Planning a standard holiday usually consists of a regular to-do list (visa applications/currency exchange/travel insurance/etc.). For the holidaying golfer, there are a number of additional items on their to-do list to check prior to travel to make sure your holiday goes well. The following should cover the essentials for most golfers.

Health: A basic first aid pack should be included in your suitcase. If you plan to golf most days then any minor injuries can build up over a few days (especially if they don’t get a chance to heal) so pack headache tablets, plasters, insect repellent, indigestion pills, diarrhoea medication, sun block/sun-screen, contact lenses (and spare ones), spectacles and travel sickness tablets. Also include any prescription medicine that your are currently taking (bring enough to cover your stay but not so much as to cause concern to border control/customs).

Most of these could be picked up on arrival but doing that would eat into your holiday time. A worthy addition is heat packs and cold packs as the muscle strain involved in golfing daily may prove more than your body can take.

Tee-time Bookings: Phone or email the courses you are playing to confirm the tee times and bookings are still valid. Take a print out of all the course information you will require. This includes directions on how to get to the course, tee-times, any booking codes or references. You may already have this information if booking via an web-based booking system.

Clothing and Shoes: Have a look at the golf course’s websites and confirm if there are dress codes. Most holiday resorts are quite flexible on this matter but if you are playing championship courses then there could be specific dress codes (for on-course and/or in the clubhouse). Aim to bring several layers of clothing with you. This means you can easily add/remove layers depending on how cold/hot the destination is. It also means you have plenty of spare clothing if you are rained on.

Pack your rain gear in with your golf bag so that it is always there (don’t leave it in your suitcase). Repair any broken cleats on your shoes. Pack away sunglasses warm woolen hats (if needed) and baseball caps. Make sure all clothing, especially shoes, is clean and free of soil (see below).

Documentation: Print out addresses and directions to the courses you are going to. Check the clubs website for any course guides, yardage information or specific course rules. These can be worth reading prior to a round in order to get your bearings. Pack your proof of P.G.A. handicap. Some courses impose a maximum handicap for golfers permitted to play so your handicap proof may be necessary.

Golf Equipment: Count and clean your clubs prior to departure. Airport Border control at some countries (British Isles, New Zealand, Australia) are rightly concerned about contaminated soil containing remnants of mad cow disease so are prone to checking visitors sports shoes and equipment for soil. If soil is found then they will provide cleaning facilities before allowing you entry to the country.

Confirm you have an adequate stock of pencils, tees, golf balls, golf towels and gloves for the duration of the trip (you can pick these up at the holiday destination too) and that your umbrella is in working order.

The intention of this checklist is to guarantee you get to spend as much quality time as possible golfing during your vacation. Have a great holiday and don’t forget your umbrella!

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