If your vacation home is located close to a golf course or in a destination frequented by golfers, don't miss out by forgetting this group when writing your ads and equipping your home. When targeting a hobby group such as golfers, it's important to convey why your golf rental home is the best equipped and most conveniently located for their needs. Who Stays in Golf Rentals? Business travelers. Many travelers like to get in a round of golf while they're in town for business. Catch the eye of business travelers by noting the distance from your home to local businesses, convention centers, and airports in your listings, in addition to the distance to nearby golf courses and country clubs.  Guys' weekends. Groups of men often enjoy taking golf vacations. Target groups of guys by showcasing the amenities they're looking for in your photos and descriptions.  Groups of couples. Often two or more couples travel together to golf destinations. Show these groups that your home is right for them by outlining all of your amenities and highlighting not only nearby golf courses, but also nearby spas, shopping, and restaurants.

What Amenities Are They Looking For?

• A golf cart*. Consider letting your guests use your golf cart or including the golf cart rental in your rates. 
• Balls and tees. Save your guests a trip to a sporting goods store or pro shop and extra time on the links by keeping a supply of balls and extra tees at your home. At the very least, include directions to sporting goods stores in your welcome packet or directions. 
• A set of clubs. Consider including a set of clubs for those less-serious golfers who may not have their own or those who don't want to lug their clubs along. 
• A flat-screen TV with satellite cable. Golfers tend to be fans of other sports as well. Stocking your home with a large television that gets a number of sports channels will likely grab their attention. 
• A pool table, foosball table, or dartboard. Often, properties located within a golf resort feature similar floor plans. Adding an extra like a pool table, foosball table, or dartboard could help make your home stand out. 
• A poker table and poker chips. A poker table and poker chips are a pretty inexpensive amenity to add and will be much used and appreciated.

How Can You Target Golfers in Your Vacation Rental Listings?

Include the word “Golf” in your headline. It may sound like a no-brainer, but be sure to include “golf” in your headline to catch travelers searching specifically for a golf rental.

Feature a photo of the golf course in your thumbnail or first photo if your home is located on a course. Let prospective renters know from the get-go that your home is perfectly situated for golfers.

Include a photo of a nearby golf course as one of your other photos, if you're located near, but not on a course. Be sure to use the photo captions to designate which course the photo is of and how close it is to your vacation home.

Outfit your home in golf décor. Sell the experience visually by decorating your home in a golf motif.

List all nearby golf courses. In your listings, include a rundown of all of the public and private golf courses in your area, including par and yardage.

Highlight which hole you're located on (or closest to), if your home is located on a golf course and whether you have a fairway or green view.

List upcoming tournaments in your ads. To help travelers searching for special event accommodations, be sure to list all upcoming tournaments in your market somewhere in your vacation rental listings. Even if you don't have a major PGA or LGPA tournament coming to your area this year, in most markets there are dozens of other smaller events that bring travelers in from out of town. Be sure to note whether the tournaments are open or spectator.

List local driving ranges or pitch-and-putt ranges in your listing. Let potential guests know where they can sharpen their skills while staying in your home.

Name famous golf pros who live and/or teach in your area. This fun fact might be enough to make a prospective renter choose your market (and your home) over the next.

Featured directory. HomeAway.com now offers a Featured Directory specifically for golf properties.

The key to booking your golf condo or home is to know your target traveler, and to create ads on vacation rental websites that sell all that your home has to offer.

*Check with your attorney and/or insurance agent before allowing guests to use your golf cart because it may have liability ramifications.

Do you rent your home to golfers?  Tell us about what you do. "We got customized golf balls made with our home name and web address. Our renters love them!" --Byron, Ponta Vedra, FL.

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