Golfing Holiday

A guest article from golf holiday specialists Glencor Golf, based in York, England on:

‘How to get the most out of a golfing holiday, at home or abroad’

Organising a golf holiday has the potential to be a source of massive stress. You need to find a good place to go, then there are lots of logistics to take care of to make sure you and your clubs get there on time and intact.

This is especially the case if you’ve been nominated to organise a golf holiday for a group of friends. In this situation, you’ve got to think about their tastes and budgets, as well as making sure they get there on time and intact.

Thankfully though, we don’t like stress. We like simplicity and golf. So we’ve written this article to help you get the most out of your golf holiday. Read on, and we’ll help you take as much stress out of a golf holiday as possible, to give you the peace of mind to enjoy yourself and focus on your game.

The first question to ask?

Do you want to stay in the UK or go abroad?

We’re spoiled with top-tier golf courses here in the UK, but, for the majority of the year, not with the best-golfing weather. Depending on the season you may prefer to jump on a plane and head somewhere warmer than damp and drizzly Blighty.

Making the most of a golf holiday requires good weather, ideally something you can comfortably stand outside in for several hours at a time. Shivering your way around a golf course isn’t going to help you get the most from your trip. Destinations like the Costa Del Sol, the Algarve, or Turkey are some of our favourites for reliably warm and sunny weather.

There’s more to think about than weather, though. If you’re planning on going on a golfing holiday at a time of year not conducive to good UK weather and decide to book abroad instead, here are some things to consider. Thinking about these things before booking will pave the way for you getting the most out of your holiday.

What are the peak holiday seasons in your planned destination? In some destinations, these will be quite closely aligned, whereas other places, which are hot all year round, for example, will probably be busiest during school holidays.

Are there any cultural holidays that would interfere with your trip? As one example, countries where the dominant religion is Islam practice Ramadan, which can make it trickier to find restaurants that are open or serving their usual menus. This is often less of a problem in touristy areas, but it’s still worth being aware of.

Will the language barrier get in the way of you enjoying yourself? People in a lot of places speak good English, especially in more touristy regions, but you shouldn’t take it for granted. Look to understand whether English or your broken attempts at the local language will be enough to get you by.

How much will flights cost? Long-haul flights will be more expensive, but they take you further afield to destinations that are more exotic and, usually, hotter and sunnier for more of the year. The Canary Islands and Dubai are two good examples of such far-flung hotspots.

How long to go for?

Once you’ve got a destination in mind, figuring out how long to go for is the next step. A long weekend to Dubai isn’t really viable for most people’s budgets, nor will many people fancy a six-week golf marathon.

If it’s just you, decide how long you fancy going for, check your calendar, and you’re good to go.

If you’re part of a group, figuring out dates and a duration that works for everyone can be trickier. We recommend suggesting a few options and letting people choose, rather than giving people free rein by asking “so, when should we go?”. Organising a group relies on a good leader who can whip people into action; if you’ve been nominated as that person, you need to step up to the plate!

Many resorts offer lower prices per night for longer stays, but remember all other expenses will accrue the longer you spend abroad. Each day you’re away you need three meals (most likely), probably a few drinks, and somewhere to sleep. You’ll also be playing more golf which means more green fees, and potentially more golf club and buggy rental as well as increased transfer costs.

This is a balancing game: to get the most out of your holiday you need long enough away from home that you enter the holiday mindset, but not so long away that you start to feel stressed about the practicalities.

What type of holiday do you want?

You probably thought about this a little bit when choosing the destination, but here are some more prompts to help you get the right holiday.

Do you want to play a lot of golf, or are you more interested in sampling the nightlife and culture, with a side of golf? Figure out where you sit on this spectrum, and book accordingly.

If you’re an early starter on the tee, looking to squeeze as many games into your trip as possible, a golf resort with unlimited packages where you can play as many games as you like may be the best bet.

If you’re geared more toward non-golfing activities, a hotel in the bustling centre of a town may be best. You can sample the local delights, wander back to your room whenever you fancy and get organised transport to and from golf courses that are a bit further afield.

