72 holes in 72 hours
Making the most of a long weekend of golf
By Mike McAllister
SI.com
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| | NEXT WEEK | The series begins with 72 holes in the San Diego, California, area. We'll profile the courses, tell you how to get there and point you to a few things in the area that you or your party can do.
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(CNN) -- To the non-golfer, one course may seem very similar to all the others. Lots of pristine grass, generally lined with trees and bunkers, accessible only by people wearing bad slacks and paying a high fee for the privilege of hitting a little white ball into a tiny hole.
But to the golfer -- both the casual weekender and the four-times-a-week country clubber -- each course has its own personality: the shape and length of the holes, the various hazards, the contour of the green, with a backdrop provided by Mother Nature (or an inventive designer).
Play a course for the first time, and it's like being introduced to a stranger who may or may not treat you with kindness. The more you play it, the course becomes your friend. Or your enemy.
Over the next several weeks, CNN.com will introduce you to some strangers: 72 in 72 -- that's 72 holes in 72 hours, or an intense long weekend of golf.
The itinerary is simple. Fly to your destination Friday morning. Play 18 holes that afternoon on one area course. Then 36 holes on two other local courses Saturday. Another 18 holes Sunday morning on course No. 4. Then fly home Sunday night, perhaps not rested but certainly knowing you made the most of your vacation on the links.
But before we get started, here are a couple of things to consider about your golf vacation:
Planning is Job No. 1: We're not exactly cracking the Da Vinci Code here by telling you that most well-planned vacations are successful ones. But for a three-day weekend of golf, especially one involving four different courses, doing some advance work is not an option.
Start with tee times. Each course has its own set of rules involving how far in advance tee times can be made. Once you decide on your destination, you'll need to call the courses immediately (some may even take tee times on the Internet).
If you can't make a tee time with your initial call, then make sure you call again once tee times for your day are being accepted. Hint: Be sure and ask if there are twilight rates available. You might be able to save a few bucks on the afternoon rounds.
Of course, the more people in your traveling party, the more urgency there is in securing tee times. Much of the fun of playing golf is that you can enjoy it with friends; the last thing your traveling foursome needs is to split into twosomes when you reach the course. A single player, of course, has much more flexibility.
Another hint: Book a hotel near the course you'll play the next morning -- and not near the course you're finishing up with the previous night. The last thing you want is a lengthy drive before an early tee time. You're better off doing the bulk of your driving after you put the clubs away for the night. Give yourself the morning to loosen up before your round.
Golf clubs are not a carry-on item: Unless we missed the memo that stated airlines were planning to widen their overhead bins, you'll have to check your golf bag. But take advantage of the room in your bag and turn it into an extra piece of luggage. At the very least, you should be able to find a way to stow your golf shoes, visor and other golf accessories in your bag.
Of course, you'll need a travel golf bag. Many regular bags come with a hood, but you shouldn't rely on that. You can go the inexpensive route and use a soft travel bag, which generally are sufficient for most trips. Spend the extra dollars, and you can buy a hard shell that will offer the most protection. The pros, of course, use hard bags, rightfully treating their clubs with the utmost care. Hint: Check with your insurance company to see if your clubs are covered for travel.
