.
One of the great features of the day was the services of a PGA professional who walked along the driving range offering free advice to people hitting balls before their round. I have played golf for over 30 years and like to think that I can fix most things in my swing myself, but a trained eye can often see things that are causing problems and offer a solution.
We have all experienced unsolicited swing coaching from people in our playing groups, who often can barely break 100 themselves, but I am always open for some advice from a professional.
He watched me hit a few shots and asked me a couple of questions. He then got me to change one thing. The next shot was the best I had hit that day, and probably for the last 6 months. That worked, so after another dozen or so shots, we tried another small change. The first few shots were slightly off but after I got the hang of what he was trying to get me to do, it all came together. I focused on the two swing thoughts he had given me for the round and found my ball striking was greatly improved from my last time on the course.
After my round, I made an appointment for an hour’s lesson with the young professional from the range who had given me such helpful advice and I am looking forward to further improvements in my scoring.
The small tweaks I made to my swing that day made a huge difference to the game I played, and meant I had an even more enjoyable day out than I thought I was going to. It’s hard not to have a good time at a corporate golf event, but playing decent golf makes it all the more fun.
The same principles can be taken when organising a golfing holiday. There are many companies you can use to arrange a tour for you, and plenty of people who will give you advice from their own experiences, but to create the best possible golfing getaway it really is best to bring in the experts.
International Golf Specialists do exactly what our name says - we specialise in tailoring the best golf holidays and tours for our guests within Australia and internationally. With golfing holidays our only focus, we bring together the best golf, accommodation and attractions at each and every one of our destinations.
To begin creating your next golfing holiday, speak with us at International Golf Specialists about the tours and packages we have to offer.
It may be a golfing holiday to a destination you’ve always wanted to visit or perhaps you’d like to gather a few friends together and come on one of our hosted tours to Thailand, Vietnam or Tasmania. Whatever your requirements, International Golf Specialists have the expertise to piece together the ideal golfing holiday for you and your travelling companions.
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Tasmania Hosted Golf Tour - Day 5
Day 5 of the Tasmanian golf tour with my great group of Singaporean golfers brings us to Hobart for the last few days of the tour. Yesterday we played the private golf Club, Launceston Golf Club and the group dressed for the occasion in national colours of red and white.
General Manager Tony Powell greeted the group on arrival and hosted them to lunch in the Clubhouse following their golf round. The weather was perfect and the golf course a little easier than the round at Lost Farm, Barnbougle a few days earlier. The group finished yesterday with a stroll through Cataract Gorge and a sumptuous dinner at the Gorge Restaurant.
Today, we checked out of the Sebel Launceston and drove to Hobart with a “coffee and comfort” stop at the historic village of Ross. There are some excellent bakeries in Ross, and some of the group were game enough to try the local fast food favourite … scallop pies!
On arrival in Hobart it was straight to the #1 tourist attraction … the Salamanca Markets! A couple of hours later and with many souvenirs purchased, it was off to the iconic Wrest Point Casino Resort for check-in and fabulous views over the Derwent River and back to Constitution Dock where a large Holland America cruise ship had just arrived.
Tasmania is an exciting and fascinating tourist destination with so much variety and natural beauty to complement the great golf courses on offer. Tomorrow we are up early to play a round at Tasmania Golf Club, one of the best courses in Tasmania with spectacular views around Barilla Bay and the town of Sorrel.
Gary Allomes
Managing Director
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Tasmania Golf Tour November 17
I am currently on tour with a great group of Singaporean golfers enjoying the delights of golfing and touring in Tasmania. Group leader Christina Tan contacted International Golf Specialists earlier this year, and we spent some time developing an Itinerary that would suit the 16 members of the group.
The brief was to combine golf with local touring and experience the best of Tasmanian produce and wine. Three days into the tour it is looking like the combination has worked and the group are very satisfied with the tour so far. In addition, the weather has been fantastic, with day temperatures around 27 degrees, and mild evening temperatures.
We are currently in Launceston, having visited Barnbougle Links Resort yesterday to play the #3 rated public access course in Australia, Lost Farm. Lost Farm is a challenging, but enjoyable links course with magnificent views of Bass Strait from a number of golf holes. American designers Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore have made Lost Farm a very fair test with wide fairways, however challenging around the large rolling greens, something that was not lost on the group who are used to tropical parkland courses.
Today is a rest day from golf, and the group has travelled up the Cataract Gorge by boat; enjoyed a private tour of Boag’s Brewery and settled in for lunch and wine tasting at the spectacular Josef Chromy Winery at Relbia. Dinner tonight at Hallams Seafood Waterfront Restaurant will finish off a memorable day in Tasmania.
