Solo Golf Trip: Why You Should Take One

At some ⁢point during every buddies’ golf trip I’ve been on, I have been struck by a moment of profound‌ appreciation mixed ⁣with utter disbelief.

How did this group of clowns actually pull it off? How did each of⁣ us agree ‌to a⁣ plan,‍ find ⁤teh ‌availability, arrive⁤ at the same destination, align on courses and tee times, and ⁤share in the‍ experience of doing the thing we love ⁤most?

And, more⁢ importantly, how soon can we make this happen⁤ again?

The⁢ vaunted buddies’‍ trip ‍— and the⁣ highly underrated anticipation it inspires — is the ‍most exhilarating experience this sport has to ⁣offer mere mortals.It’s also a logistical ⁣nightmare.

little ⁤wonder why more and more travel agencies and operators are getting in on the ​global golf tourism‌ industry that’s expected to‌ grow from ‍ $25.7 billion in 2024 to ⁣$42.9​ billion ​in 2033.

Those tasked with trip planning know it is ​indeed ultimately an exercise in diplomacy and coalition​ building, not consensus. ​For each⁤ person involved, there’s ​a unique viewpoint on exactly how the trip should go. Every​ last decision becomes its own dilemma.

Is all the⁢ trouble worth it?⁤ Absolutely. But these trips aren’t the only way to ‍bask ⁤in the euphoria of‍ golf tourism.

Last month, during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, I ⁢experienced‌ a version ​of golf nirvana I had never ⁤considered possible: While coordinating ⁢an impromptu golf trip, everyone who planned‍ to go aligned on the destination, the timing, the⁢ lodging, the courses, and how the days​ would be spent, on and⁢ off ⁤the links.

That’s because everyone was me. And only‍ me.

First, ⁢a little ​context:

— My wife and I​ are parents to two school-aged boys, ages ‍9 and 6. ​“Holiday break” is a ⁣misnomer.The time away from school requires more vigilance than usual, including the occasional intervention when arguments devolve into an episode of ⁤ National Geographic’s “Animal Fight Club.”

— The advertising agency where I work generously​ closes the last few weeks of each year,giving employees a much-needed reset. My​ wife, a funeral director, was unable to take​ time off during what is sadly ⁣the busiest period of the year.

— The boys’ grandparents⁢ — angels, each of them — are retired‍ and willing to host them from time to time when ​my wife and I⁣ want/need to travel.

For weeks leading up to Holiday Break, I floated⁤ to my ⁣wife​ the possibility ​of ⁤finding even just⁢ a few days over the​ holidays to get out of​ town as a family. Coastal Oregon, South Dakota’s‍ Black Hills, the North⁢ Shore‌ of⁢ Lake Superior here in Minnesota, anywhere. ⁢But such a trip wasn’t in the cards.

my wife proposed a radical alternative.

“Clearly, you really need to go ⁣somewhere,” she said, earnestly. “Why don’t you just go somewhere … alone?”

Planning a ‌buddies’​ golf trip ⁢with ⁢less than a few weeks notice is ⁢a​ fool’s errand, ‌especially during the holiday season. As such, I ⁣didn’t‍ for a⁤ moment entertain the possibility that any​ of my​ friends might also be in ⁢a similar​ position, free to leave town for a few ⁣days with their responsibilities tended to.I also ⁢had assurance from in-laws ⁣they would watch the boys if I where to take a trip, offering ⁢my ⁤wife a mini vacation of her own.

One perk of planning ‌a last-minute trip is making a high-confidence decision based ‍on the 10-day national⁤ weather forecast. Cold ⁢and wet ⁤weather was expected in many of the predictable‍ destinations⁣ I first considered, including the Carolinas, Southern California, Arizona and Florida. Coastal Oregon was getting smacked⁤ by⁣ gale-force winds and gloom. Only one ‌destination offered mild (mid-50s) weather ​and no ​threat of rain: ⁢ Southwestern Utah.

(Side note: International ⁢travel was never ⁢on the ⁢table. ‌“Last-minute airfare deals” during the holiday ​season — even Mexico or the Caribbean — aren’t really a⁢ thing. Though I was⁢ instructed by my wife to be selfish,my⁣ penny-pinching‍ instincts hedged⁣ toward⁤ splurging on golf over airfare.)

So, about a week after my wife ​originally floated the idea, I took a direct flight from Minneapolis to Las Vegas with nothing but a carry-on bag and​ my golf clubs⁢ in ⁢tow. I‍ picked up a rental car ​and drove two hours northeast on I-15, traversing the violent beauty of ‌nevada’s Valley of Fire Basin ​and ‌white-knuckling ⁤through Arizona’s Virgin River⁢ Gorge ​before arriving⁣ at Sand Hollow Resort⁤ in St. George, an oasis⁣ enveloped by Mars — like desertscape‌ and Navajo Sandstone formations that date back more than 180 million years.

During the ⁢three ‌days that followed — oblivious to the possibility I would eventually capture my experience in ⁢writing — I maximized every advantage a solo⁣ golf ⁤trip offers.And, as it turned out, it was more glorious ‍than I could have imagined.

What follows isn’t an argument against buddies’ trips, but⁤ rather the case ‍for

Solo golf trips⁢ offer a compelling escape for golfers juggling busy ⁤lives ⁤and unpredictable schedules. they ‌provide the freedom to craft an itinerary entirely around the game, without the ‌logistical compromises inherent in group travel.Here’s‍ why you ⁤should consider ​planning one yourself.

You control the clock

I always arrive well before my ​tee time, especially at a new course. I want a full ⁢driving range session and time to practice ⁢my short game around the greens⁤ and‌ bunkers. On group trips,getting everyone to ⁣the first‍ tee on time – and allowing for proper warm-ups – is frequently ⁢enough stressful.

I also enjoy a post-round bucket ​of balls, a habit​ that’s earned me some good-natured ribbing. (I understand the​ skepticism – why should a 15-handicap practice like Bryson DeChambeau before a major?) ⁣But when you’re on your own, there’s no pressure to hurry anyone along, or rush​ to the clubhouse bar when ⁢you’re still working on your‌ swing.

Golf ​doesn’t have to be the side quest

St. ​George, Utah, is ‌known for outdoor recreation like mountain​ biking, rock climbing, ⁢canyoneering,⁢ and UTV riding. I read about all of​ it.

I ​could have hiked ‌at sunset, visited Zion ⁤National Park, or ⁣explored the‍ local food scene. Rather,my days were dedicated solely‍ to golf – and a surprising number of Chipotle burrito bowls.