What happens when you swap the daily grind for honing your golf skills? For two couples, the answer was a transformative journey that took them from the sunny greens of the Gold Coast straight to the top of the leaderboard in Thailand—all thanks to Golf Journeys.

Finding Confidence at Golf School

For Western Australian locals, Naomi and Rance Dorrington, who had never attended a golf clinic, the decision to join the mixed golf school on the Gold Coast was about survival on the course. They considered themselves everyday hackers eager to improve. Meanwhile, Carol Kouwenhoven and her husband Patrick, found themselves with a sudden abundance of free time after their children left for university. Wanting to join her husband and their social circle on the course, Carol enrolled in the ladies’ beginner golf school.

Both couples attribute their breakthroughs to Golf Journeys coach, Loic Truet. “Loic is a brilliant coach,” says Rance, an amputee who had previously struggled to find the right instruction. “He transformed my bunker play. His tuition was worth its weight in gold.” Carol agreed, noting that Loic’s tailored, minor tweaks got her hitting consistently, providing enough confidence that she returned for an advanced school the following year.

The structure of the golf school involved dedicated morning drills followed by 9-hole afternoon rounds. It proved to be the ultimate formula for cementing new skills. Rance says that beyond the technique, it was a fantastic social experience, “one of the highlights was finishing the day off with a well-deserved G&T, with new friends and having a good laugh.”

Raising the Stakes in Pattaya

Armed with fresh skills and newfound confidence, both couples took their games international, booking the Pattaya Pairs with Golf Journeys. For Carol and Patrick, it was their first golf holiday. Carol says the organisation was seamless, “we had a dedicated trip app which removed all travel stress, which meant we could focus on the golf and enjoy the experience.  The courses were next level, the caddies were incredibly welcoming, and we loved the vibrant culture of Thailand.”

The tournament format allowed for a thrilling atmosphere. Carol’s favourite day was the Ambrose round at Siam Country Club, “we enjoyed this format as it took the pressure off individual shots.”  On other days, the Pairs Stableford worked perfectly for them,  “when one of us had a blowout hole, the other stepped up to contribute,” Carol chuckled.

The Dorrington’s adopted a different, secret strategy to keep things lively.  “We had our own little competition against each other,” Rance laughs. “But I can’t tell you what we were playing for, it wouldn't be appropriate for publication!”

A Friendly Battle for the Top Spot

As the week progressed, the leaderboard tightened into an exciting showdown between the two Golf Journeys School alumni. Carol and Patrick had played steady, handicap-matching golf all week, but on the final day, they slightly stumbled.

Carol says they didn’t play their best golf on the final day but managed to hold on to top spot. “We seemed to save our worse golf for the last day and could see them creeping up on our heels. Rance and Naomi played outstanding golf on that day! Luckily, we had a couple of good holes at the end which just kept us ahead overall, but they certainly won the day.”

Carol and Patrick Kouwenhoven won the Mixed Division with an overall score of 144 points, and closely on their tails were Rance and Naomi Dorrington with 143 points.

Ultimately, the real victory belonged to both couples. By investing in their games together, they discovered that golf travel isn't just about the final score, it's a win-win for improving skills, exploring the world, and strengthening relationships. Both couples are already eyeing their next bucket-list destinations.