Your hotels and rounds are booked, transportation is squared away and you’re fast-approaching your long-awaiting golfing trek to Myrtle Beach.

You dust off the suitcase and feel the excitement start to grow.

That’s usually when things start to get a little hazy. Mistakes can be made.

We’re here to usher you through the last remaining prep steps for your trip. Follow these oft-overlooked guidelines to what to bring (and what not to bring) to maximize your travel efficiency.

WHAT YOU CAN LEAVE BEHIND
Dozens of golf balls | The airlines love it when golfers load up on these. They’re small, but in bulk they also equate to more weight than their equivalent in underwear. Don’t let the carriers see any more easy dollar signs. The plethora of golf shops on the beach drives prices down here unlike anywhere you’re going to see back home. A group of four can easily save enough money for a few drinks each by taking only enough for a round and then making a quick stop once they get to the Strand.

That ninth polo | Chances are, you’re going to see a polo or four that you’re going to fall in love with at any of the clubhouses you visit. It’s a great souvenir, and the best part is they’re ready to wear. Bring your faves, but also know that you might be adding to the list soon enough. Get some local merch, save on your packing job, wear it while you’re here and then know you’ve got a cool way to break the ice at your next home-based round.

Tees | Golfers have been shoving socks into their golf bags for years. You know it. We know it. It’s not a big deal. But what makes zero sense is scrambling for tees before coming to Myrtle Beach. We’ve yet to play a round here – and it’s been a lot of rounds – where tees weren’t the most abundant freebie around. Save those holes in socks for when you play golf in Arizona.

ABSOLUTE MUSTS
Your clubs or rental confirmations | This should go without saying: If you’re not planning on renting (and have those plans handy), leaving home on a club flyer is a really, really bad idea. By the time you get here, you’re already pot committed to the trip and the last thing you want is to be scrambling for last-minute rentals or worried about what an unfitted set you don’t know is going to run you. Don’t press your luck; we have seen first-hand instances where this was a monumental vacation horror.

Extra underwear | Dude, you’re playing golf. And most of you won’t have a washer and dryer. You’re not going to realize this mistake until it’s too late. After you think you’re done packing, cram some additional boxer briefs into whatever extra space you have. Thank us later.

Cash | This ain’t your daddy’s golf trip. You don’t need to be rolling up everywhere you go like you’re Pablo Escobar’s right-hand man paying off the local police. But what you will need is a few bucks at every course to tip the bag drops, drink cart attendants and post-round club scrubbers. We’re not talking Benjamins here. Fifty bucks in Lincolns that you hold back for the courses themselves prevents the awkward “Ummmms” along the way. You can use the plastic for everything else.

Sun block | It’s awesome to go back telling folks of the seafood you ate here. Looking like a crab or lobster isn’t awesome. Among our ultimate favorite tips is that sun block not only prevents skin damage and potential long-term effects, but for most people it actually cools them down and allows them to stay in the sun longer. That means more golf. And less pain. And less lidocaine-infused post-burn cream.

Shoes, shoes, shoes | You already packed your golf shoes. And then you packed your flip flops. Cool? Not cool. Bring those sneaks for when you’re not on the course but getting into anything else. Flip flops aren’t recovery tools. They’re what you wear to the beach or pool. Wear those suckers out for your evening of entertainment and you’re going to pay the price the next time you put on the golf shoes. Comfortable footwear in the heat and humidity is key. Just wear them on the flight and it saves you some suitcase room.

(Photos for this feature from our Instagram Account @MyrtleBeachGolfTrips)