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Mark Woodger

Golf trip ideas needed
« on: January 07, 2010, 02:37:06 PM »
Hi All,

Happy New Year to you. I am looking for some thoughts and inspiration.

I am thinking of organising a golf trip with 3 pals in early March. We live in NYC and want to go away for two nights, three days golf and we want somewhere that is going to be a comfortable golfing temperature (so i guess in the 70's would be ideal). They are not hugely interested in the architecture so its not a must for the trip but if we could play some courses that are no just bomb it long and target golf that would be preferable.

We can't go to the west coast unfortunately.

Any thoughts or ideas on courses/resorts are welcome and great appreciated.

Thanks,
mark
« Last Edit: January 07, 2010, 03:39:57 PM by Mark Woodger »

Mac Plumart

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2010, 02:52:13 PM »
Vegas Baby!!!

March Madness and golf...I'll be there. 

Cascata and Shadow Creek...you can throw your money away betting or playing golf...or better yet...both!!!!

Sportsman/Adventure loving golfer.

Michael Rossi

Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2010, 02:59:34 PM »
The Carolina's should provide you the weather, depending on your budget you can find what fits, great golf can be found, lots of options.

PCCraig

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2010, 03:08:51 PM »
Pinehurst, Pinehurst, Pinehurst.

You could probably drive there from NYC and save on airfare. From NYC I would guess a 9-10 hour drive...not too bad with a foursome of possible drivers.

You could stay in the Pinecrest Inn (not too expensive), go play Tobacco Road, Pine Needles, Mid Pines, and maybe one or two of the Resort courses depending on your budget.

There are a wide range of places to eat and in terms of nightlife Southern Pines is a twenty min cab/van ride away.

That time of year the weather is fantastic in the area.
H.P.S.

Carl Nichols

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2010, 03:12:12 PM »
Mark:
What's your budget like? 

jeffwarne

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2010, 03:13:00 PM »
The Carolina's should provide you the weather, depending on your budget you can find what fits, great golf can be found, lots of options.

 World Woods 2 courses.
throw in The Dunes and Brooksville CC and you have a very affordable compact trip.

Carolinas could be cold if you're unlucky but if you dare Myrtle's got some good offerings-Caledonia, True Blue, Legends Heathland.

Mac-it's golf trip ;D
I shudder to think how many rounds you could play in remote regions  of the UK/ireland with the money spent in that architectural wasteland known as Vegas
"Let's slow the damned greens down a bit, not take the character out of them." Tom Doak
"Take their focus off the grass and put it squarely on interesting golf." Don Mahaffey

Jim_Kennedy

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2010, 03:40:26 PM »
Mark,
I take it you'll be flying, otherwise there's no way to do the 2 nights/3 days of golf in March.

I'd suggest Innisbrook in Tampa. Everything you need is right there, or real close.

An early AM flight down from NYC puts you on the course with time enough for a leisurely 18. Late PM return flight gets you 18 before going home.
"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Mark Woodger

Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2010, 03:41:44 PM »
Mark:
What's your budget like? 

Good question. I would think that ex flight we might want to limit it to 600USD.

Mark Woodger

Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2010, 03:42:34 PM »
Thanks for the replies everybody. A great help.

Looks like dates might be early March. How would that affect the Carolina's options? Too cold?
« Last Edit: January 07, 2010, 03:45:22 PM by Mark Woodger »

Jim_Kennedy

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2010, 03:45:29 PM »
Mark,
Most likely, and you won't pay less for it than playing in Florida, either.
Flights are probably cheaper to Fl too.
"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Greg Chambers

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2010, 03:47:01 PM »
Scottsdale/Pheonix.  We-Ko-Paa, Talking Stick, etc.  Plus spring training baseball.  And great nightlife.  No place better in the spring IMHO.  I'll be there at some point in March.
"It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.”

Mac Plumart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2010, 04:17:01 PM »
I'd be careful with that Florida golf...I hear all the courses stink!!!   ;)



Sorry, guys.  I am in a very good mood for some reason...and am trying to be funny...not my strong suit!!   :)
Sportsman/Adventure loving golfer.

Carl Nichols

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2010, 04:45:55 PM »
I'm a big fan of playing a good course more than once on a trip.  How about flying to Atlanta (relatively cheap flights from NYC), staying two nights in a house at Cuscowilla, and playing Longshadow on the way to and/or from the airport?  Cuscowilla is open to non-member play through at least Thursday; not sure about weekends these days.

Jason Topp

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2010, 05:23:20 PM »
Short answer - World Woods if you cannot go west and do not mind having nothing to do at night.  The land in that area is terrific for golf.  Orlando (maybe Tampa) if you want something to do at night.  Arizona if you can go west and want nightlife.

If you do go to North Carolina, you should be able to get very reasonable pricing through Tobacco Road Golf which I was very happy with when we used them a couple years ago.  http://tobaccoroadgolf.com/


Longer answer -

For me the most important consideration is weather.  I use this database to look at temperature and rainfall amounts:

 http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/

You gain around 15 degrees if you play in Florida rather than Pinehurst (from 60 to 75 for an average high) and southern Florida has less rainfall at that time of year.  This factor makes Arizona and Palm Springs almost a lock because of the very high percentage of playable golf days - February and March are the wettest months in Scottsdale but still have 1/4 the rain of North Carolina and half of that in Florida.  I have been rained out in Florida many times but do not think I have ever been completely shut out from golf in Arizona.

The next consideration is price - out of the way locations give you a lot more golf for the price.  The trade off is usually in food quality and night life.  In my 40's I find dinner and bed is usually about the extent of my night life with 36 coming the next day si I do not mind a destination in the middle of nowhere.

