Laugh…laugh and laugh some more. This is what seems to be the order of the day when our regular travelling foursome gets going on our short but regular golfing trips.

No more than two nights, that’s our rule, we might fly to Cape Town, drive into the country, seek out an unknown gem along the N6…all well and good but the two night rule applies. The most common format is to depart early on day one and play a round of golf en route to the first nights stay over. Play again the next day, a second night’s stay over and a final game on the way home on day three. Neat, tidy, short and sweet.

A wise man once said years ago that as you sit on the patio, blanket on the knees reflecting on life before you leave this world…it won’t be the things you did do that you will regret, it’ll be the things you didn’t do. I am blessed with four friends with the same interests (give or take a few minor differences) who have travelled some three times a year for a good few years now, to play golf, laugh, joke and enjoy some good food and wine.

We have had some really memorable times, played some awful golf, and some good golf but more importantly we have travelled to some great destinations, not only the well known ones and enjoyed some moments that will forever be in the memory banks. We take turns as official organisers, in pairs, this in itself usually leads to much frivolity, the night Joe fastidiously booked a restaurant that just happened to be closed, and the Bed and Breakfast that was near the course and ended up being a four hour drive from what appeared to be Pretoria to Wanderers Club in Johannesburg. The day we arrived at Hankey, in the Eastern Cape, what a great course, nine holes, played twice from different tee’s, but what a gem. Situated somewhere between Port Elizabeth and Oudtshoorn, this gem of a course is well worth visiting. Situated in a valley of Citrus, did we laugh when we climbed on the only two golf carts as we saw the other pair disappear in a cloud of smoke, talk about leaving one’s carbon foot print, wow but this was like Gulliver’s Travels!

Here are a few tips or lessons learned from our travels over many years:

• Plan ahead, make the time and do this at least three times a year if you are able, allow your spouse equal privilege and support it when she takes a break with her friends, fairs fair.
• Keep it short and simple, too long and it can get a little much from a time viewpoint and also a cost viewpoint, two nights is affordable.
• Plan properly, book ahead, with regard to tee-times, accommodation, restaurants, use www.staysa.co.za they are great.
• Share costs, petrol; car hire…appoint a member who is good at this and able to manage it, pay your debts promptly and immediately.
• Be daring…there are golf course gems everywhere, not always the expensive, well known courses, experiment and you will be very pleasantly surprised, in the Eastern Cape try Hankey; Stutterheim; Port Alfred…great member courses, inexpensive and enjoyable.

Guys, get it together, stop putting it off, once you take the time and trouble to do it….you will enjoy huge benefit from touring in the wonderful country of ours, you only live once now get off your lazy butt and get golfing.

YOUR INPUT IS CRITICAL…….. Please send any travel tip or travel idea to travelbug@staysa.co.za and help fellow travellers to enjoy safe and happy travelling