Five Tips for Planning a Golf Trip - Golfthere.com

When planning a golf trip, consider the handicap of each of player. If you have a mix of low to higher handicaps, be sure to select courses that will challenge the experienced players and ones that will be fair/enjoyable for the higher handicap players. Even the experienced players will enjoy a break from the tougher courses. It's a good idea to pick an easier course for your first round. This allows everyone to have a good time and work out the kinks of their game and recover from travel stress.

Choose Your Lodging According to Your Needs

What do you really need out of your hotel room during your trip? If you're like most golfers, the standard answer is two beds, a door, and a bathroom. If this is the case for you and your group, there are many lodging options that are comfortable and economical. On the other hand, if you and your group plan on playing 18 and then relaxing each day, a resort type option will add to your overall experience, and may be more your speed.

Take your own clubs

As an avid golfer, you have spent a lot of time perfecting your golf game with your personal clubs, as well as boasting about how good your golf game is to all your buddies. If you want to be able to showcase your low handicap on your golf vacation, you'll need to have your own clubs to be on your best game. If your golf bag is big enough to hold your extra tees, balls, visor, shoes, and other golf accessories, store them in your golf bag. This will allow for more space in your carry-on or other checked baggage, plus it allows you to keep all of your golf equipment in one place. Consider investing in a top of the line golf travel bag. This could be expensive so you'll need to take into consideration how often you travel with your clubs and how much your clubs are worth. These top of the line bags are typically hard cased for the best protection of your clubs. If you don't want to spend a few hundred dollars on the nicest golf bag less expensive travel bags are also available and those are generally a soft material. When using a soft case you'll need to make sure to pack your clubs well. You should wrap the club heads with some clothing/towel, place the bag cover on your golf bag, and then place your entire golf bag into the travel bag.

Buy or rent a range finder

Though not initially intended to improve your golf game, range finders have quickly become a popular golf gadget. Amateur golfers can use the range finder to gauge distance between where they are on the course, and where they want the ball to be, in hopes of creating more accurate shots. This is especially handy when playing courses you are not familiar with. As an added bonus, the range finder helps to speed up play since you won't be searching frantically for those sprinkler heads and yardage markers at every shot. Range finders are generally more accurate than the GPS devices on some golf carts.

Find an expert

You are not the first golf group to select this destination, lodging, and golf course mix. You will save a lot of time and headache by enlisting the help of someone that has been there. This can be a friend, virtual friends (internet), or a golf vacation expert like GolfThere.com. These full service sites can help you book and plan a golf getaway tailored to your needs. If you choose to "go it alone", services like EZLinks.com feature great deals on thousands of courses. Call an EZLinks.com customer service representative at 1-866-621-8675 and lock-in great deals at multiple courses in a single call. EZLinks also can help you to verify maintenance schedules at each course.
Five Tips for Planning Your Family Golf Vacation

Go to a resort/family-friendly courses

Many golf resorts were built with the family in mind, therefore they can accommodate everything you are looking to get out of your golf vacation. Often equipped with multiple family-friendly courses on the property, you will have the option of choosing between multiple tee boxes at 9 or 18-hole courses and be surrounded by players of similar skill levels. Resorts are also perfect for time spent off of the golf course. Visiting a golf destination that also offers swimming pools, amusement parks and dining will keep everyone in your family occupied and satisfied.

Take a lesson

While on a family golf vacation, experience aspects of the game that you might not at your local course. Seek out courses that offer PGA Professional teaching lessons. Many instructors specialize in junior golf, so both you and your kids and teens can receive personalized lessons to improve your game and get the most out of your trip.

Transportation

Getting to your golf destination may seem like a simple step, but it is extremely important to plan ahead when organizing your travel needs. If you are flying, be sure to look into rental club options and fees to decide if bringing everyone's clubs or leaving them at home would be more economical. If renting a vehicle, always choose practicality over style - travelling with multiple people, golf bags and suitcases can get crowded, so finding a minivan or SUV with maximum storage space goes a long way. Additionally, make sure you have phone numbers and directions to the golf courses and research if you will need any extra travel time due to construction or traffic in the area you are visiting. Getting to the course early to warm up is always a good idea; plus, you'd hate to plan a vacation revolving around golf and then miss your tee time.

Get rewarded to golf

Most golf courses have rewards programs that can earn you points to redeem while on your vacation or to start saving for your next trip. You can enroll in these programs for free and receive points every time you play to use towards discounts and free rounds. Using your rewards card for the whole family means more points, which also means more savings.

Find the perfect place at the right price

As we all know, golf can get expensive, especially when you are paying for an entire family to stay and play. Websites like EZLinks.com offer up to 50% off tee times at thousands of golf courses worldwide. Plus, you can either book online or call 1-866-621-8675 to speak with an EZLinks.com Tee Time Expert. Tee Time Experts can book multiple tee times at different locations for you in one phone call as well as provide information and suggestions to help find the courses best suited for your family.