Tomorrow we play Launceston Golf Club. This club is the oldest private club in Tasmania, and is a very pleasant walk (or drive) in suburban Kings Meadow. An early start is required to beat the forecast 31 degrees heat, followed by a leisurely lunch in the charming and friendly Clubhouse. Our last day in Launceston will be completed with a private dinner at the iconic Gorge Restaurant at Cataract Gorge.
Saturday, we head off by private coach to Hobart to arrive in time to visit the #1 tourist attraction, the Salamanca Markets. Sunday is golf at Tasmania Golf Club in the morning before visiting the unique Museum of New Art (MONA) and dinner at the newly opened restaurant, the Glass House. On Monday the group fly back to Singapore with great memories of their special golf trip to Tasmania.
Gary Allomes
Managing Director
"Great golfing experiences"
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Stay & Play Golf Packages Perth
Visitors to Perth are always pleasantly surprised at the modernity of the city and the ease of which they can experience everything that Western Australia has to offer. With both the international and domestic airports located just 15 minutes away from the CBD, arriving into Perth and getting to your chosen accommodation is a piece of cake, and sets the tone for the rest of your time visiting one of the world’s most exciting golf holiday destinations.
As the Number 1 golf tours operator in Western Australia, the team at International Golf Specialists (IGS) knows how to combine the best stay and play packages for their international and domestic guests - which ensures they enjoy the most relaxing and hassle-free golf holiday.
Offering choices of resort, hotel and serviced apartment accommodation throughout Perth and the surrounding areas, IGS tailor golf tours that ensure ease of transfer between your hotel and the tee box. Add in preferred tee times and options of fully hosted tours, and you are setting yourself up for a great day on the fairways.
One of Australia's best golf courses also happens to offer quality accommodation. Joondalup Resort has 27 holes of golfing magnificence and its picturesque grounds are also home to an array of accommodation options. Bars and restaurants await guests before and after their game and the spa has packages to help all members of the touring party to unwind. A gymnasium and welcoming pools see the Joondalup complex as one of the best places to stay when visiting Perth.
Joondalup's sister course, Meadow Springs is located just 45 minutes from Perth City and provides another epic golf experience. Both these courses are impeccably maintained and provide great conditions 12 months of the year
Many IGS guests choose apartment style accommodation which gives them easy access to facilities such as a kitchen and laundry throughout their stay. These apartments are a great way to keep costs lower as they are self-contained and can sleep more people in each apartment - great for those groups who are budget conscious.
The Perth CBD offers a multitude of accommodation options with some of the world’s biggest hotels located around the city. Access to golf courses throughout the Perth region is made as easy as possible with a city stay and also opens up all kinds of options for activities and entertainment at night.
The city location means the best of Perth golf is all within an hour of the CBD.
The Cut and Kennedy Bay provide two of the best links golf courses you will find in the country and are highly recommended to anyone visiting Perth for golf. This area just south of Perth is also home to Secret Harbour Golf Club and Meadow Springs GC. There are great accommodation options within this region for those preferring an escape from the city life.
Whatever your accommodation and golf requirements, speak to the experienced team at International Golf Specialists about making your golfing holiday to Perth or any one of their other destinations throughout Australia, Asia, Mauritius or New Zealand your best ever.
Contact Gary on +61 (8) 9313 8643 or email us today.
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Perth Hosted Golf Tour - August
International Golf Specialists recently hosted a group of keen golfers who were visiting Perth from Malaysia. For many of them it was their third trip to Western Australia and they couldn’t wait to once again hit the fairways at some of the best courses in the country.
Mother Nature smiled on them for the duration of their stay with the late autumn conditions providing perfect conditions for golf with days in the low 20’s, a gentle breeze to make club selection just that little bit trickier and lush fairways with receptive greens at each of the groups chosen courses.
What made their visit even more enjoyable was taking the option of an IGS hosted tour which saw the group transferred from their hotel and to the course each day by IGS Managing Director Gary Allomes. Gary’s attention to detail in arranging the group’s trip meant that they could completely relax and let him and the IGS staff take care of their every requirement.
There really is no better feeling, when you are on a well-deserved golfing getaway, than realising that your only requirement each day is to be up and ready for your transfer to a golf course. Sitting back and enjoying a relaxing journey to that day’s golf course and stepping up on to the first tee with preferred tee time, is almost guaranteed to mean you will perform at your best and give you the best chance of taking the money from your friends.
International Golf Specialists are based in Perth and have been providing great golfing experiences for local and international guests since 2012. Their job is made all the easier with a great year-round climate and fantastic local golf courses to recommend to their guests. Every group has different requirements and every groups needs are catered for by IGS. Whether guests prefer links golf or playing at a resort style course, morning or afternoon tee times, hotel or apartment type accommodation, IGS see that the golf holidays the tailor are a perfect blend of golf and relaxation.
