About Golf Encounters

Our experience and passion for travel is what drives us.
In December 2019, we said a fond farewell to our previous name, Charlie’s Golf Tours. For over 20 years, Charlie’s Golf Tours built a name for organised, fun and excellent value for money golfing holidays.

Our name has changed but we continue our love of travel, hospitality, making lasting memories, and, of course, golf.

Peter and Marian

Why choose us?

Fun, friends and creating great memories

Play golf in stunning locations, stay in comfortable, four-star accommodation in the heart of vibrant cities and experience the local culture and activities that are on offer.

We’ll take care of everything

We think of the big details, like organising a memorable itinerary, to the little things, like handling all the tipping. All you need to do is relax and enjoy a hassle-free holiday, playing golf on spectacular courses.

Made for devoted golfers, non-golfers and anyone in between

Whatever your golfing experience, you can enjoy playing on world-class courses used by the pros and seen on TV.
It’s fine if you don’t play and would rather enjoy a holiday with your friends or partner – there are plenty of other activities on offer whilst the golfers are on the course.

Local knowledge to delight golfers and holidaymakers

We thoroughly research all our destinations and enjoy strong ties with carefully selected agents in the overseas destinations we visit. Like us, they recognize that delighted customers who want to come back are the key measures of a successful tour.

To keep our tours fresh and exciting, we keep ourselves informed of new activities to add to itineraries. We also make sure we’re aware of the local golf course etiquette – like whether you need to wear a jacket or not (if you are in Japan) – so nobody is left short or unsure of what to expect.

We give you flexibility and choice

We always do our best to cater to your specific needs, whether you want to extend your stay, or you have a dietary requirement – if it can be done, we will arrange it!

Make it your annual golfing treat!

Our golfing tours are excellent value for money, which means you don’t have to limit yourself to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We’re proud of our 80% return rate, and there are several people who book a golf tour with us every year!
We look forward to seeing you on one of our golf tours.

Who are we?

Welcome to Golf Encounters. We are the owners, Peter & Marian Cox, and that’s us in the photo above.
We were born in the UK and emigrated to New Zealand in 1993. Peter’s enjoyed a varied career working in the furniture industry, as a General Manager in the non-profit sector and running a marketing and loyalty card business. Marian is an Occupational Therapist and has worked for many years in the health service, specialising in the disability sector. We’ve both always loved travelling, hosting and seeing people have a great time.

You might know us by our previous name – Charlie’s Golf Tours. And, you might have guessed that a man called Charlie started the business! Charlie ran the first tour to Queensland in 1999, before continuing with tours to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast over the next five years.

In 2014, we bought the business and continue to add exciting new destinations all over the world, with many of our clients returning for tours most years.

We rely on word of mouth and our personal experience of the destination to endorse our tours. Our customers come from all over New Zealand so there will be someone in your region we can point you to if you’d like a testimonial.

As owners and operators of Golf Encounters, any enquiries go directly to us. We’re always happy to answer any questions about the tours and will help you decide which tour is best for you.

Meet our tour hosts

Each of our tours are guided by approachable and experienced hosts, who are there to ensure you have a relaxing, fun and memorable golfing holiday. Depending on which tour you choose, you will get to meet a couple of our friendly hosts.
IAN & ROSIE ARMSTRONG

IAN & ROSIE ARMSTRONG

MIKE & SUE RYAN

MIKE & SUE RYAN

Enjoy Peace of Mind

You can book with us knowing that as a travel broker of the Travel Managers Group, who is a bonded member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), your travel funds are secure. 

Travel Managers Group (TMG) are one of New Zealand’s leading broker-based travel companies, and part of the Flight Centre Travel Group.

IATA represents, leads and serves the airline Industry. It is a trade association of the world’s airlines. Its major responsibility is to serve and support aviation with global standards for airlines’ safety, security, efficiency, and sustainability.

IATA accreditation is a seal of approval recognized worldwide. In short, IATA accreditation simplifies the business relationship between agents and airlines and gives airlines access to a worldwide network of reliably certified and recognized agents.  

Being IATA accredited means that we are authorised to sell international and/or domestic tickets on behalf of all major airlines, helping us to deliver the best deals to our customers.  Being IATA bonded means that IATA recognise TMG as being financially secure and conducts biannual financial checks on on them, as well as weekly remittance processing to minimise any risk of a default. So, an IATA bond serves as another means of security and assurance for our clients.

All our financial transactions are managed by TMG who have robust policies in place to limit any risks to our clients.  All client funds are deposited into the Travel Managers company bank account and managed carefully to ensure suppliers are paid in a timely manner.  As mentioned, Travel Managers Group is wholly owned by Flight Centre Travel Group Limited, a publicly listed company, who provide backing and assurance over the business.  As such TMG’s finances are regularly scrutinised to ensure viability and security of operation. As a result of this we they have an extensive selection criteria before an agent can join the group to give added confidence to customers that they are dealing with a reputable agent with longevity, experience and sound business practises in place.

IAN & ROSIE ARMSTRONG
Since 2015, we have been on several Golf Tours with Charlie’s Golf groups (now Golf Encounters) - to Adelaide, Sunshine Coast (twice), Melbourne and Canada. The reason we keep coming back is because we love this way of seeing other places. We have two more trips planned and can’t wait.

— Jeanette & Bill, Christchurch

We went to China with Marian and Peter in May and had the most amazing time from seeing the incredible Terracotta Warriors to some stunning golf courses all wrapped around immaculate travel plans!

— Kerry & Neil, Dunedin

Peter is such a professional tour operator. Flights, accommodation, golf courses accessed and extras are well organised. And the company of fellow like-minded travellers is the best. From good golfers to ‘also rans’, all are treated with respect and friendship. And his team of group leaders are superb.

— Jeanette & Bill, Christchurch

We have done a number of tours with the group over the years, and have found that everything is so well organised, planning is impeccable, and the golf courses and resorts world class. We’ve enjoyed the companionship and camaraderie that’s apparent in these tours, and the lifetime memories we have had with the tour group. Incredible tours to African countries, and Canada are amongst the highlights. We will continue with these tours for many years yet. 

— Sandra and Colin, Tauranga 

The tours we have enjoyed with Peter and Marian over recent years have left us with more indelible memories of the places we have seen, the development and nurturing of new friendships, not excluding the unique golfing experiences on fantastic courses.

— Tyrone & Yvonne, Auckland 

Really enjoyed the tour. A great opportunity to play golf in Hawaii while also enjoying the cruise and visiting four different islands.

— Rod, Christchurch 

Peter and Marian’s mission and passion to gratify the golfers’ touring experience, has led to a variety of new adventures and encounters, while forging a new identity. Their newsletter is detailed and informative and wets the appetite to do a tour. We look forward to a new golfing encounter in the near future.

— Tyrone & Yvonne, Auckland 

We have been on 5 Golf Encounters tours to date, all of which have been hassle free golfing holidays with visits to local sites and attractions included. We just arrive at the airport and are looked after for the duration of the holiday! Just a bonus that Golf Encounters operators are nice people!

— Bob & Pat Clevedon (Golfer & Non Golfer) 

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