There’s nothing better than getting out of town for a few days for a vacation away. Well, the only way it can get better is if the trip is centered around playing golf!

Let’s be real though, organizing these types of trips can be complicated. There’s so much that goes into planning that makes it not a very fun process. Itineraries, accommodations, tee times, traveling, weather, and most importantly cost all come into play.

You may be asking yourself what the most important factors are when planning a golf trip like this. Look no further, we’ve taken the time to gather the most relevant considerations.

Where are you traveling to? Flying or driving can make all the difference.

The golf meccas like Pinehurst and Myrtle Beach are probably far away for most reading this, but that shouldn’t stop you from considering taking your vacation there. Myrtle Beach has 70 golf courses in a 30 mile radius, that is just ridiculous. Pinehurst has nine 18 hole courses and then many more in surrounding resorts. Why wouldn’t you want to golf at these destinations?

There’s certainly an appeal to trips in areas where golf is the main draw for tourists. There’s something to be said about playing on a legendary course with your friends. That said, it’s also worth considering going to a smaller city with attractions outside of golf. There are lots of great golf courses that are calling your name.

Taking the time to pick the right location for your trip is essential. One of the first things you should be considering is how you’ll get there. Is this going to be a trip where you drive, and are easily able to bring your clubs with you? Or will you be flying and shipping/renting your clubs?

Where and when are you playing golf?

What seems like simple questions makes all the difference in your planning. Ask yourself, do you want to stay on a resort with their own golf course and just play that? Or do you want to stay somewhere else, like an Airbnb, and then book at local courses?

Another consideration beyond the courses you’re playing are how many times you plan to golf on the trip. If you’re only going away for a weekend, you probably won’t have much time outside of golfing to do any major activities. There are stay and play packages that offer unlimited golf. Yes, you read that right, unlimited golf. Some golfers can’t play enough and 36 holes a day is nothing. Keep in mind, there are most-likely many other activities available outside of golf to keep you and your travel companions occupied.

If you plan to stay off site, it’s worth mentioning the proximity of your accommodations to the courses you intend to play. Generally speaking, it’s better to be playing golf or exploring your destination than driving 45 minutes or more to get to a course. 

Here’s our recommendation… pre-book all of your rounds for the trip and keep it to one round a day. That way, you’ll have the flexibility to do more activities outside of golf. If you want to play more golf, you can always look for tee times that day.

What’s your budget? Take advantage of golf getaway packages.

Many golfers are planning their golf getaways around cost. Rightfully so. With the recent explosion of the sport over the past few years, many courses have upped their greens fee. Don’t let that stop you though, there are plenty of affordable golf trip packages to be had.

A stay and play package is the first place we recommend looking for the budget-conscious traveler. Instead of booking your accommodations separately from your golf rounds, take care of them together. Many of these packages offer features like discounted replay rounds, unlimited golf, meals, club storage or even discounted round rates.

Keep in mind, not all golf packages are created equal. Take Pinehurst for example, their current Donald Ross Golf Package starts at $1,300 for 2 nights at any of their hotels and 3 rounds of golf. That also includes breakfast and a three-course dinner each night.

Right down the road, you can book a similar package at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. Depending on the time of year you go, you can get accommodations, room and board, and unlimited golf at any of their courses (Pine Needles, Mid Pines, or Southern Pines) starting at $165 per night.

A few things for the budget golfer to consider when booking a trip:

Who are you traveling with? Make memories sharing golf experiences with others.

This could really make or break your trip. Seriously. Who you invite will help influence many important decisions you’ll need to make. For instance, will everyone you invite be able to afford the trip? Or will they be trying to save money by suggesting booking tee times at cheaper courses. 

Our recommendation is to travel with people you know well, and maybe even traveled with before. This could be your spouse, friends or family.

Traveling with friends is probably the most common golf vacation, but couples golf trips can be a really great experience too. Imagine staying at a luxury resort like the Four Seasons in Hualalai with your partner. You play a round together in the morning then grab lunch at any of the fine dining options on the resort. In the afternoon you go snorkeling together in the Pacific Ocean. These will be memories you share forever.

It’s worth mentioning that there are also some great family friendly golf vacation options. The Big Cedar Lodge in the Ozarks has a variety of accommodations for the entire family. Five different golf courses, dining options for all price ranges and activities like bowling, laser tag, go-karts, swimming, obstacle course, fishing and even a spa. You could have a great week with your family without ever leaving the resort. 

Also consider the skill level of those who you invite. Some courses aren’t beginner friendly and that could change the entire dynamic of the golfing aspect of the trip. Not saying don’t invite your friend who sucks at golf, but take it into account when booking tee times. 

Our final point… you could also go on the trip solo, as a single golfer. Traveling alone may not be for everyone, but you can always play as a single and find groups to join up with.

How long will you be going away? Golf weekend trips are usually the play.

Getting away for a weekend is enough for some golfers, however, longer trips can provide an opportunity to play at a few more courses or even explore your destination more. It’s all really up to you though. We can make recommendations on how long to stay, but budget and other life responsibilities will trump anything we write here.

That said, if you’re looking to get a little more bang for your buck, consider booking an extra night on your package for a discounted rate. The Donald Ross Golf Package at Pinehurst offers a third night and fourth day of golf at a discounted rate of only $199. Another great deal is at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. They offer a “free” extra night and day of golf in their 4 for 3 and 5 for 4 special deals.

