8. Transportation. Yogi Berra always knew what he was talking about. Nobody else did. Nevertheless, his understanding of the importance of good directions was pretty clear. "You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going," he said, "because you might not get there." A golf trip is all about getting there. It is also a good deal about getting there well ahead of time. That means calling the pro shop in advance to get directions, calling the resort in advance to get directions, calling the rental car company to make sure you've got the right size car. This last point is very big, and it's a big mistake a lot of golf trippers make. Efficiency outweighs style in this department every time. As travel expert John Yaker reminded me, "It may not be very macho to rent a minivan, but you get four golfers and eight bags together and all of a sudden that Lincoln or Cadillac can look pretty silly."
9. Details. More than 200 years ago, a storied traveler came up with the definitive advice for anyone going on any excursion. "When preparing to travel," this sage explained, "lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money." The tendency for golfers is to overpack. This is why golf bag travel covers tend to be so bulky. Resist the temptation to pack three changes of clothes for each day of your trip. Nevertheless, it is important to be prepared. Always call the courses a few days before you leave and make sure they'll all be playable. For one, it's reassuring if they are. If they aren't and they tell you, you still have time to alter your itinerary. And if they aren't and they say they are, then you've got a legitimate gripe and grounds for a refund. Make tee times. Sounds easy, but it sometimes gets overlooked. Not only that, make sure you have documentation so you know that Tuesday is an 8:39 tee time, not a 9:38. Again, this can be one of the major benefits of going through a trip planner. They'll take care of the itinerary and the details. They'll often also get you better rates than you could on your own. Because they tend to do a lot of business with the courses and hotels in a resort area, they are less likely to be taken for granted. If you go on your own, you may not be operating from as strong a position as you'd like.
The benefit of preparation is that it eliminates future discomfort. In short, it saves you and your buddies from turning into whining existentialists. I think Wittgenstein was three hours into a golf trip to Phoenix when he famously remarked to his foursome, "I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in order to enjoy ourselves."
- Text Size:
- Small Text
- Medium Text
- Large Text
