12 Epic Golf Bachelor Party Ideas for the Ultimate Send-Off
Check out these 12 tips from golf & travel experts so you can plan the perfect golf bachelor party
Planning a golf bachelor party is no easy task. For starters, there’s pressure to make it the most memorable golf weekend ever. On top of that, you have to manage a whole range of different people who have different preferences, priorities, and budgets.
That may seem like a tall task, so we connected with some golf, travel, and event-planning experts to help you plan the perfect golf bachelor party.
Here are our top 12 tips golf bachelor party planning tips:
- Choose the right destination
- Be clear about the budget
- Get some custom swag
- Plan for morning golf
- Consider alternative events during golf for non-golfers
- Consider a course that accommodates new golfers if necessary
- Plan your transportation & equipment
- Use tech and apps to your advantage
- Surprise the groom
- Capture the memories
- Be flexible
- Party Responsibly
1. Choose the Right Destination
The 18th hole at TPC Myrtle Beach
When it comes to choosing the right destination for a golf bachelor party, you must consider a few things. First, look at where all the attendees are coming from and make an effort to pick a destination that is easy enough for everybody to get to. Of course, if you’re making golf a central theme of the bachelor party, you’ll need to make sure it’s golf season at your destination when you plan to go, and there are plenty of golf courses and nightlife activities to fill your itinerary.
Places like Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Austin, San Diego and Phoenix/Scottsdale are obvious considerations, but if you really want to go all-in on golf, you could check out golf-specific destinations like Pinehurst, Streamsong or Bandon Dunes.
2. Be Clear About the Budget
Communicate the budget clearly as you plan a golf bachelor party
Regardless of how many attendees are coming to the bachelor party, there is guaranteed to be a wide spectrum of budgets. Some people may be happy to spend whatever it costs for golf, food, drinks, accommodations, and gifts. Others will be on a much stricter budget.
To alleviate budget stress, Ollie Neave, PGA, owner of Aussie Beef Golf and golf coach at Sydney Golf Academy suggests “hash out the budget before anyone’s teed off. Be clear on what’s expected pocket-wise, maybe even pot in for a group fund.”
Doing this, Ollie suggests, “keeps the focus on the fun, not the finances.”
3. Get Custom Swag
If you really want to make the bachelor party special, add personalized gifts to commemorate the milestone.
“Consider getting matching golf hats or shirts for the group, or personalized golf balls with the groom's initials,” said Wedding planner Carissa Kruse, founder of Cariss Kruse Weddings.
4. Plan for Morning Golf
Think of all the things your day on the golf course will include. Things like getting to the course, renting clubs, warming up, spending 4-and-a-half hours playing golf, then a post-round meal and drinks really add up, time-wise. That’s why booking a morning tee time is best for bachelor parties, especially if there are non-golf activities planned for the afternoon or evening.
We’re not saying you need to be dewsweepers teeing off at sunrise, but a nice mid-morning tee time will spare you plenty of time for other activities later in the day.
However, these are typically the most precious tee times on a course’s tee sheet, so it’s best to plan ahead and book your tee times as far in advance as possible.
5. Consider an Alternative to Golf for Non-Golfers
Any bachelor party is bound to attract a wide spectrum of attendees, and there’s a good chance not everyone attending will be a golfer.
If there are guests who would rather not play golf, it’s a good idea to have an alternate event planned during any golf rounds on your itinerary. Consider scheduling brunch at a popular local restaurant, or some local sight-seeing as an alternative for the non-golfers in the group.
It’s also always nice to have some non-golf activities that include the entire party after any on-course fun.
“Llast time we had a golf outing and then went to a local brewery for lunch, followed by an escape room activity,” Kruse said. “This allowed those who may not be avid golfers to still have fun and participate in the overall event.”
6. Consider New Golfers if Necessary
It’s one thing to consider the non-golfers who want to remain non-golfers, as mentioned above. However, it’s just as likely that there will be non-golfers who want to join the fun on the golf course during the bachelor party. If you’ve got those people in your group, consider what their golf experience will be as you plan your day on the course, and help set them up for success.
“A mix of golf nuts and newbies? No worries,” Neave said. “Pick places where everyone can have a crack at it, and ensure there’s plenty of banter off the greens, too. It's about the lads, the laughs, and the memorable mulligans.”
You could go out of your way to check if the course has clubs available to rent, find a course that is suitable for new golfers (usually lower cost, less difficult courses are more welcoming to new golfers than expensive, highly-manicured and strict courses).
If there are new golfers in your group, it’s good to take that into consideration when you’re setting up any team competition or golf formats for the round as well, finding a format that is more inviting for all levels of players.
7. Plan your Transportation & Equipment
This one may sound obvious, but we need to point it out anyways. Don’t forget about transportation logistics to and from the golf course. Will some of the bachelor party attendees have access to vehicles? Can those vehicles fit all the golfers – and their clubs – to and from the course?
“Arrange transportation to and from the golf courses, ensuring everyone can enjoy themselves without worrying about logistics,” suggests Ed Jenkins, who helps connect travelers with transportation at Time to Backpack. “Consider renting a luxury van or hiring a driver for convenience and safety.”
If you’re planning on using Uber or public transportation, will there be room for golf clubs? Do you know how long your ride will take to get from your accommodation to the golf course? Have all of these details nailed down before you arrive to the bachelor party destination so there are no unpleasant surprises when it comes time to head to the course.
8. Use Tech and Apps to Your Advantage
Use technology to keep the devilish details as simple as possible. Apps like Venmo are great for splitting costs for golf, meals, drinks and other activities. While you’re on the course, you can use 18Birides to keep track of any competitions, side bets and games.
The first thing you should do, however, is set up a group chat with all the bachelor party attendees to help get everyone on the same page and fired up for the festivities.
9. Surprise the Groom
No matter who you ask, everyone agrees its a good idea to present the groom with a special gift during his bachelor party.
“Plan a special surprise or activity for the groom, such as a round at his dream golf course or a personalized gift related to golf,” Jenkins said. “Make him feel appreciated and celebrated throughout the trip.”
10. Capture the Memories
The nice thing about having a bachelor party today is that everybody has a high-quality camera on them 24 hours a day. Don’t be bashful about whipping out your phone to make sure your round of golf, and the whole bachelor party is well-documented, and Ollie Neave has some great advice to take that one step further.
“Trust me, you’ll want evidence of Dave’s bunker blunder or the toast at the 19th hole,” Neave said. “Set up a shareable album where all the lads can dump their snaps and videos. It’s the stuff of legends.”
11. Be Flexible
You know what they say about the best laid plans.
No matter how much planning you do, it’s important to be flexible and roll with the punches if things don’t work out exactly the way you thought they would.
“Don’t be that guy with the itinerary timed to the minute,” Neave says. “The best yarns come from those ‘let’s just wing it’ moments.”
Jenkins agrees, adding “while planning is essential, be prepared to adapt to unexpected changes or challenges that may arise during the trip.”
12. Party Responsibly
You want this bachelor party to be remembered for all the right reasons, not the wrong ones. Yes, letting loose is encouraged, just don’t lose sight of the importance of being safe and responsible.
“This is about sending the groom off in style, not sending him off the rails,” Neave cautioned. “Encourage pacing, especially with the brews, if there’s a morning tee time ahead. And look out for each other; make sure everyone’s having a good time, safely.”