Plan Your Golf Trip Around Local Events

The challenging and scenic golf courses, moderate temperatures, and unique local cuisine are great reasons to visit one of the LetsGolf.com destinations. But to create an even more memorable experience, why not plan your Spring Golf Getaway around a local festival or event that you can only find in our Southern locales? Here's a list of some great options:

Taste of Calabash, Apr 16-17, 2016, Calabash, NC

Play a few rounds in Brunswick County and then join the festivities in the Seafood Capital of the World to celebrate the uniqueness of Calabash-style seafood. Enjoy live music, arts and crafts vendors, and lots of great eats.  Click for Golf Package information

Contraband Days Louisiana Pirate Festival, April 26 - May 8, 2016, Lake Charles, LA

Celebrate the legend of pirate Jean Lafitte. The story goes that pirate Jean Lafitte docked his boat right on the sandy shore of Lake Charles and buried his treasure somewhere along its banks. And although you are unlikely to find the hidden booty, you’ll be able to discover the golf vacation secret that is Southwest Louisiana, with two award-winning casino golf courses and two other world-class tracts. More Information.

 

Bardstown Bourbon Sampler, April 30, 2016, Bardstown, KY

Although, the full-fledged Kentucky Bourbon Festival is not until mid-September, you can sample Kentucky’s fine bourbon while collecting branded specialty glasses in late April just 45 minutes south of Louisville.  For golf, check out the newly renovated 18 hole course at My Old Kentucky Home State Park and then continue south to Dale Hollow State Park to take advantage of Getaway to Golf packages, which include overnight lodging and 18 holes of golf with cart. 

Orange Beach Wine Festival, May 14, 2016, Orange Beach, AL

The Orange Beach Wine Fest is one of the most cherished tickets on the island. Over 120 wines, three live music acts, food from distinguished local restaurants, boat tours of the bay, custom wine glass, custom wine bag, and even craft beer for the un-winies. Gulf Shores-Orange Beach Golf packages are available at one of eight signature courses and accommodations, ranging from beachfront homes and condos to fairway villas and convenient hotels. 

 

Bloomin BBQ & Bluegrass Festival, May 20 - 21, 2016, Sevierville, TN

The biggest names in bluegrass and the nation's best BBQ cook teams come together for this show-stopping event. Enjoy the Bush's Best Tennessee State Championship BBQ Cook Off, a People's Choice Contest, two days of toe-tapping entertainment, the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition (honoring the songwriting of Dolly Parton), a late night Bluegrass Jam sponsored by Dixie Stampede and more. And take time to play on or both courses at the SeviervilleGolf Club.

 

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, May 21, 2016, Concord, NC

The very best of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will battle on stock car racing’s all-star night in the 32nd blockbuster running of the NASCARSprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Sparks will fly in this checkers or wreckers non-points event with $1 million for the winner. The schedule also includes high-speed pit stop qualifying where the over-the-wall crews strut their stuff. And plan to stay and play at the nearby Rocky River Golf Club at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Check out the Cabarrus County Golf Brochure here.

14th Annual Bluegrass & Country Music Hoedown, May 28-30, 2016, Santee, SC

Three days of live music & entertainment over Memorial Day Weekend at Lone Star BBQ & Merchantile. And with over 20 courses around the area and the golf packaging experts at Golf Santee ready to book your golf package, you'll have a real downhome good time.

 

36^th Annual B.B. King Museum's 2016 Homecoming Festival, May 28, 2016, Indianola, MS

The B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center is located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, not far from the famous Crossroads at Clarksdale. It was built to honor the life and music of one of the most accomplished musicians of our time. This festival will take place just down the road from glitz and glamour of Tunica's casinos and challenging golf courses. This is a great time to plan your Golf and Blues Getaway to Mississippi.

Buddy Golf Trips vs Girlfriend Golf Getaways

 

Men and women are different. Stating the obvious, but I'd like to make the case that from a golf vacation perspective, they aren't so very different. The most important aspect of any golf trip is the camaraderie, even if in surveys golfers always state that it's the quality of golf or the weather. Pshaw, I say! With whom you choose to travel to play that long-desired course or visit that much-anticipated golfing hotspot is the key to a successful trip, even more than the hotel amenities, speed of the greens, cost of the trip, and overall hospitality. Your traveling partners (buddies or girlfriends) can make or break your experience.

