From Blair Howard,
Your Guide to Golf Travel.
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There’s a lot to be said for the organized golf tour or outing. Other than deciding the final destination and which provider to use, there’s not too much to think about. Going it alone, however, offers so much more, including the freedom to come and go as you please, and to choose locations and courses beyond the scope of most tour operators.

Compared to an organized tour, going it alone can be so much more fun. True, there’s extra work involved but even that can be rewarding. Just to contemplate such a trip is a treat. Planning where to go and when, how to get there, where to stay, what courses to play… well, I think you get the idea.

Ok, let's dream a little. Suppose you had an unlimited budget - or even a limited one - and a week to do with as you will. Where would you go? Think about it. How much fun could you have figuring it out, much less heading out the door to play some of world’s finest golf courses? How would you go about planning such a trip?

1: Pick Your Destination: If this is to be the trip of a lifetime, you’ll want to go somewhere really special. How about Scotland? Tight budget? Then somewhere fairly close at hand might be a better choice: in the US the Bear Trace or the R.T. Jones Golf Trail, perhaps.

2: Keep It Tight: Maximum play, minimum travel is the goal. It’s tough to play five courses in seven days, especially when they are more than 50 miles apart. Map the area, choose your courses and then find a hotel that’s central to them. Then you can travel back and forth without constantly packing and unpacking.

3: Book Early: Flights, hotels, rental cars and tee times should all be booked well in advance. Nothing is more frustrating when planning the trip of a lifetime than to find the focus of the tour (the one course you must play) is unavailable.

4: Consider The Weather: Not always easy when planning several months ahead, but do try to take the weather into consideration. Do the research. When is the rainy season? In England, spring and fall are best; in the Bahamas, May is almost always rainy. You’ll increase the odds of a grand time simply by looking ahead.

5: Consider The Needs of Others: If you’re taking family members along with you, make sure they are well catered for. Nothing will ruin an outing quicker than a complaining spouse, or a couple of whining kids. Choose hotels with care. A wilderness location, miles from the nearest shopping mall, is not the way to go. In the interests of peace and tranquility, you should always try to keep your loved ones happy.