Thanks to a home exchange program, I was able to stay for free at a cottage in the charming coastal town of Crail in Scotland, just two miles from a fabulous links course and nine miles from St. Andrews. (Photo by Larry Gavrich)
Note to readers: I am picky about who is permitted to advertise on this web site. Only products and services that I deem of benefit to our readers will ever grace this space. Senior Golf Exchange is one such service, run by a veteran golf traveler, Graeme Smith, who is offering free two-year memberships and no initiation fee (a total value of $300) to the first 10 readers who sign up. Just click on his ad at left; at his home page, click "join", and then when asked, "How did you hear about us?" select "Recommendation" and then enter the promotion code "GCRPromo" when asked who recommended Senior Golfer Exchange.
The best golf vacation I have ever taken, this past June in Scotland, was made all the better by staying rent free near St. Andrews and making golfing friends for life.
It was just good fortune that George and Dorothy Horsfield of Glasgow, Scotland had seen the listing for our vacation home in Pawleys Island, SC, and contacted me about a swap. We all subscribe to HomeLink International, a service that facilitates home exchanges. Most of these are
Senior Golf Exchange is offering two-years of free
membership to the first 10 who sign up, a $300 value.
within countries, but some are international as well. George and Dorothy stayed at our condo in South Carolina in April, and my son Tim and I stayed at their cottage in Crail, nine miles from St. Andrews, in June. We have all become fast friends and great email pen pals.
New house exchange service for senior golfers
HomeLink does not focus on golf, so it is a little cumbersome for those seeking a home on or near a golf course to find the appropriate listings. Now, however, a new service based in Australia has narrowed the home exchange program to golf only, and narrowed it further by gearing it to senior golfers (over 50). Senior Golf Exchange, the brainchild of traveling golfer Graeme Smith, debuted in May as "A Private Members' Club for Home Exchange and Hospitality Exchange -- for senior golfers worldwide." I like the concept enough that I have invited Graeme to advertise here at Golf Community Reviews. You will note in his ad and at his web site that he agrees with one of my favorite pieces of advice -- stay for a while in a place before you consider buying there. His program makes it easy and inexpensive and facilitates introductions to people who live in the community.
"The research confirms that most home exchanges are of three to four days duration," says Graeme, "and within driving distance of home." Some, Graeme points out, can last a month or two if the parties are willing.
Senior Golf Exchange can also save the traveling golfer the sometimes-expensive payment of green fees. In many cases, where a club permits it, member golfers not only exchange homes but also member privileges. But what if the exchangers' clubs do not offer such unaccompanied guest privileges?
"If my wife and I were not at home to host our guests," Graeme says, using himself as an example, "I would make arrangements with appropriate
"In 50 years of home swapping, there has never been a report of malicious damage (to an exchanger's home)."
friends in my club and at other clubs to ‘look after the visitors.'" That is the way it worked when the Horsfields stayed at our condo in Pawleys Island, SC; my neighbors Larry and Mike invited George to play during the weekly Men's Club outing. And I hadn't even asked them. Should play at each other's home course turn out to be impossible, you and your exchange partner can exchange information about local semi-private and public golf clubs.
Senior Golf Exchange also supports "hospitality exchanges," essentially a reciprocal hosting program. You stay in another golfer's home, play golf with them at their course and, at a later date, they do the same at your home.
A record of safe house swapping
Obviously, I like the concept of home exchange since it has worked for me. It is a boon for those golfers "of a certain age" to have a golf home exchange program dedicated to them. As for anxieties about letting perfect strangers loose in your home, I admit my wife and I were nervous initially. But after numerous email exchanges with George and Dorothy, I felt I knew them as well as I do some of our good friends, and I had no anxieties at all about the exchange. They took wonderful care of our home.
"In 50 years of home swapping, and more than 100,000 exchanges per year," says Graeme about industry statistics, "there has never been a reported case of malicious damage." Graeme adds that insurance companies prefer exchange partners staying in your home compared with an unoccupied house.
Complimentary membership to readers of GolfCommunityReviews
A critical mass of listings will be essential to making the Senior Golfer Exchange service work well for all its subscribers. The more locations senior golf exchangers have to choose among, the faster the service will gain traction and the more of us will be flying around the country and globe without having to worry about lodging expenses. To help reach his goal of 1,000 subscribers in his first year of operation, Graeme is making available a limited number of free charter memberships, including a two-year subscription to Senior Golfer Exchange, exclusively for registered users here at Golf Community Reviews. This is a total $300 value, as he customarily charges $99 to join and $99 per year. Once you sign up, just fill in the required information about your property and yourself, and you are ready to start fielding exchange requests and making those requests yourself.
Membership in Senior Golf Exchange will provide you with the opportunity to experience the program without any financial risk at all. I have already signed up at Senior Golf Exchange and filled out the member and property listing information. I look forward to seeing others of you list your homes and start traveling.
Graeme is making this offer only to the first 10 people who sign up. Click here if you would like to become a charter member, then enter the promo code "GCRPromo" when prompted.
If you have any questions, check out Graeme's web site at Senior Golf Exchange.