But even beyond the need to make sure you can actually travel with the people on your trip, men and women still want the same five things when they play golf away from home:

1. Unique golf experiences with multiple choices
2. Convenient and clean accommodations with preferred amenities (which vary, of course, no matter the gender)
3. Friendly service everywhere they visit
4. Great dining and nightlife options (even if the choice made ranges from playing poker in the hotel lobby with pizza to finding a great sushi restaurant to a 4 course steak dinner with after dinner drinks and cigars)
5. And of course they want the things mostly no one can control to be perfect... weather, travel, and breaking their own best score on the course.

Check out all the great golf destinations at LetsGolf.com

A Golf Vacation Makes the Perfect Gift

Coming up with a creative holiday gift idea is a lot like trying to hit out of a deep sand bunker ... with a driver. Every December you try to think of something unique with which to surprise your spouse, friend or family member, and every year you seem to fall woefully short with the same old tie, perfume or ugly sweater.

If you really want to blow them away this year, step up to the tee box and take a swing at a golf vacation with a big red bow. From the most casual golfer to the most dedicated duffers, everyone can have a great time both on and off the course at many of Let’s Golf’s great golf destinations.

Will you surprise them with be a Gulf ShoresGolf Package? Or a West Virginia Resort? Or send them to Florida to play on a PGA golf tournament site? Or to Tennessee to experience a real mountain golf getaway? Having trouble deciding between the championship golf courses, Cajun cuisine and casino resorts of Southwest Louisiana or the laid back Grand Strand golf locale (also called Myrtle Beach golf lite) of BrunswickIslands of North Carolina, with it's Calabash seafood, beachfront hotels and challenging golf courses? That's a tough one. But don't forget to consider the great value of a Kentucky State Park golf resort or South Carolina's inland golf capital of Santee. And there's more casino action all around Mississippi, with the links in Tunica and the historic golf in Biloxi set to wow them. Or they may have both Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and Harbourtown at SeaPines on Hilton Head Island on their golf getaway bucket list, but they can only visit one at a time, so choose wisely and forget about the endless hours of shopping for that special gift. The perfect present is just a few clicks away at letsgolf.com

7 Reasons to Travel in the Fall

Fall is the hidden gem of golf travel seasons. The air is crisp, the grass is as green as it's going to get, and the rates are lower for most fall season getaways. Here are the 7 reasons you should consider fall for your golf getaway:

1. The weather. Nothing beats the weather this time of year, especially when you get a warmish day without the humidity. It's just absolutely perfect to play golf.

2. Golf courses are less crowded. While golf is supposed to be relaxing for and enjoyable for everyone, it can quickly become tense and annoying on a crowded course when you're waiting on every shot and pushing a six-hour round. Not a worry in the fall months.

3. Pace of play. Similar to less-crowded courses, I guess, but pace of play is huge for a lot of people. In the cooler months, people are more prone to finish quicker - it gets windy and there's less daylight.

4. New golf clubs. Chances are, you can find a lot of deals on golf clubs as the year winds down. Rather than wait until the spring when the prices go up, why not get a set now? Plus the manufacturers are introducing their new equipment this time of year, so you can upgrade to the latest and greatest now.

5. The foliage. Absolutely breathtaking. That's the only way to describe the foliage in the fall in so many destinations

6. Extra roll. As the weather gets cooler, the golf courses firm up. The extra yardage on a well-struck tee shot is nice, but it can present an extra challenge if the greens are firmer..

7.  Less expensive to play.  Here are some fall specials to sample:

Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail has some amazing fall deals including unlimited golf.

The Resort at Glade Springs in Southern West Virginia (pictured below) also boasts an unlimited golf special in November. See their Late Season package.

Golf Santee® off I-95 in South Carolina offers a 3 night/3 day golf package for $221 per person this Fall.

Kentucky State Park Golf Packages start under $100 per person (and that includes a $30 gift card) for one night and one round.

Get 15% off Fall Golf Packages in Gulf Shores-Orange Beach, Alabama

Beat the Heat this Summer

Here are some tips to help you stay cool and enjoy your summer rounds of golf.

1) Stay hydrated. And not just with beer. Water and sports drinks are your friends this time of year

2) Wear loose, light-colored clothing made of moisture wicking material. You'll feel more comfortable, stay cooler and play better.

3) Use sunblock. Much of the newer golf apparel has sunblock technology built in. But on  skin that is exposed, use sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher.

4) Wear a hat. Baseball caps are good, but a wide brimmed hat is more effective. It's not just about avoiding sunburn, keeping heat off your head helps you maintain your energy.

