Chasing Par

When you love to golf, you golf as much as possible, which usually means golfing locally. However, a destination golf trip is a great way to experience new courses and conditions. Plus, you can include your golf buddies that don’t live near you. The only question is, how do you plan a good golf trip? It’s easier than you think.

Here are five tips on how to plan a group golf trip:

1. Get Started     

Before you begin planning any trip, it’s best if you get organized. Start by choosing someone to act as your point person. Though not all planning has to fall on their shoulders, it’s easier to have one person be the keeper of information, so things don’t get lost in translation. After all, there’s a lot to consider when planning a good golf trip, like who you want to invite and what everyone’s budget is. 

To ensure you have enough time to make this trip successful, you’ll want to start planning six months before you plan to go. This timeframe not only helps with booking accommodations and tee times, but also gives you enough time to plan around prior commitments. When it comes to who you’re inviting, the best number of golfers for a trip is anything divisible by four. Some say the ideal number is eight because you can pair off in different groups throughout the many rounds of golf.       

2. Pick a Destination

Once you confirm who’s going, the dates that work best for everyone, and a rough budget, you can have fun picking a destination. What destinations are on your golf bucket list? If they fit into your budget, these are the first places to look at. Another factor to consider is the time of year you’re going. The summer months may not be ideal for golf in Arizona or Florida. Conversely, in the Northeast, many golf courses close for the winter season, which is why golf trips in Pinehurst, N.C, are popular. The weather there is great any time of year. 

3. Choose Your Courses       

It’s not enough to pick your destination; you need to pick your courses too. You’ll want to choose courses that can accommodate the skill and experiences of everyone in the group. This way, everyone will be able to have a successful round of golf and enjoy the trip. While signature courses are fun to check off the bucket list, they can be hard to book because of the demand. This is another reason you want to start planning months in advance so that you can reserve times as soon as possible. When booking multiple courses, check out a mix of high-demand courses and some lesser-known courses. The less popular courses may still be on par with the high-demand courses in terms of views and level of play but feature more availability. 

4. Book Accommodations

The next consideration is where to stay. Most groups choose to stay at a hotel or resort or rent a house. But don’t assume that house rentals are just through Airbnb or Vrbo. Some golf packages also offer a house rental rather than hotel accommodation. For example, you can rent the Palmer Cottage for golf trips in Pinehurst, NC. Whether it’s a cottage or a hotel, golf packages can offer a discount on your gold trip. And some golf packages even give you access to exclusive, members-only clubs. So be sure to do your research.

5. What to Pack

With everything else planned, the only thing left is determining what to pack on the trip. You’ll want to check the dress code of the courses you’re going to and pack an outfit for each day of the trip; otherwise, you’ll need to do laundry. You’ll also want casual outfits for when you’re relaxing, and then you need proper attire for any meals out if the dress code is other than resort casual.   

You’ll also want to pack plenty of tees and extra balls. Of course, a club’s pro shop always stocks the basics if you didn’t get around to it before your trip. They also carry new clubs, shoes, and golf bags if you’ve been meaning to upgrade your gear.  

It’s Time to Plan Your Next Golf Trip

Days spent playing golf at new courses and making memories with your best golf buddies are what make these trips so much fun. For a good golf trip, remember to start planning at least six months in advance and consider everyone’s feelings when booking courses and accommodations. What are you waiting for? Start researching your next golf trip today!