It's time for a break! Put your clothes in a bag. Put your shoes away. Put your toothbrush, toothpaste, and sunscreen in your bag. And, of course, don't forget to bring your golf bag, which is the most important thing. This is Golf Vacation 101. Let's look at some things to think about as you plan the golf trip of your dreams.
Well, let's get the bad news out of the way first and move on to the first question:
How much money do you have saved for a trip?
I know that you probably haven't saved up a lot of money for your golf trip. After all, you just finished paying for a new Hybrid club, and a few months ago you had to buy Christmas gifts...
But no matter what, you can find a golf vacation that's perfect for you, no matter how much money you have. If you have a lot of money to spend on a vacation, you should go somewhere warm where golfers come from all over the world. What about the south of the US? California? The Caribbean Islands? Hawaii? You could even see two or three volcanoes from the green.
But if you don't have the money for an expensive vacation like this (remember, you have to pay for golf fees, hotel stays, transportation, food, and other activities), you could take a much cheaper vacation. If you live on the East Coast of the U.S., you and a few friends could drive a few hours south to a golf club to play for a few days. Even though it might not feel like a resort, if you're only there to play golf, that shouldn't matter.
Bring along people who don't play golf?
If you're going on a golf trip with girlfriends, boyfriends, friends, or family members who don't want to golf but do want to get away, try to pick a place near shopping malls, amusement parks, movie theatres, beaches, or other places to visit. There are even packages that let you and your guests "stay and play" at many golf resorts. Most of these resorts offer packages that save you money on room and greens fees. Before making a final decision about where to go, look at all the details and read between the lines of the packages you are considering. This way, you won't be the only one having fun during the trip. And while your family is having fun, you'll have more time to play golf.
Is the vacation course you might take challenging enough for you?
If you are worried about playing on a course that is too hard or not hard enough while on vacation, you should know that most golf resorts have a wide range of courses to choose from. After all, these places know that every golfer is different in terms of their skills, likes, and dislikes. If you are very worried, you can always call the resort or talk to people you know who have stayed there before. A few thoughts can go a long way.
Lastly, have fun on your vacation and while you're golfing. Most people only get a chance to go on vacation once a year. So enjoy your time in the sun to the fullest!
Challenge:
The level of difficulty of the courses you're thinking about might be the most important thing to think about when choosing destinations and courses. In general, most good golf destinations have a variety of courses that allow golfers of different skill levels to have fun. This may affect more which courses you choose than which destination you choose.
The weather, the seasons, and other related topics:
On the other hand, if you or your group eats, sleeps, and plays golf while travelling, and if the handicap and letter of introduction requirements are not a problem, travelling to the U.K. in the summer can be a golfer's dream, since the sun doesn't set until 10 or 11 p.m. and rises again by 4 or 5 a.m. This means that you can play 36 holes a day and still have time to do other things.
Not in season?
Many golfers like to save money by going on trips outside of peak season. This is a good idea, as long as they've thought about the bad things that could happen. Some golfers don't mind playing in the rain, heat, or wind, and neither their age nor the health of their playing partners makes a difference. For example, prices drop sharply in Florida and Palm Springs during the summer, if you can stand the heat (and in the case of Florida, the humidity).
Other things to do:
What else besides golf is there? Does it matter for what you want to do? As was said above, weather can make you change your mind about playing, and even the toughest players sometimes find that the course is closed because of the weather. If this happens, you might not be able to do much. Or, you might be travelling with a family, a spouse, or other people who don't play games. If this is the case, you'll need to make sure everyone has plenty to do.
What number of classes do you need?
You should also think about how much time you have to play and how many courses you can and want to play. For a weekend trip, you might want to go somewhere with only one or a few courses that wouldn't be good for a weeklong trip. For example, Bald Head Island in North Carolina is a beautiful private island where the only way to get around is by golf cart. It's a nice, quiet place for adults or families to relax. It has great beaches, a few restaurants, and nice places to stay, mostly rental houses and a few bed and breakfasts. There is only one golf course on the island, but it is a good one. You can take the ferry to the mainland, where you will have left your car, and drive about 30 minutes to Myrtle Beach, SC, or Brunswick, NC, where there are hundreds of courses.
