Golf Trips 101: How to Plan Your Own Girls' Golf Getaway (Without Losing Your Mind)
It's a warm afternoon in September. You're standing on the first tee at a course you've never played before. Your closest girlfriends are with you, everyone's laughing about something that happened at breakfast, and you're about to play 18 holes at a beautiful course in a place none of you have visited before.
After your round, you'll sit on the patio with cold drinks, rehashing the best (and worst) shots of the day. You'll play another round tomorrow and then you'll get out and explore the town. The next day you’ll just hang out by the pool and talk about everything and nothing.
This is what a golf trip can be. And I'm here to tell you that planning one is way more doable than you think - even if you've never done it before and even if the idea of coordinating travel for multiple people makes you want to hide under a blanket.
I've planned a couple girls' golf trips over the past few years. Most went smoothly… perhaps a minor mishap here or there (that I learned from!). But all of them created memories that I'll treasure forever.
So if you've been thinking about planning a golf getaway with your friends but don't know where to start, let's break this down together.
Step 1: Get Your Core Group Committed (And Keep It Small)
Here's what I learned the hard way: the more people you try to include, the exponentially harder it becomes to nail down dates, budgets, and preferences.
My sweet spot is 8-12 women. With 8, you have two golf foursomes and two tee times. With 12, you have three golf foursomes and three tee times. You can mix it up with different pairings each day.
More than twelve? Things get complicated fast. You're now dealing with several tee times, trying to keep everyone together for meals, and coordinating logistics that could require a project management degree.
How to approach your friends:
Start with a casual text or conversation: "Hey, I've been thinking about planning a girls' golf trip this year. Would you be interested? Nothing definite yet, just gauging interest."
See who responds enthusiastically. Those are your core people.
Then create a group chat and ask three questions:
What's your rough budget range? (Be specific: $500 total? $1000? $2000?)
What months work best for your schedule? Would weeknights be OK or only on a weekend?
How many days can you realistically be away? (2 nights? 3 nights? 4 nights?)
Don't plan anything else until you have answers to these three questions from everyone. Trust me on this.
Step 2: Pick Your Destination (And Be Strategic About It)
This is where it gets fun. Once you know your budget and timing, you can start dreaming about where to go.
If your budget is under $750 per person: Look close to home. Seriously. Some of my best golf trips have been just 2-3 hours away from Cincinnati. You save money on flights, you can drive together (which is part of the bonding), and you have more budget left for golf, food, and accommodations.
Search for "stay and play golf packages" within a 4-hour drive of your city. You'd be surprised what's available. Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia - all of these states have fantastic golf resorts that cost way less than you'd think.
If your budget is $750-1500 per person: Now you're looking at either longer drives or short flights. Think Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, the Carolinas, or even some great Midwest destinations like Door County, Wisconsin or Kohler.
These destinations usually have multiple courses to choose from, good restaurant options, and plenty of non-golf activities if some of your group wants a break.
If your budget is $1500+ per person: You've got options. Scottsdale. Palm Springs. Bandon Dunes. Pinehurst. Even international destinations if you want to go big.
Consider timing and weather:
This is crucial and I cannot stress it enough. Don't plan a Florida trip in August (you'll melt). Don't plan a Michigan trip in April (you might still hit snow). Don't plan a desert trip in July unless you enjoy golfing in 110-degree heat.
I once played golf in Naples in July and it was not pretty! Even with plenty of electrolytes for hydration and tons of snacks to give me energy, I was a sweaty mess by the 12th hole. I finally had to sit out a few holes just simply riding along in the golf cart to compose myself after enduring that heat.
Do your research on average temperatures and rainfall for your destination during your planned travel month. This seems obvious but I've learned it the hard way. The ideal weather conditions will coincide with peak season and of course rates will be more expensive - but it might not be worth the budget you save if you have to play in crummy weather.
My secret weapon: Golf forums and Facebook groups
Before you book anything, search "[destination] women's golf" or "golf trip [destination]" in Facebook groups. Women who've already been there will tell you which courses are worth it, which ones to skip, and which accommodations worked well for their groups.
Step 3: Book Accommodations First, Then Tee Times
This might seem backward, but hear me out.
Golf tee times are usually flexible - you can usually book them anywhere from 30 days to 6 months in advance depending on the course. Accommodations? Those book up fast, especially during peak season, especially for groups.
Exception: if you have specific bucket-list golf courses that you want to play, then you need to book tee times first (see next step). You may need to be more flexible with your accommodations in this case, but that’s the tradeoff.
What to look for in accommodations:
A house or large condo with enough bedrooms and bathrooms. I aim for at least one bathroom per two people. Nothing ruins a trip faster than six women waiting to use two bathrooms.
A kitchen. Even if you plan to eat out for most meals, having a kitchen means you can make coffee in the morning, have snacks available, and save money on a few meals. Plus, some of my favorite trip memories are making breakfast together before our morning tee time.
Common space. You want a living room or patio where everyone can hang out together after golf.
Close proximity to the courses. If you're driving 45 minutes each way to the course every day, you'll spend half your trip in the car. Try to stay within 15-20 minutes of the courses you're playing.
Step 4: Book Your Golf (And Be Strategic About Difficulty)
Once you have accommodations locked in, it's time to book tee times.
How many rounds should you plan?
For a 3-day trip (2 nights), plan 2-3 rounds of golf. For a 4-day trip (3 nights), plan 3-4 rounds. This gives you time to enjoy the trip without it feeling like a golf boot camp.
Morning or afternoon tee times?
I'm a morning tee time person. Get out early, grab a quick sandwich to take with me at the turn, finish in the early afternoon, and have the rest of the day to relax, explore, or play again if you want.
