How Far in Advance to Book Your Golf Trip

I have been working in the golf industry for over 15 years and one of the most common questions asked is "How far in advance do I need to book my trip?"  The short answer is the sooner the better but it really does depend.  

If your group is visiting a destination during their "off season" then you can wait until a few weeks before to see how the weather is shaping up.  But....keep in mind the off season for golf, may be peak season for other activities in the area.  

When it comes to spring golf (peak season) you want to get this trip on the books several months in advance.  Nothing more frustrating then finding the perfect package for your group, waiting for everyone to commit and then when you call back to reserve 9am tee-times; the course only has 3pm left.  I suggest to all my repeat groups to get their spring trip on the books no later then December and in many cases November, to ensure they get their pick of prime tee-times.  

If you are considering a golf trip for this coming spring, NOW is the time to have your guys make a decision and make the reservations.  We can always adjust them closer to the date but at least you have a nice block of times held.

Call myself (Craig Gordon) or any of the knowledgeable vacation specialists at Golf Zoo with questions on putting together the perfect golf vacation.....and booking it at the right time! 800.929.7300 www.golfzoo.com

Locals Favorite Restaurants - Myrtle Beach

After living in Myrtle Beach for almost 12 years, I think I can call myself a local. In no particular order, here is a list of some of my favorite restaurants in the area. Some of these you have probably heard of, others probably not. Either way, I think you will enjoy them all.

Hog Heaven – 7147 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island

If you like Barbeque (Barbeque Pulled Pork if you aren’t from the south), you have to try Hog Heaven. They have some of the best BBQ I have ever had. The seasonings and sauce that they use are awesome. You can order off of the menu, enjoy their buffet, or get it to go.

Ultimate California Pizza – multiple locations along the Grand Strand

Ultimate California Pizza (UCP) is not your ordinary pizza place. You won’t find New York Style or Chicago Deep Dish here, but what you will find are some great innovations in pizza. Some of my favorites are the San Francisco Pizza (Filet Mignon), the Hollywood (Meat Lover’s), and the Buffalo Chicken (Hot Wing Pizza). If you aren’t feeling pizza, they also have some really good subs, sandwiches, wraps, and salads. My favorite is their Roasted Chicken Wrap, which comes wrapped in a fresh baked flatbread.

Mr. Fish – 3401 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach

Mr. Fish is a really good seafood place. It’s not your normal sit down type of place, it is kind of a hole in the wall, but the staff is friendly and the seafood is really good. It seems like no matter what time of the day you are there, you will see “Mr. Fish” or his daughter taking care of things. I recommend trying the Fish Tacos, Crab Cakes, or Blackened Ahi Tuna. Right next door to the restaurant, they also have a seafood market where you can pick up all sorts of things.

Tilted Kilt – 1317 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach

Tilted Kilt opened at Broadway at the Beach in the summer of 2011 and is going strong. Picture Hooters Restaurant mixed with an Irish/Scottish Sports Pub. The result is good food, good beer, and good looking girls waiting on you while you watch the game or play some billiards. Did I mention they are wearing small kilts and even smaller shirts? Not a bad place to drink a pint or two.

Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse – 2920 Hollywood Dr., Myrtle Beach

Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse is just that, a Brazilian Steakhouse. While it is fairly expensive, it is well worth the price. When you are seated you are each given a round card with green on one side, and red on the other. “Gauchos” walk around with skewers of meat that when you have the green side of your card showing, they will come to you and offer you fresh cuts of the meat. When you flip the card back over to the red side, they will let you eat in peace. Rioz also has a great selection of hot and cold items on their salad bar, but make sure to save some room for the meats. They offer more than 15 of them, including beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and fish. Enjoy!

Luigi’s Trattoria – 503 61^st Ave N., Myrtle Beach

Luigi’s offers some really good Italian food. Veal, Chicken, or Eggplant Parmigiana, Homemade Gnocchi, Shrimp Scampi, and a whole lot more. Luigi’s has a nice atmosphere and you will usually see at least a few Italian families enjoying their cuisine while you dine. Make sure to save some room for their Tiramisu, it’s one of the best that I have had in Myrtle Beach.

If you are interested in additional dining options in Myrtle Beach, please click here.

Top 10: Late Night Dining in Scottsdale, AZ

Not too long ago, if you wanted a late night bite in this town, your only option was Denny's or Village Inn. Good news is the Valley event scene is no longer snoozing.

