Ever plan a golf buddies trip?  It can be daunting!  There’s tons of decisions to be made, costs to consider, and in my opinion the biggest challenge – logistics.  I’ve planned a bunch of these over the years with varying degrees of success, so here’s my rundown of things you should consider before you jump in!

Step 1:  Find Someone Else to Do It!

I kid, I kid…  Planning a trip can be hard, but somebody’s gotta do it.  Things get tough when you’re trying to get your group to agree on a long list of details, especially when you’ve got to consider different budgets, travel options, and toughest of all – family and work situations.  In my group of friends, we’ve got a lot of people with different situations.  Some have kids, some have crazy job schedules, some just don’t want to spend five days in a row losing their Pinnacles.  There’s a setup out there for everybody, and it’s your job (you hero) to get it going, so step up to the plate and get to work.

Step 2:  Who Wants to Go On a Golf Trip?

What I like to do is float out an idea to a lot of the folks I play with.  I’ll offer it up to some of their buddies too.  You can usually tell who’s serious and who’s not, and from there you can figure out if you’re going to need to scale a trip for a couple foursomes, or even just two people.  At the start, a lot of the trips I’ve planned have been of the “hey, let’s get a big, fun group going” variety, and often turn into the “if you’re going, you need to show me the money” type.  Not everybody can make it work, so let’s focus on how to make it the best trip possible for the folks that can make it happen.

Step 3:  Where Are We Going?  

For a Buddies Trip, the destination both matters and doesn’t matter.  My group can have a great time on the dirt track just outside of town, or we can have the week-long, 10-round adventure.  At this point you’re brainstorming and trying to figure out a few options.  It can be a bang for your buck, non-stop golf marathon, or you’re making a pilgrimage to a true bucket list spot like Bandon, Pinehurst, or Cabot.

From there you can start game planning for dates, travel, and other options.  A lot of resorts do a great job of helping Planners (and we’re going to capitalize the P, because you need the confidence boost) set up their trip so I suggest calling around and seeing what they can recommend.  They’re the pros and can help you immensely.  Another big deal to consider – If you’re aiming to play a private course or club, you need things to run extra smoothly, and that means total buy in from your crew.

Step 4:  How is Everyone Getting There?

For the Planner, this is the toughest spot.  My group is pretty spread out.  We’re in a half dozen Midwestern states, with a few buds in further areas of the country.  You’re obviously not going to want to front everyone’s plane tickets, rental cars, etc.  This is the ideal step to see if your partners are definitely in.  If they’ll whip out the credit card to book a flight or a hotel room, you’re making good progress.  With the real-time price prediction info you can get for booking travel on Google these days, it’s light years better than what it was a decade ago.  It’s very easy to go through a few options to find the most convenient and affordable itinerary.  I’m a big fan of keeping my travel and accommodations minimal and maxing out on golf, pro shop gear, and food, so this helps me plan at least!

Step 5:  So What’s the Actual Plan?

It’s spreadsheet time – my favorite!  While I still do the scribble on graph paper move from time to time, it’s become super easy to whip up a Google Sheets template that you can share with your squad.  What I do is to put together a list of courses we want to hit up with links, fun facts, articles from your favorite every-man golf blog (hint), and include prices ranging from high summer rates to offseason just to show options.  Newer services like Airbnb give you an alternative to the usually sky-high rates many top resorts are asking now.  I’m a big fan.

Phase two of this starts when you’ve identified where you’re all going.  Pop open another tab that can show some potential hour-by-hour itineraries, locked in tee times, costs, etc.  It makes it real to see it on paper.

I’ll include a template I use here, feel free to steal it and make it better!

Step 6:  Is This Thing Paid For?

Actually – I don’t mind covering down payment for rounds and rooms occasionally.  Give me those credit card bonus points!  But in no way do you want to be stuck with the bill.  Ideally, your group will have prompt payers.  Hopefully everyone is acquainted with the Venmos and QuickPays of the world and can settle up with the Planner.  What a life we live these days…  We can have some real-time spreadsheet planning, discussions, lodge rentals, payments, all over the web!

Step 7:  Ok, What to Pack?

I’m a pretty good at packing and prepping for all situations.  I like to check the weather, bring the rain gear, and have a trunk full of stuff ready to roll.  Not everybody’s like that.  Here’s Bill’s guide to preparing for Tommy… everybody has a Tommy.  Those are the basics for “on course.”  Unfortunately, you can’t play when it’s dark out, so you need to consider non-golf entertainment if you’ve got a group together.  One of my favorite trips had us playing a minimum of 18 a day, and then the most competitive Nintendo Wii Bowling tournaments I’ve ever seen.  A blast!  Long story short – food + bevs + video games + cards + gamblin’ money = fun.

Step 8:  What Kind of Games Are We Playing?

While I’ve never planned a Ryder Cup style event, having some kind of competition is always fun.  Wagering for closest to the pins, birdies/eagles, Nassaus make it even more of a special occasion.  

Here are a few options :

• Go straight up Ryder Cup style.  It’s great for a bigger group, you can make it an annual deal, buy a trophy, give it an inappropriate name, wear uniforms.  The “king” of golf trip games.  I’d for sure force Bill to play for the Euro Team (OBVIOUS REASONS, MATE)…
• Throw in $XXX.XX money (or something of similar value) at the start.  Count up birdies, eagles, or better and split after the trip.  You could do an overall skins game too.
• A “blind” game.  Everybody plays on their own ball, adds up their handicaps, and then pick random holes from the trip.  Count ’em up, see how you do.  Makes you play hard on every shot!

Really, there’s a ton of ideas out there.  Keep it fun, keep it light, you’re there for a good time.  Or not.  Play dirty & win at all costs 🙂

Step 9:  Do You Think the Course Will Do Something Extra Special for Us?

Some of them do!  They can help set up the course, arrange caddies, get meals organized, etc.  If you like the idea of playing closest to the pin, or you’ve got a group big enough for a long drive/closest to the line type game, most courses have the things you need.  We rarely take caddies, but those are things you should plan ahead for.  These courses and managers have seen it all before, and you won’t find many surprises.  If you call and ask, you might even be surprised what unique things a course can do to make your experience even better!

Step 10:  Pulling the Trigger – Is This Really What We Want to Do?

OK, in my younger days, the only goal was to golf my brains out.  Minimum 18 holes in a day, and more often it was play until you drop.  As I’ve gotten into my 30’s, I’ve realized that if you’re making the commitment to step away from real life for a bit, you should see more than just the next tee box! 

Quick examples here – if you’re doing a trip to Scotland or Ireland, you HAVE to go check out a castle or two, visit the local pubs, enjoy the towns a bit (your round is likely 3.5 hrs max, so no problem there!).  If you’re going to Kiawah Island, check out the beaches and eat seafood until you have mercury poisoning.  If you’re in northern California, head to Napa for a bit.  Golf can still be the centerpiece, but I’ll encourage you to get a broader experience out of your trips.  Enjoy as much as you can, not just the golf.

Now, send that itinerary to the group!

In the end, I like the idea of aiming big, then stripping away the non-essentials of a golf trip.  I find that the “less is more” approach lets you and the pals focus on what’s most important – getting together and having a good time.  If you approach a buddies trip with a little foresight and you don’t mind having to “herd the cats” a bit, you might just be the Planner!