I took a golf trip myself. Here’s why (and why you should too)

At some point during every golfing buddy trip I’ve been on, I’ve been hit with a moment of deep appreciation mixed with utter disbelief.

How did this group of clowns actually make it? How did each of us agree to a plan, find availability, arrive at the same destination, line up for courses and meeting times, and share the experience of doing what we love most?

And, most importantly, how soon can we make this happen again?

The glorified ride of comrades – and the vastly understated anticipation it inspires – is the most exhilarating experience this sport offers to the common man. It’s also a logistical nightmare.

It is no wonder why more and more travel agencies and operators are entering the global golf tourism industry that is expected to grow from $25.7 billion in 2024 to $42.9 billion in 2033.

Those charged with planning the trip know that it is ultimately an exercise in diplomacy and coalition building, not consensus. For each person involved, there is a unique perspective on how the journey should go. Every last decision becomes his dilemma.

Is it worth all the trouble? Absolutely. But these trips aren’t the only way to soak up the euphoria of golf tourism.

Last month, during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, I experienced a version of golf nirvana I’d never considered possible: As I coordinated an impromptu golf trip, everyone who planned to go lined up about the destination, time, lodging, courses, and how the days would be spent, on and off the links.

That’s because it was all me. And only me.

First, a little context:

— My wife and I are parents of two school-age boys, 9 and 6 years old. “Holiday vacation” is a misnomer. Time away from school requires more vigilance than usual, including the occasional intervention when arguments turn into an episode of National Geographic “Animal Fight Club”.

— The ad agency I work for generously closes the last few weeks of each year, giving employees a much-needed reset. My wife, a funeral director, was unable to take time off during what is unfortunately the busiest time of the year.

— The boys’ grandparents — angels, every one of them — are retired and willing to host them occasionally when my wife and I want/want to travel.

For weeks leading up to the holiday break, I told my wife about the possibility of finding just a few more days during the holidays to get out of town as a family. Coastal Oregon, the Black Hills of South Dakota, the North Shore of Lake Superior here in Minnesota, everywhere. But such a trip was not in the cards.

Finally, my wife proposed a radical alternative.

“Obviously, you really need to go somewhere,” she said earnestly. “Why don’t you go somewhere … alone?”

Planning a friends golf trip with less than a few weeks notice is a fool’s errand, especially during the holiday season. As such, I never for a moment had the chance that any of my friends were also in a similar position, free to leave town for a few days with their responsibilities tending to them. I also had assurances from the in-laws that they would watch the boys if I took a trip, offering my wife a mini vacation of her own.

One advantage of planning a last-minute trip is making a decision with high confidence based on the national 10-day weather forecast. Cold and wet weather was expected in many of the predictable destinations I initially considered, including the Carolinas, Southern California, Arizona and Florida. Coastal Oregon was being battered by strong winds and darkness. Only one destination offered mild weather (mid-50s) and no threat of rain: Southwestern Utah.

(Side note: International travel was never on the table. “Last-minute flight deals” during the holiday season—even Mexico or the Caribbean—aren’t really a thing. Though my wife instructed me to be selfish, my rogue instincts flocked to golf over airfare.)

So, about a week after my wife first floated the idea, I took a direct flight from Minneapolis to Las Vegas with nothing but a handbag and golf clubs in tow. I rented a car and drove two hours northeast on I-15, traversing the rugged beauty of Nevada’s Valley of Fire and up the gorge of Arizona’s Virgin River before arriving at Sand Hollow Resort in St. Louis.

Over the course of the three days that followed—disregarding the possibility that I would eventually capture my experience in writing—I maximized every advantage a solo golf trip offers. And, as it turned out, it was more glorious than I could have imagined.

What follows is not an argument ANTI buddy trips, but rather the case of solo golf trips for those with limited options, unpredictable schedules, and a desire to make their own shots when traveling. Here are just a few reasons you should strongly consider getting one yourself.

You check the clock

I will admit to being the type of golfer who routinely shows up more than an hour early, especially if it’s a new course. I like to squeeze in a full driving range session, then get to know my short game around the greens and bunkers. All too often, this is the most stressful aspect of a friends golf trip – making sure all comers get to the tee on time, never mind warming up properly.

I’m also a stickler for a bucket of balls after the round — a polarizing move I’ve been embarrassed about more than a few times. (I get it. Why should a 15-handicap be brought up at dusk on a Wednesday before a major, grinding while fully aware that the cameras are rolling?) Either way, there’s no burden to deal with slow shots in the group, nor is there any pressure to rush the clubface when you’re trying to pull correctly.

Golf doesn’t have to be a side quest

Beyond golf, St. Or so I read.

Sure, I could have made time to visit a nearby trail to enjoy a magnificent sunset hike, or drive 30 minutes to visit a corner of Zion National Park, or at least wander downtown St. Louis. George to sample the food scene. Instead, my daily agenda consisted of golf and only golf—and more Chipotle biritos than I care to reveal publicly.

Singles have superpowers

Planning an hour ahead of arrival day is a multi-stakes bet that cross-country travel plans won’t involve any delays. It is an especially aggressive game during a holiday travel period.

Fortunately, I arrived in St. Big chance we could have played anywhere if I’d needed 2-3 times for a larger travel group – assuming they even wanted to add more golf to the agenda.

No explanation needed

It’s one thing to add golf to the trip. It can be even more controversial to cut back when that little voice is telling you that a little golf would be in order. You don’t have to walk the line between a busy schedule and too much time off or navigate how others feel about a change in plans. If for any reason you want to cancel an appointment, no excuse is needed.

The people you meet may surprise you

I get it: Playing with unfamiliar partners can be difficult and in many ways makes it more challenging to play well. Golf is hard enough without the social element. But this is the part where I tell you that one of the highlights of a solo golf trip may just be the people you meet along the way.

While I was able to manage two rounds of nine holes by myself, I was paired with a couple of Torontonians, Anthony and Antonio, during my round on the Sand Hollow Champion Course. Lifelong friends going on 35 years, the middle-aged men were embarking on a much more ambitious golf trip: 10 courses spanning three states.

After a round filled with friendly banter and more than a few canyon- and cacti-bound golf balls, Antonio graciously shared a dozen photos and videos he took of the pair of Ray-Ban Meta AI sunglasses he was wearing. It’s memories that momentarily eased the sting of a double-bogey-laden card.

For all the good times and knowledge they provide, friends’ trips are and always will be the ultimate golfing experience. But a solo golf trip offers something different and, at this stage in life, just as valuable: freedom. Freedom from logistics, from compromise, from waiting for the notoriously late friend in the group, for whom one can never be a little late.

It just might be the best way to experience the game you love, is to take it to a new place.

Alone.

Andrew Miller is once again a freelance journalist and full-time senior vice president of earned creative and media relations at Colle McVoy, a Minneapolis-based creative agency.