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Don’t You Just Love Golf Trips?
I have seen golf groups of all shapes and sizes at golf courses in Belleville and Prince Edward County over the years. One thing always stood out. Everyone seemed to be having a great time.
It is no wonder why golf tournaments, golf getaways, and golf trips are such popular choices for groups of all kinds. Golf courses offer the perfect blend of leisure and relationship-building opportunities.
I remember playing a 9-hole round with my brother and sisters in Penticton, BC when we were there to attend my brother’s wedding. We all had an absolute blast playing golf. Even my one sister, who was playing her very first game, was enjoying herself.
Do You Belong to Any of These Groups?
Annual "Leaf Peeper" Two-Man Scramble at Shelter Valley Pines Golf Course (photo by Author)
7 Most Common Types of Groups Who Go On Golf Getaways or Golf Trips.
1. Corporate: Team building, brainstorming, job well done bonus.
2. Family: Destination wedding, celebration of life, family reunion.
3. Golf Course or Leagues: Annual golf trips, exchange trips with other courses.
4. Bachelor or Bachelorette: Popular with both local one-day play or weekend getaways.
5. Professional Associations: Annual conventions, meetings.
6. College or University Groups: Annual alumni golf trips.
7. Friends: Group of friends who take regional and international golf trips together.
No matter what kind of group you are with, there is always at least one person who does all the pre-trip planning to make sure the golf trip is a hit with everyone.
Five Important Steps to Take When Planning a Golf Getaway or a Golf Trip
Number One: Accommodation
If you are planning a golf getaway for a couple of nights, it would probably be best to pick a place to stay that provides food or is near a good selection of food establishments.
For the Bay of Quinte and Belleville area, a good resource would be to visit the accommodation section of the Bay of Quinte Tourism Council’s website.
If you are planning on staying in Prince Edward County during your golf holiday, check out the accommodation section of Visit the County.
Another great place to look is at the members’ page of StayPEC, Prince Edward County’s Accommodation Association.
If you are planning a longer golf trip, perhaps short-term accommodation at a cottage or rental home might be a better option. This way you could cook some of your meals at your home-away-from-home.
Treat Yourself to a Little Golf Heaven – Stay at a Golf Course
Wallace House at Black Bear Ridge Golf Resort, Corbyville, Ontario (photo supplied by BBR)
How would you like to stay right at a golf course? Imagine getting out of bed, having that mandatory cup of joe, and hitting a few practice balls before breakfast. I don’t know about you, but I would love to do that.
Check out The Hungry Golfer website page Stay at a Golf Course where I have listed really nice accommodations at Bay of Quinte Golf & Country Club and Black Bear Ridge Golf Resort. I’ve been given a tour of most of these places. They are very nice and designed with group stays in mind. Your group will be very comfortable and have a great time.
Number Two: Pick the Golf Courses and Book Your Tee Times
The golf courses that you add to your itinerary will more than likely be determined by the skill levels of group members. There is no sense playing the toughest courses in the area if you are planning a two-or four-person scramble with lots of rookie golfers in your group.
Pick a course that is less challenging or move up to the shorter tee blocks. Your group will be much more comfortable and will have a much better golf experience.
The Hungry Golfer has a comprehensive list of all the golf courses in the Bay of Quinte and Prince Edward County region. Each one is linked to their Google Reviews so you can see what others are saying about these courses.
Number Three: Meal Options
If you are a small group of 2 or 4, finding places to eat will be a breeze.
If you are planning a golf getaway for a group of 8 or more, some pre-planning might be in order.
I did a golf trip to the Pembroke area last summer and everyone was left on their own to decide where to eat. That works too but I think that it would be a nice touch to have at least one group meal for all participants of the golf trip.
Here is a great list of restaurants in the Bay of Quinte region courtesy of a blog post by Jessica Carrol found on the South Eastern Ontario website.
Number Four: Transportation
If you are planning a regional golf trip that does not involve flying, everyone typically arranges their own transportation. Carpooling with 3 to 4 group members per vehicle is common.
If you are planning any dinners away from your accommodations or if you are planning on staying at the golf course for some beverages after your round, it might be a good idea to provide group members hired transportation to and from the golf course from your accommodation.
Whatever you do, DON’T DRINK and DRIVE!
Here are two companies that can assist you with transportation.
Sandbanks Vacations Shuttle Services, Bloomfield, ON
A-1 Limousine Services, Belleville, ON
Number Five: Timing of Your Golfing Adventure
If you want to save money on green fees and accommodations, plan your golf getaway or golf trip during weekdays.
If you are only able to play on weekends, you will pay top dollar for green fees and your accommodation might be more expensive and availability will be lower.
And don’t forget the wise proverb, “the early bird gets the worm”. Plan early and you will be sure to stay where you want and golf when and where you want on your next golf adventure.
Getting Started
There are different ways you can plan a golf getaway or trip.
You can plan it yourself or you can use a travel agency.
If you are planning a golf trip to the Bay of Quinte and Prince Edward County region, here are the two main travel agencies who specialize in golf travel.
Based in MacTier in the Muskoka’s, this Ontario-based travel agency sells golf packages to golf destinations throughout Canada, including the Belleville area.
Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, this travel agency specializes in golf trips to various parts of Ontario, including the Bay of Quinte and Prince Edward County region.
If you are more of a DIYer and decide to plan your own golf getaway, I hope that the links provided in this article will be of assistance.
To stay up to date on upcoming green fee deals and other golf specials in the Bay of Quinte and Prince Edward County region, and beyond, please subscribe to The Hungry Golfer newsletter by visiting the homepage of the website.