Golf vacation help

[efidler33]

So I have never actually gone on a golf trip with some buddies.. Who has used a website to book these? And what's the best one.. Or do you think it's cheaper to find a place and golf now the tee times :)

Thanks for all your help!

[crazy8golfer]

Personally, I think it had a lot to do with where the trip is going to be. If you or someone in the group has the time to do some research, I prefer to book it myself.
Where are you guys thinking about going ?

[efidler33]

[quote name='crazy8golfer' timestamp='1427053789' post='11192291']Personally, I think it had a lot to do with where the trip is going to be. If you or someone in the group has the time to do some research, I prefer to book it myself.
Where are you guys thinking about going ?[/quote]
Just around here I'm from Pennsylvania and there are a ton of nice courses in the ocean city, MD /Rehobeth beach, DE area.. Just have never done anything like this before so any insight would be greatly appreciated

[donny dogtails]

I have used Golfpac for years for Myrtle Beach and Florida and never had a problem. This year we're using a combination of Golfpac and Golfnow for the Fort Myers area because Golfnow has a larger amount of courses to pick from. I also agree with crazy8golfer do your advance homework on the courses your whole group will like as well as accommodations, flights, van rentals, restaurants, things to do on your days off and nightlife if you choose to troll............... I've been setting up our trips for years and it's a lot of work but also a blast to do. Plan way ahead for most of the stuff especially the flights. Using Southwest is our key for keeping prices down. We could have flown into Fort Myers airport but it would have cost us 40% more so we opted to fly into Tampa which is a two hour drive. I usually start about a month or so after our last trip. I put everything on a spreadsheet and send it out to the group every few weeks so everyone is one the same page. Picking the courses that are a good setup for your group is the most important and the most time consuming. Hope this helps. Have fun!

[donny dogtails]

PS. The last couple of years we have used VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) to rent vacation homes. We're usually a group of 6 to 8 so we look for vacation homes that have at least 5 to 6 bedrooms and at least 4 bathrooms. This year we were very lucky to find a beautiful newer home in Cape Coral that has 6 bedrooms and 6 baths, pool and whirlpool for $2300 which breaks out to $382 p/p which includes house rental, tax, house cleaning and damage waiver. Not bad for 7 nights. Also, we always go in off peak seasons (mid-October). If we went in-season it would probably cost us double.

[edresnick]

I have used Golfpac several times and have always had good experiences.

[red soxx]

I agree with Donny I use vrbo a lot better than any hotel

[A hole in 1]

If you want to book a villa near a good course you want to play in Europe, somewhere like Spain or maybe Turkey, then try hoiliday rentals or holiday lettings. Always good to book direct with owners for large groups in my experience.

[nellycuz]

+1 for VRBO. Can find vacation homes pretty cheap in off-peak months/weeks. Even in-season if you search hard enough, you can find a couple of deals to where if you bring 8 people, it's going to be pretty cheap for lodging. Then all you need to worry about is travel, golf and food expenses!

[hark114]

Pam's oc golf is a good company to use. I have used them three times for my trips to oc maryland

[efidler33]

[quote name='donny dogtails' timestamp='1427058638' post='11192683']I have used Golfpac for years for Myrtle Beach and Florida and never had a problem. This year we're using a combination of Golfpac and Golfnow for the Fort Myers area because Golfnow has a larger amount of courses to pick from. I also agree with crazy8golfer do your advance homework on the courses your whole group will like as well as accommodations, flights, van rentals, restaurants, things to do on your days off and nightlife if you choose to troll............... I've been setting up our trips for years and it's a lot of work but also a blast to do. Plan way ahead for most of the stuff especially the flights. Using Southwest is our key for keeping prices down. We could have flown into Fort Myers airport but it would have cost us 40% more so we opted to fly into Tampa which is a two hour drive. I usually start about a month or so after our last trip. I put everything on a spreadsheet and send it out to the group every few weeks so everyone is one the same page. Picking the courses that are a good setup for your group is the most important and the most time consuming. Hope this helps. Have fun![/quote]

I love fort Myers! I actually lived there for 2 years.. Worked at tiburon and arrow head in Naples.. Sadly I live back in PA.. Great area for golf.. Miramar lakes, grandezza, old corkscrew, magnolia landings in North fort Myers.. I could go on and on great place to play! I'm sure stoneybrook isint in your top priority of places to play but if you go there my best friend brain is the lead instructor be sure to say hi he's an awesome dude.. Thanks for all the info.. This time were keeping it semi local.. So I don't have to worry about flights and night life as I frequent there for vacation.. Just not for a guys get away golf/adult beverage week haha!

