Top 10 things that would ruin a golf trip

Embarking on a golf trip can be one of the most exciting things that you ever do in this game. Visiting new countries, playing different courses, experiencing unique cultures, and fully embracing a sense of adventure are all qualities that make holidays truly thrilling for any keen golfer. 

There are all manner of opportunities out there, from luxury resorts to taking on a properly bespoke tour, meaning that there is something for everyone. 

But that doesn't mean everything is guaranteed to be rosy - there are obstacles that can be placed between you and fulfilment during a golf trip.

We recently conducted a comprehensive survey in partnership with Golfbreaks to learn more about the booking habits and wishes of golf travellers, but we also hoped to discover just what can undercut their level of enjoyment.

The comments were received were numerous (more than 2,000) and illuminating, which we have now compiled for you into a single piece, broken down into categories to uncover the top 10 things that could ruin a golf trip.

1. Bad Weather

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Golf is an outdoor sport, meaning that you quickly become accustomed to making the most of whatever the weather throws at you, but that said, we'd all rather play on a sunny, warm, pleasant day. 

This is especially true when you are visiting destinations where the climate is the most attractive feature. It's unbelievably dispiriting when you visit somewhere typically balmy and discover that you're being hit by heavy rain, strong winds, and freezing temperatures. It can happen anywhere - if you're particularly unlucky.

Storms are another concern for many golfers - especially when lightning is a factor as that can make things unplayable.

It's no shock that bad weather was - by a considerable distance - the most common issue mentioned that could spoil a golfing experience.

2. Poor Course Condition, Maintenance

It goes without saying that unless you have divine powers, there is nothing you can do about the weather, you just have to deal with whatever is thrown at you. 

However, one aspect that visitors will expect that is within the control of venues concerns the condition of the course itself and the level of upkeep that it receives.

Extreme climates - whether it be searing heat or endless deluges of rain - can be problematic for greenkeepers, but generally speaking, when golfers are paying good money, they are entitled to anticipate that the playing surfaces will be of a reasonable standard, that the greens and fairways will be immaculate, that the whole layout feels looked after and that pride is clearly taken by those who care for it.

Turning up to find bumpy greens - or worse, maintenance projects that haven't been properly advertised - is something that travelling golfers are understandably keen to avoid.

3. Slow Play, Overcrowded Courses

Slow play is a divisive topic, but while you shouldn't mind taking a moment or two to smell the flowers and allow the experience of a beautiful location to marinate around you, it's fair to say that most of us don't want to be standing waiting over every shot and tee either.

Overcrowded courses, five-hour rounds, overbooked tee sheets leading to frequent long waits is something that some venues are probably guilty of in the desire to maximise demand and bring in the most possible revenue, but when it comes to delivering a round that golfers will enjoy fondly, sometimes less is more to keep everyone moving for the full 18 holes, with stoppages being kept at a minimum.

4. Bad Company, Poor Etiquette, Wrong Group Dynamic

It's one thing spending hours on the course with people you like, but what about the purgatory of being stuck out there in the company of those who you have quickly grown tired of.

Whether it's being paired up with strangers who you don't connect with or being part of a larger group (such as a society) where the interpersonal dynamics unfortunately do not successfully mesh together, it can become an excruciating experience - not to mention awkward, and no one wants that.

Golf is a wonderfully social game, you can meet so many engaging people and build up rewarding relationships, but the alternative, although rare, could put a sour note on your golf trip.

5. Poor Accommodation, Hotel Quality

The course, though essentially important, is not the only key part of a golf holiday. It's your accommodation where you will be spending the night, and if the facilities available do not offer the standard of comfort and service that you expected, that can be a major disappointment that underpins the whole experience of your time there.

Perhaps you have spent substantial money for a hotel that looked great when you saw the images online, but when you got there, it quickly became apparent that the quality offered was way below expectations, and that is evidently going to sting.

You might be there for the golf above everything else, but away from the course, you still want something good to make your trip a fully rounded and satisfying adventure.

6. Drunken, Rowdy or Noisy Behaviour

When you visit enough hotels or, let's be honest, any public space, it won't take long for you to realise that not everyone conducts themselves in the way in which you would ideally choose.

Drunken, rowdy or noisy behaviour was cited by a notable proportion of the respondents to the survey as being something that could give them a proverbial - and literal - headache. 

If you're seeing that conduct on the golf course, it's bad enough, but when it continues into the bars, restaurants and hotel accommodation itself, it's going to become grating very quickly.

7. Travel Disruption, Lost Clubs, Transfer Issues

It's not just the memories created at the destination itself that can define how you feel about a golf trip, but the journey it took to get there. 

Sometimes it's due to poor fortune, unforeseen circumstances and issues that are beyond any reasonable sense of control, but most people who have travelled regularly will have suffered from travel disruption on the way at least once, including problems related to transfers, and even lost clubs or misplaced luggage that can lead to major frustrations that negatively clouds your experience.

This is always a worry for anyone preparing to begin a golf holiday.

8. Bad Food, Drink or Weak Evening Options

You've played golf during the day and now you're looking for something delectable to eat. Restaurants and bars are vital to make your trip unforgettable. It's where memories are exchanged, laughs are shared, and if you're lucky to uncover some brilliant establishments, these are the places that may well become the highlight of your whole experience.

That said, if the options aren't great or didn't reach the expected levels, then you're going to be disappointed if the food is poor, the atmosphere weak, or that you ultimately find yourself with little to do in the evenings beyond what you had on the course itself.

The best golf trips are about more than just golf itself - so you need these areas to be special too.

9. Booking, Organisation Failures

When you carefully plan and book the full itinerary of your trip, you naturally expect that everything will be in place when you arrive and that things will progress seamlessly throughout your stay.

But that isn't always the reality - unfortunately. Sometimes you will be the victim of mistakes, failings by the venues to organise things properly, or even false advertising, all of which can stall your golf trip and create a justified feeling of unsatisfaction.

10. Poor Service, Unfriendly Venue Staff

Working with the general public can be a challenge - anyone who has been in such a role can empathise with the difficulties it can present, but sometimes members of staff don't help themselves either.

Even the least demanding of guests expect they will receive friendly service and be treated with courtesy and respect. However, we've likely all faced situations where members of staff fell way short of expectations and that can create disharmony and radically impact your perception of the venue itself.

Those are the most commonly cited issues that could ruin a golf trip - all of which were brought up by those who responded to our survey that was conducted alongside Golfbreaks, the world's top rated golf tour operator with over 90,000 five-star reviews.

Successful golf holiday or travel experiences are about the complete package. There are factors (such as the weather) that can't be controlled, but most of these problems are created by resorts, courses and companies who have fallen short in key areas, failing to deliver the most complete product that is possible.

There is something inherently thrilling about a golf trip. It's a journey, the chance to sample another world, there is a sense of fantasy and altered reality to the whole thing, but sometimes, certain frustrations can arise that end the escapism and bring even the most temperate and reasonable of golfing travellers crashing back down to earth.

Which of these factors would be most likely to ruin a golf trip that you had planned?