For our overseas operators, this year’s journey to the convention began the moment they landed at Heathrow. From there it was a short transfer to The Castle Hotel, Windsor, where the group stopped for refreshments and a site visit with Kayleigh Gillow, Sales Director at The Castle, before heading off to Woking Golf Club for their first round.
Woking proved a brilliant start to the trip. Surrey’s oldest heathland courses and hugely influential in the development of strategic course design, it left a strong impression — not least the clubhouse and verandah, the perfect spot to unwind after a round and take in the surroundings. It’s also one of Woking’s great quirks that the veranda is technically “in play” — land a shot there and the local rule is to play it as it lies. Thankfully, nobody in this year’s group put that particular rule to the test!
For many, Windsor itself wasn’t a new discovery — but arriving there ahead of the convention was a good reminder of just what a strong base it makes for a golf trip. Having The Castle Hotel sitting alongside Windsor Castle puts operators right in the middle of a genuinely historic and lively town, with some of England’s finest golf sitting just a short drive away. Beyond Woking Golf Club, the area is home to St George’s Hill, Sunningdale, Swinley Forest and The Berkshire — a concentration of world-class heathland golf that’s hard to match anywhere else in the country, all within easy reach of the hotel.
That combination — outstanding golf by day, a lively, historic town to come back to in the evening, and a team happy to show operators exactly what they’re working with — is exactly what makes Windsor such a compelling option for itineraries built around London. This year’s group experienced it firsthand, dining at The Ivy in Windsor after their round at St George’s Hill, rounding off the day in properly memorable style.
What’s particularly exciting is that The Castle Hotel is currently undergoing significant investment, and once complete, it will offer some genuinely amazing suites overlooking the castle itself. It’s already a wonderful base for golf and touring groups — with that work finished, it’s going to be an even stronger one.