The third consideration is the ability to lock down tee times.  I'm going to Fort Myers at that time ths year.  Most of our golf will be at private courses but the club we are visiting changed its member guest to the same weekend we are visiting which has forced me to shop around for alternatives.  The area has a lot of distressed golf at decent prices.  The challenge is trying to get tee times.  For whatever reason none of the public courses in the area take times more than a few days in advance.  When organizing a trip for a group - being unable to lock down golf in advance is a bit stressful.  If I were a course in the area - I would offer advance prepaid tee times (possibly with a bit of an increase in rate).  I'm guessing such a practice would lead to a lot of additional revenue.

For a three day/two night trip - the timing and price of flights will be critical.  You may want to make it a 3 day/3 night trip to give you more time on the course.  


Places I would avoid and why:

Miami - Miami is a great destination if South Beach, rather than golf is your focus.  In my experience the golf is very high priced compared to quality.

RTJ Trail - not enough warmth and too much rain in early March.  I've had one great trip there but we got lucky with the weather.

Mac Plumart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2010, 05:25:32 PM »
If you go to World  Woods, Black Diamond Ranch is offering "Discovery TOurs" which would allow you to stay there and play their courses. 

FYI.
Sportsman/Adventure loving golfer.

Jud_T

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #15 on: January 07, 2010, 05:28:09 PM »
For budget and timing, go to myrtle...Play Dunes, TPC and Legendcs Heathlands...
Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

Mike Hendren

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #16 on: January 07, 2010, 05:30:54 PM »

 World Woods 2 courses.
throw in The Dunes and Brooksville CC and you have a very affordable compact trip.

Our group of eight is scheduled for late March with that exact rota.  There is a small, clean 8 room hotel about ten minutes from World Woods so each man gets his own room and we have the run of the place.  David the proprietor cooks a fantastic full breakfast and dinner on your schedule and there's a nice room with couches and large TV.  BYOB.  We fly into Tampa, play 18 that first afternoon, 36 the next day, then 18 the third day and fly back to Nashvegas that evening.  NCAA hoops on a big screen after dinner.  All meals (fresh fish, prime rib), lodging and golf is less than $600/man.  Contact David at www.chazhotel.com.  Quiet residential neighborhood but bona fide honky tonky less than 200 yards away.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

Mike
« Last Edit: January 07, 2010, 05:34:11 PM by Michael_Hendren »
Two Corinthians walk into a bar ....

Paul Carey

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #17 on: January 07, 2010, 05:37:27 PM »
Tampa is great weather that time of year and flights are pretty cheap.  With tht short a trip you can fly in ealry ond day and out the final evening.

The Carolina's should provide you the weather, depending on your budget you can find what fits, great golf can be found, lots of options.

 World Woods 2 courses.
throw in The Dunes and Brooksville CC and you have a very affordable compact trip.

Carolinas could be cold if you're unlucky but if you dare Myrtle's got some good offerings-Caledonia, True Blue, Legends Heathland.

Mac-it's golf trip ;D
I shudder to think how many rounds you could play in remote regions  of the UK/ireland with the money spent in that architectural wasteland known as Vegas

Anthony Gray

Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #18 on: January 07, 2010, 08:29:38 PM »


  Pinehurst would be a great disapointment. Make a memory and go to a place that is more memorable.

  Anthony


Mac Plumart

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #19 on: January 07, 2010, 08:44:08 PM »
Vegas baby!!!  :)
Sportsman/Adventure loving golfer.

Chip Gaskins

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #20 on: January 07, 2010, 08:49:39 PM »

Our group of eight is scheduled for late March with that exact rota.  There is a small, clean 8 room hotel about ten minutes from World Woods so each man gets his own room and we have the run of the place.  David the proprietor cooks a fantastic full breakfast and dinner on your schedule and there's a nice room with couches and large TV.  BYOB.  We fly into Tampa, play 18 that first afternoon, 36 the next day, then 18 the third day and fly back to Nashvegas that evening.  NCAA hoops on a big screen after dinner.  All meals (fresh fish, prime rib), lodging and golf is less than $600/man.  Contact David at www.chazhotel.com.  Quiet residential neighborhood but bona fide honky tonky less than 200 yards away.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

Mike
[/quote]

Mike that might be the best "insider" lodging advice I have gotten on this site.  Nice work.  Thanks!

Chip

Carl Johnson

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #21 on: January 08, 2010, 04:22:59 PM »
Thanks for the replies everybody. A great help.

Looks like dates might be early March. How would that affect the Carolina's options? Too cold?

You'd be taking a  chance -- it could be just fine, or not (speaking as a North Carolinian).  Dare I say Myrtle Beach?

Will Spivey

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Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #22 on: January 08, 2010, 04:25:43 PM »
I agree with Carl and others: March in NC can be a bit of a crapshoot.  I live in Winston-Salem, about 1 hour from Pinehurst, and we usually get our largest (and often only) snow of the year in late Feb./early Mar.  South Carolina is a much safer bet until early April.

Mac Plumart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #23 on: January 08, 2010, 04:29:51 PM »
Vegas baby!!!   ;D

Oh wait a second, I think I might have mentioned that already.   :-*
Sportsman/Adventure loving golfer.

Jud_T

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Golf trip ideas needed
« Reply #24 on: January 08, 2010, 04:35:19 PM »
2 problems with Vegas. 1) It's tough to play very well when you're up till 5 AM every night. 2) you need a vacation from your vacation afterwards to recuperate!
Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak