A group of guys, their golf clubs leaning against the wall, were waiting with me for the golf shuttle in the soaring open-air lobby of the Marquis Los Cabos, Mexico. "Been here before?" I asked. “Nope. Just got in yesterday. We usually go to Myrtle, but we got a great deal here.” “That’s key,” added another guy. “If it’s too expensive, we have trouble explaining the trip to our wives if you know what I mean.”

“Right," I said. The guilt thing. I understood. Myrtle Beach is one thing but nonstop views of azure seas, drinks with little umbrellas in them and masses of bougainvillea spilling over the walls — and did I mention private pools on the casita rooftops — that's something else altogether. Their wives would be getting some serious bling after this trip was over.

Would girls have the same compunction about spending money on a girlie weekend with their BBFs? Maybe. But then if there were a spa? Well, a girl had to have a massage and that would be extra and if the pro shop had great stuff, there you go. Certainly Cosmos and Margueritas cost more than beer. So sure, a girlie weekend might cost more, but who's counting?
Buddy/girlie golf trips come in all shapes and sizes.

BAREBONES MACHO

This is the one buddies take every year. It's expected. A ritual. The destination should be somewhere easy to get to, either a short direct flight or a half day's drive. There has to be a good number of good public-accessible courses, not the scuffed-up muni variety. These are diehard golfers. They want to play golf. Thirty six holes a day is about right.

Of course, costs have to be reasonable, preferably included in a stay-and-play package. The key? The total price tag has to justifiable to “her.” After all, “she” would be the one paying the credit card when the bills roll in.

This one takes the least planning. Simply hone in on a destination on the Web (we suggest using the www.fairwaysandgreens.com archives) and pick your poison. Or you can return to the place you went last year. This would make things simpler as you already know where the sports bars are and the places to get coffee and doughnuts.

When it comes to where to stay, you're not looking for the Ritz, but you are looking for more than a bar of soap, a tin shower and an aging clunker Motorola. You'd settle for clean, convenient, small fridge and a flat-screen TV with cable and the Golf Channel. Chain-variety suite hotels offering a free hot breakfast are good bets.

LUXURY GUY TRIP

This is a little more special. Perhaps a first-ever trip or the celebration of a major event like a milestone birthday. You're looking for a certain comfort level. This is no time to be a Scrooge. You'll need to throw in more cash. But this one also takes more time to plan. Start nailing down tee times, lodging and travel arrangements a few weeks — or even months — ahead of time. If you want to play the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland, you'll need to get in gear a year before you go.

Look at casino hotels with stay-and-play packages or destinations offering villa accommodations where your group can share a multi-bedroom condo with a kitchen, living room, patio and — better yet — a shared pool, fitness center and restaurant.

LADIES GOLF FLING

You've made a huge effort to get things in order back home — walk the dog, meals in the freezer and all that. So you deserve a place with attractive surroundings like a beach or mountain resort where there is one or more golf courses on the property along with restaurants and other things like a great spa, hiking trails, a super pool and a golf school.

You know you aren't into playing golf until you drop, so look for destinations with after-golf, funky fun stuff, perhaps zipline tours, whale watching and a cool shopping area with a cappuccino café.

You want to get there easily without a whole lot of fuss and dragging bags, so if you fly, book non-stop flights. Tip: Check out Sun Mountain's ClubGlider, an amazing wheelie travel bag for your clubs. You can pull 50 pounds with your little finger. A miracle.

Full-service resorts with all the bells and whistles including mini-fridges, good cell service and free WiFi should be at the top of your list. Ask about double rooms or suites so you can share and save some money, or perhaps share a luxury golf villa.

One last thing: If the guilt trip thing sets in, the pro shops have great stuff for men like the new Mojodelics groovy tie from Loudmouth Golf. And hey, if he loves that, next year you can bring back a matching sports coat. Austin Powers move over. Yeah, baby.