Golf Vacation & Travel Tips

How to Get a Great Deal on a Golf Vacation

The Top Ten Ways to Get the Biggest Bang for Your Golfing Buck

Taking a golf vacation doesn't have to be expensive adventure as there are literally dozens of ways to save money. Of course, you could spend some of your savings on a new putter or a few extra rounds of golf, but that's your choice. We're simply here to provide you with a few tips to keep in mind when planning your golfing excursion.

Our top-ten-list of ways to get a great deal on a golf vacation includes the following:

1. Consider purchasing a golf package. Golf packages can include, but not be limited to, such critical components as airfare, lodging, golfing fees, and meals. They are often cheaper than simply purchasing things in a piecemeal manner.
2. Ask about customizing your golf package. Don't assume that your choices are limited by pre-established package components; many can be individually customized to ensure that you're spending money only on those items that you require or desire.
3. Plan ahead. The best travel rates, whether for airfares or complete golf packages, are often available to those who make their arrangements as far in advance as possible.
4. Consider taking your golf vacation in the off-season. Few golfers enjoy playing a round on the Florida links in the sweltering afternoon heat and humidity of a July day. However, it's likely that the rates will be hard to beat if you're willing and able to take advantage of these times when courses can be scrambling to fill the available tee times.
5. Search online for "discount golf vacations." Talk about a wealth of information and potential savings! This will be well worth your time to evaluate the options. Remember though, some discounts are exactly that…cheap in more ways than just cost and simply not worth considering.
6. Have a travel agent search for golf vacation bargains. Travel agents often have important access to "insider" information and/or special rates. What you spend for their services could potentially be well worth the savings they'll discover.
7. Ask if there are special rates for groups, non-golfers, seniors, and/or children. Ask this question not only when considering purchasing a golf vacation package, but also if you do the planning yourself. Ask the airlines, golf course, hotel, restaurants, etc. The worse that they can say is "no."
8. Inquire about additional discounts available at the golf course. Are there cheaper rates if you play during the "twilight" hours? Can you request a special "replay" rate prior to starting play for the day or is it possible to replay free during the off-season? Will it be cheaper to rent clubs instead of paying any additional fees (e.g., overweight airline charges) for bringing your own clubs?
9. Sign up to be notified of any upcoming special deals and promotions. Whether discount rates available only to members of certain golf courses, visitors to online golf websites, subscribers to various golf magazines, etc, request being placed on the mailing list for these potentially huge money-saving bonuses.
10. Think about ways to save money off the links. Would it be cheaper to stay in lodging "off-site" - perhaps somewhere that has a small kitchen to allow you to make some of your own meals? If so, does the golf course have special lodging rates already established with hotels, bed and breakfasts, etc in the area? Are there early bird/happy hour restaurant deals to take advantage of for meals? Oftentimes, your credit card even has special travel deals available such as reduced car rental fees, travel insurance, savings with certain hotels and restaurants, etc.

The bottom line for getting the best golf vacation deal possible is to give yourself plenty of time to plan the details, ask lots of questions, don't be shy when it comes to inquiring about special rates, and look in unexpected places to save a few bucks. It really is possible to golf on top-notch courses, stay in first class accommodations, and eat at five star restaurants…all at discount rates.

See you on the Golf Course, John "Duffer" Walsh

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