Going for a Golf Trip in Maine? Here’s How to Prepare

A golfing trip is something that every golfer needs to experience at least once in his or her life. Exploring new courses, golfing alongside your buddies, sipping a 21-year old scotch in a luxurious resort; what’s there not to love?

But, for your trip to be seamless and memorable, you must prepare adequately, and that’s precisely what this guide will help you with:

Start Preparing In Advance

Early preparation is vital for all kinds of trips and not just golfing vacations. It prevents the likelihood of costly last-minute inconveniences that can ruin your entire trip.

Go through all the details of the vacation and make sure the necessary arrangements are in place. This means identifying the perfect hotel, picking and reserving the Maine golf courses you want to explore, booking your flight, etc.

If you are taking the trip with friends, do the planning together to ensure everyone enjoys the trip.

Pack Properly

It’s tempting to pack everything you need for golfing and enjoy your vacation, but that may not be the smart thing to do. Carrying too much baggage increases luggage fees, not to mention the hassle of moving around with several bags.

Go to your wardrobe and pick out the items that you absolutely need for golfing and a night out with the guys. Select some casual pants and shirts that can be worn both on and off the course. The same goes for shoes and any other apparel you may require.

Ideally, you should pick clothes that are comfortable and lightweight. You shouldn’t have to worry about laundry during your golfing trip but make sure some of the clothes you’re carrying can dry pretty fast in case you’ll need to wash them.

After compiling the items you need, take your time and pack smart. Traveling is so much easier when you’re carrying a few bags. Therefore, maximize every inch of space you have in your bags. 

Pack For The Weather Ahead

The last thing you want is to arrive in Maine with your lightweight fabrics only to be welcomed with chilly weather. 

Check the weather forecast for the duration you’ll be there and pack accordingly. If it’s going to be a chilly vacation, compromise on luggage size and add some raincoats, cardigans, and gloves to your bag. If you’re looking at a hot summer trip, remember to bring your sunscreen, caps, and other necessary accessories.

Carrying Your Own Clubs Vs. Hiring Equipment

One critical decision you’ll have to make is whether to carry or hire golfing equipment. Most golfers are usually too attached to their clubs to leave them behind. Unfortunately, traveling around with golf clubs is nowhere as easy as it may sound. For starters, you must talk to the airline you’ll be flying with to get their guideline on traveling with sports equipment. They’ll probably charge for weight excess, and you should expect to spend a lot of time at the security check waiting for the clubs to be cleared.

You’ll also need to go shopping for a golf travel bag. Luckily, as the golfers at AEC Info demonstrate, there’s a decent number of well-designed travel bags to choose from. The bags are made with dense foam to protect your clubs. Some are even designed with pivoting caster wheels which you’ll find very useful when walking around the airports.

Hiring golfing equipment is a great option if you can’t deal with the hassle of traveling with your own equipment. It’s also a reasonable thing to do if you are taking a short trip. The tradeoff is you’ll have to golf with clubs you are not comfortable with.
Call the golf course in advance and ask about the hiring rates of their equipment. 

Have A Plan For When You‘re Off-course

Golfing is fun and all, but no one can do it non-stop. You’ll definitely take a break at some point, so it’s important to prepare for those breaks in advance. Talk to your travel companions and come up with a plan of fun non-golfing activities you’ll be doing. 

Will you check in at the local casinos? Are you planning on visiting some of the bars and nightclubs? What about eateries? Where do you expect to have your lunch and dinner?

Having these details beforehand will minimize time wastage and confusion during the trip. This effectively means more time exploring the city and having fun.

Bring The Necessary Medications

This trip is expected to have lots of golfing. In fact, you’re likely to spend more time golfing here than you do back at home. Therefore, minor injuries and medical issues like fatigue, blisters, soreness, and headaches are to be expected.

To ensure none of these problems come between you and the vacation you deserve, bring drugs like anti-inflammatories and pain killers. Vaseline, band-aids, athletic tapes are also instrumental.

Carry any other medications you may require in case you have a special medical condition. Make sure these drugs are in the small bag you’ll be walking around with.

Research The Course

A serious golfer learns everything there is to know about the golf course he will play in before he gets there. This helps with preparations since different golf courses pose different challenges.

Check the course online or call them directly and ask if it has 9 or 18 holes. Check whether it’s flat or hilly. Also, are there any lakes, sandpits, or ponds in the course? 

Create A Formal Competition With Your Friends

Unless something incredibly insane happens during your trip, it’s almost guaranteed that the most memorable thing from this vacation will be the golfing itself. Therefore, spice things up with a formal competition. You can play for money or raise funds to buy a souvenir that the winner will take home. Watch how the boys will get competitive when their pride and a price is on the line.

A golfing trip presents the perfect opportunity to feel like a professional golfer on tour. Do not leave any details to chance. Make all the arrangements in advance, and you will probably have the most memorable trip of your life.