How to have a lousy golf break!
Pitfalls of failing to plan your golfing holiday correctly
Posted: 29 January 2008
by Rohe Eshbaugh
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Make sure the destination you pick is the course of your dreams. This is Desert Willow in Palm Springs
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You've dreamed about getting away to a golfing paradise and all your mates turned green with envy, when they heard. But when you arrived, instead of being a fabulous getaway it turned into a nightmare.
Recognise the scenario? You could have avoided all the heartache, if only you'd given it some forethought and planning.
Here's a short-list of pitfalls to avoid next time you're planning a golf trip:
1. You can't get a tee time
You travel all that way to play an acclaimed course only to arrive on spec to be told: "Sorry Sir, but if you haven't booked we can't let you on."
Always check out a course's restrictions in advance. There might be obscure rules for booking a tee time; they're closed for a tournament or the course is being treated.
If you visit a resort and you're not a guest there, you may be barred
from playing. Resorts often give preference or exclusive access to only their own hotel
guests. Additionally, some world-renowned courses demand a certain handicap or at least a letter of introduction to play.
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Pick courses that aren't too tough
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Before making holiday reservations for a hotel of your choice, find
out when you can reserve a time on your preferred course including how many days in advance, which day of the week and between what hours. This applies even if you are staying at resort with its own course.
2. You chose a course that far exceeds your skill level
Is it really worth the frustration just to have bragging rights? Everyone wants to play off the pro's tees but bunkers and water hazards that pose invigorating challenges to even scratch golfers can spoil the day for those with high handicaps.
With a little online research, you can match your skill level to appropriate courses, many of which have a difficulty rating.as well as a score card and detailed descriptions of
each hole. Altern atively call the course and speak to the pro.
3. You went when the weather is terrible
What do you mean it's 120 degrees? Your image of the perfect golf vacation
just wilted in extreme desert heat maybe it got blown away by stiff coastal winds,
drenched by rain, or suffocated by humidity.
If you want predictable sunshine and pleasant temperatures, check out what
the weather is like during the season you're going - before you make your
reservations. Weather websites give extensive historic information about a location's daily temperatures, rainfall and seasonal changes.
If attractive off-season rates are important to you, be aware that you may
encounter unfavourable weather, such as tropical storms in Florida and the Far east storms or the windy season in Texas. If the golf destination has other
great attractions, you can still enjoy your vacation on days when golf isn't possible.
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Make sure you get on with your golfing colleagues
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4. Your holiday companions whinge and moan
Imagine reaching your golf paradise and only to discover your companions ruin your
fun. One playing companion complains that the courses are too difficult, another says they're too easy, while the stranger you're paired with by the pro gets a call on his cell phone every other hole. Choose fun people to play with.
And when the vacation includes non-golfers, be sure to select a destination
that offers a variety of activities and attractions that meet their interests. Not only will it relieve you from any guilt you might feel taking hours away from them, it'll avoid even more earache!
5. You waited too long to take advantage of the best deal
Although discount programmes are becoming more popular, they tend to
come with more restrictions. Many of the best deals came yesterday but they're seldom at a time you prefer to play. Waiting until the last day often only leads to either 6 am or 4.30 pm availability - starting too eaerly or too late. Plan early, to get the tee time that works best for your schedule, not what the course has left over.
Whether it's for the best airfare, accommodation rates or golf package, online research can save you a lot of money.
Avoiding these mistakes doesn't guarantee a great golf holiday but improves your chances.
San diego-based Rohe Eshbaugh is President of
www.Golf Guys.net a passionate golfer who has played some of the best courses, helps other golfers find destinations that fit their requirements or just happened to be close by in a strange town.
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Discuss this story
On a trip to the Ashbury golf hotel, my suitcase packed, clubs loaded into the bus and off we went. All was fine until I found I left my putter at home after re-gripping it  , £28 later a new putter was in my bag and I was ready for the first round. As we lined up in our fleet of golf buggies it started to rain .....and rain and rain for the three whole days we were there, on top of that it was cold and very windy too, and to make matters even worse I ripped my waterproof trousers on the buggy on the last day and my whole golf game was utter s**t. Wasn't all bad, I won some £££ at poker in the evening 
Posted: 30/01/2008 13:12
For the last 3 years I have gone abroad for my golf holiday. 3 years ago, going to Majorca, had to fly Edinburgh to Stansted then on to Palma and return the same route. All our flights went well until the final one back to Edinburgh. Immigration lost an illegal immigrant who was running around the airport so no flights were taking off or landing. Eventually after a 6 hour delay we got back. 2 years ago, flying to Faro, everyone was on the plane and doors closed early. Great we thought. Then the captain came on saying they could not get all the golf clubs on the plane and we spent the flight wondering if our clubs would arrive. Luckily they were first off the plane. Last year, due to having to wait on a replacement aircraft it was just a 5 hour delay going. All the holidays were fine apart from that. Just wondering what will happen this year - probably bad weather
Posted: 30/01/2008 16:08
I understand that some of these golfing trips involve drinking !? I have taken many trips to Le Touquet in Northern France, which in my view is a golfer's paradise. The first trip with my current crew, involved the discovery of a beer, sold in most bars - Leffe Blonde. If you want to have a lousy trip - drink in little more of this stuff - it's dynamite ! (6.6%). The following morning's round was ruined. Never again
Posted: 31/01/2008 08:15
Sounds like a nightmare, I think the key to a good trip is booking with someone who knows what they are talking about, we tried lots of different golf holiday specialists and at the end of the day you get what you pay for. We've tried to save a few pounds and booked things ourselves or gone with with an overseas 'internet based' company and always ended up having problems. The last few years we've been with a company called Golf Escapes (www.golf-escapes.com ) and the trips have been superb, everything has gone smoothly right down to the weather although I'm not sure they can take credit for that! On the one occasion we did have a problem (lost passport after drunken night!) their rep came to the hotel and helped us arrange a temporary one to get home! The key to a successful golf holiday is preparation, book with someone who knows what they are talking about even if it costs a bit more, it will be worth it in the end!
Posted: 31/01/2008 08:58
One inbred that came away with us last year was a nightmare. When he wasn't drunk he was out of his face on marching powder.After a week of getting chucked out or bars and resturants I was glad to get home.The golf was played under a cloud of the night before and to top it all off the head broke off my driver during transport. Next time Organise trip myself Only go with Family and close freinds Pack clubs with Bubblerap
Posted: 31/01/2008 10:54
La Costa South course......6 hour round! Kind of detracted from the experience somewhat, complained to the martial to no avail. Pitched up to play the North course the next day and was told by the starter to make sure we kept a good pace, I nearly made him eat his little hut PS, the North course is far better than the more famous South if you get the chance to play it.
Posted: 11/02/2008 20:53
booked a golf holiday for 12 in turkey for end of april. same hotel as last year which was pretty good for food , drink and facilities. now told that 4 of our 6 tee off times are at or about 07-30am. supposed to be all inclusive, but now hardly likely with these start times. leaving hotel before the breakfast starts and having to watch the clock the night before. totally sucks. this after booking the trip 10 months ago and specifying start times about 10am. have registered our unhappiness given the length of booking but got fobbed off with the blame being put on the hotels block booking the prime times. not bloody likely they get them all. just shows that you should continuously shop around as our agents have been arranging our golf trips for 12+years. obviously taking us for granted. the final irony is that the agents are GM sponsors. they'll be sorry next year
Posted: 16/02/2008 22:37
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