With world renowned courses such as Araluen Country Club, Joondalup Resort, The Vines, Kennedy Bay and The Cut all within easy reach of the centre of Perth, IGS can arrange your hassle-free golfing holiday to one of the best cities on earth. How you decide to spend your time away from the course is completely up to you and the guys at IGS can recommend hundreds of different activities to take in during your stay.
Unwind with a dip in the ocean after your round at one of Perth’s iconic beaches or relax with a refreshing drink at one of the bars or restaurants along the beach front or Swan River. With more sunshine hours than any other capital city in Australia, Perth offers so many ways in which to enjoy its amazing outdoor lifestyle. There is an abundance of water sports including deep sea fishing, water skiing and sailing. You may wish to spend a day exploring Rottnest Island or the historic City of Fremantle or spend a day taking in the sights around Perth City and Kings Park.
Whatever your requirements for your next golfing holiday, speak to the guys at International Golf Specialists about making your dreams into reality.
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How Easy Does Golf Look
particularly if they are watching the world's best players competing on professional circuits where 300 yard drives, iron shots than hit a green and spin backwards and holing 40 foot putts are all in a day's work.
So then, how hard can it really be to hit a small white ball down a wide-open fairway, lob it onto a green and roll it into a hole which is considerably larger than what the ball is? After all, there are no opposition players standing in your way, no one trying to distract you or take your legs out from under you, and golf has seen huge improvements in equipment technology - designed to make the game easier, so surely it must be a piece of cake to master?
These thoughts are understandable when observing the elite playing, but every golfer, especially those new to the game, knows that reality is quite different. Many people who have been able to play any sport they turn their hand to, have struggled with golf. The most individual of all sports can also be the most frustrating. Even the best players can have the round of their lives one day and the next time they play feel like the world is against them.
But there are reasons we keep coming back to the game. Even if only one round out of five is somewhere around our expected playing standards, the positives of playing with good friends and hitting just one great shot in a round is enough to bring us back week after week. All the money spent on green fees, equipment and lessons is made to seem worthwhile when we hand in a good scorecard and sit back for a drink and a laugh as we compare rounds with our golf buddies.
The same can go when arranging a golf holiday. From the outside, it can seem as though putting together a package should be straight forward. However, separating a good golf holiday from a truly memorable one comes down to experience. International Golf Specialists have more than 40 years of experience in the travel industry and a passion for golf which sees them combining the best golf and accommodation options for all their guests. Add in their local knowledge of each destination, and they can make recommendations for the best activities for you and your group to enjoy when the day’s golf is done.
Based in Perth, Western Australia, International Golf Specialists offer a personal touch to all their golf tours. As well as offering pre-packaged holidays to exciting destinations throughout Australasia and Southern Africa, IGS can design your perfect golfing holiday to your dream destination. There are also regular hosted tours including Vietnam, Thailand and our Tasmania tours which treat our guests to the world renowned Barnbougle Dune and Lost Farm. Hosted tours are a great way to join up with other golf fanatics from all around Australia on the adventure of a lifetime.
To begin putting together a great golfing experience, talk to the guys at International Golf Specialists today.
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Jordan Spieth adds The Open
Spieth Adds The Open
The final round of the 2017 British Open provided compelling viewing and saw many a tired golf fan trudging into work on Monday morning, having found themselves unable to switch off their television and leave the drama that was unfolding at Royal Birkdale.
Coming into the final day, many in the media had predicted that Jordan Spieth would simply run away with the tournament over the last 18 holes and that the result was a foregone conclusion - such had been his rock-solid display of ball striking and putting over the first three days. However, three bogeys over the first four holes saw him fall back to level pegging with playing partner Matt Kuchar, and it was game on. When Spieth bogeyed the 13th hole, one which took him half an hour to play and included a drop for an unplayable lie and third shot from the practise fairway, he fell one shot behind Kuchar and you could have been forgiven for thinking that the demons from Spieth’s capitulation at the 2016 US Masters had also made the journey across the Atlantic to haunt him.
What followed over the next four holes was nothing short of spectacular from Spieth, with a birdie from 8 feet on the par 3,14th followed by an eagle 3 on 15 and two more birdies on 16 and 17. Spieth’s putting and ability to perform under pressure came to the fore and there was simply nothing that Matt Kuchar could do to win his first major championship or prevent the 23 year-old Texan from taking out his third.
Should Spieth also win next month’s USPGA Championship, he will become the youngest ever player to capture all four major crowns and he will surely go into the tournament as firm favourite.
As you’d expect at a British Open, the weather over the four days threw in a bit of everything and had tested the world’s best players with rain, wind and cold and then teased them with some sunshine. Visitors to the event would have needed to pack everything from winter woollies to shorts and a t-shirt.
Preparation is key when visiting another country for any type of holiday, especially if you are planning on participating in an outdoor activity such as golf, where the weather can play a significant part in how your day turns out.
