Dadvice Weekly #29 / Golfing on Vacation
Dadvice Weekly - #29
One of my favorite things to do is golf.
One of my all-time favorite things to do? Golf on vacation.
There’s just something about playing a new course in a new place. I love doing the research ahead of time, looking up courses nearby, watching YouTube flyovers, reading reviews, and figuring out which one fits the trip best. It gives me something to look forward to. Also while on vacation it gives me several hours to take in where I’m at and play a game I love.
As I’ve gotten older, I’m realizing how important that is for me, having something restorative built into the trip. Something that fills me up.
Brooke and I are learning how to balance this well:
Travel together.
Be present as a family.
And still carve out space for each of us to do something that energizes us individually.
Obviously, that means the other person is solo parenting for a few hours, so it can’t be every day. But picking a day (or maybe two) during a trip makes a huge difference.
This week in Maui, I got to play the Waiehu Golf Course.
It was recommended by a guy at our hotel who called it a “poor man’s Pebble Beach,” with several holes right on the water. More under the radar than the big resort courses. There were several holes that were adjacent to the beach and I coincidentally got paired with Trey Wingo (former ESPN analyst and Baylor alumni).
It was a perfect outing and made me realize how I need to prioritize a round of golf every vacation I can. There’s something restoring about playing a round in a new place and experiencing a new course. When you get back you have to be on you A-Game to relieve your spouse but its completely worth it for us. Here are some tips that I am committing to for golfing on trips. -SW
Plan Your Round Early
I definitely don’t have this mastered, but here’s what I’ve learned:
Communicate early. Talk about it before the trip. Make sure it works for everyone.
Pick one intentional day. Don’t let it bleed into the whole vacation.
Do the research ahead of time. It builds anticipation and helps you maximize the experience.
Be fully present when you’re done. When you’re back, you’re back.
Encourage your spouse to do the same, but whatever version of it is for her. For us its a trip to the spa for a massage. Both people deserve space to recharge.
Find Clubs
This used to be easy for me.
Before Mary Kate, I always flew with my own clubs. Southwest let you check two bags free, I had a separate suitcase for clothes, and we didn’t have to think twice about rental car space.
But for this trip the clubs got deemed nonessential. With a baby, stroller, pack-and-play, and everything else, something had to give. So I rented clubs from our hotel.
It was $40 per day, which felt very reasonable. I didn’t love not knowing my exact distances, but for one round on vacation, it was manageable. My goal was to keep it under $90 total, roughly what it would’ve cost to fly my clubs round trip with the new bag policy.
Here are the main options for getting clubs as I see them:
Fly Your Own Clubs
If you have the space and your airline makes it affordable, this is still my favorite option. You know your yardages. You know your wedges. You’re comfortable.
If you go this route, get a solid travel bag. Nothing flashy, just functional and protective. And if you’re renting a car, make sure the trunk can handle it.
Rent Clubs at the Course or Hotel
This is what I did in Maui.
Pros:
No travel hassle
No risk of airline damage
No trunk Tetris
Cons:
You won’t know your distances
You might not love the shaft/feel
It’s rarely your exact setup
That said, for $40/day, it felt worth it. I wasn’t trying to shoot a career low. I was trying to enjoy the experience.
Ship Them Ahead of Time
I looked into Ship Stix.
It ships your clubs directly to the course or hotel. From what I saw, it was pretty expensive shipping to Hawaii. I imagine Colorado to Arizona or Texas would be more reasonable.
I didn’t go this route because of the cost, but if you’ve used it and loved it, I’d be curious to hear.
Don’t Forget the Small Stuff: Balls + Glove
This one tip alone probably saved me $30-40.
Before we left, I threw 8 golf balls, a few tees, and a glove into my suitcase. Took up almost no space. Added basically no weight.
When you show up without them, you’re paying pro shop prices and we all know that’s not cheap.
I didn’t even bring premium balls. Not Pro V1s. Just solid, playable golf balls from the garage. On vacation, I’m not chasing spin rates. I’m trying to enjoy the round and not feel annoyed every time one finds the Pacific.
The glove was key too. Buying a glove at a resort course can feel like buying sunscreen at Disney. Necessary, but painful.
Small prep. Easy win. Real savings.
Golf Shoes
I didn’t bring golf shoes. I completely regret it.
I figured I’d just wear athletic shoes and be fine. And technically, I was fine. But I didn’t realize how much I rely on golf shoes for stability until I didn’t have them.
Uneven lies, wet grass, and just feeling planted through impact. It’s one of those small things you don’t think about until it’s gone.
Next time, I’ll find a way to pack them.
My Overall Take
If this is a golf trip, bring your clubs.
If this is a family trip with one round mixed in, renting might make more sense.
For me, this stage of life means optimizing for travel simplicity. I’m not chasing the best round of my life.
I’m chasing presence, and occasionally a tee time with a view of the ocean.
Would love to hear what others do. Fly them? Ship them? Always rent? Any other tips you have learned? -SW
Dadvice Weekly is Kyle and Skyler—two friends in their thirties, living in Colorado, settling into fatherhood and trying to stay sane. Every Tuesday we share what’s working in our homes: gear we use, routines we’ve tested, ideas we’re trying. It could be a recipe, a product that solved a problem, or just what we’re thinking about as dads.
If you have a tip, tried something we mentioned, or just want to say hi, reply to this email or message us on Substack. We read everything, and we’re always looking for what works. Glad you’re here.
Dad B said he’d love to play a round with you when we’re in Florida. Want to look into it?