Whether you’re on a budget or ready to splurge, your golf adventure can be tailored to fit perfectly. For excellent golfers, planning a golf trip is not just a journey but an immersive experience, where they can explore and conquer new courses, bond and exchange tips with like-minded enthusiasts, and refine their game. This guide will show you how to plan the ultimate golf trip.
However, the ultimate golf trip requires more than searching and booking the best flights; it requires thoughtful golf trip planning, including everything from selection of course and vital gear to learn the subtle etiquette, when playing or even interacting with other golfers. Affordable or extravagant, your ideal golf trip awaits, with options to suit every preference. To understand how to plan the ultimate golf trip, consider these essential steps.
This golf travel guide is here to teach you all, including golf etiquette tips, so that you may never know that you become an inspiration for other freshers.
Table of Contents
Plan Your Golf Trip
You will enjoy your golf trip only when it is well-planned. Therefore, do the following:
In this post, we will explore how to plan the ultimate golf trip by providing you with the best tips and strategies.
The Size of Your Golf Group and Budget
First, see who is going with you. Are they all professionals, scratch golfers, or a group of varying handicaps, or do they just want to head out with family for a relaxed escape? This will influence your course choices and entire itinerary.
Then comes your budget, as such trips can range from super lavish to very affordable. Take flights, accommodation, green fees, caddie fees if applicable, food, drinks, and any extra activities, and pen down a per-person budget to avoid any last-minute surprises.
Consider the Climate and Location for your Golf Adventure
When do you want to see yourself playing golf? Consider the climate. For instance, you want to switch from winter to a warmer region or enjoy hitting shots in autumn.
If you have played golf for many years, you must have dreamt of playing in world-famous courses like Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, or Augusta National. Or are you fond of practicing in hidden gems and local grounds? We suggest that you research destinations popular for their golf offerings, some of which are as follows:
- USA – Florida, Arizona, California, South Carolina, Bandon Dunes (Oregon)
- Europe -Scotland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain
- Asia – Thailand, Vietnam
- Caribbean – Dominican Republic, Barbados
Did you know?
the hottest course is The Furnace Creek Golf Course in Death Valley, California. It is considered one of the hottest golf courses in the world, lying 214 feet below sea level.
Pick Your Golf Course
While moving on with your golf trip planning, try your best to pick a variety of golf courses, unless your group has a particular preference. This means different designers, landscapes such as a desert, a lake, or parkland, and the extent of difficulty.
After shortlisting a few courses, open their websites or social media pages to read their reviews or star ratings. See what other gold enthusiasts say about it, such as the conditions, pace of play, caddie services, and related facilities and practices. You can also search for sites like Top 100 Golf Courses, and similar platforms that can guide you further.
Golf Accommodation
Stay and Play Resorts
You will be glad to know that many golf venues offer resorts consisting of on-site courses, making accommodation and carrying your gear incredibly easy.
Villas/Condos
You can rent a villa or a condo if you are a big group. This will be more cost-effective and give you more space for your other golfing friends. Plus, the place will be all yours, so enjoy privacy and flexibility.
Prepare the Golf Gear
Another critical part of your golf trip planning is to prepare your golfing gear with the essential items; otherwise, you will never have the desired fun you wished for. Hence, make sure to pack the following:
Golf Clubs
Travel Cases
Keep a premium-quality hard shell travel case for shielding your precious clubs, especially during transit. The softer ones aren’t that effective.
Check with your Airline. Read your airline’s policies regarding golf bags and the amount they charge so you can pay them to carry things along.
Golf Apparel
Please pack comfortable, breathable golf clothes. When reading the courses, check the dress code that allows the golfers to wear, for instance, collared shirts, no denim, etc.
Your selected location can surprise you with varying weather conditions. Therefore, it is advised to pack layers such as a waterproof jacket, sweater, sun protection accessories, and creams like hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
Don’t pack golf shoes in a rush, because they will impact your game. Go for a comfortable pair of shoes or waterproof ones so you can play even in wet or moist conditions. Besides, bring a spare set as well.
Golf Accessories
Golf Balls
Pack several golf balls, as you will probably lose a few on courses you are not familiar with, and naturally, you won’t waste time finding them, hence the suggestion.
Golf Gloves and Tees
Bring at least two pair of gloves. Just like the golf balls, keep a vast stock of tees too.
Divot Repair Tool and Ball Marker. Always have them handy.
Some Golf Etiquette Tips
Apart from picking your golfing destination, course, and packing your gear, there are some golf etiquette tips that demand your attention as well. It’s better to master them at your earliest to boost your and others’ experience:
Pace of Play on the Golf Course
Keep up
Keep up is what you can say is the most critical etiquette rule. You need to be ready when it’s your turn to hit. Walk quickly between shots, avoid spending extra time searching for lost balls, as that will delay other turns.
“Ready Golf”
If you are not standing furthest away from other players, but are ready to give your best and you think it’s safe, then “ready golf”
Pick Up
If you are experiencing a bad hole and a group is waiting for their turn, simply pick up your ball and move to the next hole.
Golf Course Care
**Repair Divots**
Don’t ignore your divots; always repair them with sand or seed mixture or replace the turf, as that dramatically affects your shot.
**Fix Ball Marks**
Use your divot tool to fix golf ball marks whenever you are playing.
**Rake Bunkers**
Once you are done playing out of a bunker, smooth the sand area with a rake to leave it in good condition for other golfers.
Conclusion
We hope you found this blog post informative enough, and now you will have no issues with golf trip planning. Moreover, if you want to read other golfing tips, subscribe to the Golf Inquirer
FAQ’s
What are the most effective ways to find discounted green fees and save money on the course?
Online tee time services like GolfNow, TeeOff.com, and UnderPar.com frequently offer discounted rates, especially for last-minute bookings or less popular times. Look for twilight rates (late afternoon) or early bird specials (very early morning) as these are often cheaper. Playing on weekdays instead of weekends almost always results in lower green fees. Additionally, walk the course if possible to avoid cart fees, and bring your own snacks, drinks, and plenty of golf balls and tees to avoid overpriced pro shop purchases.
How can we minimize accommodation costs without sacrificing comfort?
Instead of staying at expensive on-course resorts, look for off-course hotels, Airbnbs, or VRBOs. For groups, renting a condo or house can be significantly cheaper than multiple hotel rooms, and it often provides a kitchen, allowing you to save money by cooking some meals. Consider places that offer “stay and play” packages that bundle golf rounds and lodging, as these can sometimes offer better overall value than booking separately, but compare them carefully. Utilize hotel points if you have them, and remember that doubling up in rooms is a huge cost-saver if your group is comfortable with it.
Which destinations offer the best value for golf, and when is the cheapest time to visit them?
Destinations with a high concentration of public or semi-private courses, like Myrtle Beach, SC, or Orlando, FL, often provide better value due to competition and a wider range of price points. For warm-weather destinations (like Florida, Arizona, Palm Springs, or Las Vegas), the summer months (June-September) are typically the cheapest due to the heat, while winter months offer the best weather but highest prices. For more temperate climates, late fall, winter, or early spring (shoulder seasons) usually have lower rates than peak spring/fall. Always check maintenance schedules for these off-peak times.
