Golf Blog

Around The World With Troon

As a golf course photographer my passion has taken me to some amazing places over the past decade. This adventure with Troon may have topped them all.

I took off from California and headed west and I would return 16 days later from the east. I would travel over 20,000 miles, visit 5 different countries and play 9 different golf courses. Please enjoy my journey as I go Around The World with Troon.

Cambodia - Vattanac Golf Resort

I started my worldwide Troon adventure with one of the most unique experiences that I have ever had in golf. Coming into the trip, I knew that golf in Asia was “different” but this was my first time visiting Asia and I was still uncertain as what to expect. From the moment I stepped out of the cab, the experience at Vattanac was something truly special. Approximately 20 of the staff had lined up to greet me and the welcome was just the beginning. There are 6 things about the golf experience at Vattanac Golf Resort that make it stand out from the rest.

  1. Welcome with traditional Cambodian Court Dance.

    I felt like there had been a mistake on the tee sheet and that this dance was reserved for some sort of royalty. I smiled and tried to play it cool. The dresses and movements were very unique and I was mesmerized.

  2. Personal locker room with dedicated shower, bathroom and driving range.

    This was another unexpected amenity. A locker with my name on it would have been plenty but instead there was an entire locker room with my name on it. That locker room opened up directly to my own personal driving range setup.

  3. Dedicated caddie experience.

    A caddie isn’t that unique but the caddies in Asia do it a little different. They are very attentive to detail and in the hot Cambodian sun, they followed us around with an umbrella to protect us from the sun. The service provided a very special feeling.

4. 10 dedicated meals over 36 holes of golf

This was the most notable difference compared to golf in America. After every 3-4 holes there would be a stop at a “tea house” and we would be treated to an exquisite presentation of delicious food. The cuisine wasn’t just a hot dog at the turn, but food specially prepared by the chef. It was a magically delicious distraction from the golf.

5. Built to scale replicas of Cambodia’s historical monuments.

While these monuments are not directly in the line of play, they are still very noticeable on the golf course. These additions do a great job of making the golf course feel unique and special. It is a nice touch that brings some Cambodian history onto the golf course.

6. Night golf

Vattanac has illuminated a portion of the East Course to create a beautiful round of night golf. Just because the sun has gone down, does not mean that you should have to put away your golf clubs.

In every country that I visited on Around The World with Troon, I didn’t just focus on the golf courses, I took some time to explore the country, immerse myself in the culture and take in as many sights as possible. In Cambodia I took in the local markets and paid a visit to the Kings Royal Palace. The King was in town, but I decided not to bother him.

Took a visit to noodle mountain in Phnom Penh.

The food Markets in Cambodia provide unique options.

Sri Lanka - Victoria Golf Resort

After having one of the most unique golf experiences of my life in Cambodia, it was time to move on to Sri Lanka where I would run into another top 10 golf experience at Victoria Golf Resort. After a winding drive from the capital city of Colombo I finally arrived at my second destination in the middle of Sri Lanka.

When I first arrived on property it was dark outside, so I really couldn’t tell what I was looking at beyond the putting green. The staff helped me to my room and I got some much needed rest after a day of travel. When I woke up the next morning and looked out the window of my room, I found the view below waiting for me. I had arrived in paradise.

Hiding in the trees on the left, were some of my new Sri Lankan friends. A local troop of Sri Lankan Macaques hangs out on the 17th hole in the mornings and then heads over to the front nine in the afternoon. They are curious, friendly, and photogenic.

In addition to my new favorite buddies, I also found several of my new favorite par 3’s in golf. The short 4th hole and the long 12th hole immediately caught my attention and by the end of my visit, I was a big fan of both golf holes.

The interesting golf holes at Victoria Golf Resort don’t stop with the par 3’s. There are a number of truly unique golf holes at Victoria Golf Resort. The 3rd hole plays like a half pipe, the 6th hole offers one of the most dramatic views in Sri Lanka and the 5th hole is a scenic and fun short par 4. It is truly one of the most adventurous and beautiful places that I have played golf.

In addition to the golf, there are options for horse back rides, nature hikes, tennis and swimming. There are newly constructed villas on the property which makes the entire experience feel much more intimate and natural. The staff is also unbelievably accommodating which really ties the entire adventure together.

During my stay I took several journeys away from the resort and into Sri Lanka where I visited several Buddhist temples. We hopped into a Tuk Tuk and began exploring. We found a buddhist temple located in a mountain side and another just off of the 2nd green. The Temple of the Tooth was the most well known and provided a robust religious experience. Each temple provided a different experience but they were always visually interesting.

We visited the markets to explore the local options fro seafood and fruit. I passed on the seafood and ate some fruit.

