Golf Tips: Golf Vacations

Fall is the single-most ideal time of year to take a golf trip. Leaf colors are changing in most of the country, morphing on-course scenery into something extra special. And the summer crowds are gone -- regardless of where you’re headed. Thus, you’ll probably have first choice of tee times and be able to play at a leisurely pace. And because golf resorts are fairly empty in autumn, there are stay-and-play deals to be found. With no waiting at local restaurants. The act of scheduling that golf vacation can build excitement all by itself. Maybe you start by perusing websites of places you've only seen on TV or heard friends discuss, zeroing in on your destination. Then you book a hotel room and perhaps secure plane reservations. Next, you begin planning logistics of which courses you want to play during the journey. And as you tell people where you’re headed, they invariably volunteer must-do courses, activities and breakfast stops. And your anticipation continues growing. But it's the entire reality of actually traveling there that really catapults it all to another level -- seeing holes and landmarks you’ve glimpsed in photos before, taking in the aroma of the fresh-cut fairways, hearing the sounds of golfers powering their tee shots, tasting the course’s signature food, challenging the holes you’ve only read about, and generally getting to experience it all firsthand with a carefree mindset. In vacation mode, you’re probably going to play better and immerse yourself in the moment. Yeah, it’s going to be a great time.