Here's some suggestions for you:

Kazimierz Wine Bar - 7137 E Steston Drive, Scottsdale
Enjoy eclectic eats like Polish sausages, cheese fondue and Egyptian flatbread topped with morels, Brie and truffle oil. Arizona's best wine list makes it easy to linger. Open until 2 AM daily.

Carlsbad Tavern - 3313 N Hayden Road, Scottsdale

The New Mexican chile heat keeps you energized for hours. The late night menu includes favorites like gr4een chile cheese crisp, NM pot stickers filled with chicken and chiles, green chile stew, carne adovada and yummy clue-corn enchiladas. Until 2 AM daily.

Four Peaks Brewing Company - 1340 E 8th St, Tempe and 15745 N Hayden, Scottsdale

The signature Kilt Lifter brew is worth a visit anytime and the tasty fare holds it's own. Look for munchies like spanakopita and chicken chile cheese rolls, sandwiches on homemade beer bread, like Italian beef and portabello mushrooms with veggies. Good pizza's too, Open until 2 AM daily.

Hanny's - 40 N First St

This is a great place to hang out after a game or show in downtown Phoenix. Sip a classic cocktail and enjoy pizzas, salads, sandwiches and fresh-fried fritters served with chocolate dipping sauce, YUM. Until 1:30 AM daily.

Joe's New York Pizza - 7321 E Shoeman Lane, Scottsdale

It's Big Apple style pizza by the slice. The crust is properly thin, but slightly chewy. The cheese and sauce are high quality. Open until 4 AM daily.

Delux - 3146 E Camelback Road (Biltmore Plaza), Phoenix

Nothing better than a burger to stave off late night hunger pangs.

The "Classic" is aptly named, flavorful Harris Ranch beef with all the trimmings on a brioche bun. Great fries too! Until 2 AM daily.

Texas' Best Kept Golf Secret: Barton Creek

Barton Creek, by location and per capita income, has been ranked the “wealthiest location in Texas”. Surprising as it may sound since Barton Creek could so easily be passed up next to Texas' biggies like Dallas and San Antonio, this tiny portion of Travis County in The Lone Star State holds some very stunning views, interesting terrain, and a weather that is ideal for golfing. And, not surprisingly, it made use of its golf-perfect features as it holds some of Texas' and the country's best golf vacation destinations.

The fabulous Barton Creek Resort and Spa owns a collection of four awesome golf courses, two of which hold the top 2 ranks in the best golf courses in the state: The Fazio Foothills, the Fazio Canyons, the Crenshaw Cliffside, and the Palmer Lakeside.


The Fazio Foothills
The Fazio Foothills Golf Course is the “carrier” course and prized jewel of the Barton Creek Resort and Spa. It is also their pride and joy, holder of the No. 1 Golf Club in Texas title. Not surprising, the famous Tom Fazio created the layout of this dramatically scenic and extremely challenging golf course. The fairways are lined with cliffs with views of limestone caves and waterfalls. The greens are an impeccably-manicured Tiff Eagle Bermuda greens.


The Fazio Canyons
Some miles from the Barton Creek Resort and Spa stands another Tom Fazio classic and award winning design, the 18-hole par-72 Fazio Canyons. It stretches to a whooping 7,513 yards surrounded by magnificent red oaks and sycamores that make the course even more scenic than it already is. It is the perfect complement to the beautiful limestone bed creek, Short Springs Branch. Every inch of this huge golf course is undoubtedly beautiful and offers as much fun to golfers; it is so excellent it is ranked No. 2 Golf Course in Texas.

Crenshaw Cliffside
The Crenshaw Cliffside Golf Course is the collaborative effort of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. It is characterized by the rolling hills and the unparalleled views of Texas Hill Country. Golfers would agree on one thing: this course has got the ATTITUDE, provided by the natural terrain created by natural plateaus, gentle contours, and native flora abundant in the area.

Palmer Lakeside
An Arnold Palmer creation is always a stunner, and this one is not an exception. Located in a secluded hilltop, it has an overlooking view of the Lake Travis. And as much as it is beautiful, it has all the layout excellence that is characteristic of every single golf course designed by the Arnold Palmer.

These four courses are nothing but testaments to the true wealth of Barton Creek, Texas. They are the place's best kept secrets, the beauty of which can only be truly discovered after taking a golf vacation here.

"CP's Top Ten" for Scottsdale - Fall, 2011!

