The stag do – a traditional rite of passage for the soon-to-be groom. If you are the stag, there’s really no way of getting out of this. It’s expected, it’s the done thing. The key to a successful stag do is simply this – just enjoy it as much as you can, and make sure it’s the right experience for you.
The best stag dos have themes. Believe it or not, but if you’ve got a weekend away planned, two or three nights (and days) on the booze can actually get pretty repetitive, pretty quickly. You need something to break things up a bit, give you and your friends something to focus on that isn’t alcohol. Fortunately, if you’re a sports fan, there’s plenty you can do. So, here’s a thought: why not have a chat with your best man, and get a sporting stag do lined up?
We’re going to make an assumption here that you’re looking for something a little better than crowding around a large TV showing a Premier League football match, pint in hand. Here are five great sporting stag do ideas which should create some fantastic memories…
For the horse racing aficionado…
If you’re partial to the occasional – and very sensible, of course – flutter on the horses, then soak up the atmosphere of the real thing. There’s something wonderfully classy about a day at the races; you get dressed to the nines – at Royal Ascot and other meets you’ll be expected to wear nothing less than a jacket, shirt and long trousers – mix with the fashionable glitterati, sip champagne and watch the world (or more accurately top-class thoroughbred horses) go by. Sure, there’s a chance to win some money – and if you’re really, really lucky you or someone in your group might do just that and pay for the rest of the day’s beverages – but going to the races is really more about the experience. You can tailor it to your budget, taking in a single day at Newmarket or York, or go up a grade and go to the Grand National, or even the Cheltenham Festival, held over several days every March.
For the football fan…
Football and lads, lads and football – what a glorious, winning combination. If you and your friends are seriously into the beautiful game, head to Europe for a stadium tour or, even better, to watch a match. Watching a Serie A, Bundesliga or a La Liga fixture is becoming hugely popular these days, and if you don’t fancy the effort of booking flights, hotel accommodation and match tickets yourself, there are plenty of specialist operators who can do this for you. Barcelona is an obvious destination, a fabulous location for a weekend away with a buzzing nightlife and numerous beaches, and the home of FC Barcelona. Book a stadium tour of the impressive Camp Nou before watching the Catalan greats in action. The city also has another La Liga club, Espanyol, while a third – Girona – is located just a short distance away. Madrid – home of Real and Atletico – is another great choice, but you can widen your scope to just about anywhere – Dortmund or Bayern Munich in Germany, Ajax in Amsterdam, the Milan clubs in Italy.
For the keen golfer…
If golf’s your thing, a long weekend on the course could be ideal. There are numerous top class courses in the UK, and also just a short flight away. If you want to combine golf and sun, head to Spain or Portugal. You’ll find numerous pristine courses in the Marbella and Algarve regions, in particular, or discover something relatively new – TROIA is just an hour away from the Portuguese capital of Lisbon and boasts one of the finest golf courses in the country. The course stretches along the beach, so you’ll get top-class golfing, picturesque views and a slice of a sunshine holiday, too. If you prefer to stay in the UK, head to Scotland for rugged, links courses – including some of the most famous in the history of the game. Take your pick; there are 100 of the very best listed here.
For the adventurous sportsman….
If a couple of rounds of golf seems a bit too tame for you, dial it up a few notches and add some serious adventure to your sport. If you don’t mind braving the cold, head to the wilderness for a snowmobile trek. Zipping across a frozen landscape, skimming across sparkling, white snow at speed is an adrenaline blast that you’ll all remember for a long time afterwards. You’ll find this activity at many major eastern European cities – Riga (Latvia), Tallin (Estonia), Krakow (Poland) and Vilnius (Lithuania), so after you’ve finished zooming around, you’ll be well placed to refuel accordingly.
For the sports car enthusiast…
Boys love their toys, don’t they? And, for the grown-up boy, there’s no bigger and better toy than a sports car. Unless you’re seriously fortunate and own a Porsche or Ferrari, you’re unlikely to get anywhere near one of these dreamy chunks of classy, slick mechanical machines – but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to driving one. Sports car driving experiences give you the chance to get behind the wheel of whatever you choose, whether that be a Lotus, Lamborghini or Aston Martin. You can take your chosen car for a trackside spin, or try something a little different. Fancy cruising around the Scottish Highlands in a classic car?
There you have it – five ideas for a great sporting stag do, with something to suit all tastes and interests.
