When you take a golf trip that encompasses 21 golf courses (17 of them in Top 100 lists) in seven states, travel over 6300 miles, and complete the entire trip in two calendar weeks, it is tough to summarize in a blog post. So I will break my summary up into several posts.
Even by my standards, this trip was ambitious. I would be playing the following courses that are now or once were on a Top 100 list:
Even by my standards, this trip was ambitious. I would be playing the following courses that are now or once were on a Top 100 list:
Even by my standards, this trip was ambitious. I would be playing the following courses that are now or once were on a Top 100 list:
I usually take these trips alone but my wife is certainly up to the task when she has the time. For this trip, I would be meeting her and other family members in Colorado Springs at the tail end of the trip. So I would be on my own for twelve days.
When a person attempts to play 21 rounds of golf over such a wide geographic area in such a short time, planning is of the utmost importance. After deciding the golf courses on the docket, I determine mileages between courses. That gives me a rough idea of my itinerary per day. My goal is always to play two rounds of golf per day. I fell short on this trip due to the sheer number of miles I needed to drive between stops.
Once I have determined the golf course order, I call each course to make sure I am not running into outings or club events. With the distances and clearance to play out of the way, I begin making tee times. For the first round of the day, I ALWAYS try to get the first tee time. That usually allows me to play quickly and get on the road to the next course. I visit some of the issues associated with first tee times later.
Once my tee times are in hand, I make my hotel reservations. I like first floor rooms away from the elevators, entrances, and ice machines as it makes handling my bags easier and sleeping more peaceful. I always tell people I play expensive golf and stay at flee bag motels. That’s not really true. My hotels are the more well-known budget hotels. After all, with late arrival times and early departure times, all I need is a pillow and a shower. In some cases, access to a course requires a stay at a resort. That is the only time my accommodations are above budget. Actually, most golf resorts are WELL above budget! Also, I am usually on the road prior to the breakfasts served by the various hotel chains.
As soon as the itinerary is settled, I am done until the day before I leave when I pack equipment, clothing, and food. I don’t eat many meals on the road so I always travel with beef jerky, peanut butter crackers, breakfast bars, some chocolate, a bag or two of candy, and at least a case of water with flavor enhancers. To make the driving a bit more palatable, I listen to audio books. This helps to keep me a bit more alert while driving. And satellite radio is a must.
NEXT: Summer Trip 2013 - Nebraska and Wyoming
- The Prairie Club (Dunes Course) - Valentine, Nebraska
- Teton Pines Golf Club - Jackson, Wyoming
- Old Works Golf Club, Anaconda, Wyoming
- Osprey Meadows Golf Club - Tamarack, Idaho
- Circling Raven Golf Club - Worley, Idaho
- Gold Mountain (Olympic Course) - Bremerton, Washington
- Chambers Bay Golf Course - University Place, Washington
- Eugene Country Club - Eugene, Oregon
- Sandpines Golf Club - Florence, Oregon
- Bandon Trails Golf Course - Bandon, Oregon
- Old Macdonald Golf Course - Bandon, Oregon
- Pronghorn Resort (Nicklaus Course) - Bend, Oregon
- Tetherow Golf Course - Bend, Oregon
- Lakota Canyon Ranch Golf Club - New Castle, Colorado
- The Club at Cordillera (Valley Course) - Edwards, Colorado
- Ironbridge Golf Club, Glenwood Springs, Colorado
- Riverdale Golf Club (Dunes Course) - Brighton, Colorado
I usually take these trips alone but my wife is certainly up to the task when she has the time. For this trip, I would be meeting her and other family members in Colorado Springs at the tail end of the trip. So I would be on my own for twelve days.
When a person attempts to play 21 rounds of golf over such a wide geographic area in such a short time, planning is of the utmost importance. After deciding the golf courses on the docket, I determine mileages between courses. That gives me a rough idea of my itinerary per day. My goal is always to play two rounds of golf per day. I fell short on this trip due to the sheer number of miles I needed to drive between stops.
Once I have determined the golf course order, I call each course to make sure I am not running into outings or club events. With the distances and clearance to play out of the way, I begin making tee times. For the first round of the day, I ALWAYS try to get the first tee time. That usually allows me to play quickly and get on the road to the next course. I visit some of the issues associated with first tee times later.
Once my tee times are in hand, I make my hotel reservations. I like first floor rooms away from the elevators, entrances, and ice machines as it makes handling my bags easier and sleeping more peaceful. I always tell people I play expensive golf and stay at flee bag motels. That’s not really true. My hotels are the more well-known budget hotels. After all, with late arrival times and early departure times, all I need is a pillow and a shower. In some cases, access to a course requires a stay at a resort. That is the only time my accommodations are above budget. Actually, most golf resorts are WELL above budget! Also, I am usually on the road prior to the breakfasts served by the various hotel chains.
As soon as the itinerary is settled, I am done until the day before I leave when I pack equipment, clothing, and food. I don’t eat many meals on the road so I always travel with beef jerky, peanut butter crackers, breakfast bars, some chocolate, a bag or two of candy, and at least a case of water with flavor enhancers. To make the driving a bit more palatable, I listen to audio books. This helps to keep me a bit more alert while driving. And satellite radio is a must.
NEXT: Summer Trip 2013 - Nebraska and Wyoming
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