[efidler33]

[quote name='hark114' timestamp='1427133210' post='11198325']Pam's oc golf is a good company to use. I have used them three times for my trips to oc maryland[/quote]
Thanks I'll be sure to check them out!

[donny dogtails]

[quote name='efidler33' timestamp='1427253200' post='11210525']
[quote name='donny dogtails' timestamp='1427058638' post='11192683']I have used Golfpac for years for Myrtle Beach and Florida and never had a problem. This year we're using a combination of Golfpac and Golfnow for the Fort Myers area because Golfnow has a larger amount of courses to pick from. I also agree with crazy8golfer do your advance homework on the courses your whole group will like as well as accommodations, flights, van rentals, restaurants, things to do on your days off and nightlife if you choose to troll............... I've been setting up our trips for years and it's a lot of work but also a blast to do. Plan way ahead for most of the stuff especially the flights. Using Southwest is our key for keeping prices down. We could have flown into Fort Myers airport but it would have cost us 40% more so we opted to fly into Tampa which is a two hour drive. I usually start about a month or so after our last trip. I put everything on a spreadsheet and send it out to the group every few weeks so everyone is one the same page. Picking the courses that are a good setup for your group is the most important and the most time consuming. Hope this helps. Have fun![/quote]

I love fort Myers! I actually lived there for 2 years.. Worked at tiburon and arrow head in Naples.. Sadly I live back in PA.. Great area for golf.. Miramar lakes, grandezza, old corkscrew, magnolia landings in North fort Myers.. I could go on and on great place to play! I'm sure stoneybrook isint in your top priority of places to play but if you go there my best friend brain is the lead instructor be sure to say hi he's an awesome dude.. Thanks for all the info.. This time were keeping it semi local.. So I don't have to worry about flights and night life as I frequent there for vacation.. Just not for a guys get away golf/adult beverage week haha!
[/quote]

We're planning on playing Verandah Old Orange and Whispering Oak, Colonial, Herons Glen. Then I need to pick two additional from this list; Magnolia Landing, River Hall and Pelican Preserve. I'd like to play Forest Glen, and Panther Run but they're too far from our rental house in Cape Coral. Are there any others you would recommend? How would you rate the above courses we picked so far? Thanks!

[efidler33]

[quote name='donny dogtails' timestamp='1427265958' post='11211165'][quote name='efidler33' timestamp='1427253200' post='11210525']
[quote name='donny dogtails' timestamp='1427058638' post='11192683']I have used Golfpac for years for Myrtle Beach and Florida and never had a problem. This year we're using a combination of Golfpac and Golfnow for the Fort Myers area because Golfnow has a larger amount of courses to pick from. I also agree with crazy8golfer do your advance homework on the courses your whole group will like as well as accommodations, flights, van rentals, restaurants, things to do on your days off and nightlife if you choose to troll............... I've been setting up our trips for years and it's a lot of work but also a blast to do. Plan way ahead for most of the stuff especially the flights. Using Southwest is our key for keeping prices down. We could have flown into Fort Myers airport but it would have cost us 40% more so we opted to fly into Tampa which is a two hour drive. I usually start about a month or so after our last trip. I put everything on a spreadsheet and send it out to the group every few weeks so everyone is one the same page. Picking the courses that are a good setup for your group is the most important and the most time consuming. Hope this helps. Have fun![/quote]

I love fort Myers! I actually lived there for 2 years.. Worked at tiburon and arrow head in Naples.. Sadly I live back in PA.. Great area for golf.. Miramar lakes, grandezza, old corkscrew, magnolia landings in North fort Myers.. I could go on and on great place to play! I'm sure stoneybrook isint in your top priority of places to play but if you go there my best friend brain is the lead instructor be sure to say hi he's an awesome dude.. Thanks for all the info.. This time were keeping it semi local.. So I don't have to worry about flights and night life as I frequent there for vacation.. Just not for a guys get away golf/adult beverage week haha!
[/quote]

