About Hidden Links

Why choose Hidden Links to plan your golf tour to the British Isles?  This simple mission statement defines what we are all about.  Only the best golf tour experiences.  The highest level of service possible.  And value for that service, whether you are spending a lot or a little.  You will receive a complete, totally-customized, turn-key package that will save you hours, days, even weeks of your own time than if you were booking this on your own.  Each day of your trip will be meticulously planned to include golf courses, accommodations, and sightseeing attractions that are truly special, fit what you are looking for, and are the very best options for your group.  Looking for the most deluxe of tours?  We'll deliver it for you in a way that more than justifies the expense and will exceed your every expectation.  Are you traveling on a budget?  We'll provide the most memorable of tours that is packed with value for your money.  Our advantage starts with our knowledge, experience, and extensive contacts.  We can work magic in making a schedule come together that others might find impossible to achieve.  We can react quickly and make requested changes often in the same day, even the same hour.  No request is too small, and maximum flexibility is given to our clients.  Repeat-and-referral business is our bread-and-butter.  We are delighted to provide all the references you need.  You can read actual client testimonials by clicking here.  Our accommodation and golf course partners are just that - partners.  They enjoy working with us and the welcome you receive will be evident.   You can rest assured that every detail will be taken care of!  We look forward to being of service!

We begin by asking you a series of questions on our Tour Fitting (sm) form, a questionnaire that is fun to complete and designed to really get you thinking about what you are looking for on your golf tour. Unlike many "customized" tours that are nothing more than the same canned trip using the same hotels and golf courses in different orders, we leave no stone unturned in finding out exactly the kind of experience you desire. Do you want only the most famous courses, courses off the beaten path so that you can experience golf with the locals, or a combination of both? Do you want to switch hotels frequently and stay closer to courses so you can experience all of the "19th holes," or do you want to base yourself in one or two places so you don't have to pack and unpack? Do you want the best luxury hotels or the most comfortable and atmospheric little guesthouses, and do you want your own rooms or would you rather share? Tour Fitting (sm) helps both us and our clients get a better understanding of what they are looking for in their tours, and is the first step towards the most unforgettable of vacations, a "Highly Customized" Hidden Links Golf Tour!

Everyone knows the most famous courses of the British Isles, they practically roll off of the tongue. On these, you can walk in the footsteps of history, where some of golf's most memorable moments occurred! Can you beat Jean Van de Velde's triple-bogey on the 18th at Carnoustie? Can you escape from Hell Bunker on the Old Course in less time than Jack Nicklaus needed, on his way to a 10? Can you get up-and-down from the front bunker on Royal Birkdale's 18th, as Brian Watts did to force a playoff with Mark O'Meara? Recreate the "Duel in the Sun" between Nicklaus and Tom Watson in the '77 Open at Turnberry! Challenge the "Postage Stamp" at Royal Troon and try to duplicate Gene Sarazen's ace in 1973! While at Sunningdale, play the New Course as well, also ranked in the British Isles' top 40! At Ballybunion, dare to challenge the difficult Cashen Course for a fraction of the cost of the Old! And don't miss lunch at Muirfield, one of the highlights of the day! Did you know you can stay in the clubhouse at Royal St. George's? Did you know you can play the Old Course at St. Andrews practically every day if you go in April or October? Did you know the green fee at Royal Troon includes a complimentary round on the club's Portland Course? Not only will you play these incredible clubs, but you will get the absolute most out of your experiences there!

As great as the famous courses are, these "Hidden Links" are the ones you will end up bragging about when you get home! You can be among the first to tackle Ballyliffin, St. Enodoc, and Machrihanish, courses that amazingly have yet to be discovered by the masses. Head to the Scottish Highlands, with courses and hotels straight from your most vivid imagination of what Scotland should be like. Courses like Brora, where the sheep still roam the course; Cruden Bay, overlooked by the castle ruins that inspired Bram Stoker's "Dracula;" Boat of Garten, a veritable "links in the sky" up in the mountains and one of the most beautiful courses we have ever laid eyes on. Or, head to the great Northwest of Ireland, and play a series of links courses, seemingly at the end of the earth, that will leave you simply gasping, at prices not much more than your local muni. Find the "Hidden England" on the Norfolk coast where the England of yesteryear still exists. Perhaps Wales and its undiscovered golf courses are the ones waiting for you. Or, sail to the islands in the spirit of Captain Cook, and unearth jewels such as The Machrie on Islay, the 12-hole wonder at Shiskine on the Isle of Arran, and the superb Castletown Links, stranded in the middle of the Irish Sea on the mysterious Isle of Man.

We believe that the accommodations are just as important as the golf on a Hidden Links vacation. Whether a traditional guesthouse or a luxury hotel, we look for that crucial, indescribable element that lets us know that "this is the place" for our clients to be! Character, atmosphere, and wonderful service are essential. The guesthouses that we trust with our clients have been bestowed our coveted "4-Pint (sm)" rating. How does a guesthouse rate 4-Pints? Well, first and foremost it must have nice, comfortable rooms, ensuite with television, with exceptions only made if the lack of such somehow adds to the experience! The service is superb, the hosts are especially welcoming, and the location critical, in that a Hidden Links "4-Pinter" must be convenient to the course, and reasonably priced. It cannot be at all "tired" in feel, rather we look for places that are so good, even the wealthiest of clients might admit that they may actually prefer a Hidden Links "4-Pinter" to a luxury hotel, especially on a guys' trip! In the hotel category, we have chosen ones that we rate "5-Casks (sm)." To rate 5-Casks, a hotel must have something special, above and beyond the quality of the rooms. Open fires, superb bars, classic architecture, great locations, exquisite cuisine, and outstanding service are all components that we love to see. You can be assured that the utmost in care and consideration has been given to your choice of accommodations, in accordance with your desired experience, and that each place will meet and exceed the highest expectations!

Dear Hidden Links Enthusiasts,

Thank you for visiting our website! If you are interested in traveling to one of our golf destinations, you have come to the right place. Why? You want to play incredible golf in the most beautiful settings imaginable. You want to experience new places and new people. You want value for your money, whether you are spending a lot or a little. Most importantly, you want someone to take care of all the details for you, someone you can trust for the little extras such as what special pub not to miss, where to get a meal to remember, even how to play that wonderful billiard game called Snooker. Hidden Links provides all of this and more.

The information you see here is the culmination of over two decades of study regarding the greatest and most unique golf courses in the world, and hundreds upon hundreds of planned golf trips. We know that for many of you, this vacation is a "once in a lifetime" experience, and everything we do is geared towards providing you with the absolute best trip possible. Our goal is simple-to provide the most outstanding golf vacation, at the most competitive price, with the finest customer service in the industry. We know how important your vacation is to you, and we ask that you trust us with the responsibility. If you do, you won't be disappointed!

You may find though that your "once in a lifetime" vacation quickly turns into "once a year!" We are confident that you will want to take Hidden Links vacations again and again. I personally was hooked from the time I birdied the first on the Old Course at age 14 (many years and fewer swing flaws ago-see photo), and you will be too!

We hope to be sending you on a trip you will remember forever very soon!

Sincerely yours,

Jeffrey E. Flynn, Jr.
President and Founder