#16 - TPC Scottsdale

CP's Top Ten for Scottsdale has been updated! Check out the new list here.

Planning a trip to Scottsdale this winter? Here is my opinion on the best 10 choices when it comes to golf here in the Valley of the Sun. I chose my Top Ten based on these (what I consider to be the most important) factors:

• Layout
• Playability
• Scenery
• Service

Remember when reading this that I'm pretty much a hack. I'm about a 14 handicapper, so I'm not what you would call a golf "purist" when it comes to course design, etc. You'll never see me on the practice range hitting 3 irons. (Do I own a three iron?)

I tee it up to have fun, take in the scenery, and hopefully take some of my buddies' pocket change. If you're of the same persuasion, this Top Ten list is for you.

Here we go:

1. Gold Canyon - Dinosaur Mountain - still my all-time favorite. It's about a 40-minute drive from Old Town Scottsdale, but well worth it. The dramatic elevation changes, fantastic scenery, and interesting layout make this the best spot in Arizona.
2. The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain - Probably the best staff and friendliest environment in all of Scottsdale - I'm also a Scott Miller fan - lots of elevation changes, and bowl-shaped fairways where a hack like me will get a few forgiving bounces now and then.
3. SunRidge Canyon Golf Club - Somewhat brutal at times, but one of the more interesting hole-by-hole tracks. Also has the best 3 finishing holes in Arizona - three-shot par 5, then a ridiculous par 3 over the canyon shot of 220 that you're supposed to STOP on a dime. Yeah right. #18 is a wicked dog leg left par 4 up the hill to finish out one of the tougher back nines in Arizona. "We made it! I need a cocktail stat!"
4. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club - Cholla Course - Another Scott Miller gem. You definitely have to think your way around this course, and Cholla (and Saguro) are very unique in that they're built on an Indian reservation, so there are ZERO HOMES anywhere on the golf course. Makes for scenery that's tough to beat. Only drawback is that it is typically cart path only, so be prepared to do some walking. It's worth it.
5. Grayhawk Golf Club - Talon Course - The Raptor course is where they host the PGA Tour's Frys.com Open, but I have always preferred the tamer sister course, Talon. It's a little more forgiving off the tee, and #17 is an island par 3 - kind of a "Mini 17th at Sawgrass" - great hole for gambling. (It's only a 9 iron, or a big wedge...) Also, Phil's Grill is one of my all time favorite places to enjoy a couple dozen cocktails after Grayhawk whips me into submission.
6. TPC Stadium Course - Home to the PGA Tour's FBR Open. Yeah sure, I agree that by itself the golf course is a little overrated, but what can I say - it's fun to play where the pros play, and after watching the tournament on TV, you'll want to get it in. The last 4 holes are the reason you pay what you do, ($250+ in peak season) and they are as fun to play as they are to watch. Service in all aspects is exceptional, and the restaurant is one of the best in Arizona to have a nice breakfast.
7. Troon North - Pinnacle Course - The atmosphere in the clubhouse is a little stuffy, but I play this one at least once a year for one reason - the greens are the best in Arizona. Both Troon courses (Pinnacle and Monument) are extremely difficult for me, but the putting surfaces are simply perfect in the winter - fast and brutal. Lots of fun, and a few 3 or 4 puts along the way...
8. Rancho Manana Golf Club - This one is more my speed. I can play Rancho from the tips, and rarely have anything more than a 7 iron in on the par 4s. But don't be fooled by the relatively short length. This one is tricky. Rancho is just north of Scottsdale, in Cave Creek, where it's very mountainous, and I'm simply an elevation change junkie. One of the more scenic courses, and the Tonto grill would be in my all time Top 5 restaurants. Great staff - very laid back.
9. Ocotillo Golf Club - Ocotillo cracked into my Top Ten this year, replacing The Raven at South Mountain. Although I still love the Raven, for something a little different, and a more traditional feel, Ocotillo is my new favorite. With 3 distinct 9's, great conditions, and maybe the best spot in Arizona to have lunch after your round, you can't go wrong. Another advantage (or disadvantage) is that there is a lot of water which sets in apart from most of the dry, desert layouts here. The staff is laid back and friendly, and make time for lunch afterwards. Sit outside on the patio, listen to the waterfalls, and enjoy.
10. The Arizona Grand Golf Club - Formerly known as "Phantom Horse," Arizona Grand gives you a little of everything. Some traditional holes, and some great target golf as well. It's been under renovation all summer and promises to be one of the valley's newest "up and comers." Have dinner and drinks at Rustler's Rooste just up the hill after your round. The finishing hole is a par 3 which you don't see often, and what a par 3 it is. 180 yards from the middle tees, but only requires an 8 iron for me because of the dramatic elevation drop. This is also good for day in / day out golf, as it's a quick 10 minutes from the airport.

