Contributed by David Galassi, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Dig yourself out of your man cave for some guy time on the golf course, which is best spent away from home, the family, work and other daily distractions.

We are talking GOLF time, when the days are planned around tee times and evenings are spent at the club house bar, planning your strategy for a winning foursome the next day. From decades of experience as the point person planning an annual golf trip, here are my top ten golf outing planning tips that won’t disappoint your buddies.

Note that some golf outings are planned a year or more in advance, but an off-the-cuff outing can be successfully planned, if you can put a green check next to all these tips:

10. Other points of interest

Input from the group is important when selecting a destination for after golf activities. Do guys like to gamble? Dine at fine establishments? Want to hang in singles bars or strip clubs? Want beach or pool time? Want to just order pizza and play poker? This can be just as important as the golf itself. Remember … this is a golf trip for most and a vacation for some.

9. Don’t invite the scratch golfer

When setting up your games and such, attempt for equity in golf playing ability. If all your buddies carry a handicap card it is not an issue. But with most golfers not being officially handicapped, if you bring one great golfer it makes it hard to pair him up and keep equity. Golfers of equal ability always have more fun regardless of how good or bad they play.

8. Transportation

When everyone is not traveling from the same place it is important to pick a destination that all can get to easily. If one guy has to spend $500 more to get to a small airport in a remote place it is not fair to him. Coordinate travel related to rental cars and times of arrival as well. Minimize the cost to all which leave more money for fun.

7. What’s your budget

After each guy has the green light and dates are set and you agree on a geographic location you must set your budget. 18 holes a day in hotel vs. 36 a day all inclusive staying in a 2000 sq foot condo over looking the ocean makes a huge difference.

6. Cooperation

You will need the cooperation of each guy in the group. Analyze their ability to communicate with you or directly to the resort. What is their ability to pay deposits? Can they communicate special requests to you? Can they approve decisions that have to be made in a hurry — like tee time changes and golf game and pairing approvals. If not, have a work-around plan in place. Get approvals to be the decision-maker in advance.

5. Are there personality conflicts?

Who wants to room with whom? Does Joe not like Jim? Does Frank owe Steve money? Were Bill and Alex former business partners now in litigation? Silly as it sounds … only invite guys who ALL get along and share the same interests. If one guy is extremely frugal for example and all others like expensive fine dining it becomes an issue. Are you all hard drinkers and you invite the one guy in AA? Evaluate the personalities upfront for the invitation list.

4. The dates

Clear all dates with each guy up front. The resort destination will accommodate most changes and book tee times well in advance but when before you select a destination know which dates you will be traveling and for how long. The farther in advance you can set up your trip the better.

3. The quality of golf

Pick a spot that fits the golfers style and their ability to play. No sense playing Pebble Beach when you are all 26 handicappers. Do your guys want to play 18 or 36 a day? Tough days on the course make for misery rather than fun.

2. The destination

Pick a destination that fits all the golfers needs. A full service resort makes things less complicated as all your wants and needs are catered to. Food, golf, transportation and lodging are key elements to a successful destination.

1. The wife’s permission

Everyone needs permission up front. Without permission you might as well just say no. The wife or significant other is your main ally for funding, packing and airport transportation. Also vacation time at work applies here as well as your wife’s or new girl friend’s opinion of your friends.