Dominic Holland, a stand-up comedian and author, shares his love for golf and travel in a recent article. Despite traveling the world with his golf clubs, he finds nothing beats a round with his boys at Coombe Wood in Surrey, where he has been a member for years. Reflecting on his first holiday at Pontins Holiday Camp in Dorset, he recalls entering a talent competition doing comedy for the first time and finishing second, which he sees as prophetic now.
His first experience with golf was as a caddie for his dad, who was a 24 handicapper. Disliking the experience, he often wondered why so many clubs were necessary when they didn’t work well. Discussing future plans to scatter his dad’s ashes at Ealing Golf Club, Dominic jokingly suggested scattering them in the rough, but his mom disagreed. His favorite course in the UK is Coombe Wood, where he taught his boys to play golf and discovered he’s a better golf teacher than player.
Dominic also discusses his favorite holiday golf resort, Boavista on the Algarve, where he played with his boys and created fond memories. He hopes to revisit with his boys, who are now skilled golfers. His ideal holiday fourball would include Rory, Jack, and Tiger, iconic names in the game. He reminisces about his most memorable round at Tecina Golf Club in La Gomera and his delightful experience eating Christmas leftovers pie made by his talented mom.
However, not all holidays were perfect, as evidenced by a disastrous golf tour to Turkey where his golf bag was tampered with, resulting in broken club shafts and a lost match. On a brighter note, staying at Gleneagles Hotel during winter stands out as one of his best experiences, with roaring fires and warm stone floors. Despite the luxury, he admits to always worrying about not working and not getting paid while on holiday, due to his self-employed gigging career.
Dominic’s golf holiday bucket list includes a dream six-week tour of iconic UK and Ireland courses like Royal Dornoch and Old Head, to be fulfilled when finances allow. He praises London and Edinburgh as his favorite cities, with Marrakech being his most recent travel destination, where he experienced the vibrant culture and played golf. His top travel tip is to avoid bringing tea bags on holiday, as they often lead to disappointment in trying to recreate the comfort of home.
Moreover, Dominic’s novel, “OPEN LINKS,” which follows the struggles of a fictional tour pro during The Open Championship, is being re-released this year to support the UK charity Anthony Nolan. The book, originally published in 2014, offers an entertaining read for golf enthusiasts while contributing to a good cause. As Dominic Holland continues to blend his passion for golf, travel, and storytelling, he embraces each holiday experience with humor and fond memories.
