In 2020, despite the challenges faced by the pandemic, almost 37 million people in the United States played golf. The majority of these (25 million) played on a golf course while a further 12 million off-course activities such as Topgol, at driving ranges, or indoor golf simulators. There were 3 million people who played on a golf course for the first time last year, highlighting the growing popularity around the sport right now.

If you and your friends are planning a golfing trip, you all are pretty much guaranteed a fun vacation. It is of vital importance to plan a golf trip in advance to ensure that everyone will have a good time. In this blog post, we will highlight 5 tips on choosing a golf course for your next vacation.

1. Work Out Your Priorities

Planning a group holiday is often about compromise. The first thing to do is to gauge the hopes and expectations of everyone in the group. From there, you can start your search for the perfect golf course that will accommodate everyone’s wishes.

Not everyone will have the same handicap (more on that later), some people may prefer a par 3 golf course to a 7,000-yard course, and others may prefer to stay closer to home rather than getting on an airplane. Finding the right balance here is key to organizing a successful golfing trip.

2. Choose a Location

Even before you choose a course, it’s worthwhile considering the location. Away from the golf course, what will your group want to do? Would they prefer a scenic area of the countryside or an urban setting?

In some cases, you may look at going abroad for your golfing trip. In that instance, it’s best to first choose a location, such as Ireland or Scotland, before deciding on the exact courses you wish to play.

3. Double Check Handicap Requirements

Most courses won’t require a handicap to play a round, though this isn’t the case everywhere, particularly for the more well-known courses. For example, if your golfing trip heads to Scotland with the intention of planning at the Old Course at St. Andrews, be aware that you will need a handicap certificate to play. Your group will need a handicap of no greater than 24 for men and 36 for women to play this course.

4. Figure Out Your Budget

While once seen as a sport reserved for the richer people in society, golf is thankfully becoming more affordable for everyone. Still, it’s important to factor in everyone’s available budget and to find a course that isn’t overly expensive.

5. Choose a Course Everyone Can Enjoy

Golf is a competitive sport but at the end of the day, it’s about having fun and enjoying the company. So, choose a course that everyone will be able to tackle and have fun playing. Playing the Black Course at Bethpage might be a great challenge for the 2 handicapper, but try to think about the newbie who isn’t exactly enjoying themselves.

For a course that everyone will be able to enjoy, choose Courtenay Golf Course.

Choosing a Golf Course for Your Vacation

There are great golf course options for everyone, from experienced players to those just getting started. When planning a golf trip, be sure to take everyone’s preferences into account. The bottom line is that everyone should have fun playing the game.

Like this blog post on choosing a golf course? Be sure to check out our other interesting articles on the rest of our blog today.