u/Doug24

I’m trying to narrow down a few golf trip ideas for a small group and keep it realistic. Say it’s 4 guys, 3 nights, 3 rounds, and around $1,000-$1,500 each for golf and lodging. Ideally one really good course, two solid value rounds, and not too much driving. What golf destination would you pick for a 3-4 day golf trip, and what makes it worth the money?

Our annual trip is coming up and we usually run a Ryder Cup-style competition with best-ball and singles matches across the front and back nines of each course over four days. I’m curious if there are any other formats to consider. We’re open to trying something new if there are any good suggestions that have been fun. Do most groups run individual and/or team competitions for their trips? If it matters, we’re a group of twelve, mid-teens handicaps, competitive but not too serious, mostly having fun.

For me, 3 rounds over 4 days feels about right. Maybe a cheap twilight round on arrival day if timing works, the best course on day two, then 1-2 solid public courses after that. I’d also keep everything within 30-40 minutes of where you’re staying. Saving a little on lodging isn’t worth spending half the trip in the car.

Budget-wise, I’d rather pay $250-$300 for one really good round and keep the others around $80-$150. That gives you one big course without making the whole trip too expensive.

Michigan seems perfect for this kind of setup. One standout round, a couple of cheaper courses nearby, good food after golf, and enough time to actually hang out instead of rushing between tee times.

How do you guys usually plan a 3-4 day golf trip? More rounds, bigger budget?

Not talking about Pebble, Pinehurst or the obvious bucket-list spots.

What course did you play on a golf trip that ended up being way better than expected?