Why You Need A Scottsdale Golf Packager
November 7, 2007
Local Knowledge is key
Golfers will call about a golf vacation to Scottsdale and have no prior knowledge of this area or know even the most basic things about Arizona golf, seasons, prices, etc. And that's perfectly ok. It then becomes the job of the golf vacation planner to educate them. And you can't do that if you are in a call center in Timbuctu. You must be able to know for example why it's not a good idea to go to the Grand Canyon in January when it's 4 hours away on good roads, freezing cold at an elevation of 8800 ft, a foot of snow on the ground and more on the way. Or how about the poor golfers who want to play 36 holes on a day in the winter when sunset comes at 5PM and they have been booked on courses that are an hour travel time away from each other. Who wants to pay $200. for 12 holes of golf?! There are many variations of the rules here, that's where local knowledge can make the difference.
Golf experts worth their weight in greens fees
Our golf courses are not always pristine and ready for a PGA Tour Event, there is a huge process in the fall called overseeding, this is done so that the fairways are nice and green for the tourists. Dormant bermuda grass is great to hit a ball off of but doesn't look real good to our winter visitors who are paying hundreds of dollars for golf here. At that time the selection of available courses gets tight. Greens can get punched at different times of the year and it's sometimes not information that all courses will share. You have to be tuned into the golf scene and know the current conditions of each and every course.
Scottsdale is not myrtle beach
Believe it or not there are a few areas of Scottsdale that are not quite up to Chamber of Commerce quality. The golf packagers we recommend to our customers know where to stay where it's safe and central to the courses you play. Not to mention things the non-golfer may be interested in doing, shopping, spa treatments, etc. Take my friends Tedd Maitland and Brad Meade at Troon Golf Vacations for example. I have worked with these guys for years and I know them to be the best at what they do.
Golf and lodging can be expensive here, especially in the high-season, winter months. It seems like the whole world wants to be here and there are only so many courses and tee times to go around. That's where a packager's 90-120 day access to the courses tee sheets will pay dividends. If you prefer to be located near relatives, a favorite restaurant, or a certain part of Scottsdale you have visited previously they will most likely have an accommodation that meets your needs and budget. They will also have all the information you will ever need about the types of courses available, desert/target vs traditional, how to get advance tee times at the best rates, current course conditions, access to private clubs, discounts and the like.
