How do you put a golf trip together?
It is the beginning of the year and you maybe thinking of getting the band back together for a golf trip. In this list we will take as given that you have decided from previous experiences whether you want transportation to and from the course or whether you want carts. They are just yes or no questions. We want to cover some more nuanced topics which can really govern how the tour goes and whether you have more in the future.
1. Location, Location, Location!
We are not just talking about the courses you want to play. Mostly that will be decided amongst the group. However where you want to stay might be up to the organiser. Do you want to be in city centre or near the restaurant and bar strip and within walking distance of all that is happening or you don’t mind being in a more quiet part on the outskirts or near a golf course. You need to take into account the preferences for the after golf activities and also the nature of the group (are they lively or more relaxed).
2. Who are you sleeping with?
So what are the sleeping arrangements going to be? Some groups are happy bunking down together in twin share. Others especially with older golfers and for various reasons, want to have their own room but a common area to get together. Apartments with bedrooms and lounge rooms often fit the bill. If you are looking at twin share or apartments make sure that the single beds can at least be king singles. Also make sure that everyone is onboard with sharing. I have had some clients arrive and decide that they wanted separate rooms and were surprised how much a late minute booking costs them.
3. Playing off the tips or something more gentle?
I have seen a number of clients struggling of tees that are too long for them. A lot of resort courses will give you the options of what tees you want to play from. You should think about this carefully. If you have a hot shot group of single figure markers, they may want the challenge of hitting from the back markers. However if you have like most groups a mixture of standards, you may want to change your play to the easier tees. That way it will keep everyone happy. The low markers will still find challenge if it is a good course. It is golf.
4. Have a plan B
When the weather turns bad, it is a good to have another option. Whether it is a course closed due to wind damage or flooding or that carts are not being allowed for use, you may need to find another course to go to at short notice. We have had to do this a number of times in the last year. That course may have been less affected by the weather or maybe a more weather proof layout. We have found it handy to have sand based courses in the area for some of our coastal tours that we have organised in the last year. Barring that, perhaps find where is there is a place with a golf simulator so you can stop the group getting on the grog. They will thank you for it.
5. Consult with the calendar
The group will need to decide whether they have date flexibility or not. It is better if they do, as they could avoid events which will affect the pricing or their enjoyment of their golf at the place they are visiting. For example in Canberra, parliamentary sitting weeks will radically decrease room availability and will increase the prices. In Adelaide, LIV Golf in April as well as a Magic Round of the AFL has multiplied the cost of hotel rooms and rounds of golf at the prestigious courses. You also may want to avoid times where the courses are doing their mainteance such as coring the greens. It can be difficult to juggle so date flexibility can be handy.
6. Show me the money!
From our experience most touring golf groups go down in size the closer to departure date. This often means that the remainder have to pay a little bit extra. It can be for a variety of reasons but the major reason is when you ask people for committment and to start paying money. Do yourself a favour and don’t pay the deposit all yourself and think that money will come in later. Ask for the money up front when you have to pay the deposit and then you will find out who really is going!
7. Your preferred tee time and what happens after
Every group has a time of day they want to play whilst on tour. It will be probably be different from their normal time for club competition where they are just happy to get a round. We had groups that want to hit off at 7.30am, mid-morning and afternoon. Ofcourse you may be limited by what is available at the course of your choice. Choose your time so that the group can feel relaxed and ready to go. Schedule the day so the group has enough downtime and not feeling that they are on the grind from golf course to golf course.
8. Taking a break from golf
Some groups like to break their week up by having a rest day in the middle. Make yourself aware of the options in the areas that would be available for the group and would suit their interests. We have had groups visit the national attractions in Canberra, go to a country race meeting or visit wineries. Others just like to chill out round the pool. You could make it a QTA (quality time apart) day for the group where people go off do their own thing. But have the disussion so it is organised or at least understood beforehand.
9. What if things go wrong?
It is great when a golf trip goes off seamlessly. However that often does not occur. Golfers get sick, injured or don’t want to play in the rain. Especially with COVID around, isolation rules should still apply. What if they want a refund? You will need to check the refund rules of your hotel and if you have to pay upfront for a premium golf course (which can happen often) you also may want to check with them as well. You should be prepared as the organiser, you will have to chase this up at the end of a golf tour.
10. Have a succession plan
I know that this sounds a bit corporate but it still applies. If you have a group that goes for a long time (and we have had clients who have been traveling together for 40 years), then organisers get worn out. I have heard some organisers complain to me “that is like trying to herd cats” when organising a group. Some groups deal with this situation by making the person who won the competition from the previous tour, the organiser for the next tour. Some people don’t mind being the organiser for a succession of years but chances are they will get tired of it. If this golf trip is important to you, have a succession plan in place where the responsibiliity is shared around. There will be some good trips and bad trips as a result but it is more likely to continue.
I hope this helps you when you are thinking about your next golf trip . If you feel that you don’t have the time or the expertise to do this, get in touch with us to organise your next golf trip through our contact page. Check out some of the regions in NSW that we service through the quick links on our home page.