International Golf Specialists (IGS) pays particular attention to the finer points of every golf holiday they arrange for their guests. Whether visiting an overseas destination or one of the best golfing regions in Australia, IGS make recommendations on the best golf, accommodation options and activities available to suit every member of the touring party. And of course they know whether-or-not you will need to throw the wet weather gear in your golf bag.
Wherever you want to experience golf, speak to the guys at International Golf Specialists about arranging the golf holiday of your life. With partners in New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Mauritius and South Africa as well as firsthand experience of the destinations on offer, IGS golf holidays are arranged to ensure the easiest of travel and mean you get the most from your chosen destination.
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2017 British Open in Review
The 2017 British Open Championship begins at Royal Birkdale Golf Club on Thursday, with the tough links layout and unpredictable weather sure to test the world's best players. The last seven major championships have been won by first time major champions and this trend could continue in this year's battle for The Claret Jug with Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, Alex Noren and Rickie Fowler ranked in the World’s Top 10 and all vying for their first taste of major success.
Links golf is the game in its purest form. It is also golf at its most unforgiving. Links courses are typically more exposed to the elements than other types of courses. Hard, close cut and undulating fairways can provide the harshest of bounces and often see well struck drives take an undeserved hop into a pot bunker or have the ball bury itself into thick rough. Elevated greens that are unreceptive to balls flown into them, can reject the best of shots with a hard bounce, which may see the ball roll off a side slope or through the back and leave a tough up and down to save par - just as Tom Watson found out on the 72nd hole in the 2009 edition of the tournament.
But there is something about links golf that makes it the favourite with so many of the world’s greatest players. Tiger Woods loves links golf because of the creativity required to see a shot and then make it happen. Lee Trevino admitted that he hated links golf the first time he played at The British Open, but he then went on to win the event back to back in 1971 and 1972 and it is his favourite format. Links golf can have that effect on players who have yet to play the game as it was first intended, but even those who at first swear they’ll never play it again, (usually after losing a box of new Titleist’s) are almost always drawn back to its challenge.
International Golf Specialists (IGS) offer some of the best links courses in Australia for visitors coming to Perth. Located just south of the city are Kennedy Bay and The Cut. Running alongside the Indian Ocean, both these courses provide stern tests of golf on fantastic layouts. When the wind whips up in the afternoon, the courses play a little tougher and bring strategy and ball striking to the fore. The Golf Course Guide ranks Kennedy Bay at #6 and The Cut at #17 in the rankings of Australia’s Top Golf Courses. Combining these and other great courses such as Joondalup Resort, The Vines and Araluen make for an amazing golf holiday to West Australia.
One of the most popular tours IGS hosts each year is their excursion to Tasmania and the world renowned Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm. Ranked #2 and #3 respectively, these are two of the best golf courses in the world and part of the Tasmanian golf experience that every golfer needs to enjoy for themselves. There are few courses in the world that compare to Barnbougle and Lost Farm and IGS Managing Director Gary Allomes is always keen to talk to people about arranging their Tasmanian golf holiday.
Speak with the team at IGS today about turning your golf holiday dreams into reality.
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Inside Golf Magazine - July Edition
The July edition of Inside Golf Travel magazine features an article and on International Golf Specialists and the services that the Number 1 golf tour operator in Western Australia provides for their local and international guests.
Along with this, our advert titled ‘Experience The Best WA Has To Offer’, is applicable in more than one way. Of course, Western Australia has some of the best publicly accessible golf courses in Australia and great activities available for everyone visiting our beautiful state, but experience counts in another way, with the team at IGS boasting more than 40 years in the travel industry and an in-depth knowledge of all of our offered destinations. Golf travel is becoming increasingly popular with individuals, groups and families who are combining business trips and holidays with the opportunity to try out the best golf courses their destination has on offer.
As the editorial accompanying the advert under the Golf Tour Operators section explains, IGS Managing Director Gary Allomes develops and hosts some of the best golf tours for inbound guests into Western Australia and selected destinations throughout Australia and Asia. Some of our most popular are the Barnbougle Dunes trip to Tasmania and the Vietnam/Thailand tour. Many participants are on their second, third or fourth hosted tour.
IGS has catered for groups of up to 40 players and travelling companions, and often have individual players jump aboard a tour and enjoy the company of fellow golfers going to play some of the best courses in the country. The IGS website has information on all our upcoming tours and the current packages we offer at our fantastic destinations. 
One of the best things about an IGS golfing holiday is the personal touches that the IGS team can put into your tailored itinerary. A chat with the guys at IGS will ensure that your trip will run as smoothly as possible and you will be able to enjoy the best activities at your chosen destination. We will arrange accommodation to ensure the easiest of transfers to the golf courses you want to play and organise priority tee times.
