22 March 2010
The Top 5 Pre-Trip Checklist For Golf Holidays
Posted by Louise J. Brooks under: Golf .
Preparing for a regular holiday consists of a fairly standard to do list. A golf holiday requires some extra action items to confirm in the week before departing that will help the holiday go smoothly and ensure you get to golf. The following items cover the fundamentals for most holidaying golfers.
Medication & First Aid: A simplified first-aid kit should be prepared for packing. If you intend golfing each day then any minor injuries can really take their toll over your holiday so prepare to bring aspirin, plasters, insect repellent, indigestion tablets, diarrhoea medicine, sunscreen, contact lenses (and spare ones), spectacles and travel sickness medicine.
For extra comfort add some hot and cold packs to your suitcase to help relieve any strained muscles. If you are not used to golfing every day then the muscles could easily be over-exerted.
Bookings: Email or phone the courses you intend playing to confirm your tee-time is booked. Make a note of any booking references you may need along with tee-times and a map/directions to the course (especially if you are renting a car).
Clothing and Shoes: Check the dress code for each club you intend playing and prepare some suitable clothing. Pack a variety of clothing layers so you may add/subtract garments should the weather require it. Look up the short range weather report to see if you need to alter the balance of items (e.g. to include more layers if it is going to be cold/raining).
Inspect your rain gear for any damage and pack it in with your golf bag (so that it is always to hand). Clean your shoes of any soil (see the paragraph below) and inspect the cleats at the toe of the shoe are in good condition. Rotate damaged cleats to the heel so that the toe of the shoe has enough grip during the transition at the top of your back swing. Pack away wool hats, baseball caps and sunglasses.
Documentation: Print out addresses and directions to the courses you are going to. Check the clubs website for any course guides, yardage information or specific course rules. These can be worth reading prior to a round in order to get your bearings. Pack your proof of P.G.A. handicap. Some courses impose a maximum handicap for golfers permitted to play so your handicap proof may be necessary.
Golf Equipment: Count and clean your clubs prior to departure. Airport Border control at some countries (British Isles, New Zealand, Australia) are rightly concerned about contaminated soil containing remnants of mad cow disease so are prone to checking visitors sports shoes and equipment for soil. If soil is found then they will provide cleaning facilities before allowing you entry to the country.
Lastly, fill your bag with all the small golfing items that you will need on the course such as pencils, gloves, tees, golf balls, etc. You could get these at the destination, especially if the exchange rate is favorable in which case purchasing expensive items (e.g. golf balls) would work out less expensive then purchasing at home.
Hopefully this list will go some way to making sure you have a care-free golfing vacation and don't get caught out by those minor issues that can scupper a good trip.
Looking for European golfing breaks? For an overview of golf holidays in Portugal including the Algarve and Estoril regions visit the Golf Holidays Portugal Guide website to learn more.
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