Golf Holiday Planning: The Tools to Make Your Golf Holiday Epic

Planning a golf holiday with your mates is one of the best things you can do as a golfer. Whether you’re off to the sun-kissed greens of Spain or keeping it local with a classic UK golf trip, there’s nothing better than a few days out of the office, competing on great courses, and relaxing off the course. But making sure the whole thing runs smoothly is another story. A planner can help with booking tee times, coordinating schedules, sorting out group payments and finding the best places to eat, making the whole thing more manageable and enjoyable.

Here’s your golf holiday planner, with all the tools and apps you need to make it all run smoothly. From planning and booking to score tracking and eating out, we’ve got you covered for the ultimate golf holiday.

1. Ideas and Research

Before you can hit the greens you’ve got to decide where to go and what courses to play. There are loads of great places to choose from, whether it’s a staycation in the UK or a trip abroad. Looking at different cities will give you a variety of golf courses and experiences.

Google Search / Google Maps

Simplest of all, a quick Google search will give you top golf courses, resorts and locations. Use Google Maps to see the surrounding area, check for nearby accommodation, restaurants and other activities. Plus it’s useful for seeing how far you’ll have to travel between the course and the city centre.

TripAdvisor

For honest reviews, user photos and loads of options, TripAdvisor is perfect for researching courses, hotels and things to do in your destination. You can find highly rated golf resorts, see real golfers’ opinions and explore recommendations for food, drink and entertainment once the clubs are put away.

Golf Travel Websites

When you need inspiration these golf travel websites are full of ideas for golf holidays:

• Golfbreaks.com: One of the big players in the golf holiday industry. They offer packages that include accommodation, tee times and sometimes even travel so you can build your perfect trip.

• Your Golf Travel: Another great site, offering bespoke packages and discounts for groups, covering the UK and Europe to worldwide golf holidays.

• Golf Holidays Direct: Good for value deals on golf trips, this site offers all-inclusive packages to golf and spa breaks.

• Chaka Travel: For a more luxurious break Chaka Travel specialise in golf holidays to exotic destinations like Mauritius and South Africa.

2. Planning and Itinerary Management

Now you know where you’re going, the next step is to make sure everything runs smoothly. From flights and accommodation to tee times and dinner reservations, keeping your itinerary organised is key. A holiday planner can help with all aspects of the trip from flights and accommodation to tee times and dinner reservations.

Google Sheets / Microsoft Excel

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. Google Sheets and Excel are great for planning out your holiday. You can create a spreadsheet to track your group’s travel details, accommodation bookings and tee times. And these tools allow real-time updates so your mates can see any changes as they happen. No more “What time’s our tee off again?” texts!

TripIt

Take your planning to the next level with TripIt, an app that collates all your travel plans in one place. Just forward your booking confirmations (flights, hotels, tee times) to the app and it will create a master itinerary for everyone to see. You’ll even get reminders for upcoming reservations and directions to your next course.

Trello

For a more visual approach Trello is a planner for everything golf holiday related. You can add lists for accommodation, transport, tee times and even “things to do” during downtime. The best bit? You can assign tasks to your mates so everyone has their own responsibilities and no one forgets to book the airport transfers.

3. Booking Tee Times

The best bit of any golf holiday is of course the golf itself! Booking tee times is crucial and you don’t want to leave it until the last minute. Luckily there are plenty of tools to help you secure your rounds.

GolfNow

GolfNow is one of the biggest tee time booking platforms, with access to thousands of courses worldwide. Whether you’re playing in the UK, Spain or even the US this app lets you book tee times in seconds, often with great discounts.

Teetimes.co.uk

This UK based service is great for booking tee times at local courses or across Europe. It’s easy and lets you compare prices and availability across multiple courses so you get the best deal for your group.

Individual Club Booking Systems

If you already have a specific course in mind many golf clubs now have their own online booking systems. These let you book your tee times directly with the club so you get the best service and any specific details like buggy hire or lunch reservations sorted.

4. Group Payments

Managing finances on a group holiday can be a pain—especially when it comes to dividing up accommodation, green fees and meals. Here’s how to make it easy. 

Splitwise

Splitwise is a lifesaver for group expenses. It tracks who paid for what and splits the bill fairly among the group. Whether someone pays for the accommodation, dinner or extra golf balls, Splitwise keeps a running total of who owes who. No awkward conversations about money—just settle up at the end of the trip.

Revolut

Revolut isn’t just a great tool for splitting payments; it also does multi-currency payments which is super handy if you’re travelling abroad. You can set up a Revolut account and transfer money between friends without the extra bank fees.

PayPal / Venmo

For simple transfers PayPal and Venmo are tried and tested. They’re secure, fast and can handle payments across borders so wherever you’re going you can sort out who owes what.

5. Accommodation and Travel

A golf holiday isn’t just about the golf—you’ll need somewhere to stay and a way to get there. Here’s how to book accommodation and travel like a pro.

Booking.com / Airbnb

When you’re looking for accommodation Booking.com and Airbnb have some of the best options. Whether you’re after a luxury golf resort or a cosy villa with room for the whole group these platforms have it all. You can filter by budget, location and even amenities like private pools or proximity to the golf course.

Expedia

If you want to book your flights, accommodation and car hire all in one easy package Expedia is a good option. They often have discounts when you book everything together so it’s perfect for a golf holiday that requires travel and accommodation.

6. Golf Travel Insurance

No one likes to think about what could go wrong on holiday but travel insurance is a must especially if you’re taking expensive golf equipment or travelling abroad.

Compare the Market

If you want to compare travel insurance policies easily, Compare the Market makes it simple. They have a range of golf specific travel insurance policies that cover everything from medical emergencies to lost golf clubs so you’re covered no matter what.

GolfGuard

GolfGuard is great for golfers. They have policies that cover not just general travel but also your golf equipment. From lost luggage to damaged clubs they’ve got you covered so you can relax and enjoy your trip knowing your gear is protected.

7. Tracking Scores and Competitions

What’s a golf holiday without a bit of competition between friends? Tracking scores is key and there are some great apps to help with that.

Golf GameBook

A top app for score tracking Golf GameBook allows you to track scores for your whole group, compare rounds and even set up side games like skins or match play. It’s great for keeping the competitive spirit alive between holes.

8. Entertainment and Dining

After a long day on the course you’ll want to chill out and enjoy some good food and entertainment. Here’s how to find the best.

TripAdvisor

Once again TripAdvisor comes to the rescue for finding the best restaurants, bars and activities in your destination. Whether you’re after a fancy meal or a pint in a local pub you can read reviews and make sure you’re going to the right place.

OpenTable

For group dining OpenTable is a useful tool that allows you to book tables in advance at top restaurants. So you don’t miss out on a great dinner spot especially if you’re heading to a popular tourist area.

Conclusion: How to Plan the Perfect Golf Holiday

Planning a golf holiday with your mates doesn’t have to be a headache. With the right tools and a bit of planning you’ll have everything sorted for the trip of a lifetime. From generating ideas and booking tee times to managing payments and tracking scores these tools make it all easy. So get your mates together, get planning and have the best golf holiday ever!

And don’t forget, Stable Stakes allows you to spend your reward winnings at top golf travel companies, as well as all the kit you will need. Get those stakes in and travel for free with Stable Stakes!