Preparing for a Golf Vacation With Friends
Who among us hasn’t stared wistfully out the window on a blustery winter’s day, dreaming of hitting the links somewhere in the sun? Well, as a wise person once said, when you’re done, the things you regret the most are the things you didn’t do. So, it’s time to stop dreaming and start preparing for a golf vacation.
These tips will help you achieve that dream. To that end, the first piece of advice we have to offer is to take a indoor golf kit so you can solve problems at home before you and your friends travel to a distant destination. After all, the last thing you want to do is appear rusty.
Choose your group carefully
We all have friends we’d rather spend more time with than others. You’ll want to gather a party of four like-minded people with a sense of adventure, patience, and most importantly, affability. Keeping your group to four makes it easy to set up flights, accommodations, and departure times. Do whatever you can to get the whole group to buy into all the big choices. These include the destination, hotel accommodation, duration of the trip and the number of tours you will take during the duration of the trip.
Start planning early
Spread the idea among your chosen friends at least six months in advance gives everyone time to make sure their schedule is clear. It also gives them time to make the personal arrangements they need to travel comfortably. A group email offering the adventure will ensure that everyone receives the same information.
Once you have their confirmations in hand, determine who will be in charge of which aspects of the trip. The main thing you want to do is build consensus, so that everyone involved feels they have contributed to some aspect of the journey. That way, if things went wrong (as they sometimes do), everyone would be invested.
Vote for a destination
Again, making sure everyone has a voice, try to agree on the destination of the trip. Winter scenarios like the one we’re discussing here will almost always mean California, Florida, Arizona, or the Caribbean. You want to choose a place where the weather is likely to work for you rather than against you.
Hand in hand with the destination will go the chosen routes. It is still time to submit the decision to a collective vote. The aim should be to reach a common conclusion. The last thing you want to do is dictate your preferences to the rest of the group. It’s a surefire recipe for dissent and resentment, which can ruin the trip.
Once you’ve decided on a destination, working with a travel agent who specializes in golf vacations can help ensure that nothing is overlooked.
Book tee times in advance
Booking your time slot well before you leave home is the best way to ensure you attend the course(s) when you arrive. Waiting until you reach the destination will leave too much to chance. Yes, things could work out, but it is better to know that you will be accommodated before arriving in an unfamiliar place and having to try to find a plan B at the last minute.
what to pack
You’ll need an outfit for every game day to save you from having to do laundry on the road. Keep in mind that you’ll likely be doing some great dinners and maybe even sightseeing while you’re away, so you’ll want to make sure you’re dressed comfortably for those occasions.
It’s also a good idea to check with the course(s) you plan to play to make sure your dress choices will meet any dress codes you may encounter. You’ll also want to make sure you have balls, tees, and any other gear you’ll need in your bag.
These tips for planning a golf vacation with friends will help you get all the legwork done. That way, all you have to do is relax and enjoy the moment of leaving.