But some groups prefer afternoon times so they can sleep in and have leisurely mornings. Know your group's preference.
Mix difficulty levels:
Don't book four rounds at championship-level courses. You'll be exhausted and frustrated. Mix it up:
One "bucket list" course that's challenging but beautiful
One or two mid-level courses that are fun but not intimidating
Maybe one executive or par-3 course if you want a relaxed round
Stay and Play packages:
Many destinations offer "stay and play" packages where you book lodging and golf together at a discount. These can save you serious money, but read the fine print:
Which courses are included?
What times are available?
Can you add additional rounds?
What happens if weather cancels your round?
Step 5: Plan (But Don't Over-Plan) Everything Else
Food:
Make reservations for one or two special dinners, but leave some meals flexible. You don't want a minute-by-minute itinerary.
If your accommodation has a kitchen, plan to make breakfast there and maybe pack snacks and drinks for the course. This saves money and time.
Non-golf activities:
Even on a golf trip, it's nice to have options for people who want a break or if weather cancels a round. Research:
Spa options nearby
Shopping or downtown areas to explore
Wineries or breweries
Other attractions
Transportation:
If you're flying, you'll need to decide: rent a car or use rideshares?
For groups, I always vote for renting a car (or two if needed). It's more convenient, you can bring your own clubs, and you're not dependent on Uber availability in areas that might not have great rideshare coverage.
Golf club shipping:
If you're flying, consider using ShipSticks or a similar service to ship your clubs. It's often cheaper than airline baggage fees, and way less hassle than lugging clubs through the airport.
If you will check your clubs on your flight, here is a great option for a golf travel bag by OGIO. I recommend selecting a soft-sided golf travel bag as they are much easier to maneuver than the hard cased ones.
Step 6: The Money Talk (Let's Make It Not Weird)
Money is the thing that makes most people uncomfortable about group trips. So let's address it head-on.
Before you book anything major, create a budget breakdown:
Accommodations: $X per person
Golf: $X per person
Estimated food and drink: $X per person
Transportation: $X per person
TOTAL: $X per person
Share this with your group and make sure everyone is comfortable with it BEFORE anyone puts down a deposit.
How to split costs:
Option 1: One person books everything and everyone Venmos them their share upfront
Option 2: Different people book different things (one books the house, one books golf, etc.) and you settle up later
Option 3: Create a shared pot (like Splitwise or Venmo group) where everyone contributes and expenses come out
I prefer Option 1 for simplicity, but do what works for your group.
Talk about the "extras" before you go:
Is everyone expected to share all dinners equally? What if someone doesn't drink but the rest of you want wine with every meal? What about club rentals or cart fees? (Definitely bring your golf clubs if you are playing 2 or more rounds of golf on a trip! It’s worth it to have your own clubs.)
These conversations feel awkward but having them upfront prevents resentment later.
Step 7: Create Your Perfect Packing List
This is where my Type-A personality really shines.
Golf essentials:
Enough golf outfits for each round plus one extra (because you will spill coffee on yourself, trust me)
Multiple pairs of golf socks
Golf shoes (and make sure they're broken in before the trip)
Rain jacket, just in case
Extra gloves
Sunscreen (pack it in your checked bag if flying)
Hat or visor
Sunglasses
Your favorite golf balls and tees
Don't forget:
Advil (you'll be playing more golf than usual and might be sore)
Blister Band-Aids
Chargers for your phone, watch, rangefinder
Adapter for the car if you're bringing a golf speaker
Any lucky golf ball markers or accessories
Pro tip: Take a photo of your packing list once you've perfected it. You'll use the same list for every golf trip.
The Things Nobody Tells You (But I'm Telling You)
It probably won't go perfectly. Someone will forget something essential. Weather might be weird. You might play terribly one day and amazingly the next. That's all part of it.
The golf is important, but it's not the most important part. The memories you'll treasure are the conversations in the car, the inside jokes that develop, the moment when everyone's laughing so hard you can't breathe.
Take photos at the first tee of every round. You'll want these. Trust me.
Don't feel like you have to play every single round together. Sometimes it's nice to split up and regroup afterward to share stories.
Save your scorecards. Turn them into ornaments or frame them. They're better souvenirs than anything you'll buy in a pro shop.
But Mary, What If I Don't Want to Plan Every Detail?
I get it. Planning a trip is work. If you're reading this and thinking "this sounds amazing but also exhausting," I have good news.
Next week I'm going to break down the curated women's golf trip options - organized trips where literally everything is planned for you. You just show up and play golf. Organizations like Tori Totlis, Women on Course, Fore the Ladies, and Iron Lady Golf do incredible trips.
These come with a higher price tag than a DIY trip, but zero planning stress. We'll dive into exactly what each offers and how to know if they're worth it for you.
Your Next Step
Don't let this be another "someday" dream.
Right now, text 3-4 women you'd love to golf with and say: "I'm thinking about planning a golf trip this year. Are you interested?"
That's it. That's all you need to do today.
Because here's what I know: the planning is worth it. The coordination is worth it. The investment is worth it.
A few days playing golf with women you love, in a place you've never been, creating memories that will make you smile for years? That's worth every bit of effort.
Start the conversation today. Pick the dates by next month. Book the trip by March.
Then in August or September or whenever you decide to go, you'll be standing on that first tee with your best friends, about to play golf in a beautiful place, and you'll think "I can't believe I almost didn't make this happen."
Trust me. I've been there. It's the best feeling in the world.
Ready to plan your first golf trip but want to make sure you're prepared? Download my free Ultimate Golf Bag Checklist so you know exactly what to pack for any golf adventure.
