by Thomas Franz

Created on: January 18, 2007   Last Updated: April 17, 2007

Golfing at your local course on the weekend is a great release after a long week, but switching it up now and then and taking a trip for the sole purpose of playing in another region is a great idea for the obsessed golfer. As a golf enthusiast myself, I have planned many get a ways with clubs in tow, and the key to success on the mission is planning ahead and doing some research.

After you have selected our foursome and selected a region to visit, I find it is best to elect one person from the group to do all of the planning. Have a night together over a few pints to discuss general ideas, where would you like to play and stay, how much you can spend, how long you are going and a general daily layout of times you will be playing. After you put together your thoughts, let one golfer take the lead to cut back on the worries.
Travel is a big expense. Flying to destinations can be pricey, so booking a flight on a Monday morning is a good idea to avoid higher weekend rates. Check on line for deals on flights and discount travel sights.
Hotels can be found easily on line as well. In my experience, a hotel search engine woks well and offers good descriptions such as photos, maps of location and reviews from other visitors.
When it comes to golf, I have found that the Internet is a great source of information. Search for courses in the region and look for web sights from the course itself. General regional lists are good as a data base but the best information on a course is on its own personal link so look for those to really see what is out there. Rates and times are on the course sites, as well as directions and maps. I have found that popular golf get away spots allow you to book directly on line which is also a great way to reserve times in advance.
If you are crazy for golf like I am and want to play 36 a day here is a great tip. Book one round a day in advance for the morning and inquire about a replay rate for an afternoon round. This is a way to get a great per round average on your trip and keep the cost down. Most courses will charge a cart fee for a replay which is far cheaper then going to another course for full price. This also allows you to break for lunch at the course to relax for a bit in between.
Keep a list of back up courses on hand in case of booked afternoons. Use that data base of courses you picked off of the search engine and have a few phone numbers just in case you need an alternative course.
Another price break idea is playing during the week instead of on the weekend. Rates are higher on weekends, and also more crowded. A Tuesday morning is a bargin and a great way to see an empty course with a great pace of play.
Think of the region and keep this in mind. If your are in a cold part of the country, and you are going to a warn destination, you are most likely traveling in that regions prime time. Arizona in February is costly due to all the frozen tourists looking to tee it up so the rates jump. On the other hand, rates in Arizona drop in August, but it is also 115 degrees in the shade.
Golf packages are available all over, they include a lot of perks like meals and hotels, but can be steep if you are on a budget. You can create your own package if you do your homework in advance. The more you prepare, the better your stay.

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