Destinations for your golf bucket list without intercontinental flights or jetlag. A tour through Europe with selected examples.
There’s no need to repeat the saying ‘Why roam far away?’ but ultimately, it comes down to that: in uncertain times with eroding societies worldwide, inflation, and soaring energy costs, and also out of consideration for the ecological footprint, intercontinental flights or heavy fuel oil powered ships crossing the big oceans are less popular among sustainably minded sports friends. Or rather: they should be.
‘You just want to get out again’
\”You just want to get out again,\” said a fellow passenger at the airport of the Scottish capital Edinburgh after the official end of the COVID-19 pandemic, in line at the check-in counter. That is still true today. In fact, it seems people are traveling even more freely now that SARS-CoV-2 no longer holds the world in its grip.
Even though travel portals report a stronger focus on environmentally conscious travel and sustainable accommodations among customers. For example, Booking.com found after the pandemic that 50 percent of travelers in Germany and 71 percent worldwide want to travel more sustainably. Over 25 percent stated they choose destinations closer to home. And so on.
Simply wanting to play
The survey did not specifically address the golf travel sector. A specialist in exclusive golf long-distance travel, who wishes to remain anonymous for understandable reasons, once said that ecology is hardly a concern for the clientele who can afford such destinations. They just want to play.
Fortunately, for those tee times on dream courses, there’s a comforting ‘indulgence’: the CO2 emissions caused by golfers’ travel behavior can be partially offset by contributions to climate protection, environmental, or sustainability projects via providers like Atmosfair and MyClimate. Those few extra euros are certainly worth it for the trip.
