Golf vacations are of course aimed at dedicated and enthusiastic golfers. However, the style of vacation varies and there are many companies and resorts that offer different types of golfing breaks ranging from a weekend to a whole week or more, and offering programs to suit anyone from the occasional golfer to the person who wants to be out there swinging a club from dawn until dusk.
Often, the package will also cater for family members who do not themselves play, to attract the custom of golfers who cannot get away alone. This can include activities for children, shopping facilities, a private beach, other sports, etc.
If you are traveling with non-golfers you can get a much more peaceful time on the course by involving your family in the choice of resort. It may mean that you do not get to play at your first choice of course this time, but it can be well worth compromising to visit a place that has a sandy beach as well as sandy bunkers.
Another thing you might consider, especially if you have kids, is booking somewhere that beginners are welcome. This will mean that you can take your kids round with you and maybe get them interested in the game. As they become more proficient this can be a great way to spend quality time together. When you are older you will love having an adult son or daughter who wants to play golf with you.
If you are a very keen player and do not want to compromise to the extent of limiting yourself to a less interesting course, then how about going somewhere that has more than one? St Andrews in Scotland is a great example. As well as the famous championship links there are six other courses in what is not much more than a small town. Spend a week here and you can play a different set of holes every day!
You can find golf vacation packages in most countries where the game is well known, including the USA, Canada, Scotland, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Spain. In many other countries you can easily book a vacation that happens to be near to a golf course, without restricting yourself to all-inclusive packages. So no matter where your spouse wants to go, with a little research you should be able to work a couple of games into your vacation.
If you go for a dedicated golf vacation package, you can expect it to include hotel room and most meals plus one round of golf per day. Golf carts, driving range time, hire of clubs etc may be included or may be charged as extras. Look carefully at the details of each package because what seems cheapest at first glance may be the most expensive when you add in all the extras.
When you are considering where to go, do not forget the practicalities of transporting your clubs and other equipment, if you do not want to hire them at your destination. Most planes will take golf clubs as checked baggage but some charge extra for this and they may require them to be packed in a certain way. Look into the details of this before you book any flights.
A word of warning regarding injury. If you normally play golf once a month and then you take a two week vacation where you plan to play every day, you cannot expect to escape without any aches and pains. Increase your playing or practice time gradually in the weeks up to your departure, if you want to enjoy your time away without suffering from muscle strain and joint pains.
Finally, consider booking some time with the professional at your destination. This can be very rewarding from the point of view of your game as they may take a new approach. They are also usually very interesting people to talk to, both about golf and about the local area, and can add a whole extra dimension to your golf vacations.
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