STRUT Plans: How to Lock in the Golf Trip the Boys Will Never Miss
Am I the end-all, be-all authority on golf trips?
No.
But I’ve been running one for five straight years and learned a thing or two (including how to keep it under $2,500 without it feeling “budget”—okay, except for that Biltmore Hotel situation in 2021… but we all make mistakes).
The biggest secret? One person makes the plans. That’s it. We only need one Swedish Chef on this trip. Too many hands in the cookie jar makes a pretty crappy cocktail.
Here’s what else I’ve learned:
Sandcrane / Wyozona Group finishing up a round at Langdon Farms
Set the Dates and Don’t Budge
This is the single most important thing. You will never find a weekend that works for everyone. Pick your dates, tell the group, and let people figure it out.
That first year, maybe it’s just you and one buddy. But if you keep the dates locked in, it becomes the weekend. Spouses, kids, and coworkers will eventually treat it like a national holiday.
For us, it’s always the Wednesday to Sunday that falls around June 18–22. Forever.
Lock in the Destination Early
The sweet spot is quality courses, reachable travel, and weather that won’t make you hate life.
Our crew is in Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming, so late June means no melting in 90°/90% humidity and no battling Midwest thunderstorms.
Bucket list courses? Absolutely. Hidden gems? Even better. Half the time, we’ve ended up loving the random local muni as much as the course we “traveled” for.
We even created a Wheel of Destination. Everyone throws in a location, we spin it during the last dinner of the trip, and boom—next year’s destination is locked in before we even get home.
If you want March in Arizona or July in Scotland, you should’ve booked it in 2021.
Budget Without Being “Budget”
Golf trips collapse faster than a cheap umbrella when money gets awkward. Break it down:
Travel: Flights, bags, rental cars, or shuttles.
Lodging: Sometimes a hotel on the course comes with perks (and fewer morning commutes).
Green Fees: We’ve paid $200, we’ve paid $55. Honestly, the difference in fun was minimal.
Food & Drinks: Hotel breakfast is king, “hog on the turn” is a must, and at least one blowout steak dinner with the boys is non-negotiable.
Side Bets: Optional… but we all know they’re not.
We have the trip fully planned by January 1. Tee times usually go down 60–90 days out. Pro tip—Portland area? Great courses, but they only open tee sheets 14 days in advance. Stressful, but worth it.
Plan for the Off-Course Fun
Golf will be great, but the stories will come from the dinners, drinks, and questionable decisions. Club Runge or an ocasional casino never hurt anyone.
Scout your spots in advance. Nothing kills the vibe like a late-night gas station sandwich because you “didn’t plan anything.”
Document Everything
Get the group photo on Day 1, before anyone is sunburned, hungover, or emotionally broken by a triple on 18.
We use PlayThru to create custom scorecards and keep a running Ryder Cup tally. We also built a trip website because… why not? Check out our other site. WyozonaCup.com a little shameless plug of our other adventure…but dont go there until you’ve fully scoured our site here! haha
How to Not Break the Bank
Book early. Best rates, best tee times.
Airfare: We used to be loyal to Southwest for the free clubs, but now it’s open season. Hunt for deals.
Hotels: Under $200/night is doable for something nice—less than $100 each if you share. Look for a legit fitness center and a hot tub. Pool optional but preferred.
Save automatically: I set up $50 per paycheck into savings, plus use Acorns round-ups. Start the week after the trip. By next year, there’s $2,500+ waiting for me, and I never missed it.
Find Your Magic Number
4 guys = tight and simple.
6 guys = Ryder Cup territory.
8 guys = the sweet spot—enough variety for matches, still small enough to get a table at a nice steakhouse.
The Truth
Did I hit every single thing you need? Not even close. You could still end up at your local muni with a case of High Life and seven clubs and have a blast.
But once you book that first real trip, the group chat will never be the same. The memes, the trash talk, the countdown—it becomes part of your golf DNA.
So pick your dates. Pick your spot. Spin the wheel. And for the love of golf… keep the Swedish Chefs out of the kitchen.
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STRUT ON.
