7 Mistakes You’re Making When Planning Buddies Golf Trips (And How to Fix Them)

Planning a golf trip with your buddies should be exciting, not stressful. Yet most groups make the same avoidable mistakes that turn what should be an epic getaway into a logistical nightmare. These errors cost you money, create unnecessary drama, and can ruin the entire experience.

Here are the seven biggest mistakes golfers make when planning group trips, and exactly how to fix them.

Mistake #1: Waiting Too Long to Book

The Problem: You think you can throw together a golf trip in a few weeks. Popular courses and quality accommodations book up months in advance, especially during peak season. Waiting until the last minute leaves you with subpar options and inflated prices.

The Fix: Start planning five to six months ahead. Book your must-play courses first, then build your itinerary around those confirmed tee times. Early booking gives you access to the best courses at regular rates, plus better airfare and accommodation options.

Popular destinations like Scottsdale and Florida require even more advance planning during peak seasons.

Mistake #2: Planning by Committee

The Problem: Everyone wants input. Group chats become endless debates about courses, hotels, and activities. Too many opinions create decision paralysis, missed deadlines, and frustrated friends.

The Fix: Choose one person as the trip leader. Have the group discuss budget and general preferences upfront, then let your designated planner make the final decisions. Pick someone organized who enjoys research and can stick to deadlines.

The trip leader handles all bookings, confirmations, and logistics. Everyone else contributes their share and shows up ready to play.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Professional Trip Planning Resources

The Problem: You're trying to coordinate multiple courses, accommodations, transportation, and activities manually. Important details get lost in email chains. Confirmation numbers disappear. Someone always shows up confused about the schedule.

The Fix: Use trip planning tools designed for groups. TripIt automatically creates itineraries from confirmation emails and sends helpful reminders. Better yet, work with specialists who handle golf group travel exclusively.

Professional planners have relationships with courses and hotels that individual golfers cannot access. They handle the logistics while you focus on your game.

Mistake #4: Overspending on Accommodations

The Problem: You book individual hotel rooms without considering alternatives. Hotels are expensive for groups and offer limited space for hanging out together in the evenings.

The Fix: Rent a vacation house, condo, or villa instead. These properties cost less per person than hotel rooms and provide kitchens for meals, common areas for group time, and usually better locations.

Schedule your trip during shoulder season when possible. Courses are less crowded, prices drop significantly, and weather is often just as good as peak season.

Mistake #5: Renting Inadequate Transportation

The Problem: You rent compact cars or small SUVs to save money. Four golfers plus bags plus luggage equals cramped, uncomfortable rides between courses.

The Fix: Rent the largest SUV available, typically a Tahoe or Suburban. Yes, it costs more, but the extra space transforms your trip experience.

Large vehicles keep the group together, provide room for everyone's gear, and eliminate the stress of coordinating multiple cars. Group leaders consistently report that keeping everyone in the same vehicle is nearly as important as the courses themselves.

Mistake #6: Underestimating Travel Time Between Courses

The Problem: You book courses without checking distances between them. What looks close on a map turns into hour-plus drives that eat up valuable time and energy.

The Fix: Verify that same-day courses are maximum one hour apart. Ask your booking agent or accommodation host about realistic travel times. Factor in traffic, especially in busy golf markets.

Plan your itinerary geographically. Play courses in the same area on consecutive days rather than crisscrossing regions unnecessarily.

Mistake #7: Overcomplicating the Games and Scoring

The Problem: You create elaborate point systems, multiple side bets, and complex competition formats that require constant scorekeeping and rule explanations. This turns golf into math class.

The Fix: Keep competitions simple and change formats between rounds. Match play variations work better than stroke play for group trips because one bad hole won't ruin someone's entire round.

Choose one or two straightforward games everyone can follow easily. Popular options include:

• Best Ball: Each player plays their own ball, count the best score per hole
• Scramble: Everyone hits, play the best shot, repeat until holed
• Wolf: Rotating player chooses partners each hole, simple point system

Avoid stacking multiple wagers and side games on top of each other. Simple competitions create more fun and less confusion.

Additional Planning Tips

Set Clear Expectations: Discuss budget, skill levels, and trip goals before booking anything. Some groups want competitive golf; others prioritize relaxation and camaraderie.

Plan the Morning Routine: Decide on breakfast arrangements and tee time schedules. Groups that eat together stay on schedule better than those leaving everyone to figure out their own morning logistics.

Actually Disconnect: Plan your trip when you can genuinely be away from work. Encourage everyone to leave business concerns at home. Half-present golfers diminish the experience for everyone.

Making It Happen

The best golf trips happen when someone takes charge of the details and keeps things simple. Whether you're planning a long weekend in Chicago or a week-long adventure in Mexico, avoiding these seven mistakes will transform your group getaway.

Start planning early, choose a leader, keep games simple, and focus on what matters: great golf with good friends.

Ready to plan your next buddies trip without the hassle? Consider working with golf trip specialists who handle the logistics while you handle your handicap. Contact our team to explore options that fit your group's style and budget.