If there’s a course you have always dreamt of playing, or you just want to escape for a break somewhere and take your clubs with you, then speak with the guys at International Golf Specialists about making these dreams a reality.
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IGS Golf Travel Winter Edition
great golfing experiences!
In October, Managing Director Gary Allomes and his wife Sally fly to Bangkok to host a very exclusive golf tour that includes both Thailand and Vietnam. There are three segments to this tour, which in total can be up to 11 nights covering the best golfing precincts in both countries. Starting on Monday, 23 October, the tour commences with 4 nights in exciting Pattaya, Thailand staying at the 5 star AVANI Pattaya Resort Spa.
There are around 40 golf courses in the Pattaya region, however our guests will be playing the very best … Siam Country Club! The Old Course, Plantation & Waterside make up the 54 golf holes on offer at this exceptional golf complex.
After Pattaya, the group fly directly to Danang, Vietnam for 4 nights at the luxurious 5 star Hotel Royal in the historic town of Hoi An. There are four very special golf courses in the Danang district with world renowned golfers & designers Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo and the newest golf course in the region, Ba Na Hills designed by Luke Donald. Danang has become the hottest golf tourism destination in Asia, and a part of Vietnam you will want to return to again and again. After our time in Danang, guests can take the 3 night extension option to Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) for some cultural and touring delights. This bustling and often chaotic city is like nowhere else in the world. Staying at the 4 ½ star Grand Saigon Hotel alongside the Saigon River makes this the perfect location to explore the city and its many museums, civic buildings and shopping stalls. Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels or a fast speedboat down the river to the Mekong Delta for a memorable local excursion and finish with a night dinner/ walking tour around the streets of Saigon. There are already 18 guests from around Australia booked on this tour, and with numbers limited you need to be quick to ensure your place on this exclusive hosted golf tour.
Contact host Gary Allomes for a personalised briefing of the tour itinerary.
https://www.golfinggetaways.com.au/thailand-and-vietnam-tour
Joondalup Country Club
International Golf Specialists (IGS) has recently contributed to a dedicated Feature on golf in Western Australia in the popular magazine, Inside Golf. To recognise this golf tourism feature, IGS has developed a very special Perth golf package, which includes Joondalup Country Club.
Joondalup Country Club is the best public access golf club in Western Australia, and is rated # 3 in Australia according to the 2017 Golf Course Guide. Joondalup is simply the “Best of the Best”! With 27 championship golf holes designed by internationally renowned designer, Robert Trent Jones; a modern & contemporary Clubhouse, Golf Shop, and excellent practice facilities, Joondalup Country Club has it all for the keen golfer.
Staying at the 5 star Joondalup Resort, nestled in natural bush-land just 25 minutes north of Perth CBD and five minutes from WA’s Sunset Coast, the Resort offers an oasis of relaxation, comfort and state of the art facilities. This 4 day / 3 nights package includes:
• 3 night's accommodation in a Deluxe Garden View room
• 2 rounds of championship golf including shared motorised cart and a bucket of "warm-up" golf balls
• Private vehicle return transfers from Perth airport or city to Joondalup Resort
Prices start from $715 per person, so be quick to
book this limited offer from International Golf
Specialists. [email protected]
and not leave Australia!
The Mornington Peninsula is the number #1 golfing destination in Australia, and is an easy 90-minute drive from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport. With over a dozen top class golf courses to choose from, it is a veritable golfer’s feast. This rugged coastal area provides perfect links conditions as well as traditional tree lined classics providing exceptional world class golfing experiences.
This unique area contains vibrant coastal villages and charming hinterland hamlets full of boutique wineries and acclaimed restaurants, art galleries, geothermal springs, safe surfing and bayside beaches and of course, the renowned golf courses.
The Dunes; St Andrews Beach; Moonah Links, Portsea and Sorrento golf courses are all listed in Golf Australia's Top 50 public access golf courses and combined with a range of accommodation options, make for a memorable and affordable golfing experience. International Golf Specialists promotes Mornington Peninsula golf packages and tours, and can tailor a golfing experience to your requirements and timetable. IGS has an exclusive golf tour scheduled for February 2018 which includes 5 night's accommodation, 4 rounds of golf and all transfers
One of the biggest complaints golfers have is speed of play, and there is a growing tendency for amateurs to spend almost the same amount of time that the pros do in lining up their next shot. When pace of play becomes a problem, even if it caused by someone else, we can sometimes find ourselves rushing parts of our game to make up for lost time and subsequently playing poorly. There is no need for a player to have three practice swings for a regulation shot, or to spend an eternity lining up a putt they will most likely miss. Don’t beat around the bush with slow players, tell them in a polite way that they need to pick up the pace. If they continue to play slowly and cause you frustration, avoid playing with them altogether!
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Golf Travel IGS Autumn Edition 2017
a unique golfing experience!
