To all of the avid golfers looking for the perfect resort for their next reservation, before you book your reservation, be sure to consider these important factors, as they might just help you nab the experience of a lifetime!
1. What is the difficulty of the courses?
Sure, you might not be Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson, but if you are travelling to courses that prove too easy, you might as well have stayed local and played a game of mini-put. Instead, rise to the challenge and go for a golf resort that is resplendent in courses that balance challenge and playability at your skill level. This would allow you to further hone your existing skills while also testing out new encounters.
2. Affordability of the pro shop
You are likely to be taking your clubs and a majority of supplies with you, but it’s always better to have the ability to get your golfing goods in one place, when needed – especially if you’re sure of the quality of the items.
Sure, you won’t be able to compare prices with every golf course out there, but at the very least, the prices must at least be at par with larger golf equipment outlets. Look at the bonuses you get as well with the membership card. That can make the extra purchases worth it.
3. Transparent pricing
Whether it’s for their green fees or their stay-and-play packages, it’s always better to trust an establishment that is always honest with its pricing. This way, you can easily set aside a budget without expecting surprise charges.
See if they’re advertising their fees on their site. A lack of transparent pricing is always a big red flag.
4. Account for your budget
Let’s say you’ve fallen in love with everything about this one golf resort, but there’s one problem: it’s way out of your budget. Selecting where you’d go without considering how much you’re willing to spend is a sure way to waste hours of research.
Before anything else, determine your budget. That will help narrow down your options to places where you can realistically travel. And remember to account for emergencies – your maximum budget should be around 80 to 90 per cent of what you want to spend.
5. Location
If you just have one weekend to play, it doesn’t make sense for you to spend too much of your time travelling. You can further narrow down your options to those resorts relatively closer to your place of residence. One of the best things about a golf resort is if you’re already in the area, you don’t have to worry about the commute from a hotel.
But this isn’t just about the distance. After all, the view you get from your accommodation and the proximity to the golf course can be factors, as well. Make sure to look at reviews to get a feel of what your wider stay would entail.
6. Amenities
Especially if you’re going to stay at the resort for a few days, you want your stay to be as comfortable as possible. Look at the amenities offered among your choices. If you’re bringing your family with you, check if there are kid-friendly amenities, too.
The goal is for you to have the best and most convenient experience during your stay. While there’s not a set of amenities that you should specifically look for, remember to ask yourself what you want to get out of your stay. This would help you prioritise what matters to you.
7. Invest in quality
Just like with material things, with the above in mind to balance things out, it pays to invest in quality. All the amenities in the world can’t make up for a poorly-maintained golf resort. Do you really want unpleasant surprises when you’re supposed to be relaxing?
Reviews can be extremely valuable. Check out photos taken by past visitors, and more importantly, look into what they have to say about their stay. But considering how prevalent fake reviews are nowadays, don’t just believe everything you read. Here are a few ways you can more fairly assess the reviews for a golf resort:
- Look at the most recent ratings. This way, you’d get an idea of how the resort is doing right now.
- See for any unusual patterns. Do the reviews look like they’re written by the same person? Or perhaps there were too many reviews in a short period of time. These are both red flags
- Check if they say anything in common. If many reviews say that the rooms are dirty, they probably are.
Find the Above & More with a Stay at Rich River
You deserve a weekend of just relaxing. With the above in mind, review everything we have on offer at Rich River today, or contact us directly for more information.
