Travel Advice

Tom Jaronski, TGC’s fearless leader, has logged more than a million air miles traveling to and from top golf destinations across the globe. With input from some of our best customers, TJ provides the following tips for Great Golf Travel…

Less is more

Many golf travelers, especially those making first-time trips overseas, tend to want to see and do everything they possibly can fit into a week-long trip. While this approach works for some, many golfers find themselves so focused on getting to the next round that they don’t get to enjoy their surroundings. While golf takes center stage, the excitement of travel certainly includes the sights, sounds, tastes and people that make different destinations who and what they are. For the travelers who want to savor these aspects of travel, TJ recommends taking a more immersive approach. Focus on one round a day. Find time for a walkabout each day, whether that be around the resort, the local village, or nearby attractions. Interact with the locals. Make sure you stop for a morning coffee outside your hotel. Eat lunch in the clubhouse and take time to admire the club’s history and past champions. Afterall, you are a guest in their world. And schedule a day or some time each day to rest. Playing in unfamiliar conditions, particularly if you’re walking each round, is taxing. Whether you choose to slow down as we suggest or remain intent on grinding out as many rounds has you can, creating a plan for your visit and managing your expectations will allow you to enjoy your trip that much more.

Packing for your trip

The approach varies depending on where you are headed and what that destination’s climate and temperatures will be. Generally speaking, TJ believes the following applies to any golf trip of 5-days or more. Be prepared for anything, especially if you’re going somewhere you’ve never been. Even though TJ’s been to Scotland and Ireland many times and knows the weather will likely require some combination of wind and rain gear on most days, he always packs a couple pairs of shorts just in case. A good starting approach is to layout the clothes you think you'll need and then pack about half of what you’ve laid out. Unless you’re headed to a certain warm weather destination, layers are a great way to get the most out of your packed items and allow you to easily adjust to unexpected changes in weather without having to make a car payment worth of purchases in the Golf Shop. Staple items to pack include: A couple rain/wind jackets and pants, and at least one golf shirt for each day you’re traveling (assuming you’re not planning buy one at each course you visit). TJ recommends packing dri-fit type shirts with fabrics that rebound well from getting wet and include one or two long-sleeve shirts which work on the course with a vest or with a pair of slacks in the evening at dinner. Make sure to pack rain gloves, Ziplock bags for your phone and wallet, your favorite wool sweater, and most important of all, extra socks. Leave your fancy sports coat and dress slacks at home. Most people on golf trips wind up spending most of the day and evening in their golf attire. A good pair of jeans and a couple of button downs are more than adequate to pair with a vest or windbreaker. For warm weather destinations, swap out resort casual evening wear for the extra rand and wind gear you’d pack for a trip to Ireland. TJ often plans to wear the golf shirt he chose for dinner the night before on the course to free up packing space for extra shorts and beach wear. Packing cubes are a great way to condense and organize your packed items. You can also split the cubes between your carry-on luggage and checked golf travel bag.

Footwear

Be sure to bring two pairs of golf shoes. The “street style” shows are very popular since they can be worn on and off the course and are light and comfortable. TJ opts for two pairs of quality, waterproof golf shoes. Most golf travel covers can easily accommodate two pairs of golf shoes and a pair of soft loafers for evenings. Wear your loafer or sneakers on the plane and pack the other pair.

Golf Bag

Unless you’re traveling to compete in a tournament and need extra accessories like towels, extra balls, gloves, and clubs, go light. Good quality carry / stand bags are ideal for caddies or yourself, in the event you wind up having to shoulder your bag for a round. The lighter the bag, the more balls you can comfortably carry. If you pack 2 or 3 dozen because you don’t want to buy any while traveling, just put enough balls in the bag for one round at a time and re-stock after each round. TJ’s tip regarding umbrellas ... if you’re headed across the pond, leave it home. The winds there render them useless and they just add weight to the bag. Invest in a good golf bag cover with easy access to help keep your clubs dry. If you’re headed to a warm weather climate like the Caribbean or Portugal, pack the umbrella. It could be handy for unexpected rain showers that come and go quicker than you can pull your rain gear out of the bag, or to help with shade from the sun on really hot days.

Weather

Don’t obsess. Go online to get a sense of temperature ranges. If you're successful packing a little bit of everything, you’re likely covered. It’s rare when forecasts are that dependable especially in many golf destinations close to the sea, where the ever-present winds can change weather quickly and frequently.

Caddies

If you enjoy playing your best golf while traveling and savor an in insider’s perspective on the courses your visiting, take a caddie. In most cases, resort caddies and loopers at historically popular golf clubs that welcome golf travelers understand they are part of the show. Good service mixed with some interesting stories and funny jokes typically results in a good tip as it should. And if your headed to the UK for Links golf, prepare for a game this is very different than North American golf. Links golf requires different shots and strategy, and the ability to navigate landscapes strewn with dunes, hidden bunkers, and the occasional blind shot. A good caddie can make the whole experience much richer and easier, likely helping you to play the best golf you can.

Jet lag

No matter how much you fly, jet lag is a factor whether you know it or not. First, drink as much water as you can before, during and after your flight. Good hydration will help prevent headaches and sluggishness. During your flight overseas, eat light before and during the flight. Sleep if you can, even if it’s just for an hour. TJ’s most important tip for combating jet lag is to get on your destination’s time zone as soon as possible. Before you take off, set your watch to the local time in your destination. When you land, take a shower to freshen up, change your clothes, and go do something. Take a long walk, sightsee, play golf, or go to the beach, the best thing you can do is stay awake as long as possible, thus acclimating quickly to the local time zone. Push yourself. Go to bed at well into the evening like you normally do. When you wake up in the morning, you’ll be refreshed and in sync with the local time zone.

Travel Protection

We live in a very different world than we did just a decade ago. Global economic dynamics and health issues have impacted many facets of the travel industry. I, for one, never put a lot of thought into travel protection. I decline the travel insurance when purchasing airline tickets. Recently, however, I’ve researched the ins and outs of travel protection and frankly, with all that is going on in the world right now, I certainly won’t travel overseas without. Did you know … Medicare does not provide coverage outside the U.S. … look at your U.S. Passport, it suggests that all holders should secure travel protection when traveling abroad. It is essential you know the extent of the coverage you have, if you think your covered by a personal policy or credit card insurance for example. Comprehensive travel protection policies provide coverage and cancelation benefits before and during your travel. They cover you if you can’t travel or get sick, but they also cover you against situations that are out of your control such as vendors cancelling services or going bankrupt. And each policy has different coverage limits and special services. Just like the “peace of mind” you get knowing significant purchases like your home and automobile are protected, travel insurance provides the same for your wanderlust experiences. TGC’s partnership with GolfSafe Travel Protection, offers our customers best-in-class, comprehensive travel insurance and peace of mind, designed specifically for traveling golfers. CLICK HERE to learn more about the many benefits, including CANCEL FOR ANY REASON coverage, GolfSafe policies provide.