I have just returned to Perth after hosting a golf tour to Tasmania and Victoria. There were 16 keen male golfers on the tour, and the 6-night tour included 5 rounds of golf at some memorable golf courses.
Our golfing destinations were Barnbougle Links Resort in Northern Tasmania and the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne, Victoria. The tour started with an overnight stay in Launceston with a round at Launceston Golf Club (LGC) the next day. After the round it was off by private coach on the 1 ½ hour’s drive through the Tamar Valley to Barnbougle Links Resort. Barnbougle is an amazing golfing destination, located 80 kilometres north east of Launceston. There are two purpose built links courses, the older Dunes course and the newer Lost Farm course … bothhave famous American designers, Tom Doak (Dunes) and Bill Coore (Lost Farm) and are designed on the lines of the famous British and Irish links courses. The Dunes is only 10 years old, but looks like it has been around for a hundred years. The Dunes course is Australian Golf Digest #1 Public Access course in Australia … Lost Farm is #2!
Staying on-course in the Dunes Cottages just adds to the golfing atmosphere, and to wake up to the abundant wildlife outside the cottages and the 1st tee 20 metres from the cottage veranda was something special. There is nothing like Barbougle Links Resort … you have to experience it to understand its unique qualities!
After 3 nights at the Resort, it was back to Launceston Airport for a short flight to Melbourne and a 2 hour private coach transfer to Portsea on the Mornington Peninsula. Staying at the 5 star Portsea Village Resort was just the ticket for a relaxed start to the Mornington Peninsula sector of the golf tour. The next day we played the Dunes … a Tony Cashmore designed championship course that was hosting its Club Championships that week. With greens running at 13 ½ on the stimpmeter and the group electing for the Member’s tees, it was a great test of golfing skill and stamina. The Dunes is a mighty golf course, and in my opinion, the best on the Peninsula.
On the last day, we played a very interesting golf course in St Andrews Beach. Designed by Tom Doak, it can only be described as “quirky”, with at least 7 greens where you cannot see the bottom of the flag from the fairways. This was a bit disconcerting when you are not used to “blind” golf, however it is a memorable and fun course to play and rates as one of the more difficult courses in Australia.
If you are interested in a short-break “great golfing experience” in Australia, you cannot do any better than Barnbougle Links Resort and the golf courses around the Mornington Peninsula. Speak to the guys at IGS for itinerary and golfing concepts that will ensure a memorable golfing trip for you and your golfing mates
Contact Gary for more details! 
As a result of the success of the recent Thailand golf tour and demand from the tour group, Managing Director Gary Allomes and Mark Siegal, MD of Golfasian have collaborated to produce a unique golf tour in 2017 to include both Thailand and Vietnam. Combining the best golfing destinations of these two countries, the tour comprises 4 nights in Pattaya,
Thailand, staying at the 5 star AVANI Pattaya Resort with rounds of golf at the best golf complex in Thailand, Siam Country Club. Travel then to Danang in Vietnam to play the world-renowned Greg Norman designed BRG Danang Golf Club and Colin Montgomerie’s only course design in Asia, Montgomerie Links. Staying 4 nights at the luxurious Royal Hoi An Resort in historic Hoi An town, you will play some of the best golf courses in Asia, and travel to UNESCO world heritage sites and the historic city of Hue, once the capital of Vietnam.
To finish the tour off, there is a 3 night extension to Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) where the tour group will explore this vibrant and often chaotic city, the largest in Vietnam. Excursions to the Mekong Delta by fast speed boat, and a visit to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels make for a wonderful way to finish this golf tour. Numbers are limited to just 24, so you need to be quick to join this special golf tour. (view the full tour here)
For more information about this special golf tour to Thailand and Vietnam and other great golfing destinations, contact the team at International Golf Specialists for a tailored and memorable golfing holiday.
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The recent ISPS Handa Super Six Perth was a European Tour sanctioned event which saw a mixture of stroke and match-play eventually determine local boy Brett Rumford as its inaugural champion. The Perth weather was fantastic and provided some of the best golfing conditions the field would compete in anywhere in the world. The coverage also highlighted many of the other activities that are on offer throughout the state of Western Australia. The tournament was screened to millions of people around the world and IGS has since had an influx of enquiries from people wanting to visit Perth for a golfing holiday. With Perth as our home town, there is no other destination we would rather show case than our own backyard. With great courses such as Lake Karrinyup, Joondalup Resort and Meadow Springs, to name just a few, and fantastic accommodation to boot, a golfing holiday to WA is just what the relaxation doctor ordered. Speak to us today about arranging your golfing adventure to one of the best cities in the world.
