#1910
Inta Group of Tyneside, which runs the Bill Goff golfing holiday brand, has joined forces with Scottish Company 3D Golf to look together for further growth across Europe
The Newcastle firm’s merger with Ayr company 3D Golf has created a leisure business focused on golf and with a turnover of about £25m.
The joint venture will concentrate on developing their respective strengths, with the North East company particularly strong in Portugal, where it employs 25 full-time staff, and 3D strong in France and Spain.
The Inta Group into a £12m turnover company after buying Bill Goff Golf Tours and now takes takes 28,000 golfers abroad and annual bookings for 30,000 tee-times.
As well as Bill Goff, Inta Group has developed the 4golf.com no-frills internet golf holiday business and the golf course booking business teetimesanywhere.com.
The commercial and sales teams of the joint venture will be based at Inta Group’s headquarters at the Watermark, Metro Riverside, Gateshead. Inta Group employs 20 people in the North East and 3D has about the same number of staff in the UK.
One of the ambitions of the merged company is to increase the profile of the Longshot Golf brand which Inta Group bought from First Choice Holidays in 2004. This will be marketed as a five-star golf resort holiday package.
Inta Group of Tyneside, which runs the Bill Goff golfing holiday brand, has joined forces with Scottish Company 3D Go
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Inta Group of Tyneside, which runs the Bill Goff golfing holiday brand, has joined forces with Scottish Company 3D Golf to look together for further growth across Europe
The Newcastle firm’s merger with Ayr company 3D Golf has created a leisure business focused on golf and with a turnover of about £25m.
The joint venture will concentrate on developing their respective strengths, with the North East company particularly strong in Portugal, where it employs 25 full-time staff, and 3D strong in France and Spain.
The Inta Group into a £12m turnover company after buying Bill Goff Golf Tours and now takes takes 28,000 golfers abroad and annual bookings for 30,000 tee-times.
As well as Bill Goff, Inta Group has developed the 4golf.com no-frills internet golf holiday business and the golf course booking business teetimesanywhere.com.
The commercial and sales teams of the joint venture will be based at Inta Group’s headquarters at the Watermark, Metro Riverside, Gateshead. Inta Group employs 20 people in the North East and 3D has about the same number of staff in the UK.
One of the ambitions of the merged company is to increase the profile of the Longshot Golf brand which Inta Group bought from First Choice Holidays in 2004. This will be marketed as a five-star golf resort holiday package.
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Bill Goff's transfer service in the Malaga area is a complete shambles. One of their drivers did not know where the course was that he was taking us to and asked one of my guests to try and find it on his satnav and then he failed to show up for the return trip!
The final straw was when the transfer service failed to show up for the trip back to the airport and we had to rustle up local taxis for the journey! Now they won't refund the cost of the taxis.
DO NOT USE - there has to be better companies out there!
If this is so, this is not acceptable and your comments are well-placed. We shall pass on your comments to Bill Goff Holidays to see what they have to say for themselves.
That Bill Guff are out of order! Sue them!!!!!!
Re-email about transfer to/from golf courses and to Malaga airport
WHERE WAS THE REP or don't they employ them anymore
from Maureen ex golf rep for KB Golf based at Malaga sometime ago
We booked with Bill Goff´s at the Fairplay Golf Hotel in Benalup (Costa de la Luz), and it was perfect. Superb Hotel and Golf. Great value for money. Definitely the best golf vacation we ever had at www.fairplaygolfhotel.com
It is a 6* hotel with an all inclusive system.
Just perfect !!!!!!!
looks like bill goff have ceased trading along with 3d golf!
I've been trying to make contact with Bill Goff but everywhere seems to have shut down. However, there is no story on them going bust on the local newspaper websites in the Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields area. Does anyone know if it is, indeed, true? If so, where has the information come from?
We are having the same problem with 4golf.com and we are 1/2 way through a booking. Does anyone know whats happening and how we can complete our booking
I have just got the confirmation that the INTA group (Bill Goff, 3D, Longshot etc.) has ceased trading!!
We learned by chance late yesterday afternoon 23 October 2009 that INTA Group Bill Goff Holidays have ceased trading. We are due to go on holiday very soon having booked through Bill Goff, where can we find out more and when would we have been officially told?
GO TO WWW.ABTA .COM
I had a holiday booked with Bill Goff for mid November in Portugal. I got an email from Golf Escapes advising about INTA. I rebooked with them on Friday. They took over my hotel and golf immediately (written confirmation recived already), and they have directed me where to claim from ABTA. Don't know if it helps anyone but they were really helpful. I spoke to Mike there t Golf Escapes. His number is 01342 811777. Look at ABTA.com - it tells you about how to claim.
If anyone was booked on tournament weeks Greencard Golf Holidays has a full programme of tournaments worldwide throughout the year. Don't hesitate to call 0870 3000 880 or email richard@greencardgolf.co.uk.
Similar to Frank M. Rebooked with Leisure Link Golf Holidays yesterday, same holiday, same price etc... all very smooth but it sounds like quite a long drawn out affair with ABTA / ATOL to get your money back. Their details are www.leisurelinkgolf.com 01277 247520. Hope this helps. Alan
The worry here is what is going to happen with the Sunshine Challenge Finals to be held very shortly on the Algarve. All the finalists were due to fly out to Portugal to take part in the finals on the 1st Nov - I assume that this will not be going ahead and their are going to be a lot of very disappointed golfers - If you want to have your say in Golf North East, please feel free to contact me at slaleypaul@aol.com
Paul
I re booked with Your Golf Travel on Friday. I booked exactly the same golf holiday at a cheaper price. Very happy with the service I received and delighted that I'll still be going away next month. You simply have to contact ABTA to get your money back which I'm told takes a bit of time but you will 100% get a refund.
Log on to www.yourgolftravel.com or call 0800 043 6644 to get in touch with Your Golf Travel.
Hope this helps.
Steve
For all Golf Holidays booked that include a flight, you need to make your claim through ATOL www.atol.org.uk. If flights were not included in your holiday booking, contact ABTA www.abta.com.
You will need to re-arrange your holiday, if you need any advice or assistance with making your claims or resurrecting your holiday arrangements please feel free to contact Premier Iberian info@premieriberian.com / 0845 600 3391.
In most cases, Premier Iberian are able to resurrect your original booking including hotel reservations, car hire and tee times.
We have now re booked our holiday through Premier Iberian and although they were very helpful it has cost a further £80 !, ABTA still has the same voice mail message as last weekend on their phone, no doubt it will be a long drawn out process in reclaiming original monies paid.
Est
I have just heard from one of my friends down the golf club that 3D and INTA were in debt by £2million!!! I think any company who buys them out are just foolish because there seems to be a lot of debt that people did not know about. I have rang around several companies to try and rebook my holiday and have been amazed by how many companies have people not knowing what they are talking about. French Golf Holidays have pretty good staff but they have just lost their ATOL license and things look a bit dodgy there financially. I gave Leisure Link a go after reading Mr Jones' comment and their staff were very helpful and seemed to know what they were talking about. Your Golf Travel were cheap - similar to Leisure Link and Golfbreaks but had no knowledge about the resorts. I have therefore rebooked my French trip to Deauville with Doug at Leisure Link...Very helpful and confirmation was sent over the weekend. Good luck everybody!
Dear Sir/madam,
Just to notify you that The Inta Group, Bill Geoff Golf packages, Teetimeanywhere have ceased trading. People can request refunds on the ABTA website. Oceanico Golf also helps clients and provides €50 credit vouchers with their bookings on the courses in portugal, Vilamoura.
Its not good news for clients and staff of The INTA Group and also,I believe, 3D. As a fellow tour operator that has been through this situation I know how clients will react and what complications are involved. Most golfers will need to rebook as soon as possible to secure tee times and accommodation. We have an allocation of tee times on most of the Algarve and Lisbon courses, and have access to Costa del sol and Majorca tee times.Tunisia is very busy and we have accommodation and access to tee times.
We will be pleased to offer any help and assistance to anyone who has booked with the failed operators.
Our company is based in Stannington, Northumberland, any Northeast Golfers who are effected please get in touch.
Tough times in the golf industry indeed. I recently made my booking with Nevada Bob's, they are a pretty big outfit, so you can hope to receive some stabilty in that. http://www.nevadabobsgolfholidays.co.uk
We are all sad at the demise of the INTA group particularly Bill Goff, if we can help anyone please contact us on 01207 562322 or go to our website www.golfnorthumbria.com
As above to apply for a refund of your holiday, this needs to be submitted before April 2010 - contact ABTA www.abta.com
If you had booked a golf package at any of the Oceanico Resorts or simply your teetimes at their renowned courses - Oceânico Group will be helping customers left out in the cold following the collapse of several of Europe’s leading golf travel agencies.
The company responsible for seven courses in the Algarve is committed to working with guests left disappointed with bookings made with some travel agencies who have announced they will cease to trade.
“We have advised all travelers with bookings in the coming weeks and months to visit our website http://www.oceanicogolf.com or to call on +351 289 310 330/4 and retain all booking documentation so they can take advantage of our special offers.”
My company has been in business for 13 years and we are able to take over any bookings and deliver same accommodation. golf tee times and etc. For help please call 0800 27 90 345
Jim
I am really sad to hear of the demise of 3D Golf as we have enjoyed their excellent service over the years.I was particularly impressed that our "Rep"from the company phoned us on a purely voluntary basis to express the company's concern at the Distress caused by their failure
Sadly it is a victim of the Credit Crunch,and hopefully not too many other companies will be affected
Thankyou 3D Golf for your past efforts
This puts the whole Tour Operator market place in to a precarious position indeed. I hope everyone gets sorted out ok....
read the various comments and some are accurate but many incomplete. I have posted the up to date information on http://www.golfkings.co.uk/News/3d-golf-and-bill-goff-cease-trading/6/
Nevada Bobs are currently not licensed according to IAGTO. Refer to www.iagto.com to find a licensed operator in your area and check their ATOL, ABTA or similar memberships are current.
Many of the suppliers are cancelling the existing bookings so dont delay in rebooking with another operator. This is particularly true in Turkey where we specialize in. Please contact us if you need assistance.
Dear Golfer,
You may have already heard news of the collapse of Inta Group, which traded under companies such as 3D Golf, 4Golf, Bill Goff and Longshot. Whilst this is not good news for their customers, golf courses and resorts throughout Europe, Your Golf Travel is committed to help those Inta Group customers who had already booked, or were looking to book, in the coming weeks and months. We are have set up a dedicated line to help all past Inta clients to help with any issues – please call 0207 336 5356 to speak with a member of our sales team.
YourGolfTravel.com is Europe’s No.1 golf travel provider as more golfers than ever are taking advantage of our great European special offers. Our price promise to golfers ensures you will receive the lowest price possible booking with Your Golf Travel.
We have a great selection of special offers available, with the added advantage of our Early Eagle promotion where you can get up to £300 off your golf holiday to Europe or further afield.
Click here to see all our full range of fantastic golf holidays.
Kind Regards,
Nick Bishop
Director of European Sales
We are all very shocked and surprised at the closure of the Inta Group and offer our services to any clients who have been affected by this situation.
We have been based in the Algarve for 16 years and are confident that we offer good service, standards and value .
We are an Independant Portuguese Registered Travel Agent with all English Speaking Staff.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.
JJ Links Golf Portugal.
info@linksgolfportugal.com
There does seem to be a lot of confusion out there. I've been in the golf industry for 30 years and there have been some very solid golf holiday companies around for some time. It's like anything else, there are serious companies and others which operate out of a garage. You have to take your pick and decide on which one you want to spend your money with. I've seen 3d Golf go from being great to poor, many companies come and go and there are a few which are consistently good. In my books, here's the three of the best:
1. GolfPlanet Holidays and French Golf Holidays - they've been around for 30 years, know their stuff and get some really good deals. They offer value but their accent is on service and knowledge.
2. Golfbreaks - keen on price and offer some good bargains from time to time.
3. Golf Experience - another long-established company, not much choice but friendly.
JB
The 3DGolf website is back up as if nothing has happened.....anyone know what's going on?
We have had their brochures in our changing areas. we did get £60 back in August. I would be interested to hear from other golf clubs as the last advertising co. went bust without any commissions paid.
we are due to go to turkey on 14 november 2009 anybody got advice or details on 3dgolf
I've just come back from Portugal with 3d, and was unaware they had ceased trading. I had to pay for my golf and accommodation separately, which obviously cost more than the deal that I had booked. Does anyone know what I can claim for from abta? Is it just my original cost or can I claim for the extra costs incurred?
The answer to the question about the 3D Golf Holidays website is that it is indeed back up and running. In a scenario that brings to mind the famous Monty Python " Dead Parrot" sketch, and which will be totally mystifying to all those who have lost their holidays with the company, 3D are claiming that they are now acting as agents for yourgolftravel.com. Since 3D have now been stripped of their membership of IAGTO (The International Association of Golf Tour Operators), and YourGolfTravel have been turned down for IAGTO membership (mainly because of past unethical trading practices), this looks like a perfect example of 'birds of a feather flocking together'.
Incidentally, if you are booking your own flights direct with an airline and then booking the rest of your holiday with YourGolfTravel, check to see if you have any financial security, as their website seems to indicate that they have no bonding in place for any package which does not contain a transport element.
Jim Henshaw
BillGoof are unreal I bought a holiday from them and ended up swimming with dolphins in austria absolute unreal.
John!
Whilst we are very sorry to hear of the problems the Inta Group are experiencing EAGLE GOLF TOURS who have specialised in GOLF HOLIDAY to the USA will be happy to help and advise any of the INTA groups's clients who either had or were in the process of making bookings to the USA.
Neil atEAGLE GOLF.
I had booked 6 rounds on PGA Catalunya through Teetimesanywhere.com. Got a very short email saying they had lost all monies and apologise for any inconvenience! No further advice or explanation.
I rebooked with the course directlty and they were good enough to give a sizable discount under the circumstances.
booked agolf trip with 3 d golf just come back no thanks to 3d golf golf escapes where a great help hope some day to get our money back atol or abta but credit card looks best bet stay clear of 3d golf?
dont go near Your golf travel. I dealt with the same person at 3D for years and contacted them for next year. was told by someone that Matt was on holiday but since found out he left the company for another job 2 weeks earlier. also found out that all 3D staff have left so you golf travel staff were lying to me. they wont get that oppotunity again.
I previously worked with the Inta Group here in the Algarve and left earlier this year, I was sad to hear of their demise. I know that many of their clients booked powered trolleys for rental during their holidays in The Algarve and I have now put a fleet of Hill Billy and Powakaddy rental electric trolleys in place. Many of their clients have managed to find me and I am happy to supply rental trolleys for clients coming to the Algarve for their golfing holiday. Bookings can be taken by e-mailing me at:cliffhuntcorp@aol.com