Okay, so I decided it was finally time for a proper golf break. Winter was dragging on, you know? And Florida just kept popping into my head – sunshine, green fairways, the whole deal. So, I started looking into these florida golf packages I’d heard about.
First thing I did was just jump online. Typed it straight into the search bar. Man, was that overwhelming. So many choices! Websites galore, all screaming about deals and luxury resorts and championship courses. It was a lot to take in, honestly.
I spent a good few evenings just scrolling, trying to figure out what was what. Some packages included flights, others didn’t. Some were tied to specific hotels, others seemed more flexible. The pricing was all over the place too. You see a cheap headline price, then realize it’s only for like, two nights and one round on a course I’d never heard of.
Digging Deeper
So, I realized I needed a plan. Just browsing wasn’t cutting it. I started thinking about what I actually wanted.
- Location: Did I want Orlando near the parks? Naples for something quieter? Maybe Jacksonville? I wasn’t sure at first, so I kept it open.
- Courses: This was important. I wanted to play some decent tracks, maybe one or two well-known ones if the price wasn’t insane.
- Accommodation: Didn’t need super fancy, just clean and comfortable, preferably close to the courses. A condo or villa sounded nice, maybe more room than a standard hotel room.
- Budget: Had a rough number in mind. Needed to stick to it, more or less.
- Time: Needed about 5-7 days, including travel.
With that list, I started filtering my searches. Instead of just “florida golf packages,” I tried things like “golf packages Naples Florida condo” or “Orlando golf trip deals 5 days”. That helped narrow things down a bit, but still, tons of options.
I found a few companies that seemed to specialize in putting these packages together. I checked out their sites, looked at the sample itineraries. Some looked pretty good, others felt a bit restrictive. I was tempted to just call one of them, tell them what I wanted, and see what they came up with. Seemed easier than wading through everything myself.
Making the Call (Figuratively)
I ended up focusing on a couple of areas – the Tampa/St. Pete area and maybe the Palm Beach area. They seemed to have a good concentration of courses and varied accommodation.
I started comparing specific packages side-by-side. Okay, this one has Course A, B, and C with Hotel X. That one has Course B, D, and E with Condo Y. Then I’d look up reviews for the courses and the places to stay. It was like detective work!
One thing I noticed was how different the quotes could be for basically the same thing. Some included cart fees, some didn’t. Some had resort fees hidden away. You really had to read the fine print, which, let’s be honest, is a pain.
After way too much screen time, I found a package that looked like a winner. It was for 6 nights in the Tampa area, staying in a decent-looking resort villa. It included rounds at three different courses I was genuinely interested in playing. The price felt reasonable, right around my target budget, and it clearly stated what was included – green fees, cart fees, taxes. No obvious hidden extras.
Booking It
The booking process itself was pretty straightforward on their website, thankfully. Filled in my details, dates, number of golfers (just me this time, a solo mission!). Had to put down a deposit. Got a confirmation email almost immediately, which was reassuring.
So yeah, that’s how I tackled the whole Florida golf package thing. It took some effort, more than I initially thought, mainly just sifting through the noise. But I got there. Now I’ve just got to wait for the trip itself. Can almost feel that Florida sunshine already!
