Golf trips: Lots of fun if done properly

Mike Dudurich

Posted 2009-10-06

They are known by a variety of names.

Golf trips, buddy trips, man-cations, getting-away-from-work-and-the-family-for-a-week.

By whatever name they’re known, getting away for a week (or part of a week) with a group of friends can be a great experience. Golf, camaraderie, competition, nice weather, different courses. But it’s not always smooth sailing by any means and, if a fair amount of planning and effort isn’t put in beforehand, headaches could easily outnumber birdies.

In this three-part series, I’m going to relate a couple personal experiences and then put together some basic principles of a successful golf trip. Late October of 1999, returning to western Pennsylvania the day after the history presidential election that wouldn’t end.

The deal struck among the four of us was, if I could get us on some of the courses that for most are unplayable for the general public, my three compadres would take care of my airfare and rooms.

Because of my connections in the business at the time, I was able to do just that and they followed through on their end. The first glitch was when we landed at the Orlando, Fla. airport and found out that the van that had been ordered looked a great deal like a large four-door sedan. Lovely car, except that I didn’t believe the three non-drivers would really enjoy the trip cuddling with golf bags between our legs.

Once a better ride was it was off to Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill where we had the rare pleasure of finishing our round in the dark … literally. We couldn’t see our approach shots to the green, having to listen to hear our shots either splash in the lake, click off the rocks guarding the green or make that solid good ol’ earth thwack when they landed on the green, even with a brilliant moon shining above.

We were able to get to Orlando Arena in time to see a half of the 76ers-Magic game before retiring to our hotel for the night.

The next day featured a doubleheader of Disney’s Magnolia Course (a PGA Tour stop) and then Southern Dunes, a really neat layout near Haines City, Fla.

A two-hour drive from Haines City to Brooksville followed and the next day we play two at World Woods Golf. So we play 36, get in the car and drive three hours to Ponte Vedra.

Next day, more of the same. We’re the first ones off on the Stadium Course at the TPC at Sawgrass and were back onto the Valley Course early in the afternoon.

We headed back to Orlando the next morning, but being the kind of guys we were, couldn’t help ourselves and had to stop at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine for a round on the Slammer & Squire Course.

Back to the hotel we started in when we arrived in Orlando and supposedly to bed early for our 6:30 a.m. departure north.

All in all, a very enjoyable five days, with only one real incident. One in the group was something of a whiner and hypochondriac and when another in the group spent too much time (and loud time) on his cell phone, things got a little testy.

In Part II, another trip with more guys, more games.

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About Mike...
As a sports writer for over 35 years, Mike Dudurich has seen a lot of great things, covered spectacular events, but his passion is, and has been golf. He recently ended a 29-year career at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and will now be a frequent contributor on GolfGearReview.com. Mike hosts a weekly golf radio show on 1250 ESPN in Pittsburgh from the beginning of April through the end of August. The show airs Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. and can be heard online at http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1250/show?showId=insidepghgolf - Listen to Mike Here!.

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