Top 10 Tips for Organising A Group Golf Break
Perhaps you already have your golfing plans for this year confirmed, but if you’re just in the planning stages of organising something amongst friends, it’s worth taking into account a few tips that I hope might help improve the experience and possibly even inject a little extra fun and value.
In no particular order, here are my top 10 tips for organising a group break –
1. Twilight
Many of the top golf courses offer exceptionally good green fee rates at either end of the day with their early bird and twilight rates. It never ceases to amaze me how quiet courses are at these times and you can make a case for these being the best times of day to play – quiet on the course, great light with the long shadows, more time left in the day to make use of, either on-site or elsewhere. All in all, there’s a lot to be said for the less popular tee times.
2. Fun Factor
Although the temptation for some will be to play as many championship courses as possible, and, if allowed, from the back tees, there is something to be said for playing golf courses that are a little more ‘user friendly’. No doubt you’ll have a range of handicaps in your group, and as much as taking on Carnoustie from the back pegs in a hurricane might float the boat for some, for most it’s akin to a nightmare and they’ll hate every minute of the five hour ball hunt. Courses such as Castle Stuart, for example, are set up perfectly for all abilities – plenty of tee positions, wide fairways, and challenging yet manageable design – everyone is happy. It’s worth checking out in advance and perhaps choosing some venues with this in mind.
3. Hidden Gems
For every famous resort that golfers are familiar with, there are often dozens nearby that could serve as the perfect tonic to complement a headline name. Often referred to as a ‘hidden gem’, these courses enjoy a fine reputation locally but may not be of championship length, or simply don’t want too much non-member traffic. Every region has a few, and they’re worth sniffing out, as they can present exceptional value for money. Often, they’re the most memorable stops on the trip.
4. Stay On-Site
Many golfing hubs are building on-site lodge style accommodations these days, which are often very stylish and comfortable. Not only that, but when a group stay together in such a place, you’ll enjoy a proper communal atmosphere and won’t have to worry about designated drivers or arranging taxis.
5. Dormy Houses
Equally, if you’re looking for the greatest value and somewhere to rest your head, and aren’t so concerned about luxury living (for a night or two at least), there are still a number of classic golf clubs that provide a dormy house. A brilliant option for atmosphere as well as price, dormy houses at the likes of Royal Cinque Ports, Burnham & Berrow, and Royal Porthcawl are all fine examples, and there are many more worth investigating.
6. Local Advice
It’s easy to rely on TripAdvisor or other websites to help you plan your trip these days, and you may have one or two in the party who have been to the area before and think they can recall the name of a nice pub, but I tend to think it’s worth getting some local advice. Ask the Secretary/Manager of the clubs you’re visiting when making your booking for their recommendations locally. Admittedly, they’ll be keen for you to eat at the club at some point, but my experience has always been that they’ve also willing to share their local knowledge and suggest the best of what the area has to offer.
7. Tour Secretary
Trust me, the last thing you need is three different people booking the various courses and accommodation. Unless you want double-booked tee times, no tee times, and likely an angry mob, make one person (the reliable one) the ‘tour secretary’. All tee times, bookings, reservations – all in one name. Then perhaps take it in turns each year – unless you have an enthusiastic individual who relishes the challenge. One year will be enough for most!
8. Flight Charges
If you’re going anywhere that involves a flight, check out the airline carry charges for golf clubs. Ranging from ‘free’ to upwards of £100 for a return trip, it considerably affects the pricing when choosing both your airline and potentially your location. Some might have a higher headline price for the flight but by the time you factor in the golf club carriage they work out cheaper. Surprisingly, some of the budget airlines can turn out to be more expensive than the major carriers once clubs and bags have been included.
9. Scoring
A tour scoring system/competition is essential, but the key thing is to make it adaptable, too. Of course, it’s great fun and the source of much banter if you’ve got a competitive element to play for over the duration of the tour, but there’s nothing worse than someone having a poor start to round one, and feeling like they’re out of the running for the rest of the trip. I’d suggest severe handicap adjustments at the end of each day are essential, and a scoring master is advisable – even if controversial! An end of day ‘courtroom’ is guaranteed to provide a few laughs at least.
10. Future Trips
One last job – organise next year whilst on the current trip. It’s probably the only occasion you’ll all be able to share opinions together in person, and discuss the merits/pitfalls of each option. Plus, get your act together and book early and you’ll often be able to secure better rates.