We're planning on playing Verandah Old Orange and Whispering Oak, Colonial, Herons Glen. Then I need to pick two additional from this list; Magnolia Landing, River Hall and Pelican Preserve. I'd like to play Forest Glen, and Panther Run but they're too far from our rental house in Cape Coral. Are there any others you would recommend? How would you rate the above courses we picked so far? Thanks![/quote]
Colonial and herons Glenn are great tracks.. I've only played the front at verandah and never played whispering oak.. I would definitely choose magnolia.. Don't play the tips tho it's a bear.. If I remember I'm pretty sure it plays 7300 or close to it.. But i would Def pick magnolia.. Close to the cape and you won't be disappointed.. The preserve is another good course they have 27 holes and it's another fun course.. And a great outside mall with tons of food options and bars to choose from for an after round bite and beverage at coconut point is right beside it!

[MidwestGolfBum]

I am actually on a plane to Hilton Head as I type this, but my preferred way to book travel is to go the VRBO route. Unless you're planning on playing at a resort where you can get discounts and preferred tee times by staying on property, you are going to be happier staying in a home nearby.

We are playing a bunch of private courses in the area which we just had to have our head pro call from our course and we were able to get on as well. It's probably going to cost a little more than if we had played only public courses, but it's a more unique experience for some of the guys who aren't used to the country club and caddy experience.

If you don't have a course you belong to, don't want to play private courses, or have public courses that are preferred, calling and asking about group rates never hurts. Golfnow and similar are also a good way to go depending on the area that you are planning to go to.

[efidler33]

[quote name='donny dogtails' timestamp='1427265958' post='11211165'][quote name='efidler33' timestamp='1427253200' post='11210525']
[quote name='donny dogtails' timestamp='1427058638' post='11192683']I have used Golfpac for years for Myrtle Beach and Florida and never had a problem. This year we're using a combination of Golfpac and Golfnow for the Fort Myers area because Golfnow has a larger amount of courses to pick from. I also agree with crazy8golfer do your advance homework on the courses your whole group will like as well as accommodations, flights, van rentals, restaurants, things to do on your days off and nightlife if you choose to troll............... I've been setting up our trips for years and it's a lot of work but also a blast to do. Plan way ahead for most of the stuff especially the flights. Using Southwest is our key for keeping prices down. We could have flown into Fort Myers airport but it would have cost us 40% more so we opted to fly into Tampa which is a two hour drive. I usually start about a month or so after our last trip. I put everything on a spreadsheet and send it out to the group every few weeks so everyone is one the same page. Picking the courses that are a good setup for your group is the most important and the most time consuming. Hope this helps. Have fun![/quote]

I love fort Myers! I actually lived there for 2 years.. Worked at tiburon and arrow head in Naples.. Sadly I live back in PA.. Great area for golf.. Miramar lakes, grandezza, old corkscrew, magnolia landings in North fort Myers.. I could go on and on great place to play! I'm sure stoneybrook isint in your top priority of places to play but if you go there my best friend brain is the lead instructor be sure to say hi he's an awesome dude.. Thanks for all the info.. This time were keeping it semi local.. So I don't have to worry about flights and night life as I frequent there for vacation.. Just not for a guys get away golf/adult beverage week haha!
[/quote]

We're planning on playing Verandah Old Orange and Whispering Oak, Colonial, Herons Glen. Then I need to pick two additional from this list; Magnolia Landing, River Hall and Pelican Preserve. I'd like to play Forest Glen, and Panther Run but they're too far from our rental house in Cape Coral. Are there any others you would recommend? How would you rate the above courses we picked so far? Thanks![/quote]I
Raptor Bay in Bonita is a cool course as well!

[wombat_vortex]

If you want to peice-meal it, try AirBnb for a place to stay. You can book a single room or an entire house. Then a discount tee time booking website like Golfnow. That's the cheapest way, in my expereince.