Golf Trip Preparation: 41 Things to Consider When Planning A Golf Trip
Golf trips that are planned well are more successful than trips that aren’t. When planning a golf trip, there are many things to consider besides where to go and where to play. If you are planning your first golf trip, it can be overwhelming, and I want to help!
I’ve planned numerous golf trips with my friends, and I learn something new each time. I’ve noticed that the more time and effort you put into planning and preparing for the golf trip, the smoother it will go.
In this blog post, I hope to supply you with all the relevant questions you should answer while planning your trip. I wish I considered some of the questions during the planning phase of my first golf trip, so I’m happy to share them with you now.
If you can answer each of the questions below, it’s without a doubt you have thoroughly planned the golf trip, and your friends and family will thank you for it!
People
Who to invite?
Deciding who to invite on a golf trip is different than most vacations. You’ll want to include people you’re close with, enjoy being around, and most importantly – people who enjoy golfing.
Playing golf is the foundation of a golf trip, so inviting experienced people who love golf is always a great choice. Inexperienced golfers may get burnt out golfing for multiple days, so keep that in mind.
How many people to invite?
Golf courses allow up to four golfers per tee time. Invite groups in multiples of four, such as four, eight, or twelve people. If you don’t have even groups of four, you can ask your friends if they know anyone interested in joining.
Even if you have an odd number, you can split tee times up, such as a group of three and a group of two. Just be aware that you may get paired up with other golfers.
Besides tee times, knowing how many people are going on the trip will help you decide on lodging, restaurants, and travel.
What are their skill levels?
Is everyone a good golfer? Are most of the people poor golfers? Knowing the overall skill level of the group is vital for selecting appropriate golf courses that fit the general skill level of the group.
Who’s in charge of booking the lodging and golf?
Not everyone will spend equal time researching golf courses, travel plans, and lodging for the trip. Setting an expectation on who is in charge of the booking will make it easier to plan the trip.
It’s beneficial to have a few people in the group split up research for golf courses, lodging, travel, and other activities so no one is overwhelmed.
Important Note: I suggest sending a few golf and lodging options to your friends and allowing the group to give their input. Create a group chat with everyone on the trip for easy communication.
How is everyone paying their share of expenses?
Will golf courses let people pay separately at the facility? Does the Airbnb or hotel require payment upfront? Who is charging their credit or debit card? Do you want to charge expenses in full and have people Venmo, Cash app, or Zelle you?
It’s important to clarify payment expectations before booking the trip.
Priorities
How much are you willing to spend?
Setting a budget before planning the trip will make it easier to select amenities, hotels, and golf courses. As you plan the trip, start counting the total cost to ensure you don’t exceed the budget.
Check out our post on How to Plan an Inexpensive Golf Trip!
How much is each person in the group willing to spend?
Some people are willing to spend more than others on a golf trip. Ask the group as a whole, or individually reach out to each person asking for an estimate of how much they can spend. When planning a golf trip, consider each golfer’s budget and find golf courses and lodging that meet their needs.
How much golf do you want to play?
Some golf trips are centered around golf and nothing else. Other trips incorporate golf without overdoing it. Getting everyone’s opinion on how much golf they want to play will allow you to better plan out the overall agenda for the trip.
What other activities should you do?
Every good golf trip involves other fun activities to spice things up. Do people want to explore the location through walking tours or visiting top attractions? Do people want to enjoy some nightlife by going to bars and restaurants?
Destination
Where do you want to go?
Choosing a destination is one of the most important decisions when planning a golf trip. First, try asking for everyone’s preferences to narrow down the options. Weigh the pros and cons of each destination to help you indicate a winner.
Good Tip: Allow each person to vote on the destination. The destination that gets the most votes wins.
Does the destination have everything you need?
A good golf destination has a lot of golf courses, good weather, and fun attractions. It’s also nice to visit an area further away from home to gain new and fresh experiences.
Have you researched the destination online?
Conducting research online is a great way to learn more about each destination. It’s helpful to search through public forums like Reddit for unbiased opinions and recommendations.
