Golf Trip Tips: Teaching your tots the wonders of golf

Teaching your kids to play golf during your golf trip can be both challenging and rewarding. Starting as early as few years old, there is an ample opportunity for your kids to develop their games recreationally and competitively.

Before them get a grip on their clubs and swing away, consider some suggested precautions:

1. Kids want to have fun

No matter how you fast you want your kids learn the sport, always remember that kids become excited to what their doing when they're having fun. So, avoid giving complicated instructions, lecture or advice. Instead, let them play on their own and allow them discover the sport. When you're on golf vacation, always remind yourself (and your kids) that this is just a game.

2. Maximize the practice time

Practice late at night or at times when the course is not crowded. This way, you won't have to worry if your kids want to hit the golf ball and chase it.

3. Give them the right equipment

The problem that most juniors encounter is that they have been given clubs that are long and heavy, which can make the game difficult. Thus, find a club relative to their height and it will be less difficult and should result in less frustrations.

4. Don't give them lessons right away

At least not until they are 5 or 6 years old, don't try to teach and them the right way of swinging a club. When you add instructions into the mix too early, you'll run the risk of making the fun too much work, losing the interest of your kids. Instead, let them hit the club how they want.

5. Make them play in an actual game

Instead of using a practice greens and range all the time, walk on the course. It will heighten their curiosity about the game. Once they do, introduce them to a competition. Kids love the little things like chipping and putting contests.

6. Be supportive (instead of being critical)

Once they join a tourney, and whether they hit good or bad shots, always be supportive. Be less like coach and more of a cheerleader. And after the game, remind them of their good shots rather than the bad ones.

7. Give them rewards

Whether they win or lose, if they reach a new personal best, or overcome a difficult opponent, reward their effort and individual progress. Kids love the encouragement from their family. A milkshake or ice cream afterwards, perhaps?

After all, they are kids and playing golf is a game. So, what you can do, most importantly, is to support them when they struggle and be enthusiastic when they succeed.

Why Women Should Go on Golf Trips

It’s sad, but certainly not surprising, that only a handful of women go on golf trips.  In a 2012 Forbes.com article, author Leslie Andrews explains that intimidation and fear of embarrassment are among the top reasons why you rarely see women on the greens.  Many women feel that in order to be part of what has always been considered an exclusively “gentleman’s club”, one has to be highly skilled at the game.

But PGA professional Suzy Whales argues that “No one picks up a golf club for the first time and is a good golfer.  As a matter of fact, there are more 'not so good golfers' than there are 'good golfers' ".

It wasn't until 2014 for St. Andrew's R&A Golf Club, and 2012 for Augusta National, that they started extending memberships to the sport’s most overlooked demographic. It could be just the start of a large number of women to tee it up with their peers, friends and family for plenty of good reasons:

Their career depends on it.  Well, not literally.  But it can help them propel themselves up the corporate ladder.  

Why?  Because golf is the “language of business”.  It has been used by countless executives and entrepreneurs to make transactions and close deals.  Golf has given them a chance to rub elbows with other corporate bigwigs and build relationships with existing clients and prospects.  By allowing yourself to miss out on these opportunities, you have done yourself great disservice.  

So don’t let apprehension paralyze you.  Get in the game and learn more about the sport.  You’ll be surprised with how much fun you can have when you start playing golf.

Socializing.  Again, it all boils down to networks.  Through golf, you are giving yourself another opportunity to expand your social and networking circles by meeting co-members (if you are a member of a golf course) or other golfers through a friendly round of golf or competition.

Plenty of sunshine and fresh air.  You get to breathe fresh air, bask in the sun, and marvel at nature in all its splendor. This can be beneficial to your health and well-being.

Travel opportunities.  With over 30,000 golf courses and possibly thousands of golf vacation destinations all over the world, each surrounded by an awe-inspiring backdrop of rolling hills or pristine beaches, golf is certainly a great way to combine sports and travel.

It’s a great way to lose weight.  Provided that you don’t mind walking under the heat of the sun, you’ll probably burn an average of 1500 calories per 18 holes of golf. 

