The 3-Day Golf Buddies Trip Itinerary
An hour-by-hour 3-day golf buddies trip itinerary: arrival round, the big day, getaway singles, meals, games and awards.
Three days is the classic buddies trip. Long enough to feel like a getaway. Short enough that nobody has to beg for a week off.
Here is an hour-by-hour plan you can steal. It assumes 8 players, two foursomes and a drive of a few hours. Adjust times for your courses.
Before you leave
The trip starts the week before.
- Send the final schedule with every address.
- Confirm tee times by phone.
- Get everyone into the scoring app.
- Share the rules sheet. Read it once. Argue about it now, not on the first tee.
Day 1: arrival and a loose round
The goal of day one is to get there, play loose and set the tone.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 8:00 | Leave. Coffee stop on the way |
| 11:30 | Arrive at course one. Quick lunch |
| 12:30 | Range and putting green, 20 minutes |
| 1:10 | First tee. 2-man scramble |
| 5:30 | Check in at the house |
| 7:00 | Dinner, close to the house |
| 9:00 | Team draft for days two and three |
Why a scramble first
People arrive stiff from the drive. A scramble hides the rust. It also plays fast, so you finish in daylight.
Draft night
Do the team draft on night one. Two captains. Snake order: A, B, B, A. Make it a show. It is one of the best parts of the trip.
Once the teams are set, the trip has a story.
Day 2: the big day
Day two is the one people remember. Make it count.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 7:00 | Breakfast at the house |
| 8:00 | Leave for course two |
| 8:50 | First tee. Best ball match play, team vs team |
| 1:00 | Lunch at the course. Standings read aloud |
| 2:00 | Afternoon round, optional. Skins only, no team points |
| 6:30 | Back at the house |
| 7:30 | Big dinner. Book it in advance |
The morning match
Best ball match play. Two-versus-two matches. Each match is worth a point. Half a point for a tie. Everyone counts.
The optional afternoon
Not everyone wants 36 holes. Make the afternoon round skins only. Players who skip it do not hurt their team. Players who play it get bragging rights.
The big dinner
Book somewhere good on night two. This is the dinner people talk about. Seat the teams together. Let the trash talk go.
Day 3: singles and getaway
Day three has one job: decide it. Then get everyone home safe.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 6:45 | Pack, load the car |
| 7:30 | Quick breakfast |
| 8:20 | First tee. Singles match play |
| 12:30 | Final putt. Points tallied |
| 1:00 | Lunch and awards |
| 2:00 | Drive home |
Why singles last
Singles put every player on the spot. Every point is personal. It is the most dramatic way to end. The cup is often decided in the last group.
Awards at lunch
Do awards before anyone leaves. Hand out the cup. Then a few small prizes:
- MVP: most points won
- Best shot of the trip
- Worst hole of the trip
- The "Snowman" award, for anyone who made an 8
Games to run all trip
Pick one or two side games. More than that gets messy.
- Skins. Win a hole outright, win a skin.
- Closest to the pin on every par 3.
- Hammer. In a two-team match, a team can "hammer" to double the hole's value. The other team accepts or concedes.
What it costs to keep score
Use one app for the whole trip. One leaderboard. No arguments.
MATCHUPS fits this plan well if your group is on iPhone. It runs two equal teams of 4, 8 or 12 over one to five rounds. It scores Scramble, Best Ball, Match and Skins, with Hammer as a side game. There is a live lock-screen scoreboard and end-of-trip awards. Hosting is free for 4 players and a one-time $49.99 for 8 or 12.
It does not do Nassau, Wolf or Stableford, and it does not run on Android. If that matters, see other options on our golf buddies trip app comparison.
Adapting the plan
4 players
One foursome. Play two-versus-two on days one and two, switching partners. Singles on day three as a round robin.
12 players
Three foursomes. Same plan. Book tee times back to back. Expect each round to take a little longer.
Odd numbers
Five, seven or nine players need a different setup. Read what to do with odd numbers on a golf trip.
Packing reminder
Do not forget the basics. Our golf buddies trip packing list has everything, including the things people always forget.
The plan on one card
- Day 1: drive, 2-man scramble, dinner, draft.
- Day 2: best ball match play, optional skins round, big dinner.
- Day 3: singles, awards, home.
Print it. Tape it to the fridge at the house. Enjoy the trip.
We are the MATCHUPS team. Our app runs the scoring, teams and side games for a buddies trip on iPhone and Apple Watch. It is free to download. App Store | matchupsgolf.com
FAQ
What is a good 3-day golf trip schedule?
Day 1 arrival round with a scramble, day 2 best ball match play with an optional afternoon round, day 3 singles then awards.
When should you pick teams on a golf trip?
On night one, with a captain's draft at dinner.
What app works for a 3-day buddies trip?
MATCHUPS for iPhone groups of 4, 8 or 12. Use 18Birdies or Golf GameBook if anyone is on Android.