Tips for Planning Golf Trips

It will happen sooner or later. If you’ve been bitten by the golf bug, you’ll get to the point where it’s just not enough to play the local courses. You start dreaming about the golf trips you could take. You imagine golf vacations, and plan your travel around the golf courses you might play. It may strike you suddenly – a desire to play an amazing hole you’ve seen in a televised tournament, perhaps – or develop over time. It may just be a general notion that if you’re going to travel, you might as well check out golf courses and clubs in the area. Or you may specifically plan golf travel – a trip taken completely for the purpose of playing golf at many different courses. No matter what you decide, though, there are some things to remember when planning golf trips, whether for yourself or for a group.

Budget

Budget is always a vital component of any trip, and it’s especially important when you’re figuring golf into your travel plans. Teeing off at some of the most popular courses in the world can be a pricey proposition, but golf trips don’t have to be expensive. If there are golf clubs or courses you must play, check their availability and the greens fees before you book the rest of your vacation. That will allow you to budget for expensive clubs if necessary, or choose different courses to play.

Season

Some areas of the country are great golfing in any season – Arizona golf, for example, is perfect in any month, and Myrtle Beach golf courses are always playable. Do call ahead, though, to find out when courses will be undergoing grooming and reseeding. Playability will be affected – but on many of the best courses, you’ll still get a dynamite game – often at bargain prices.

Golf Travel Agents

Consider planning your vacation through a travel agency that specializes in arranging golf trips, especially if you’re heading to an area you don’t know well. Golf travel agents have connections, which is one of the best reasons for using a travel agent for any type of trip. When it comes to golf trips, though, those connections often translate to knowing about obscure but amazing golf courses that are off the beaten path, or special little perks that won’t be available to a player who books a tee time on his own.

Transporting Your Clubs

Your golf clubs will count as part of your travel baggage if you’re traveling by air. If you’re planning to bring your own golf clubs, always check with the airline to find out about any special rules and regulations you’ll have to follow.

You can, of course, avoid the hassle of traveling with your golf clubs by either shipping them ahead of you and meeting up with them at your destination, or by making arrangements to rent a set of golf clubs when you arrive.

Golf trips are practically guaranteed to be enjoyable for an avid golfer, but some careful planning can ensure that your golf travel goes off without a hitch.

Golf vacations are becoming more and more popular as tours and trips for families, couples, individuals and groups. Golf is a uniquely democratic sport. While it may be the sport of kings, anyone who can swing a club and afford the greens fee can play the same courses where the pros play. A baseball fan may never have the opportunity to step up to home plate at Fenway and face the Green Monster, but any golfer can step up to the tee at the Amen Corner and feel like a pro. If you’re considering a golf trip or trying to choose among destinations for the best golf vacations, consider these venues the next time you’re bitten by the golf travel bug.

Myrtle Beach Golf

On the east coast, the most popular golf vacations destination is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Once known as the bargain basement of the golf circuit, Myrtle Beach golf has come into its own as a quality destination for the very best that golf has to offer. Overall, Myrtle Beach is known for its meticulously maintained golf courses, its golf-friendly climate and the sheer number and variety of golf courses and golf clubs where you can play. The 100-mile strip known as the Grand Strand boasts more than 110 golf courses, and every one of them offers its own unique challenges and charms.

If you’re planning a golf trip to Myrtle Beach, consider The Legends Resort, which is comprised of six award-winning golf courses. You can play the TPC, which is the only 5-star course in the area, or tee off at the Arnold Palmer designed Kings North course.

Ireland Golf Vacations

If your golf travel will take you abroad, consider a visit to Ireland to enjoy teeing off on some of the most historic golf courses in the world. Irish golf courses tend to be links courses along the coast, but you’ll also find some beautiful parklands courses if you head for the interior of the Emerald Isle. A golf travel agent can help arrange tee times at historic golf courses as well as accommodations at your choice of resort hotels or homey bed and breakfasts. The right agent who is familiar with arranging golf trips can also point you toward golf clubs that will treat you like a king and pubs where you can enjoy Irish hospitality at its finest.

Arizona Golf Trips

Arizona is another up and coming golf destination in the U.S. The two main areas for golf in Arizona are Phoenix/Scottsdale and Tucson. For family-friendly golf trips, Tucson can’t be beat. For the last several years, the U.S. youth golf champs have all come from the Tucson area, where kids are treated as real golfers rather than tagalongs to be tolerated or excluded. Phoenix is famous for its luxurious resort courses, and is the ideal destination for a top-notch luxury golf vacation.

Planning golf vacations can be a DIY exercise, but professionals can add those extra touches that make your trip especially memorable. If you’re planning some golf travel this year, consider consulting a travel agency that specializes in booking golf trips.

Golf Vacations for the Way You Like to Golf

For those who love golf travel, there are two prime U.S. golf destinations – regions that have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to tee times and courses. While there are many places you can golf, few areas boast as many golf clubs, golf resorts and golf courses in a concentrated area as Myrtle Beach and the Phoenix/Scottsdale area in Arizona. And while there are exceptions in both areas, there are large differences between Arizona golf courses and Myrtle Beach golf courses. Choosing a destination for your golf vacations can start with deciding which region offers the kind of golf you most enjoy playing.

Desert Golf in the Southwest

The Phoenix/Scottsdale region in Arizona is home to well over 100 golf courses. The region offers stunning scenery and perfect golf weather year-round. With an average of almost 300 sunny days annually, your golf game will almost never get rained out. Arizona golf is at its best when the rest of the country is in the deep freeze, with temperatures averaging between 60 and 80 F. from mid-September to May.

While it sometimes seems that there are as many exceptions as examples, desert golf courses abound in Arizona – which should come as no surprise, considering the climate. You’ll find lush swaths of fairways laid out through stunning stretches of desert scenery. Links style courses are the norm, and target golfers will be in their glory.

Parklands Golf Courses in the Southeast

The Grand Strand boasts over 110 golf courses in a short strip along the Southeastern coast of the U.S. Like Arizona, the Myrtle Beach area boasts a high average of sunny days annually. The temperature seldom drops below 60 or above 90 F. with the best golfing weather occurring between October and June.

Myrtle Beach golf courses make the most of the lush greenness characteristics of the Southeastern U.S. The typical golf greens in Myrtle Beach are exactly that – green. Parklands golf courses with lush fairways, mature trees and beautiful coastal scenery are the norm. You’ll also find many resort courses designed with wide fairways, short roughs and comfortable play that accommodates all levels of golfers.

There are, of course, exceptions. You’ll find links courses in Myrtle Beach and lush, rolling greens on resort golf courses in Arizona, but in general, you can plan your golf vacations around the kind of golf you most enjoy. A travel agent who specializes in arranging golf travel can help you pinpoint the best courses to play for your favored style in whichever area you choose.

Time to Plan Your 2012 Golf Travel

As the New Year begins, most people consider how to make next year a better one than last year. That is, after all, the purpose of New Year’s resolutions – to make things better. This year, make those weight loss and fitness resolutions a lot more fun – resolve to schedule more time for golf travel and take more golf trips to help you improve your game and enjoy your favorite sport. Not sure where to go or play? We’ve got some top suggestions for lesser-known Arizona golf courses that any golfer will enjoy.

Why Arizona? The Phoenix-Scottsdale area boasts more than 200 golf courses, many of them well-known, in demand courses at high-end resorts. Famous names like Troon North and Boulders attract golfers from all over the world, but the big name courses aren’t the only game in town. Smaller, lesser-known golf courses benefit from the same conditions that make golfing in Arizona such a pleasure – sunny, dry days and stunning scenery among them. These smaller courses make Arizona golf travel worth the trip even if you don’t stay at the high-end resorts and immerse yourself in luxury.

Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa

Scott Miller’s Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa steals all the attention, but We-Ko-Pa’s other course, the Saguaro, definitely deserves a mention as well. Built in 2005-2006, the course was designed by golf architect team Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, who were tasked with creating a course that was completely different from the older Cholla course. They came up with a traditional style golf green that’s a pleasure to walk and a challenge to play.

Trilogy at Vistancia

Golf Digest awarded a coveted 5-star rating to Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia, and Golf Arizona senior staff writer Mike Bailey calls it “sneaky good.” The budget-priced golf green rewards you with stunning views, tricky shots and holes that offer golfers a variety of options and decisions that keeps play exciting and fresh. Like the Saguaro, Trilogy isn’t the typical desert target golf course – but it’s not exactly a traditional green either. Its unique configuration and playability contribute to an overall flow that turns an afternoon of golf into a memorable and treasured golf experience.

Ocotillo Golf Resort

Located in Chandler, Arizona, Ocotillo is a 27-hole championship course with three separate 9-hole layouts that you can play in several different 18-hole configurations. Each of the combinations of the Blue, White and Gold courses presents unique challenges – the Blue 9, for example, involves water features at every hole. Rated among Golf World’s Top 50 resorts, Ocotillo carries a 4.5-star rating from Golf Digest.

Arizona golf is like golf nowhere else in the world, and these three lesser-known golf courses definitely rate a place among your list of 2012 golf travel destinations. If you haven’t started planning your golf trips for the year yet, keep in mind that many clubs offer a discount if you book your tee times early, so don’t miss out.

Has someone you love succumbed to the lure of golf travel this year? Golf trips are among the most popular holiday travel, especially those that take you to warmer, sunnier climes. If your favorite golfer has booked a golf vacation this holiday season, why not add to the festivities by giving him or her a golf-themed holiday gift? If you’re not sure what to get that will be appreciated, here are a few suggestions that will help add to the fun on golf trips and golf vacations.

Golf Passes

Most golfers plan their golf trips around the courses they want to play, but they’ll usually have plenty more time to get in even more rounds on other courses. Once you know their destination, check around for other golf courses and clubs in the area, then check into the availability of a golf pass. In Arizona, golf courses sometimes band together, for example, to offer a golf pass that will grant entry onto the greens of any one of several major courses. Golf passes are relatively inexpensive, and many also offer discounts for playing as well as on items in the pro shop.

Golf Lessons

Help your golfer hone his game before he sets off on his golf vacation with lessons from a local golf pro. Phone up his favorite course to find out the availability of lessons, or check online for other nearby courses where you can schedule classes that concentrate on specific problem areas. What better gift can you give a golfer than shaving a few points off his handicap or helping him overcome that nasty slice?

Golf Equipment

He’s got his favorite clubs, but every golfer has a few pieces of golf equipment on his or her holiday list. If you’re not sure, you can ask directly, or you can call up the pro shop and ask for recommendations for a special golf gift. One possibility – a gift certificate to the pro shop that includes a swing analysis to help them fit him with the very best equipment for his own personal style.

Golf Balls and Other Stocking Stuffers

If the golf travel is taking your golfer overseas, one of the best gifts you can give him is a supply of golf balls. People who often take golf trips to Ireland, Scotland and other popular golf travel destinations always recommend bringing along extra balls – they’re expensive if you have to buy them while you’re there.

Of course, if you’re looking for a really spectacular gift for your favorite golfer, you could go all out and book him or her a golf vacation to his favorite dream destination. If he’s already beat you to it and booked his own golf travel, however, you can get in on the fun with one of these great holiday golf gifts.

Golf vacations are becoming more and more popular as more and more people learn about the pure enjoyment of addressing a ball and sending it sailing off across the green. If you’re planning golf travel this winter, these tips can help make your golf trip easier and more fun.

