There’s nothing quite like a golf day with your mates, colleagues, or just in general. A good course, great company and the camaraderie of those involved all combine to create a memorable experience.
But behind every great golf day lies careful planning. Whether you’re organising a smaller, more casual day with friends or a larger, competitive outing, there are a few key steps that can make all the difference. So, let’s dive into how you can plan the perfect golf day.
1. What’s the aim?
It’s important to establish what kind of day you want. Are you looking for a laid-back round of golf or something a bit more competitive? Once you know what you want from the golf day, you can begin piecing together your plans.
Skill level: Assess your own golfing ability, as well as that of your group. This will help in choosing the right course and deciding on the format of the game. Nine times out of ten, the golfing ability will be wildly mixed, from low single figures to 28-handicap bandits.
Pace: Decide whether you want a leisurely round without any time restrictions on the day, or whether you’re looking to get the round done in the morning to leave time for extra socialising in the afternoon and evening.
Budget: Golf can range from relatively inexpensive to pretty high-end, depending on the course and amenities. So be sure to set a clear budget early on to help narrow down your options.
2. Choose the right course
We’re spoilt for choice in the UK when it comes to golf courses, from world-renowned links courses to impeccable heathlands and charming parkland venues. Picking the right course is crucial to the success of your golf day.
Location: Consider the proximity of the course to those who will be playing. This will affect travel time and logistics. A local course might be ideal for convenience, but travelling a little further to play a new track could offer a brilliant golfing experience.
Course conditions and difficulty: Research the course’s reputation and check reviews to see how well-maintained it is, the difficulty of its layout, and the quality of its greens and fairways. There’s nothing worse than turning up to an unkept, somewhat dilapidated course — especially if you’ve invited a bunch of people.
Amenities: A good course is about more than just about the layout. Look for additional amenities such as a driving range, putting green, and a decent pro shop — though, the latter isn’t as important in the grand scheme of things. A clubhouse with great facilities can really help to enhance the experience, giving you somewhere to relax post-round.
Tee times: Book your golf day well in advance — particularly during peak golfing seasons like spring and summer weekends. Many popular courses fill up quickly, and if you’re booking multiple tee times, you’ll need all the availability you can get. To do this, you can either call the club directly or type “book a golf day at (insert golf course)” into Google.
3. Decide on who to invite
Golf is as much about the company as it is about the game. The people you invite will help shape the atmosphere of the day. If it’s a company golf day, decide on a set number of people you wish to invite. For events like these, it’s often best to group people into teams of four or get everyone out in fourballs, depending on the format.
Number of players: For smaller groups, you should be able to book two or three times without too much hassle. But for larger golf days and societies, you’ll need to request a block of tee times, usually from one set time to another.
Preferences: Where possible, take into account everyone’s preferences, not just your own. Some may prefer a more relaxed social day, while others may want to throw themselves into competition. This is mainly relevant to smaller groups, as trying to get everyone’s opinion on a 50-person golf day would be a nightmare.
4. Plan the Format
Different formats can make your golf day more entertaining, depending on the dynamics of your group. It gives either individuals or teams something to play for and adds an extra edge to the day.
Individual Stroke Play – Gross and Handicap: Each golfer competes individually, keeping their own score. This is the most straightforward and common format. In gross, it will be the total score without subtraction of the handicap — this is usually suited to a group of better players who play to a similar level. Handicap, also know as nett, will be the final score after a golfer’s handicap has been subtracted. This format normally fosters a fairer competition between players of all levels.
Single or Double’s Match Play: Coming away from stroke play and planning a “Ryder Cup” style competition is very enjoyable. Split all golfers into two teams, wear team colours or outfits, and let them compete for one “prestigious” trophy. Golf days like this often become annual events that participants look forward to, so it’s well worth considering.
Stableford: Points are earned based on how players score relative to par. This format is popular for making the game more accessible to higher handicaps.
Scramble: In a scramble, teams work together for an overall score. After picking the best tee shot, everyone hits from the spot of the best shot on and so on. This format is great for building team spirit and reducing pressure on individual players.
On-course games: Planning side games and competitions on the course adds an extra element to the day. Traditional ones include nearest the pin, longest drive and straightest drive, but you could also include the lowest score on the par 3’s and the dreaded wooden spoon (the worst overall score).
5. Arrange transportation if necessary
Once the course is chosen and the players are confirmed, you need to consider how everyone will get to and from the venue.
Personal vehicles: This is usually the simplest option, just make sure you’ve checked the parking at the course.
Public transportation: Many golf courses in the UK are accessible by train or bus, especially those close to cities or towns. Check timetables in advance to ensure you arrive on time — and by on time, I mean early.
Book taxis: Larger golf days can often get quite boozy, especially if you’re there morning til night. So be sure to either book a taxi in advance or check whether Uber/Bolt operates in the area.
6. Plan for food and drinks
When planning a big golf day, it’s important to arrange food and beverages on arrival at a minimum, with the option of including a meal/lunch afterwards. A round of golf can take upwards of four hours (usually longer on a golf day), so making sure everyone is well-fed goes a long way.
Pre-round: Start the day off right with tea, coffee, and bacon rolls (or a vegetarian alternative) before heading out. This is also a good time for everyone to meet and settle in.
On-course: Some courses have halfway huts, where you can grab a sandwich, snack or a drink mid-round. If this is available, consider setting up a tab for the group to make things easier.
Post-round: After finishing up, nothing beats sitting down to a well-earned meal and a refreshing beverage. Most clubhouses offer decent post-round dining, whether it’s a pint and a pie or something slightly more elaborate.
7. Prizes and prize giving
If you’re planning a competitive golf day, you need prizes to go with it. Usually — depending on the format — prizes are awarded to first and second place in each category (if you have more than one) and for the on-course games. If you’re playing a team event or Ryder Cup format, it’s a nice idea to get a trophy. And if you really want to go the extra mile, get the trophy engraved for the event — this adds to the allure of winning the golf day.
Stick to budget: When it comes to charging each individual or team for the golf day, add an extra £20-50 on top of the green fees, food and so on. This will cover you for prizes and silverware.
Know your crowd: If the event is more of a formal or a corporate one, the prizes are usually golf-related, such as golf balls, towels, bags and even clubs. However, if it’s informal, you can get away with slightly sillier prizes for the less important competitions such as the wooden spoon.
8. Enjoy the day
With all the planning taken care of, it’s time to focus on the game itself. The majority of times, once the booking is confirmed, the club will take care of the rest. Check-in with the pro shop to let them know you’ve arrived, and if you arranged food, the clubhouse will prepare it for you. On the course, however, there are a couple of things to remember:
Practice good etiquette: Keep up the pace of play, repair your divots, and be mindful of others on the course.
Don’t take it too seriously: Ultimately, the day is about enjoying yourself and the company of your group. So relax, and don’t worry too much about your score. After all, even a bad day on the golf course beats a good day at work.
