Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip

We take a break from our regularly scheduled blog posts featuring trip guides and our tongue-in-cheek golf course reviews to provide some handy information on the type of golf trip you are going to take, or plan. Specifically, the difference between a Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip. To some this might seem like we are splitting hairs, however, having a solid idea of the goal of your trip will help you plan, set expectations, and guarantee the best outcome possible. We will also provide tips for both types of trips. Some tips overlap both types of trips, and in some cases, the trips themselves can be on the spectrum from one type of trip to the other. It’s important to have a strong understanding of your groups goals up front. 

We define as follows:

Bucket List Golf Trip

This is a trip where “the golf” is paramount. You are headed to play true bucket list golf courses! Whether defined by Golf Digest, or just defined by your group this type of trip should be considered akin to visiting a famous museum, or going on a sightseeing tour of a historic area. You are there to play significant (historically, or otherwise) golf courses, and play as many of them as possible. Good examples of this trip would be a trip to Scotland, or the Ring of Kerry in Ireland- although there are many more. Roommate situations might not be optimum, you will likely spend a fair amount of time in a vehicle going from course to course, and 36 holes should be included if the group can do them… and it gets bucket list boxes ticked off. 

Buddies Golf Trip

This is a trip where having fun is paramount. Not to say the golf is secondary, however, considerations such as travel time, accommodations, restaurants, and “extra circulars” should have higher weight here. It’s best not to spend too much time in a car– in fact, if a car can be avoided altogether that’s even better. Avoid having cramped accommodations with poor roommate set ups. Shoot for everyone having their own space to spread out and perhaps a common area to hang out and socialize or play poker. Good examples of this type of trip might be PGA West in La Quinta, or Desert Willow in Palm Desert. Other great buddies destinations with a little bit more driving to golf courses would be Scottsdale or Las Vegas. 

Hybrid Trip

The good news is that not every trip has to be one or the other. Many trips can be done as both. Play a bucket list course or two, but plan to still have time for memorable dinners, gambling, poker etc. Bandon Dunes is a great example of Bucket List golf that is set up really well for a great buddies time… as well as the Pebble Beach complex. If you stick to the courses around the town of St. Andrews and find the right place to stay even a trip to golf Mecca can count as a hybrid trip (be careful though, the lure of so much bucket list golf “near” St Andrews can quickly pull you off the mark if you are looking for quality buddy time.

Things to consider:

Accommodations

This is the most important consideration that will vary depending on the type of trip you take. If you are on a Bucket List Trip, you will often be staying at multiple hotels along the journey. Many in foreign countries will force a room sharing situation, and the rooms might not be the scale people are used to with, say, a Marriott in the United States. You will want to pack light (but thoughtfully) for this type of trip. 

On a Buddies Trip, room sharing should be avoided at all costs. We know that cost and convenience sometimes will take precedence, but if it can be done– let everyone have their own room, or get a golf suite, which is becoming popular at resorts like Bandon Dunes and now Pebble Beach. A living room with 4 bedrooms each with their own bathroom can mean the difference between a relaxing vacation, and needing a vacation from your vacation. Make sure you provision well for a Buddies Trip, food, snacks, booze, cards, Bluetooth speaker, wine openers, etc. should all be on hand.

Some tips if you must have roommates:

• Have a conversation to match like for like as best as is possible. Discuss:
  • Who is a light sleeper?
  • Who snores?
  • What time do people generally wake up?- put early risers together
  • Do some people drink alcohol more heavily than others?
  • Do some get up multiple times in the night to pee?… put them closer to the bathroom
  • Are there any smokers?

It’s best to have some manners

• Bring a pen light so that you don’t have to illuminate the entire room if you head off to pee. Or just use your  phone
• Consider knowing how your roommate takes their coffee so you can bring them back a refreshment
• Make sure you have your own soap
• If you need to drop a bomb for your morning constitutional- consider going and destroying a lobby restroom rather than leaving claw marks in the communal commode
• As you slink out of the room, be sure to not slam the door loudly if your roommate is asleep
• Have a designated place for one another’s towels and toiletries
• Have a designated place for your clothes both dirty and clean, don’t throw them all over the room
• Lastly, make sure to double check the shower for the stray hair or two, and clean that up. Nothing less appetizing in the am than a roommates fur in the butter

How you get around on a Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip

The second most important part to plan is how you will get around once you are there. For instance, if you’re in a foreign country and don’t know how to drive on the incorrect side of the road this should be accounted for. Do you have someone who knows how to drive in that country? Do you need to hire a driver? On a Bucket List Trip, rides from location to location can be somewhat lengthy. Once you are in a place for the night –can walk to restaurants and the like?

On a Buddies Trip, commutes should be avoided at all costs. You want to maximize the fraternizing, not the commute times. Ideally, the golf, restaurants, casinos, etc. will be a walk, shuttle or cab ride away. If you play in Vegas you will certainly need a car or two. A commute to head out to Paiute, or Wolf Creek is understandable- keep this to a minimum. Once you are back at your accommodations you should consider that things are close so there is no drinking and driving. 

