I have addressed the same situation in the past. I simply told my buddies I couldn’t play marathon golf as in the past. Others agreed. We changed or itineraries to enjoy the trip more than the amount of golf. This includes “down time”, a long hot shower after golf followed by a chance to relax before dinner. I think all agree that our trips are more enjoyable now.

Mad... you may need one! For those that are escaping a climate that keeps the bag in the closet for a couple of months each winter that amount of golf like a "drug" for the winter doldrums. It gets you through until the sun shines. Being from the Vegas area, not sure you are that guy. Figure out how to loose the "drain" so you can play as soon as you get home!

As long as you are having fun, does it really matter? Golf is about having FUN.

144 holes in 3 days is a lot of golf. I believe that after the second day all you end up doing is cranking in poor habits to your game...you're tired and you start doing things with your swing to compensate for being tired. Even after your trip it's hard to return to your normal swing, trust me...I've done mega trips in the past and always struggled for a time when back at home. I now take the less is better approach.

Golf is supposed to be fun. You have 8 hour days 5 days a week to have a job. if it feels like a job (or worse) by the 3rd day and you do it again...well... Consider adding some par 3 courses (27 holes in a day) instead of back to back to back.. 18 hole full course rounds. I've liked the RJT Trail in Alabama because most of the sites have a par 3. Be serious for 18 and then leave the metals in the car and just keep going for the pin off of the tee. Every hole can be a closest to the pin for wagering.

Huntsville, Alabama here! Play the RTJ par 3 several times using it like range time. Lots of iron practice and different lies you don't get at the range.

Been too long since I've been to any site on The Trail, but the par 3 course at Hampton Cove (Huntsville) is a challenge! And if you hate bunkers, the River Course doesn't have any. Of course, there is something else present to distract your eyes instead of bunkers - can you guess? Still, plenty of space to play away from the hazards and enough challenge during winter months (dormant grass around the greens means balls roll off/out) to keep your attention from wandering!

If my wife has a conference and I go with her I play one round each day. Usually 4 rounds in total. If I play 36 I'm not playing the next day no matter where I am!

My wife and I went to Scotland in late August. She played 7 of the 8 days, I played 8. We played one 18 hole round per day, then did some sightseeing. We had a great time together. Have a picture just like Don O above. A member of our club returned from a similar trip where his group played 36 each day. He complained that he didn't get to see any of the country. We loved the golf, but also loved being tourists, too.

I might be crazy but...at St. Andrews, playing my 4th 18 holes in 7 days, my wife offered to tack on another day there to play The Jubilee after the Old and New the previous 2 days. I could tell it was going to be hard to enjoy the 3rd day. Decided the memories were already good enough and elected to going back to be a tourist again. No regrets and enjoyed the rest of the trip. If you can't remember on which day or even which course the 5th hole had a water hazard, can you really say you enjoyed the marathon?
Of course, maybe I want to forget which double green on the New Course I hit an approach shot to within 10 feet of the wrong pin.

Interesting topic, for sure. I'm headed to Scottsdale 1/30- 2/3 for golf, and the WM Open. We initially planned to play 18, 36, 36, Tournament, 18, and fly home. I'm thinking about only one day of 36, or maybe even no days. Haven't made up my mind yet. Partially due to the "tired" factor, and partly due to not wanting to spend $1200 on green fees.

MAD you've gone MAD! I would definitely be feeling your pain after a run of golf like that with a cross-country flight thrown in.

Love the idea of quality over quantity, on the whole. A quality round with proper rest, proper warm-up, and a proper post-round wrap up and a nice dinner sounds perfect!

BUT...also fun every once in a while to grind out a day or two of 36 holes. Make it an extended match play like the US Am or something and have a blast while your body melts!

Like many have said...whatever it takes to keep it fun, go with it.

When I first retired, I was like a kid in a candy store, playing 5 days a week. After about 2 years, it started to become too much. Now I do 3 days a week with some range time in between and It's just right and keeps it fun.

That's a lot of golf in 3 days, I would be drained for a couple of weeks myself.

I now believe Quality is better than Quantity. After my 2 business trips to Georgia this year (July & September) spent 27 days there both times. I played a total of 20 rounds down there & 3 before I went & 3 in between trips so 26 total rounds between July 1st & September 28th.

My last 4 or 5 rounds were really difficult to maintain focus & consistent shot making as my swing got sloppy on my mid-irons & driver. I even started changing things I used to do to see if helped my swing. I think it was more fatigue than actual swing issues.

I changed it up at times by playing from different tees so I would use different clubs during some of the rounds. We played from the Golds front side & the Reds on the back one time, then flipped it the next time we played just to give a new perspective.

I enjoyed the courses, the weather was awesome shot fairly well but once I returned home I felt like my game suffered more the second time around than the first trip.

Did have fun meeting several local golfers on the weekend rounds.

DM

Great question for the golf traveler. I have found it depends on your age and fitness level. I have made a few marathons that I have enjoyed but made the trip miserable when when my body wasn’t prepared for it. It makes a huge difference on how long your travel is prior to first round. Flying across the ocean means you have to have a day before playing, the jet lag is real. I’m the youngest in my group and found number of rounds to be an important topic before planning the trip. Multiple rounds in a day on separate courses is a stressor on the first round to get done by a certain time which could take some of the joy away.
Make a plan well in advance of any golf trip for everyone to prepare their minds and bodies.

THANX FOR THE REPLIES TEAM.

CALL ME CRAZY BUT THE GUYS ARE PUTTING TOGETHER ANOTHER GOLF EXTRAVAGANZA FOR MID JULY (90-144)HOLES .EITHER MYRTLE BEACH OR KINGSMILL ...

Madgolfer.. hitemstraight

If you end up in Myrtle Beach and play multiple rounds a day try some of the resort courses. Barefoot, Legends, Myrtle Beach National and Myrtlewood all have multiple courses on the same site. Saves on driving and you can get lunch in between rounds. Only thing that may screw it up is pace of play. Played two rounds at the Pearl last year and had to skip the 18th on the East course to make our tee time on the West course. You probably already know all this but I figured I'd put it out there. Where ever you end up have a great time.

If I'm taking a cart 36 holes is not a problem. Walking- it can get taxing.
Maybe I need an intervention, but my ideal day is walk 18 in the morning, eat, another 18 in a cart, dinner, drinks, repeat.
I'm hoping to play the summer solstice is Bandon - walk 72 holes in one day... Now that will be tiring.

If I'm taking a cart 36 holes is not a problem. Walking- it can get taxing.
Maybe I need an intervention, but my ideal day is walk 18 in the morning, eat, another 18 in a cart, dinner, drinks, putting contest, drinks, repeat.
I'm hoping to play the summer solstice is Bandon - walk 72 holes in one day... Now that will be tiring.

We were making yearly runs to RTJ in alabama every year. Finally have played them all and we were doing 54 a day between RTJ and their par threes to RTJ and a few nearby courses either way lots of golf. Last year we decided to slow it down a little so now we play 27-36 a day. Pick up a nice resturant a night and maybe a few golf stores when available feel lots better at the end of the four day trip.