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Most of us like to think we are good at DIY but the reality is, in many cases, it is often better to leave things to the experts to get the best results. The same rings true when arranging a golf holiday. While there are people who enjoy putting together that trip of a lifetime for themselves and their golfing friends, the team at IGS are often called in when things get too hard, to tie up loose ends or book the courses that aren’t available to everyone. The expertise IGS have in the golf travel industry and relationships we have with hotels, golf courses and local suppliers means that your golf holiday will be stress free from beginning to end. A chat with the guys at IGS will begin the easiest of golf holidays from start to finish.
Golf is ultimately a target sport. There may be a huge fairway to aim at with a tee shot and a large green on which we try to land the ball, but the eventual aim is to guide a ball measuring 1.68 inches in diameter, into a hole measuring 4.25 inches across. Why then do most of us stand up and blast away with our drivers with no specific target in mind? To maximise accuracy, we must narrow our focus. Think of firing an arrow or rifle at a target and then narrow that aim down to the dead centre of the bulls-eye. It’s a small aim point but misses are going to be less than when we aim at a larger area. Take the same principle to your golf game. Choose a specific area on the fairway you want your drive to land. Pick out an exact spot on the green for your approach shot to hit and aim really small on putts by aiming at a single blade of grass in front of the hole or a spot of dirt on the back of the cup. You’ll find that your accuracy and focus will increase and your scores will come down.
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Spring Newsletter 2016
Spring is here and now is the perfect time to dust off the clubs and get back out on the fairways. While many golfers simply cannot miss their weekly round, some are happy to leave the diehards of the game to play through the cooler months and emerge from golf hibernation once the days warm up.
For the dedicated golfer who stands on the first tee rain, hail or shine, what better way to reward yourself for braving the toughest golfing conditions of the year, than by joining International Golf Specialists on one of our exclusive tours.
Our upcoming hosted tour to Tasmania’s stunning Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm in February 2017 still has limited spots available and is a must for lovers of links golf. 2017 sees hosted tours to Mauritius, South Africa, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, throughout the year.
At International Golf Specialists, we arrange great golf holidays, whether designed exclusively for you and your traveling partners, or a pre-arranged tour hosted by IGS Managing Director Gary Allomes. Gary is always happy to chat about putting together a personalised tour based on your requirements, and his love of golf and 40 years of experience in the travel industry are a combination unequalled in today’s golf travel industry.
Contact Gary for more details! 
The Best Advertising for IGS
As Western Australia’s Number 1 Golf Tour operator, we at International Golf Specialists pride ourselves on delivering the best tours and golf holidays within Australia and overseas. Testimonials from our many happy clients are testament to the experience and dedication required to design, organise and host truly memorable golf holidays and events. Here are a couple below.
“Our trip to Mauritius was the most memorable holiday we have ever experienced! All aspects of our holiday was catered for by International Golf Specialists, and Gary did an excellent job with all the arrangements … including the weather! We are planning on another visit in 2017 and will be using the team at IGS for our return trip! Thank you again”! Tom and Diane Hughes.
We used the team at International Golf Specialists to make arrangements for the 17th Magnum Masters golf tour event in Perth, Western Australia. The Managing Director Gary Allomes looked after our group of 28 golfers very professionally, which contributed to a successful golf trip. I would certainly recommend International Golf Specialists to any golfers looking for a personalised, great value golf package or tour. Graham Campbell.
VIEW our Testimonials 
International Golf Specialists are expanding their New Zealand tours are taking in the best of golf throughout the North Island. Options of 7 and 14 day golf packages and tours offer golf and accommodation in Auckland, Taupo, The Hawkes Bay and Wellington and take in many of the most talked about golf courses in the world. Cape Kidnappers, Kinloch, Wairakei International, Paraparaumu Beach GC, Royal Wellington and The Grange are some of the amazing courses on offer for anyone who wants to treat themselves to these incredible courses and the fantastic scenery and activities throughout New Zealand’s north.
To find out more about everything on offer to golf travellers planning to visit this amazing country, speak to the guys at International Golf Specialists today.
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Seeing your golf swing is sometimes likened to hearing your own voice. We are usually surprised at how we think our swing looks like based on feel, to how it actually looks when we see it on video.
We all too often try to emulate the actions of the professionals we see on the world tours. Throw in tips you receive from magazines, TV shows and those pesky playing partners and swinging a club at a little white ball can become much more complicated than it needs to be. While few of us have the time to work on the perfect swing or putting stroke, lessons from a PGA professional will go a long way to improving your game in the shortest possible time.
Although you may initially feel like you have taken a step backwards after a lesson, professionals always have a series of steps in mind to resolve swing issues. Stick with their programs and the time and money you invest will pay off on your scorecard.
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2016 Winter Newsletter
The International Golf Specialists Queenstown Tour in March 2017 will fill fast and is a great opportunity for groups and individuals to join our inaugural tour to New Zealand’s fastest growing golf destination.