Of course, it may help that you learn the fundamentals of the sport before you pick up the club and start swinging.  A certified golf instructor can teach you the basics of game and help you develop winning If you’re planning on your first golf trip with the rest of your family, or your friends, do make sure that golf lessons are part of your itinerary. 

The Benefits of Getting Golf Trip Packages

Planning a golf trip can be expensive.  Hotel and accommodation costs are just the tip of the iceberg.  There are tee times to reserve, green fees, caddy tips, and souvenirs to buy. But many golf resorts have made travel more convenient and easier on the budget by offering all-in-one golf packages, which can include transportation to and from the airport and the golf courses, and free meals, if you’re lucky.

Getting all-inclusive golf packages have numerous benefits, and here are a few of them;

• No more having to book separately.  These types of packages mean you won’t have to go through the hassle of booking car rentals, hotel accommodations and tee times separately.  You can have all that in just a few clicks, or a quick call to your travel agent.  Once your travel package is booked, all you need o worry about is what to pack for your trip. 

• Big discounts.  A huge perk of golf vacation packages are the discounts you get on green fees, cart fees, and even car rentals.  Through packages, you can stay at 5-star golf resorts and play in some of the country’s most upscale golf courses at a fraction of the usual costs. 

• Packages are customizable.  One of the most common misconceptions people have about golf holiday packages is the details are set-in-stone.  Years ago, that might have been the norm.  But these days, golf holiday packages can be personalized according to your budget and preferred golf course or hotel.  Just give your travel agent a call, or check the website for a "Request a Quote” form page. 

• Inclement weather and other satisfaction guarantee clauses.  If an unexpected rain made you cancel out your scheduled tee time, it's possible to get a refund or other perks as part of the satisfaction guarantee clauses that come with the specific package.

But do note that not all vacation packages come with this clause.  So it’s best to read the fineprint, or ask ahead to know if the vacation package you’re getting comes with this stipulation.   

Golf trip packages offer you more than just savings.  By getting an all-inclusive golf holiday deal, you are thereby sparing yourself the hassle of having too book flights, finding available hotel accommodations, and hoping to get available tee times on your preferred schedule. 

Check out what current Hot Deals we have for Vacation Package Specials and be on the lookout for those that are "all inclusive"!

Golf Vacation Tips: The Basics of Handicap

You may hardly be concerned of the minuscule details about your game in your leisure golf vacation. Most leisurely golf enthusiasts who prefer simple enjoyment with friends and family are contented of the overly basic mechanics of playing golf. However, some aficionados would take it to the next level when it comes to playing better. It is important for them to learn about handicap to improve their golf expertise.

What is handicap?

You can pretty much comprehend golf handicap in the same way you would understand a video game's difficulty setting. Setting a higher difficulty level makes it harder for players to overcome simulated obstacles. A handicap, in this context, directly determines the golfer's skill level. But unlike the video game analogy, a higher handicap does not connote excellence. On the contrary, it is a numerical representation of a player's capability based on how many strokes he or she can make to finish one hole. If a player requires forty strokes to put the ball into a distant hole, it only means he or she either has a bad spatial capacity or a lousy swing. The lesser the handicap a player has, the more adept he or she is in playing.

How are handicaps determined?

There is a basic calculation when it comes to determining a player's handicap. The product of this initial calculation is called the “handicap index”. The factors that comprise the handicap index are “course rating” and “slope rating”. After determining the handicap index, it is then used to find out the “course handicap”. The latter determines how many allowable strokes a player has in a game in relation to his or her skill.

Why are handicaps helpful?

Handicaps pretty much set up the organized ranking system. It is only wise for golf trip players to know their potential opponent's handicap bracket if they pursue a serious contest. A 47-handicap player is simply no match for a 5-handicap player. Handicaps create fairness and equity among golfers.

By knowing your handicap, you can have a more clear idea of how good your golf game really is. This will give you better odds and make your golf vacation less daunting when competing with a relatively skilled opponent.