For golfers that are passionate about the game and who are thinking about mixing your devotion to golf with a vacation, then you will find out how to plan the perfect golf vacation in this article. This will then give you the potential to organize a family golf trip or a golf trip with your buddies.
Before you rush off to the first tee in the sunshine of some other state or even another country, the golf vacationer must take the time to plan the perfect golf vacation by considering what should be included in the ideal golf trip.
As with any holiday, planning a golf trip ought to consist of some key elements; how you are going to pay, the estimated cost, the length of stay, any extras, etc. One thing to consider is what friends or family members do if they don't play golf. The first question to ask yourself is: Will we be golfing in the mountains, by the coast, or on the famous links of Scotland.
By doing some vital planning now, you will be able to eliminate any problems that may crop up to improve your chances of enjoying a problem free vacation. To start to plan the perfect golf vacation, it may be best if you jot down some ideas about an ideal golf trip to help you stay focused. The following categories will 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 and rounds of golf will be included in the trip (don't overdo it!)
* Calculate a range of prices for the whole trip ($1000 to $2000, $3000 to $4000, for example)
* Decide on how many people will be in the group
* Decide who will go on the trip - just golfers, non-golfers etc.
* Get some golf trip information together from golf magazines, library, Web sites etc.
* If you have friends who have been on a golf vacation, ask them if they made their own plans, purchased a golf package vacation, used a travel agent, 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 decide to drive to the destination of your golf vacation, you will be able to carry all your golf equipment in the car with you, which will solve your transportation needs. If this is the way that you decide to get to your golf site, take a minute to check that your golf club set is complete. It may sound obvious, but it would not be much fun when you arrive at a beautiful golf location, to find out that your putter is missing because one of your kids took it out of your bag to play with.
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.
After you have selected your favorite golf courses, you would then contact the accommodation you chose and speak to the Golf Director. You can book your lodgings and your preferred tee times right there. This is a good combination of being able to make your own decisions but taking advantage of the local knowledge of a golf vacations specialist.
If you really want to do this on your own, you may have a few more challenges and a little more work, but you and your friends may also enjoy the extra bit of freedom and sense of accomplishment. Set your standards high and then back down to a more manageable level if your budget doesn't look as if it will handle Scotland, Ireland, the Bahamas or a similar overseas destination.
After you have secured your lodgings you should plan to play golf courses that are within a realistic distance - the less traveling that you do between courses is important. As well, you should have made these arrangements at the earliest possible date to ensure that you get the best opportunities. If you wait until the last minute and then you find that you want to change your original destination, you will probably end up with unsuitable rooms and less convenient tee times. Below are some recommendations for booking your lodgings 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 lodging even earlier if you want to play golf and watch a major tournament that is taking place in the area. Combining your trip with a professional tournament adds some extra flavor to a golf vacation.
One more thing to take into consideration when you plan the perfect golf vacation; will you play one round a day, two rounds, or can you play as many as you wish? Make sure you have this detail arranged before leaving. Finally, make sure you fully understand what exactly is included in your golf vacation and what is not. Taking a few minutes to get all the details right will eradicate the small problems that you may encounter once you are at your golf destination.
About the Author:
Before planning your golf vacation, make sure you check out Mick Euan Tait's golf tips for more Golf Vacation information.
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