As with our ever popular Barnbougle Dunes tours, this Queenstown adventure will bring golfers from all over Australia and New Zealand to enjoy 5 rounds at Queenstown’s finest golf courses, including Jack’s Point, Millbrook, Kelvin Heights and Arrowtown Golf Course.
This Queenstown golf getaway will offer so much more than the golfing experience of a lifetime. The town is packed with adventure and adrenaline activities for the brave at heart, and some of the finest restaurants and most exciting bars anywhere in the country are found here and in the historic gold mining settlement of Arrowtown.
Speak with the team at International Golf Specialists today to book your spot on this exciting tour.
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There are still some spaces available on our exclusive golf tour to Thailand 03 – 12 October. Hosted by Managing Director Gary Allomes, this 10 day golf tour includes 5 rounds of golf in three different provinces of Thailand. Starting with a round at the prestigious and very private Thai Country Club in Bangkok, the tour travels out west to the edge of the Burmese mountains and includes rounds at both Grand Prix Golf Club and Royal Ratchaburi before travelling south to Hua Hin on the Gulf of Siam, with rounds at the internationally acclaimed Black Mountain and Banyan golf courses. Apart from the five
star golf and hotel resort experiences, there are also
optional cultural and historical excursions in Bangkok,
the River Kwai and Burma Rail Museum and even a
tour of a Thailand award-wining winery outside of Hua Hin.
With prices starting at $2,596 per person twin share, this is exceptional value for an exclusive hosted golf tour taking in some of the best golf courses in Asia. This tour will fill, so be quick to request the tour itinerary from International Golf Specialists and book your place on this special Thailand golf tour
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International Golf Specialists has prepared a very special hosted golf tour in 2017 to Mauritius and South Africa that takes in world renown golf courses and resorts and includes an exclusive safari to witness the “Big Five” up close and personal. A 11 day golfing adventure 14 – 25 May 2017 that includes 7 rounds of golf on courses designed by Gary Player, Ernie Els, Bernard Langer and Hugh Baiocchi. Staying at the world famous Sun City Resort just out of Johannesburg in South Africa, experience the combination of a golf round at the exclusive Gary Player Country Club, and a day excursion to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve to watch the famous animals in the wild.
This is a new golf tour and will be restricted to just 20 participants to maintain the exclusive and unique nature of the golf tour.
Contact Gary Allomes at International Golf Specialists for your personal brochure and details of this very special golf tour.
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Managing Director Gary Allomes has been selected to be a judge in the 2016 National Travel Industry Awards, to be held in Sydney on 16 July, 2016 at the Dockside Pavilion, Darling Harbour.
The Awards are the premier industry event of the year, and recognise the leading travel and tourism businesses in the Australian Travel Industry sector. Gary stated “the Travel industry Awards are quite prestigious and the Finalist judging is a very intense and robust process taking in 39 award categories and many finalist presentations and interviews.
It was an honour to be selected as part of the judging panel, and I wish all the finalists the very best in their award categories”.
International Golf Specialists has just produced a very special and exclusive golf package to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Staying at the 5 star Sutera Harbour Resort, you can enjoy the excellent facilities this stunning resort has to offer. As a golfer, you will want to spend much of your time playing the
magnificent 27 hole championship courses designed by
renown Australian professional golfer and designer Graham Marsh. Three nine-hole loops, makes golf interesting and challenging, with one of the nines open for night golf daily.
Sutera Harbour Resort is situated on the fringe of the South China Sea, and a leisurely stroll to downtown Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. The resort has many bars, restaurants, fitness centres and even has its own marina. Apart from golf, there is a bowling alley, diving, racquet sports and an historic steam train ride through the country side and jungles of Sabah.
Our special 7 night golf package starts from AUD 890 per person and includes twin accommodation at the Pacific Sutera Hotel, daily breakfast and 3 rounds of golf at Sutera Golf & Country Club. For more details about this great special offer, please contact the team at International Golf Specialists for a tailored golf trip to beautiful Sabah, Malaysia.
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Developing a good Pre Shot Routine is a great way to improve your golf game and become a more consistent and capable player.
The term Pre Shot Routine refers to the actions a golfer takes before each and every shot they play, ensuring they are going through the same motions, in the same time frame for every shot.
For example, you may like to take your club from your bag, stand behind the ball and visualise the shot to the target, have a practise swing behind the ball, address the ball and play your shot. Or, you may prefer to simply address the ball, have a couple of waggles and play your shot.
There are many different Pre Shot Routines but the important thing is to find one which works for you and stick to it.
Practise it on the range and then use it on the course for every shot you play, and develop one that you feel most comfortable with on the greens too.
You’ll find that going through these motions when you practise and treating every shot on the driving range like a shot on the course, will mean your practise sessions are much more beneficial than simply hitting a bucket balls one after the other.
Check out this video of Tiger Woods to hear his thoughts on the importance of a good Pre Shot Routine.
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