Planning Your Golf Trip

One of the best things about taking a Golf Trip is the planning.  Why?  The possibilities are endless!  You can literally pick any destination with a golf course and a place to stay (or pitch a tent) and make it a golf trip. 

I'm going to point out a few things I consider when I plan my group trips.  Things I have learned over the years which hopefully help everyone out. 

Where Are We Going?

As I mentioned above, this is one of my favorite things.  There are so many options and probably some you didn't consider.  Being from the Northeast, we have success to some great golf venues within a relatively short travel time. 

 

I've played golf all over and you can find a good course (and some awful ones) anywhere you go.  Do your research and decide what the best place would be for your group.  We have guys from Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.  It's important I do my best to make it convenient for everyone.  Some times it's a flight for some and drive for others but when you have people from all over, that's how it goes.

When To Go?

This is entirely up to you.  Some groups want to do a winter trip to Florida or Arizona.  Some are looking for a summer trip to Cape Cod and others like a fall trip to Myrtle Beach.  The time of year you go will have an immediate impact on on the cost.  Myrtle Beach in October is "prime time" and it's a great time to visit Myrtle.  

Our annual trip is a fall trip and we usually go south to make it reasonable.  One year we had an October event in Northern Connecticut and it was cold and rainy.  Could this happen anywhere?  Sure.  Play the odds and if you go in October, head south. 

I've Never Booked a Golf Trip, Where Do I Begin?

There unlimited resources on the internet for looking up golf information.  If you know where your going, you'll be able to use sites for specific places. 

Once we decided to go to Myrtle Beach in 2007, we could use any site focused on Myrtle Beach to help us book.  I was referred into www.forecaddiegolf.com which books specifically for Myrtle Beach. 

In 2008, we decided to go to Ocean City, MD for our trip.  I decided to give Golf Zoo, www.golfzoo.com, a try.  They made the trip very easy and the site allows you to book golf trips almost anywhere in the USA.  If you have never booked a golf trip or are trying to decide where to go, visit Golf Zoo and explore your options.  I also recommended Golf Zoo to a friend of mine for booking a trip this year.  He booked it in a few days and now is ready to go, it was that easy. 

In 2009 it was Atlantic City, NJ.  We used www.golfac.com to handle our needs. 

 

(2009:  The lobby and clubhouse at the Seaview Marriott in Galloway, NJ.. it's now a Dolce Resort)

Golf AC is a specific site for Atlantic City golf trips where Golf Zoo books trips everywhere.  

A Few Extra Tips

• If your dates and locations are flexible, visit some sites and look for discounts are deals.  Almost every site has a time of year for a certain location they are discounting the trips.
• Ask the people booking for you.  If you don't know about the region ask their opinion.  They are the experts.
• Do!  If you want to get a golf trip going and don't know how.  Go with one golfing buddy somewhere and see how it goes.  My group started with 4 guys.  We are now at 10 and could grow more but I don't want to do the work.  Once people go on these trips, they want to go back.

Have you used a certain site to book a trip you can recommend? Leave a comment so everyone can know about it!

Comments

[Bob Hafnar]

If you plan on going back to Atlantic City be sure to check www.acgolfvacations.com as they offer the lowest guaranteed rates for an AC Golf Trip. They are owned by the golf courses which gives them the lowest rates and they can work with all of the casinos and hotels. Hope this helps.

[The Golf Nomad]

Thanks for sharing your opinion. I'll be sure to look into this option when I book in AC again. Hopefully the readers will check it out if they're traveling to AC too.

Thank You for reading and contributing!

[Wayne Gretzky]

I recently used golfzoo.com and so far, it has been a disappointment. My trip isn't until June, but I have been told by the agent that two houses were booked after he told me we had it reserved. He is trying to get me in another unit, but I won't feel totally comfortable until we are actually in a place. I wouldn't go with this site again.

[WAM Golf]

Sorry to hear that Wayne. I've used them once before and everything went smoothly for me. If you're already set on a location you can try a specific site. For example, Atlantic City has Golfac.com or in Ocean City, MD you have pamsgolfoc.com.

If you send me an e-mail I'd be happy to discuss other ideas with you. Good luck booking your trip!

[Mike]

Wamgolf, me and a bunch of buddies are looking to plan a golf trip in February. I am thinking Orlando because we are sure it will be warm there, but there are so many courses down there, it is confusing which one to pick. We would definitely want to stay in a house or a villa, and go from Thursday to Sunday. Also, we like to hit the sauce, so want to be around a place where there is stuff to do. Basically, I am asking you to book this trip for us. Haha. Only kidding, but please help.

[WAM Golf]

Thanks for the comment Mike! I would love to plan your golf trip for you. haha. Actually, I'm more than happy to offer some suggestions. Orlando is a great golf town and there are a few other options we can discuss.

I'm planning my winter trip too and will send you an e-mail to discuss.

Thanks for reading!