Our tip in determining your vacation length: Find the resorts who offer package deals aligning with your desired length of stay. Most golf resorts will offer a special for three and four day trips, so look for those on their websites when you’re doing your research.

Are you staying at a resort? Relax in luxury after your round.

There is certainly no shortage of luxury golf resorts in the United States and abroad. It makes sense, who wouldn’t want to play golf and then retire to five star accommodations. If you and your travel companions aren’t concerned with budget, it’s seriously worth considering staying at a destination resort.

Take the La Quinta Resort and Club in California. For starters, as a guest you’ll have pre-booking preference at any of their five world-class golf courses. That in itself should be enough of a draw for any avid golfer. Beyond the golfing, they have over a four star review on many travel websites and comments by guests all praise the staff and luxury accommodations. Many luxury resorts, including the La Quinta, offer a ton of things to do outside of golf:

Another luxury golf resort gem to consider is the Omni Barton Creek Resort in Austin Texas. The resort sports four championship caliber golf courses in the heart of Austin’s Hill Country. They usually have golf packages/offers for guests to take advantage of. Plus, you’ll get many luxury amenities like fine dining options, spa, large heated pools and you’re only 10 minutes to downtown Austin. 

Bottomline, there’s nothing like golfing on vacation and mixing in some self-care.

When are you going? Plan around weather and crowds.

Planning the time of year you travel will influence almost every other aspect of the trip. Think about it. You’ll pay more for greens fees and have a harder time booking if you try to play a course like Whistling Straits from June-August. That’s not to say you shouldn’t plan a trip in the middle of the summer, rather it’s worth considering what you’re signing up for.

Instead, consider planning your trip in May or September. You’ll be able to get a room at the American Club or the Inn on Woodlake for around a 25% discount. The average weather is very comfortable this time of year too, between 65 and 75 degrees in those months for Kohler, Wisconsin. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about booking tee times when you want to play since this is considered the off-peak season for many of the courses in the Wisconsin area.

There are still opportunities to find golf deals if you want to take a summertime vacation. Take the Streamsong Resort outside of Tampa, Florida for example. They have three beautiful 18 hole courses, a short course, practice facilities and even the “gauntlet” putting course. Outside of golf you have access to four restaurants, three bars/lounges, a spa, a 12-station sporting clay challenge course, an archery range, a guided bass fishing tour, and a pool all onsite. 

If you can put up with the heat, Streamsong has all the makings for a great summer golf destination deal. Google is telling us that the average summer temperature in Orlando is in the low 90’s, not unbearable but definitely hot. That said, greens fees are a third of the price in June – August compared to January – March. We’ll take that any day.

Are you going to plan other activities on the trip? Explore your destination.

You can golf literally almost anywhere in the world. That means you can pick a spot on a map and they will probably have a golf course nearby. That said, choosing the right location for your trip will influence other activities, outside of your tee times.

We touched on this point a few times earlier in the post, but take the time to plan some non-golf activities. Try to pick a destination near a mid-sized city and plan on exploring what they have to offer. Again, take the Omni Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas. With a vibrant music scene and eclectic food culture, there is no shortage of things to do.

Other places to consider are the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Sonoma County in California or Taos, New Mexico. All offer great golfing options with many other things to do.

Our tip… plan on playing one round of golf a day and then exploring your destination. Trust us, you’ll have plenty of time to golf again, but you won’t be able to go out on the town in a far-away city.

Are you bringing your clubs with you?

There are a few options these days when it comes to traveling with your clubs. It’s all about preference though.

If you’re going far away and flying, you can ship your clubs to your destination with a service like Ship Sticks. They make the process super easy and you don’t have to worry about traveling with your clubs. Insurance is included and you can track your clubs when they’re en route. Pricing is set up to be competitive with the cost of checking your clubs and flying with them. From browsing reviews online, it seems as if most are satisfied with the service. That said, there is always the possibility that your clubs don’t make it to your destination in time or even at all. 

Another suitable option for many is to rent your clubs from an online service. There are a few options out there in varying price ranges, all of which seem priced higher than Ship Sticks. This would be best for those who don’t want to risk losing or damaging their own clubs during shipment. Conversely, you’ll be responsible for the condition and return of rented clubs, which some may not want to deal with.

A similar option to renting clubs online is to rent clubs from the course you’re playing at that day. Not all courses will offer rentals, but many do and this can be the easiest option of all.

Of course you can always just bring your own clubs with you while traveling. That could mean checking your clubs with you on your flight or even just throwing them in the trunk of the car. Checking your clubs can get pricey, although you’ll have your own clubs, which is something you really can’t substitute. Many golfers refuse to golf with rented clubs.

Summary of how to plan a golf trip

We covered a lot. It’s safe to say that there’s plenty to consider when planning a golf trip. If we can give you two bits of information beyond what was already covered, plan ahead and create a checklist.

Give yourself and travel companions plenty of time ahead of your trip to plan. If you want to travel in the summer, start planning the trip in the winter.

A checklist is helpful in making sure you’re not missing anything. If we we’re planning our trip, we’d start with:

Wherever you end up going, you’ll be playing golf. All of the effort put into the trip will end up being worth it, trust us. Now go out there and start planning!