O.K. gang - there it is - "CP's Top Ten" - If you're planning a trip to Arizona this year, you can't go wrong with any of these great venues.

Feel free to call me at 888-867-6911 for more details... hit em straight!

Golf Zoo Now Offers TripCaddie!

Golf Zoo just made planning your next golf vacation even easier.

We have partnered with TripCaddie.com, an exciting service that offers your group a private website to help plan, socialize and remember your golf trip. Each private website allows your group to store all of the important trip information in one place so the group can easily access it when they need it without sending a bunch of confusing emails back and forth. TripCaddie has simple features to help your group interact with each other before, during and long after your golf trip. Here is what you can do on your private website:

• Print and Review your Itinerary
• Post comments on the Wall (Great for trash talking)
• Gain consensus using Polls
• Manage Pairings and Track Scores for every round
• Upload Photos and Videos
• Track and Reconcile Group Trip Expenses
• Nominate and Award Virtual Trophies
• Access Game Formats and Jokes
• Purchase Great Golf Trip Products and Services
• and much more...

Ask your local rep for more details about using TripCaddie for your next golf vacation!

Best Golf Courses You Can Play

THE PUBLIC GOLFER NEVER HAS HAD ACCESS TO SUCH A STUNNING ARRAY OF COURSES.

The areas of the US that I handle for Golf Zoo are Alabama (RTJ Golf Trail), Florida and Mississippi (Gulf Coast/Biloxi). I will include all the courses that I sell in these particular areas, along with any personal comments or suggestions. The courses will be in order of how they are rank in the state.

Alabama:

* Farmlinks at Pursell Farms

• Golfweek - Best courses you can play (No. 1 in Alabama)
• Golf Digest - Best places to play 2008-09, 4 1/2 stars
• Lodging on site - 4 bedroom cottages that will sleep 8 guys
• Located 45 minutes SE of Birmingham

*Ross Bridge - Birmingham

*Grand National (Lake) - Auburn

*The Shoals (Fighting Joe) - Muscle Shoals

*Timberline - Birmingham

*Grand National (Link) - Auburn

*Cambrian Ridge (Sherling/Canyon) - Greenville

Florida:

*TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium) - Ponte Vedra Beach

• Home of the Players Championship
• Number 18 on the list of top courses in the US
• One of my favorites that I have the opportunity to sell
• Stay and Play property - 4 other courses to choose from staying at facility

*World Woods (Pine Barrons) - Brooksville

• Number 43 on the list of top courses in the US
• Located 1 hour from either Tampa or Orlando

*PGA National Resort and Spa (Champion) - Palm Beach Gardens

• Home of the PGA Tour Honda Classic
• Stay and Play property, 4 other courses on site

*Bay Hill Club - Orlando (stay and play property)

- Home of PGA Tour Bayhill Invitational

*Sugarloaf Mountain Golf and Town Club - Minneola

*Juliette Falls GC - Dunnellon

*World Woods (Rolling Oaks) - Brooksville

*Ocean Course at Hammock Beach - Palm Coast (stay and play property)

*Doral Golf Resort & Spa (TPC Blue Monster) - Miami

• Home of the PGA Tour World Golf Championship
• U.S. Top Ten Golf Resorts (#7) - Travel + Leisure Golf
• Top 75 Golf Resorts in North America (#72) - Golf Digest
• 4 other courses on site

*Walt Disney World Resort (Magnolia) - Lake Buena Vista

*Southern Dunes GC - Haines City

*Fairmont Turnberry Isle (Soffer) - Aventura (stay and play property)

*Victoria Hills - Deland

*Fairmont Turnberry Isle (Miller) - Aventura (stay and play property)

*Lake Jovita (North) - Dade City

*Villa's of Grand Cypress (New Course) - Orlando

• Top 50 Resort Course 2010 - Golf World
• Nine-time Golf Magazine Gold Medal Award Winner
• 45 holes on site designed by Jack Nicklaus

*Reunion Resort (Independence) - Orlando (stay and play property)