Getting fed on a Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip

This is fairly important to research ahead of time. For a Bucket List Trip you likely won’t have the ability to make food, nor will you want to lug groceries around. Ensuring that you are staying near restaurants is critical, and ensure you know the dietary restrictions of your group. Also, keep in mind that restaurants in different countries have very different hours. For instance, it’s light in northern Scotland until 10 pm in the summer, however, the restaurants close at 9, or even 8 in some rural municipalities. There is nothing worse than getting back from a 36 hole day to find out there is no food available. 

If you are on a Buddies Trip you will want to discuss food options as well. If you get an AirBNB or a Marriott Vacation Timeshare you will have the ability to make food. Which for breakfast might help limit costs. Maybe even have an evening where you do a group grill. However, some of the real fun will be eating out for dinner. We recommend planning ahead as much as possible as some resorts book out quickly. For instance, you will want to make dinner reservations well in advance each night you are staying at Bandon Dunes. Or if you are in Vegas you will want to get a sense of what nights you might want to go to what quality of restaurant, as dinners can be pricey. Be sensitive to the groups lowest common denominator. Don’t send a buddy home with a dinner bill that his significant other will have a problem with…. or do 🙂

The golf  on a Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip

For a Bucket List Trip this will be a multi-month debate while booking and be sure to have your thoughts taken into account, but don’t be too religious if your choices are not practical. By-in-large, bucket list golf courses should be walked, if plausible. Discuss caddies with your group. If everyone doesn’t want their own caddy and you have not played the course before, consider getting a fore caddy for the group. Tips on hazards, ball location, and next tee box will help augment your time. Remember this is why you are here. Soaking in all the details with a nice long walk should be the primary goal. Don’t rush it, but don’t play slow. Also, if possible- research the course. Play it on Tiger Woods Golf on your PS5, or iPad. Having these que’s will help you make shots, but also regale in the majesty of how much better it is in person. 

If you are on a Buddies Golf Trip the golf is secondary. Make sure you play good courses for sure, but in this case- ride in a cart. Use the GPS. Pay attention to costs, not every course has to be a $500 dollar round. You can mix things in. Sure you want to have a jewel or two in the mix. But make it fun and accessible and not a golf marathon. 

Extra curriculars  on a Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip

Something to think about is what are you going to be doing when not on the golf course. Do you want to lounge by a pool? Get a massage? Or spend the evening at a blackjack table? Or do you want to watch golf on TV and maybe play poker with your friends? 

On a Bucket List Trip be sure to leave time for some non-golf or golf adjacent site seeing. For instance if you are in St. Andrews you will want to walk the town, shop, hit a pub or two and be sure to go visit Old Tom Morris’ grave. Don’t over-plan so that you miss these items. 

Costs and Dealing with Expenses  on a Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip

Whether on a Bucket List Trip or a Buddies Golf Trip it’s important to get a sense of what people’s comfort level is for various costs. We encourage you to discuss this beforehand. Even people who earn a lot of money might have a spouse who would look askance at a hefty credit card bill. If need be, consider splitting the group up for dinner one night. Half go to a pub and grill and the others go to a steakhouse. Or if you keep them together, ensure there is equity around how the bill gets paid. For instance, I may not want to subsidize your 150 wagyu steak with my 15 dollar burger on a purely percentage split check. Splitting the check is the easiest, but consider getting separate checks if people are headed in different directions. Or you can appoint an adjudicator who tells people what to pay for, although it’s not fun being the adjudicator- but if you have a sadist in the group it’s a good job for them. 

As far as groceries, gas, rental car expenses, taxis, and other ancillary expenses tell everyone to save their receipts or better yet, have a central place where they go. At the end of the trip add it all up and let people know what they owe. 

Gambling  on a Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip

This is something to be thought about up front. If you are in multiple foursomes, maybe each foursome defines their game. Bingo Bango Bongo, Wolf, or just Skins. However, it will be fun to have a tournament style game across the foursomes across the days. Consider doing a Stableford, for instance. Use an app like Golf Game Book so that one person is not overly burdened with dealing with scorecards after the round. These apps are fun to see the leaderboard while you play. Be sure someone in each foursome has the app on their phone configured. 

Emergency contacts on a Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip

If something does go awry on the trip it’s important that the group has an emergency contact for everyone on the trip. Remember, golfing does come with risk— everything from being hit by a golf ball to falling off a cliff into a gorse bush can and has happened on golf trips in the past. 

Bear gifts for your  Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip

Many Buddies Golf or Bucket List Trips will come with tokens to remember them by. Not just things that can be bought in the golf shops, but some people will bring items from the course. Buy a ball marker for everyone on the trip to remember the trip, or consider getting a logo for your group. You can do everything from custom towels, to markers, to golf balls, to wine glasses. Be sure to include the logo and the trip name and year. If you dont’ wanna spend a lot of money you can make custom ball markers for the guys with your own logo on Amazon. 

Summary Bucket List Golf Trip VS. Buddies Golf Trip

All-in-all, the goal of both of these styles of trips should be to have a good time. However, we feel that if you clarify which type of trip you are on and follow some simple ground rules you will be able to turn all of your golf trips into epic golf excursions.