The goal of a golf trip—aside from beating your golf handicap—is having fun with your friends. In fact, there’s no sense in going on a trip if it’s not going to be fun. Admittedly, this can be hard to do sometimes even when you’re with great people. To enjoy a golf trip fully, you must prevent delays, minimize costs, and eliminate the unexpected as much as possible. That takes a great deal of planning.
Planning a golf trip takes work—just like cutting strokes from your golf handicap. But if you’re smart about it, you can plan your trip efficiently and without pulling too much hair out of your head. You just need to think. Below are some golf tips on planning golf a trip. Following them will help you get the most fun out of your trip and let you focus on making pars and birdies, not tracking down wayward luggage.
Good Logistics Are The Key
Good logistics are the key to a successful trip. That and staying organized. Start by thinking ahead about where you’re heading and what’s unique about the place. Think about what could go wrong while there—inclement weather, extreme heat, and so on—and plan for these things before walking out your front door. Make a list of them. Then address them before you leave on your trip. That will save you time, money, and headaches later on.
Next, work the trip chronologically in your head. List the things you need to do. Keep the list on your nightstand, where you can see it all the time. Check off an item every time you complete it. The list will keep you focused and organized. Also, use the Internet whenever you can to resolve issues, obtain reservations, or eliminate delays. Using the Internet is not only convenient, but also fast. It’s also cost effective. Many companies offer discounts for doing things online.
Buying Plane Tickets
The first thing you’ll want to do is buy plane tickets, if needed. Here’s where your computer comes in handy. Buy tickets as far in advance as you can. Also, sign up for price saver-e-mails from all the airlines as well as from discounters, like travelzoo.com Monitor them regularly for deals to where you’re going. In addition, visit all-encompassing travel search engines, like kayak.com or airfarewatchdog.com. They may have deals to your destination.
Next, book your hotel. Use your computer for this, too. It’s a great travel agent. Consider using professional tour operators for international trips, like perry.com or havarsham.com. They usually have contacts and/or employees at popular golf destinations. If you know where you want to stay, take a look at the hotel’s Web site. They might offer golf stay-and-play specials. Some resorts will even book your tee times over the Web, especially if you’ve signed up for a stay and play package. They may even offer golf lessons for a reduced rate.
Check Out The Golf Courses
If you’ve already decided on a destination in the United Sates, visit golflink.com. This site has links to nearly every golf course in the U.S. Use the site to assemble a list of courses. Then visit the Web site of any courses you’re planning to play. Write down the names, addresses, and phone numbers of these courses. Take the information with you. Or, plug the information into your cell phone and keep the cell phone with you on the trip. The information is good to have in an emergency.
Contacting a book agent in the destination area also works. It will save you the hassles of calling different places. The agent might also have pre-reserved tee times or the clout to squeeze you in exactly when you want to play. Google an agent by searching your destination plus the words “tee times booking agents.” Unfortunately, some agents work only with certain courses. And the agent will charge you a nominal fee. But the time saved and the headaches eliminated could be well worth the cost.
Buying your plane tickets. Reserving accommodations. Booking tee times. These are probably the top three items of any golf-trip checklist you create. After that, it depends on you and what you want to do on the trip. Above all, stay organized. It saves time, money, and heartburn. More importantly, it lets you focus on cutting strokes from your golf handicap, rather than trying to find your luggage.