Sunday, June 19, 2011

Tips for Planning the Best Golf Vacations

Golf vacations afford you the opportunity to play courses outside your usual range, from the classics of Scotland golf and the Old Course at St. Andrews to the best and brightest new Arizona golf courses. If you’re the one planning the golf travel, though, getting everything together and set up so that everyone enjoys the vacation can be tricky. There are many factors to consider when planning golf vacations, whether for yourself or for a group.

In fact, the first thing to consider is who is in your traveling party and their expectations of the holiday. If you’re going on your own, you don’t have to consider anyone’s desires and needs but your own. If you’re going with your family, you’ll need to make allowances to make sure that they enjoy their trip as much as you do yours. If, on the other hand, you’re traveling with your favorite foursome, you can pull out all the stops and plan the golf vacation to end all golf vacations.

Budget is a major factor, of course. There are golf trips to fit most budgets, though you may have to do some shopping around to find deep discounts that include golf courses that you want to play. If your budget allows for it, many of the best resorts have onsite golf courses – or, to put a finer point on it, many of the best resorts are built around some of the finest golf courses in the country. A full golf resort package can be pricey, but more than worth the expense.

Are there golf courses that are on your must-play list? If so, plan your vacation around them. Tee times at some of the best and most popular golf courses in the nation are at a premium, so book your tee times at those courses first, then plan your travel and accommodations around them. If your interest is more in playing a variety of courses, consider vacationing in an area where golf is king, such as Myrtle Beach, which features over 100 courses within driving distance of just about any hotel or motel you’re book.

If you’re traveling with others whose interest in golf isn’t quite as passionate as yours, choose a destination that offers plenty of other activities to keep them busy while you’re out on the green. Both Myrtle Beach and Arizona golf courses are surrounded by other activities – shopping, swimming, hiking and nights on the town – to ensure that you’ll have plenty of free time to golf instead of having to entertain your traveling companions.

No matter what type of golf vacations you plan, you’ll find it much easier to do with the assistance of a professional travel agency that specializes in planning golf travel. If you want the fun without the work, contact a golf travel specialist for info on the best golf packages and holidays available.





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