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Tips To Plan The Perfect Golf Vacation
By Mick Euan Tait | August 28, 2008
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.
The same with any vacation, you have to include some key elements when planning a golf trip; how long will you be staying, how do you plan to pay for the trip, what is the estimated cost, what other extras will you include, and so forth. The most important consideration is if any of your family or friends don’t golf, then what other activities would they enjoy. The next thing to consider is where you want to play golf; near the beach, in the mountains, or on the links of England or Scotland.
Some fundamental planning at the beginning should remove any little problems for a better chance of a perfect golf vacation. When you start to plan the perfect golf vacation it is a good idea to write out some points about an ideal golf trip by dividing the points into separate areas to focus on. Below are a few categories to 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 or rounds of golf the trip will include (don’t overdo it!)
* Decide on a range of prices for the full trip ($1500 to $3500, $4000 to $6000, for example)
* Decide on how many people will be in the group
* Decide who will go on the trip - just golfers, non-golfers etc.
* Gather some golf trip information from magazines, the library, Web sites etc.
* Ask friends who have been on a golf vacation if they made their own plans, used a travel agent, purchased an all-inclusive golf vacation etc.
One way to plan a golf trip is by making all the arrangements yourself; travel, accommodation, and golf activities. Below are some tips if you decide to 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.
By doing most of the planning yourself, you will no doubt have a extra challenges and work, but you and your group will have the benefit of more freedom and a sense of achievement. Remember to set your standards as high as you want and then decrease them to a controllable limit if you realize that your budget will not stretch to an overseas destination like the Bahamas, Scotland, or Spain.
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:
* Instead of a hotel you could consider a rental house with enough room for everyone
* 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
* Early morning tee times may allow an additional 18 holes in the afternoon. Being close to the house makes the course more attractive as 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.
Another item you might want to settle when you plan the perfect golf vacation: Do you get one round per day, two rounds per day, or can you play as much as you want? Be sure to have this settled before you leave. Tip: Make sure you understand what is included in your golf package. A few minutes for the details will eliminate many small problems once you get to your golf destination.
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Topics: Vacations |
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