Related Sponsors

Choosing Your Destination

Home » Adventure Travel » Golf Vacations » Choosing Your Destination
Posted by Your Guide on March 22, 2006 4:46 PM

You will most likely only have one golf vacation a year, so the pressure is on to make it the best trip possible. If you have been put in charge of the vacation planning, the first step is for you to find the best destination for you and your group.

When considering all of your destination options, first decide who will be joining you in this glorious getaway. Will it be just your buddies? Will it be your family? Will it be just couples? If you have non-golfers in your group, you will want to pick a spot that has other activities to keep them entertained. If it is just your buddies, there are several golf destinations that offer just golf and no frills. You might survey your group and find out what their interests and preferences are as far as location (bustling city versus quiet mountain village versus warm and tropical), dining preferences (dining in at night versus going out for gourmet meals) and the quality, difficulty and type of courses they want to play. All of these factors will play a part in making the vacation enjoyable for everyone involved.

There are several beautiful golf hot spots around the globe that cater to the golf vacationer. Resort areas vary in the number of courses they have to offer, the cost of rounds, and package options available. Many resort areas have “stay and play” golf packages that include greens fees and a hotel or motel room for discounted prices when you purchase both. If your group is small, this can be a good deal for you monetarily. Some of the most popular areas in the United States for “stay and play” golf packages are Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Scottsdale, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Palm Springs, Florida; and Orlando, Florida.

If you have a larger group, it may be more financially savvy of you to rent a large house in an area with several course and customize your golf vacation. You can take advantage of the full kitchen in a house by purchasing your own groceries for breakfast, lunch and some dinners. Some feel that having the whole group stay under one roof promotes the camaraderie. However, make sure there is enough room for everyone to have their own bed if possible.

Once you have settled on a general location, use the internet, state and area golf associations, Chambers of Commerce, Convention Bureaus and printed travel guides to compare costs and offerings. If you don’t wish to muddle yourself in the details, you may consider using a Golf Packager to do the work for you. Golf Packagers are insiders who know the best hotels to stay in, the best courses to fit your needs and skill levels, the condition of the courses in the area (some may have just been airified or overseeded), and they can even set up the lodging, tee times and transportation for you.



Next Page: Organizing a Golf Vacation - Who, When, How Long?

Related Articles