Is it off-peak or busy season?
Depending on the time of year, some destinations are better than others. For example, golf destinations in the north will be busier and more expensive in the summer. Locations such as Arizona, Florida, or South Carolina will be busier in the spring.
Knowing when you want to go will help you choose the appropriate destination.
Transportation and Logistics
Are you driving or flying?
Depending on your destination, will it be easier to fly or drive? If the trip location is within reasonable driving distance, it will likely be cheaper to drive. However, flying will be much faster.
How are you traveling with your clubs?
If you plan to fly, you’ll need to get a travel case for your clubs. Hard-shell travel cases are more expensive than soft-shell cases but will better protect your clubs.
If you drive to the destination, does your vehicle have enough space to fit all the clubs? If not, you’ll need to take more cars or get a rooftop travel bag.
How are you getting around at your destination?
Are you going to rent a car or utilize ride services like Uber or Lyft? If you drive to your destination, you can use your car to get around.
When are you going on the trip?
The time of year to go on a golf trip will impact the locations you can go to. If you plan the trip for summer, you can go anywhere. During winter months, going down south is the only option for a golf vacation.
How many days?
Golf trips are great for long weekends, lasting around 3-5 days. However, you can still do a trip by only staying a few days or even a week.
The longer the trip, the more expensive it will be.
The Golf
How much money can the group spend on golf?
Having a golf budget will assist you with course selection. Depending on the group’s budget, you may have to forgo some of the best courses in the area for more moderately priced courses.
Is there a favorite course?
Out of all the golf courses you’re considering, is there a must-have favorite amongst the group? If so, you can spend extra money to play a favorite golf course and opt for cheaper courses to fill out the remaining days of the trip.
If you have a favorite course, you may want to book it for the middle of the trip. Booking the best course during the middle of the trip will allow people to warm up on the other courses first. If you save the best course for last, the group may be exhausted by the end of the trip.
How many holes each day?
Will you be playing 18 holes each day? Will you fit in 36 holes in a day? Will you take a day off from golfing?
If you plan to play 36 holes in one day, it’s best to find a golf course with 36 holes or book 18 holes at two golf courses close in driving distance.
Golfers can get easily worn out during a golf trip, so spacing out rounds of golf is important.
Does anyone need to rent clubs?
Is every golfer bringing their golf clubs, or does someone need to do a club rental? If group members need to rent clubs, they can rent a set directly from each golf course or through a club rental service. It’s a good idea to call the golf courses ahead of time to see if they offer golf club rentals.
Are tee times available?
Tee times can be scarce depending on the golf course and the time of year. For each golf course you’re researching, see if they have availability. Once you know all the courses you want to play, book a tee time as soon as possible.
Have you researched each golf course online?
The more research you conduct on the golf courses in the area, the more equipped you’ll be to make informed decisions. Try to find reviews on each course from multiple outlets like Google reviews and Reddit posts.
Golf courses usually have course photos on their website. Some courses even have fly-over videos of each hole.
Check to see if there are any YouTube videos on the golf course to further your discovery.
What is the dress code?
Is there a dress code for each golf course that needs to be followed? Most golf courses require collared shirts, golf shorts or pants, and golf shoes.
You or anyone in your group does not want to be denied access for improper attire, so knowing the dress code beforehand is crucial.
Which games should you play?
The best golf trips include various game formats such as scrambles, best ball, wolf, and skins.
Some groups may want to play their ball in a stroke-play format. Getting the group’s opinion before arriving at the course is a great way to know what to expect.
Do people want to place bets?
Friendly wagers on the golf course make for more exciting and intense rounds. Even if it’s only a dollar a hole, betting can heighten some people’s experience.
If your group wants to place bets, I recommend bringing plenty of $1 bills and keeping them safely in your golf bag.
Do any courses offer stay-and-play packages?
Some golf courses offer stay-and-play packages that allow people to stay at a hotel, condo, or apartment-style lodging directly on the golf course. Packages also come with rounds of golf. Some packages even include drink and meal vouchers.
