If you are a golfer that really enjoys the game and you want to combine your love of golf with a vacation, then this article will give you some ideas to plan the perfect golf vacation. The initial idea opens up dozens of possibilities for a family trip or a golfing-buddies trip.
Before you jump in the car or plane to start hitting golf balls in the sunshine of a foreign country or even a different state, the potential golf vacationer has to think about what the ideal golf trip will included so that you can plan the perfect golf vacation.
As with any vacation, a golf trip plan should include some key elements; estimated cost, how to pay, length of stay, extras and so on. The golfer should consider what family members and friends will do if they are not golfers. A good question to ask: Should we golf at the seashore, in the mountains, or on the links of Scotland?
By doing some vital planning now, you will be able to eliminate any problems that may crop up to improve your chances of enjoying a problem free vacation. To start to plan the perfect golf vacation, it may be best if you jot down some ideas about an ideal golf trip to help you stay focused. The following categories will help you get started:
- Set a general time of the year for the trip (a few months in the future; a year in the future)
- Decide how many days and rounds of golf will be included in the trip (don’t overdo it!)
- Calculate a range of prices for the whole trip ($1000 to $2000, $3000 to $4000, for example)
- How many people who will be in the group
- Decide on who will go on the trip – non-golfing family members, just golfers, etc.
- Get some golf trip information together from golf magazines, library, Web sites etc.
- Talk with friends who have been on a golf vacation and ask if they made their own plans, used a travel agent, purchased a golf package vacation etc.
You could use your original plans to make all the travel, hotel, and golf scheduling by yourself. The following tips will help you make your own arrangements.
If you are planning to drive to your golf vacation destination, carrying your clubs in the trunk of the car or the back of the SUV solves most of the transportation problems. If this is your method of getting to your favorite golf site, take a few minutes to make sure you have all the clubs in the bag. It may sound strange, but it is certainly no fun to arrive for a few days of golf at a beautiful location only to find that your 8 iron is at home, because your son or daughter took it out of the bag for practice.
One way to begin making your own arrangements, without the assistance of a travel agent, is to contact an organization in the area you are interested in. For example, golfers can get in touch with the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina group that specializes in golf vacations for that area. You can do the same with the many golf courses in Arizona. The Phoenix area has similar assistance available, as do many resort destinations.
In this case, you select your favorite golf courses, then contact your selected accommodation, and ask for the Golf Director. They can book your lodging and tee times right there. This is a combination of making your own decisions while relying on the expertise and local knowledge of golf vacation specialists.
If you really want to do this on your own, you may have a few more challenges and a little more work, but you and your friends may also enjoy the extra bit of freedom and sense of accomplishment. Set your standards high and then back down to a more manageable level if your budget doesn’t look as if it will handle Scotland, Ireland, the Bahamas or a similar overseas destination.
Make sure you have lodging in place, and then plan to play courses within a reasonable distance. Minimum travel to and from golf courses is very important. In addition, you should make these arrangements as early as possible to give you and your friends the best opportunities available. If you wait too long, then decide to go to your original choice of destination anyway, you may end up with less than favorable rooms and less than favorable tee times. Some recommendations for getting the lodging set first:
- Consider a rental house instead of a hotel for larger groups
- Try to have a separate bed for each person or couple
- Consider the driving time to and from the golf courses if you choose a rental home over hotel rooms on or near a golf course
- Consider early morning tee times that may allow an additional 18 holes in the afternoon. Being close to the house makes the course more attractive (it saves time)
- Plan for accommodation even earlier if you plan to play golf and watch a major tournament that is taking place in the area. Combining your trip with a PGA tournament adds some extra flare to a golf vacation.
You should have all the details sorted out by now, but don’t forget for the perfect golf vacation you need to know if you will be playing only one round per day, or if you are free to play as many rounds as you like. Lastly, you will need to comprehend what is and isn’t included in your golf package. By taking a few more minutes over the details you will eliminate the problems when you arrive at your golf destination.
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