A duo of Tuk Tuks

Oman - Al Mouj Golf, LA VIE Golf Club

After bidding my new Sri Lankan friends farewell, I headed over to the hottest and one of the most scenic countries on the agenda. It was time to visit the beautiful country of Oman. The welcome I received upon my arrival was one of tremendous hospitality. There was a brief exchange at the airport and then I was immediately taken away to The Kempinski hotel. The Kempinski had everything dialed in.

After exploring all of the different rooms in my suite, it was time to head over to Al Mouj and explore the very best golf course in Oman. The front nine at Al Mouj will lure you into thinking one way, but once you reach the 10th hole, the golf course turns directions physically and metaphorically.

The back nine sprawls up and down the Gulf of Oman and offers some dramatic encounters and sandy situations. Most tourists would not expect much from Oman in terms of golf, but Al Mouj delivers a serious and beautiful test of championship Troon golf.

Al Mouj is the most sought after golf course in Oman, but it is not the only kid on the block. The locals tend to flock to The LA VIE Club. The course has a strong community vibe and it is a lot of fun to play. LA VIE offers a solid challenge but also allows plenty of room for error. The result is a good time and a porch that stays busy until about 2am

After the golf, we headed towards the city center of Oman to take in some culture. There was discussion of visiting an Omani Fortress and I immediately wanted in on the action. We decided to visit Mutrah Fort on the eastern end of the Mutrah Corniche harbour. From inside the fort, you can see views of the Oman Port and harbour on one side and the beautiful rock formations of the Hajar Mountains and the Portuguese watchtowers on the other. We also had a a great view of another Omani fort called Al Jalali.

After checking out the fort situation we headed down to the local markets which were empty due to the time of day. I took some time to snap a photograph of the market and what would usually be a very busy situation. After procuring several souvenirs we returned to the hotel. My favorite part of each day wasn’t necessarily exploring Oman, but returning to the Kempinski Hotel. The team there provides a world class experience.

Czech Republic - PGA National Czech Republic - Oaks Prague

When Around the World with Troon left Oman and headed over to the Czech Republic, it had been 10 days abroad and Czhechia was the 4th country visited. I had officially passed the halfway point of the journey and was more than 50% of the way around the world. After heating it up in the desert it was nice to cool down in the Czech Republic.

The weather and conditions for golf in The Czech Republic were absolutely perfect. PGA National Czech Republic - Oaks Prague was ready to show off not only the length of its name but the quality of its golf course. This Kyle Phillips golf course is a beautiful and challenging design.

The first few holes of PGA National wind their way through the trees before breaking out into a field full of links golf. Eventually the golf finds its way back through the trees giving the golfer a complete feeling that only a well balanced routing can provide.

Czech Republic Bonus Golf: Albatross and Prague City Golf

In addition to the PGA National course, I managed to play several other local courses at Albatross Golf Club and Prague City Golf. The courses were fun to play and rounded out the Czech golf experience nicely.

During my golf adventures in the Czech Republic, I stayed in the city of Prague. Even with a full schedule of golf, I still managed to go exploring. We started with the most obvious spot, the Prague Astronomical Clock Tower. We scheduled some time to climb and began the task of ascending the staircase. The experience at the top was worth the effort.

Let the astronomical clock climbing commence.

The view from the bottom

The view from the top of the clock tower.

A group of Hare Krishnas walk through downtown Prague.

The United Kingdom - The Grove

After a short flight from Prague, I had reached my final destination. Did Troon save the best for last? While The Grove is definitely one of the finest golf resorts in England, only one thing was certain, The Grove had rolled out the green carpet for me.

By chance, my good friend Joey The Cat happened to be visiting London at the exact same time and we decided to set up an Around The World with Troon rendezvous match. We just needed to find something worth gambling for. Fortunately, we were at a Golf Resort that has just about everything that a golfer could wish for.

In addition to the many fine amenities at The Grove, they have something called Jelly Babies and they are delicious. We purchased several bags of the babies and had ourselves a shoot out for the Jelly Babies. The action was intense.

After the excitement from the six baby shoot out had settled it was time to board the final flight home. Just a short 7 hours and I would be back on the east coast of America and another 5 hours and i was back where it all began in California. In total I spent approximately 50 hours on an airplane and flew completely around the world.

The most rewarding aspect of traveling around the world for golf was not just the the places and golf courses that I visited. Traveling the world with Troon has broadened my perspective by exposing me to new ideas and ways of thinking. Experiencing different social norms and cultures has increased my ability to empathize which has made me more appreciative of diversity. The sense of adventure and discovery has given me a heightened sense of wonder that has enriched my overall outlook on life. Through these experiences I have gained a deeper understanding of the world and my place within it.

Summary: Around The World with Troon has made me a better person.