Lodging
Hotel or Airbnb?
Hotels tend to be more consistent and reliable when it comes to quality. On the other hand, Airbnb is unique and creates an environment that allows your group to mingle and come together.
For golf getaways, I recommend using Airbnb because sharing a space with friends is enjoyable. The shared space of an Airbnb will make for more memories than if each person is secluded in their hotel room.
How many beds do you need?
The first thing I like to look for when evaluating an Airbnb is the number of beds. Sure, everyone might not get a room to themself, but avoiding sharing beds is convenient.
Is there enough space?
The next thing to look for is the general space of an Airbnb. For example, does the living room have enough seating for everyone? Are there enough bathrooms?
Is there enough parking?
If you’re driving to the golf destination, make sure there is enough parking available. For hotels, this won’t be an issue. However, if you’re booking lodging through Airbnb, check to see if there are enough parking spots for all the cars in your group.
Does the group want certain amenities?
It’s nice to have amenities like a hot tub, swimming pool, washer and dryer, and more.
Is the lodging close to the golf courses?
Whether it be a hotel or Airbnb, you’ll want to find lodging in a central location, close to the golf courses. I find it useful to book tee times first and then find lodging in the center of all the golf courses.
Is the lodging close to the airport?
If your group is flying to the destination, it’s nice to have lodging close to the airport, making travel a little easier.
Food and Beverage
Should you make dinner reservations?
Having a relaxing dinner with your friends after a long day of golfing is the perfect way to end the day. Depending on the group’s budget, it might not be practical to go out for an expensive dinner each night. Although, going to at least one nice dinner is a great way to celebrate the excitement of the golf trip.
Should you go to the grocery store?
It’s smart to stop at a grocery store when you first get to your destination. At the very least, you can stock up on water, snacks, and easy meals to eat in the morning or during a round of golf.
What to do for breakfast and lunch?
For breakfast, it’s wise to eat some nutritious food with lots of protein. You can either stop at a restaurant or drive-through before your round of golf. If you buy groceries, you can make breakfast at your Airbnb before teeing off.
You can easily purchase lunch at the golf course. However, people may get sick of eating hot dogs and burgers each day at the course. If you buy groceries, get ingredients for sandwiches so people can eat a cost-effective lunch at the golf course.
Packing
What clothes to pack for golf?
If the weather is warm, you’ll need a hat, a collared shirt, a belt, golf shorts, socks, and golf shoes.
If the weather is cold or brisk, swap the shorts for pants, swap the hat for a beanie, and include a quarter-zip or golf sweater.
It’s also ideal to pack for unexpected, rainy weather. Bring some rain gear, like a rain jacket and waterproof pants.
How many balls do you need?
Golf courses at top-destination spots are more difficult than your local muni courses, so expect to lose more balls than usual. I recommend bringing two cases of balls so you don’t have to worry about restocking in the clubhouse.
What clothes to pack for going out?
You’ll want to have at least one casual outfit and one dressier outfit so you are prepared no matter where you go.
What toiletries should you bring?
You probably won’t need to bring shampoo or body wash if your hotel or Airbnb already has it. However, you’ll want to pack all of your other toiletry items you use daily.
Any other items to bring?
Here’s a helpful list of other items to consider bringing.
- Clothes to sleep in
- Clothes to lounge in
- Clothes to golf in
- Clothes to go out in
- Extra socks
- Bathing suit
- Golf shoes
- Belts
- Bluetooth speaker
- Reusable water bottle
- Washcloths and towels
- Shower shoes
- Casual shoes
- Dressy shoes
- Laptop
- Headphones
- Chargers
- Advil and Melatonin
Final Thoughts
I hope this blog post sparks ideas and gives you some direction as you begin planning your golf trip. Since each golf trip is unique, if there’s any crucial aspect I overlooked, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
Take the time to plan your golf trip to the best of your abilities. However, most importantly, I hope your golf trip is a booming success and provides you with enjoyable memories that last a lifetime!