Let a Pro do the Planning For You

If you’ve never planned a golf vacation before, it makes sense to take advantage of the expertise of a professional travel agent. There are many travel agents that specialize in putting together golf vacation packages that include everything from lodging to tee time bookings. You can book a golf travel package with a theme, choose golf packages by cost or sit down with a travel agent and have them put together a custom golf package that hits the course that you want to play.

Do Some Research Before You Go

Whether you plan your own golf trip or book a pre-designed golf package, spend some time reading up on the courses you plan to play. Read reviews on the various courses and clubs and learn about the tricks and tips for playing each. It’s also important to know if there are particular rules or restrictions. For example, in Ireland, golf clubs often restrict play to those who have a handicap certificate.

Leave Your Clubs at Home or Ship Them Ahead

If you’re flying to your destination, traveling with your golf clubs can be a hassle. Each of the airlines has specific rules and regulations you’ll have to follow if you want to take your clubs along – and they will take the place of one of your allowed checked bags. You can save the hassle and expense – and the risk that your clubs will end up in Alaska while you’re on the Grand Strand – by renting clubs at your destination, or by shipping your clubs to your hotel ahead of you.

Book Your Tee Times Well in Advance

If you have particular courses that you want to play, call ahead to reserve a tee time. This is especially important if you’re planning to play a well-known club that’s very popular with tourists. Just how far ahead varies – if you want to play the Old Course at St. Andrews next summer, for example, you’re already out of luck – as of October 2011, tee times for March through October 2012 is already fully booked.

Whether you’re traveling on your own or booked a golf travel package with a group through a travel agency, a little research and advance planning will go a long way toward making your trip more enjoyable.

Advice for Ireland Golf Vacations

Next to Scotland, there are few places on Earth more sacred to avid golfers than Ireland. Some of the most revered golf courses in the world are located on the Emerald Isle, making it a favorite spot for golf vacations. If you’re planning an Ireland golf vacation, these facts and tips may come in handy.

The Best Time for Ireland Golf Courses

While most Irish golf courses, particularly links courses, are open year round, the weather is best from April to October, as are the conditions of the golf courses. Most golf enthusiasts recommend that you plan golf trips to Ireland during those months. The weather is comfortable all year long, but the summer daylight hours can give you a couple of extra rounds of golf in the evening before the sun sets.

Handicap Certificates

Many golf clubs require that non-members present a handicap certificate in order to play on the course. Avoid disappointment by making sure to obtain and pack one before you leave home.

Caddies

Caddies are not employed directly by golf clubs in Ireland, and there’s no guarantee that there will be a caddy available at tee times. Most golf travel guides recommend requesting a caddy in advance so that the golf club can make arrangements if necessary.

Golf Carts

Golf carts, or golf buggies, are rarer on Ireland golf courses than they are in the U.S. Many clubs don’t allow them at all, or limit their use to specific courses. If you want a gold cart, you should ask in advance and request a reservation at the time you book your tee time. Generally, preference is given for golfers that require a golf cart for medical reasons.

Golf Clubs – to Bring Or Not?

If you’re planning to take your own golf clubs, be sure to check with the airline in advance about their baggage policies concerning golf equipment. Many golfers choose to leave their clubs at home and rent them at the golf clubs where they play. Others choose to ship their golf clubs ahead by freight rather than trusting them to baggage handlers. Price out each of your options and decide which works best for you.

What Else to Pack

Whether you choose to take your clubs or leave them at home, there are some other things you’ll definitely want to pack. First – golf balls. Pack a few dozen. You’re likely to lose a few in the roughs, and they tend to be prohibitively expensive overseas. Aside from that, you’ll want rain gear, including waterproof shoes and a few pairs of all weather gloves. In addition, pack a warm jacket or sweater, even in the summer, for cool mornings and evenings.

Golf Travel Accommodations

There are many accommodation options for golf vacations in Ireland, ranging from holiday cottages or condos to luxury 5-star hotels and manor homes. You’ll often get the best deals on Ireland golf vacations when you book an entire tour, including accommodations and tee times at several famous golf courses, through a travel agent that specializes in golf travel.