• Fantastic 54 hole facility
• Numerous lodging options onsite from 2 bedroom villa up to 8 bedroom private home

*Innisbrook (Copperhead) - Palm Harbor (stay and play property)

• Top 100 you can play - Golf Magazine
• Home of PGA Tour Transitions Championship
• Three other courses on site

*Waldorf Astoria GC - Orlando

*TPC Sawgrass (Valley) - Ponte Vedra Beach

*Tiburon (Black) - Naples

MISSISSIPPI - GULF COAST/BILOXI:

*The Preserve GC - Vancleave

• Best New Courses 2008 (#6) - Golfweek
• America's Best New Courses 2007 (#6) - Golf Digest

*Shell Landing - Gautier

*The Bridges GC at Hollywood Casino - Bay St. Louis

*The Oaks - Pass Christian

Majority of the courses on this list I have played and I agree with all the rankings. Golf Zoo has access to all these courses mentioned above. Rates for these course vary. One rule of Thumb when looking at putting a golf package together:

Rates for most of these courses will be affected by the time of year and weather. When the weather is not good in the northern part of the US (winter), you can count on the prices being higher, in the golf areas where the weather is nicer. Summer in these areas is by far the least expensive time to play, especially in Florida. The shoulder season which is usually October thru December, is less expensive than the peak season - January thru April.

I hope this information has been helpful for our Blog readers. I would be happy to set up a package for any of these courses on the list and the areas where they are located. Please call me at 888.333.6103 or email me at glen@golfzoo.com to set up a golf package.

Golf in Bermuda

Great golf in Bermuda!

Sunshine, golf, beaches, blue skies… this is the way of the Bermuda Islands…and Golf Zoo’s Carribean sales manager, Shelley Quinn was lucky enough to spend time in June playing all of the courses and visiting a variety of Hotels.

With a perfect climate for golf from April through November, Bermuda is a hidden jewel high in the Caribbean.

Bermuda offers a distinct British feel (get ready to drive on the left & look both ways before crossing the street!!), and some old, established courses; golf in Bermuda is an experience that you don’t get elsewhere.

There are 9 great courses to choose from in this small grouping of Islands…the highest concentration of golfing opportunities per square mile anywhere in the world!

Let's start with the oldest private club in the Island, Riddle’s Bay. Now open to the public, this course still retains the ‘old British’ feel, and boasts stunning views over the ocean, and has undergone numerous transformations over the years. Located towards the mid to western end of the Island, this course meanders along a narrow peninsula, surrounded by the azure blue ocean.

Close by is Belmont Hills, another understated but highly enjoyable & challenging course, with exceptional views along the back 9, bunkered with fast, multi-tiered greens. Open for golf since 1907, the course has undergone many changes, with a major overhaul and redesign in 2002.

Port Royal Golf Club is one of Bermudas finest public courses, and host for the 3^rd consecutive year to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in October. This Trent Jones course has also undergone extensive renovations, with new tees, bunkers and greens just a part of the redesign. With stunning views over the Ocean on several holes, this was my favorite course in Bermuda.

When you’re ready for a shorter golf-day (maybe some afternoon beach time), the Fairmont Southampton boasts one of the finest par 3 courses in the world, featured by Golf Digest as one of the best places to play golf in 2002. This is a tough course, and those who think that it will be a bore will be very surprised by the challenging layout and superb views.

Two of the oldest and most renouned courses lie side by side in the Tuckers Town. The Mid Ocean Club was built in 1921 by architect Charles Blair Macdonald and renovated in the 1950’s has been on the PGA tour and obtained a ranking in the top 50 courses in the world outside of the US.

The nearby Tuckers Point course is one of the most scenic courses you will ever play, with all 18 holes offering spectacular views, and has been selected ini the tow 3 ‘Best golf resorts and best restaurants in the Caribbean’ by readers of Travel and Leisure golf. Following your round, make sure to visit the luxurious clubhouse, where you can relax on the terrace overlooking the 18^th hole, or have a cold beverage in the bar.

So many fantastic course, beaches, bars, restaurants and the scenic historic cites of Hamilton and St Georges (settled in 1612!!), Bermuda has something to offer all golfers, beach lovers and culture seekers.

Call Shelley at Golf Zoo to set up your Bermuda get-away.

Golf Myths Busted

Folks are very fond of myths. It's quite puzzling how we, though knowing they're not entirely true, still follow them. It could be because that's what we're used to doing, or we're afraid of some odd consequences if we don't follow them.

