Whether in Germany, Europe or overseas – golfing on vacation gives you a new “drive”, regardless of whether you want to get a taste of the sport or explore new courses. However, beginners and occasional golfers in particular should follow a few rules to ensure that golfing fun can continue without complications on the green at home.
August, September and October are the most popular travel times for golf vacationers. Many swing the iron for the first time during the vacations and discover their love for the green sport. It’s no wonder that golf has long been an integral part of many well-known tour operators and hotels. According to tour operator Dertour, the increasing popularity of the green sport is particularly noticeable in the colder months. “While growth was somewhat lower in the summer months, we were able to record a double-digit growth rate in the past winter season,” explains Katrin Nehlsen, Product Manager at Dertour.
More unusual types of travel can also be combined with golf. For example, it is possible to book golf packages in monasteries. Camping trips and golf are also an option. In some regions, you can also sail from course to course on a houseboat.
Golf destinations
According to tour operators, local destinations such as Germany, Austria, Ireland, Great Britain, Italy and Spain play a particularly important role for German golfers. This is confirmed by the latest Golf & Tourism Consulting study: According to this, Spain is the most popular destination, followed by Germany, Italy and Austria. For short trips of up to four nights, German golfers understandably prefer to stay at home or travel to Austria. The most popular destinations within Germany are Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, followed by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. By the way: many airlines now offer free transportation of golf equipment for those who are drawn to faraway places. However, transporting golf equipment can sometimes be expensive. You can find out what the individual airlines charge for carrying golf baggage here.
Golfing on vacation
Hotels and clubs in many vacation destinations offer special taster courses. Many tour operators also organize all-inclusive golf trips with the aim of successfully obtaining your golf license at the end. Similar to a driver’s license for golfers, the golf license demonstrates basic skills in theory and practice. An intensive course, which is usually offered as a golf weekend or golf week, is a good option when on vacation. After the player has been rewarded with the course license, they usually still have time to improve their skills on the vacation green.
Abroad in particular, there is a wide range of reasonably priced golf courses and handicap examinations. Marco Paeke, Managing Director of the VcG, urges caution: “There’s no question that combining a vacation trip with a golf course is a great way to get started. With intensive training and high-quality instruction, the first basic skills can be learned within a week. However, golf maturity tests should be taken with a pinch of salt. This is because participants are led to believe that the exams are also recognized in Germany. However, this is not always the case. Back in your home country, you will then have to take the exam again. If you want to be sure that your license to play golf is also accepted here, you should therefore take your exam in Germany. And they should make sure that they comply with the official guidelines of the German Golf Association (DGV).”
Book the perfect golf vacation
To find the ideal golf vacation for your own requirements, you should simply seek advice from a travel agency. They often have very individual offers for golf enthusiasts. The selection is already impressive. Depending on the provider, it is also possible to book golf round trips. In this case, you basically don’t have a fixed hotel, but simply travel on and on. This way, you not only get to know different areas, but can also play on different courses again and again. This makes for variety, which is great fun, as the vacation never gets boring. Of course, even the biggest fan doesn’t play golf all day. That’s why travel providers also have certain combination offers. Here, for example, you can combine golf and wellness. After a strenuous day on the course, there is nothing better than simply having a massage. These trips also offer absolute culinary experiences. There are many star hotels with an integrated golf course that offer a complete range of relaxation options. Relaxed golfing, restorative wellness and excellent food to top it all off. It’s a great way to relax and leave the stresses of everyday life far behind. This is an efficient way to recharge your batteries for the time after your vacation.
Plan before your vacation
If you have booked a golf vacation, there are of course a few things to consider. For example, depending on the region you are traveling to, you should not forget your first-aid kit. This way, you are well prepared for any situation and don’t risk any serious illnesses. Golfers should also bear in mind that they will be taking their own equipment with them on vacation, which of course also needs to be planned accordingly. If you pay attention to these few points, then nothing stands in the way of an absolutely relaxing vacation. No matter which golf trip you decide on in the end, the freedom to play golf anywhere is outstanding. You also get to meet other golfing friends who wouldn’t want to miss out on the sport either. Not only does this lead to interesting conversations on vacation, but a friendship may also develop. A golf vacation is an experience that impresses and can be arranged in a variety of ways.
What golf insurance do you need?
For your vacation, we generally recommend travel cancellation insurance and, depending on the destination, additional international travel health insurance. This covers you against important risks. For golfers, it is interesting to combine this with special insurance for a few euros, which pays out if your golf equipment is stolen on vacation or if you are unable to keep your booked tee times. You can find the details here.
A golf vacation makes you healthy
It has also been scientifically proven that regular sporting activity on a golf vacation is not only fun, but also has noticeable effects on the body. A study involving 30 golfers found that blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac elasticity, fat metabolism and sleep quality are positively influenced. “Overall, the study found good evidence that even a week’s golf activity – albeit somewhat intensive – is well tolerated and can bring about measurable changes in health parameters. The vacation effect lasts for around three months, so that over the course of the year, golfing several times a week could have an optimal health and vacation effect,” says Professor Lechleitner.
Last minute golf trips
Sometimes the urge to go on a golf vacation strikes quite spontaneously. We have compiled all the answers and tips on which destinations are then suitable, which booking options are available and how you can also save money.