Getting the right balance of activities is absolutely vital in getting the most out of your golf holiday. If you’re a keen golfer and you’re being dragged around cheap bars by rowdy friends, you’re probably not going to have the best time. Make sure you spend time aligning the activities with the interests of the people who will be doing them!

Remember that in countries where the dominant religion is Islam it will be harder to come across bars selling alcohol. If you’re planning a boozy time away, choose a destination that lends itself to such activities.

What about your clubs?

If you’re going to take yours with you, don’t get stung at the airport. Check your airline policy before you fly and consult our handy guide to flying with golf clubs before booking.

We have two top tips for removing potential stress and expense: both vital considerations in getting the most from your trip.

First, get a non-stop flight if you can: transfers mean your clubs have to be transferred to another plane, and some airlines charge per plane rather than per direction. This also increases the chance of your clubs getting lost or damaged by careless baggage handlers.

Second, budget airlines usually charge more for golf clubs, meaning sometimes it’s actually cheaper to book with a more expensive airline. Two budget flights and two expensive excess baggage fees may work out way higher than two “expensive” flights.

Depending on how many clubs you’re taking, you could also share a golf bag with a friend to save on excess baggage charges.

You can also rent clubs at your destination. This saves logistical stress, although you won’t have access to your tried and trusted set. Bear in mind this is a great way to test clubs you are considering buying though, in a real-world context.

Getting around

Having transport booked in advance is a massive factor in getting the most out of your holiday. We recommend booking transfers before you fly because frantically searching for a taxi then paying through the nose for your fare will put a downer on anyone’s day.

You’ll also have a better idea of cost, times, and what your schedule may look like.

Getting a good deal

Knowing you got a good price gives you a nice feeling of satisfaction before, during, and after your holiday. Booking through an operator gives you access to negotiated lower prices and seasonal deals, as well as to a bank of expertise that can help you squeeze even more out of your trip.

Ask your booking agent questions if you have any. It’s likely they’ve heard them before and will be able to pass on useful advice, like the stuff we’ve included in this article, incidentally.

Booking your own flights lets you take advantage of cheap tickets, and gives you full flexibility over travel times and airports. Understanding flight release times can help you to whip up a good deal as soon as flights are released. Our flight release schedule guide can help with this.

Other things to think about

Here are a few more ways to reduce stress and give yourself the headspace to make the most out of your golf holiday. Each of these points wasn’t long enough for its own section, so we’ve lumped them together.

The company you book with should have IAGTO and ABTA memberships. These are the International Association of Golf Tour Operators and the Association of British Travel Agents, respectively. Membership ensures professional oversight and the highest standards of diligence, meaning you’re in safe hands.

Good reviews on Google, Feefo, Tripadvisor, TrustPilot and the like are important, too. Knowing that you’re booking with a reputable company rather than a bunch of cowboys definitely helps you to relax and get the most from your trip.

All-inclusive takes the stress out of food because you just eat and drink when you fancy and it’s already paid for. No need to bring out the calculator when the bill arrives!

Self-catering if you think you’re likely to eat out more often. This removes the stress of feeling like you’re wasting money on an all-inclusive deal that’s not being used.

Make sure you’ve got the right clothes. Some bars and restaurants have dress codes: you don’t want to look like a mug

Know when the sun sets, don’t get caught short halfway through a game.

Take out insurance to give you peace of mind. You can go for generic travel insurance or specially designed golf holiday insurance policies as outlined in our golf insurance guide.

As with so many things, preparation is key. To get the most out of your golf holiday, just make sure you know where you’re supposed to be and when, how much it costs, and that you’re going to enjoy it. It’s as simple as that!

Here’s a list of things you can cross out as you do them, to make sure you’re ready for a stress-free golf holiday

• Accommodation booked
• Golf booked
• Tee times organised
• Transfers organised
• Or, car rental organised
• Golf buggy organised (if necessary)
• EHIC sorted (until we leave the EU, at least…)
• Flights booked
• Golf bag booked onto flights
• Or, golf club rental organised
• Dress code checked
• All clothes packed
• Suntan lotion packed!
• Currency exchanged
• Bank informed of foreign travel plans
• Insurance policy taken out
• Passport date checked