5) Eat light, but eat well enough to maintain your concentration and energy levels. You don't want to feel heavy and lethargic from a big meal before playing in the hot sun for 4-5 hours.

6) Warm up fully but not aggressively. Hit balls on the range and putt some of the putting green, but don't overexert yourself.  Again, try and maintain your energy level

7) Enjoy the round and dream about that winter golf vacation you can take. Our Let's Golf® Travel Directory can help you decide where to go

Five Reasons a Golf Getaway is the Perfect Gift for Dad

Father’s Day gifts get harder and harder to buy the older you and your dad get. He doesn’t need any more homemade ashtrays, ties, cologne or even golf shirts (sorry NikeGolf, Greg Norman Golf, Cutter & Buck, Under Armour and the like, but it’s mostly true).

So why not create a resort golf experience for him? Here are the five top reasons to take your dad on a golf vacation:

1)    You give him what he really needs: a break from day-to-day responsibilities

2)    A golf package is a concrete way to show your dad that you are really grateful for him and his role in your life.

3)    You get to spend really quality one-on-one time with him doing what you both love… playing golf courses you’ve never played; trying out that new golf club you got him for his birthday; or just catching up in a relaxing, non-hurried way

4)    Not only will you show him you care and get to visit, but you’ll also create lasting memories in the process… and maybe even start a new tradition in your family. 

5)    The fifth and bonus reason is that your mom will also get a gift when you squire your dad away to a golf resort… either she will love the downtime by herself or she’ll negotiate her own getaway. Whether it’s a beach golf vacation or girlfriend’s spa getaway, she makes out like a bandit.

At LetsGolf.com, you can research and choose just the right golf vacation destination for you and your dad. Our resorts include (but are not limited to) Auburn-Opelika Marriott at Grand National on the RTJ Golf Trail for the best inAlabama golf; Sea Trail Golf Resort in Sunset Beach, for a North Carolina golftrip; Lakeview Resort or The Resort at Glade Springs for your choice of a West Virginia golf resort; Kiva Dunes Golf & Beach Resort in Gulf Shores, for a golf beach vacation; Kentucky State Park Resorts for a laid back Kentucky golf getaway; L’Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles for a fun-filled Louisiana golf trip; Hollywood Casino Resort and the Arnold Palmer Bridges Golf Club in Bay St. Louis for a Mississippi golf experience; or Santee Cooper Resort in the heart of South Carolina golf country.

You can call the resort directly or book tee times online and make your lodging reservation directly.   

And for a bonus gift, you can even get your dad one more golf shirt in the pro shop with the resort logo on it for a great souvenir.

Online Tee Times Are So Convenient

I have been in the golf marketing business for over twenty years now. Back then, most golf courses didn't even have a fax machine, much less internet connectivity. All business was conducted over the phone, as it was with so many travel and service businesses. But then more and more reservation business, such as airline tickets, hotel bookings and restaurant reservations, began to take place over the world wide web, but still golf courses persisted in staying low tech. It's understandable really. The golfer calling by phone to book a tee time wanted to ask about the course conditioning and what the weather was going to be like.

But, finally with easy access to weather online and course's updating their maintenance schedules and course conditions on their web sites, golfers have finally embraced Online Tee Times.

These online tee sheets are directly tied to the course's inventory, so you know exactly when you'll play immediately. Plus, this is where you can find the individual golf course's best rates and special offers.

Many of the Let's Golf destinations offer the convenience of online tee times. We've collected them all in one place for even more ease of booking. But it's up to you to decide where you want to stay and play...

Will it be a Gulf Shores Golf Package? Or a West Virginia All Inclusive Resort? Or Florida to play on a PGA golf tournament site? Or Tennessee's Golf Capital? Having trouble deciding between the championship golf courses, Cajun cuisine and casino resorts of Southwest Louisiana or the laid back Grand Strand golf locale (also called Myrtle Beach golf lite) of Brunswick Islands of North Carolina, with it’s Calabash seafood, beachfront hotels and challenging golf courses? That’s a tough one. But don’t forget to consider the great value of a Kentucky State Park golf resort or South Carolina’s inland golf capital of Santee. And there’s more casino action all around Mississippi, with the links in Tunica and the historic golf in Biloxi calling your name. Or you may have both Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and Harbourtown at Sea Pines in South Carolina's Lowcountry on your golf getaway bucket list, but you can only visit one at a time. But that's not a problem, the other locale's will all be waiting when you get to them.

To visit our Online Tee Times page, click the graphic below!!