January 14, 2004

By: Sharon Madison
Website: http://www.1st-in-golf.com

Tips for planning a perfect golf vacation here in the USA

Whether you are looking to fit some golf into a family weekend away or mapping out a weeklong golfing trip for a foursome, Travelers Advantage® has five tips for planning the perfect golf vacation.

"Travelers are finding some great deals on the golf course this spring and summer," Travelers Advantage Vice President Julia Ryan said. "But knowing a few planning tips can make your golf vacation picture perfect."

Travelers Advantage's planning tips for a great golf vacation include:

1. Don't rely on getting information at the last minute. Use the Internet to check out the golf courses along your route in advance. Choose the courses you want to play and then bring along their phone numbers, addresses and directions.
   
2. Find out which courses charge a premium for play on weekends and offer a discount for play later in the day. As you are on vacation, play these courses when they are less expensive and others on weekends or late in the day.
   
3. Plan ahead, especially if you are planning for a group. A single player can often be slipped into the play at even a busy course. But a group of four or eight people require advance registration during peak periods.
4. Before you give your credit card number to hold a reservation be sure you know the club's policy on cancellations and no-shows. Be sure to always cancel if you aren't going to play, you don't want to be surprised by paying for a game you didn't play.
   
5. Book tee times in advance, preferably before you leave home. Many golf courses now allow you to book in advance through a third-party agency or on the course's own Web site.
   

"Through our partnership with TeeBone Golf, Travelers Advantage members can find advance and last-minute tee time reservations and stay-and-play golf packages," Ms. Ryan said. "Traveling golfers now don't need to wait and wonder if they will find the right course, and at the right price. Trained specialists are available to help our members secure tee times in destinations throughout the U.S.

"TeeBone also offers great deals on stay-and-play packages at golf resorts from Hawaii to Puerto Rico and from California to Florida. Travelers Advantage members are automatically enrolled in TeeBone's Preferred Player program and always get TeeBone's best price and excellent service," she added. Also see: golfing villa vacations.

Author Notes:

Sharon Madison contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-golf.com.  A source of information on golf equipment, golf manufacturers, supplies, tips and more.