Even in things where there are a given set of rules, some myths exist. Just like golf.

Golf is a very technical game. Golfers play according to the rulebook, but unknown to some, they practice things they thought are part of the rules but in actuality are not.

Here are some of the most common golf myths:

1. Using a rangefinder is permitted by the Rules during play - You must be using this distance measuring device. However, Rule 14-3 bars strictly prohibit their use unless the Committee has acted even though in typical games, the Committee allows the use of such devices but with restrictions.

2. Before starting a new hole with a different ball, you must first inform your opponent in match play or your fellow competitor in stroke play – Players do this to show kindness but technically speaking, there are no rules that say you have to do this. It’s a bad idea to inform them in case they question you if the given ball is yours or not.

3. If anyone else replaces the ball, the player is penalized. Other than the player, if a person marks and lifts a player’s ball on the putting green, he must replace it – This is completely untrue. Under the Rule 20-3, the player, his partner, or the person who marked and lifted the ball - must replace it. If any person aside from the three replaces the ball, the player should correct the mistake or else, he will be penalized.

4. A ball is not back in play when it is replaced on the putting green until the ball marker is removed – False. Actually, as soon as the ball is replaced, it is back in play. The marker is useless when the ball has been replaced. Professional golfers leave the marker in place then swindle with the orientation of the ball – but this is an acceptable procedure. However, after having been replaced, if the ball is blown away from the marker, it should be played from its new position.


5. The type/brand of ball you use to start your round must also the same type/brand of ball for the whole round – This is true only when the “one ball rule” is applied. But this is almost never in effect for any game except only during PGA Tour and other events for skilled players.

Watching golf on TV or observing how others do it could be helpful in improving one's play. The danger in it lies only in the possibility of copying the wrong practices. Though they're not necessarily harmful, they are unnecessary and a waste of time. But don't fret. Even experienced golfers follow these myths. That's why it is important to not only have SKILLS in the sport, but KNOWLEDGE as well.

The Golf Trip Essentials You Keep Overlooking

To an avid, die-hard golfer, a golf trip is what a honeymoon is to newlyweds. And why not? It's another few days of amorous encounters with golf without an iota of care in the world. You can think of no one and nothing else but golf, golf, and more golf. Even the thought of it is pleasant and exciting!

You want it to be perfect, special, memorable, and of course, HASSLE-FREE.

Apart from the obvious essentials of golf gloves (bring extras!), golf wear, golf shoes, socks (bring extras!), clubs and extra balls, and other personal essentials (sunglasses, toiletries, underwear, cellphones, passport, tickets, cash, cards, medications), there are three things that each golfer setting out on a golf trip must never leave home without. These three things are surprisingly tiny, but forgetting them could just outright ruin your dream golf vacation. You don't even have to worry about paying for extra luggage just because you're adding these items to your list!

So go ahead and check that luggage again and see that these three things are in there:

Sunscreen. A 36-hole love affair on the greens may be just as ecstatic as it is ugly when you forget to bring sunscreen. You'll be playing most of the entire day under the scorching heat of the sun. A sunburn doesn't only look bad. It is also very painful. Protect yourself from the rays of the sun at all times. Just make sure the sunscreen is packed securely and doesn't get squished by all your other things. Last thing you need is an entire vacation's worth of clothes soaked in slippery lotion!

Lip Balm that contains Sunscreen. Your lips need as much protection from the sun as much as your skin does. And since, obviously, you can't put your sunscreen lotion on your lips, lip balms with sunscreen were invented. Put some on every now and then, or your lips will chap. Chapped lips are just annoying, so put that balm on before the sun gets to your lips!

Band Aids/ Athletic Tapes. An endless round of golf is a delight to any golfer's heart, but not for the feet! Those golf shoes can be nasty after some time, and will threaten to ruin your Master's-worthy game with an ugly blister or two. So arm yourself with lots of Band Aids so you can tape it up before it becomes uglier.

It is best to put them in a single bag along with your other toiletries so they don't get lost in a sea of stuffs, and you could easily locate it. You can easily pack them in your luggage and in your golf bags. These three things don't seem to be as important as all your other golf trip essentials, but it is best to have them around. Sometimes, even the slightest discomforts could ruin such an epic vacation. Better be ready and pack these up so you'll leave home excited, and you're going home happy.