The Guys Trip Done Right: Golf, Fishing, and a Setup That Actually Works

A 3-4 day guys trip should be simple: good golf, solid fishing, cold drinks, and one place everyone actually wants to be. Condo Del Mar is built for groups of 8 to 12.

Plan Your Trip

The Problem With Most Guys Trips

It usually starts with good intentions.

Then reality hits:

  • Rooms scattered across a hotel

  • Guys sharing beds they didn’t agree to

  • No real place to hang out

  • Group text turns into logistics

You land tired. Someone is already asking where to meet. By day two, the group splits. By day three, the trip you planned for months is basically over.

That’s not a guys trip. That’s coordination.

A Setup That Actually Works

Condo Del Mar in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida is built for one thing: keeping the group together without crowding each other.

  • No lobby. No elevators. No splitting up.

  • Just one property your group controls.

This is the complete guide to planning that trip: the setup, the golf, the fishing, the evenings, the itinerary, and the practical answers to every question you'll get from the group chat.

👉 See how the full property works for groups →

Book the entire Condo Del Mar complex - 4 condos, 8 bedrooms, built for 8-12 guys

Built for Groups (Not Packed Groups)

When you book the full property, you’re not getting “a big rental.”

You’re getting four separate condos under one roof.

Here’s what that means:

  • 4 full condos — each with kitchen, living room, and entrance

  • 8 private bedrooms (real beds, real doors)

  • 8 bathrooms — no waiting, no sharing

  • Sleeps 8 comfortably, up to 12 with flexibility

  • Private pool + hot tub (only your group)

  • Beach access directly across the street

This matters more than it sounds.

  • Early guys can wake up, make coffee, head to golf or fishing.

  • Late guys can sleep in without hearing a thing.

  • No one is tiptoeing around a shared Airbnb at 6 a.m.

Why This Layout Wins

  • Golf clubs stay in the game room, not your car

  • The pool becomes the default meeting place

  • Two BBQs mean dinner doesn’t turn into a production

  • The group stays together without forcing it

It removes friction. That’s what makes the trip better.

👉 View the full property layout and how the 4 condos connect →

The Home Base Effect

Every good guys trip has a “spot” and at Condo Del Mar, it’s built in.

The pool deck becomes:

  • Morning coffee

  • Post-round lunch

  • Pre-dinner drinks

  • Late-night cigars

Same place. No decisions required.

The hot tub isn’t a luxury. It’s recovery after 18 holes or a day offshore.

The game room fills the gaps when energy dips or weather shifts.

And the beach is right across the street. Not a walk. Not a shuttle. Just there.

👉 See everything included with the property →

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Golf That Fits the Trip

Most guys trips overbook golf.

Too far. Too long. Too much.

You end up exhausted and done by dinner.

Indian Rocks Beach sits in the middle of the Tampa Bay golf market, which means:

  • 15–30 minute drives

  • Real courses, not tourist traps

  • Morning rounds that don’t kill your day

Typical daily flow:

  1. 7 a.m. — coffee on the pool deck

  2. 7:30 a.m. — load clubs, 15-minute drive

  3. 8:15 a.m. — tee off

  4. 1 p.m. — back at Condo Del Mar

  5. 1:15 p.m. — pool, lunch, reset

No wasted afternoon. No rushed dinner. Everyone's back with time to breathe.

Nearby course recommendations:

Largo Golf Course — 10 minutes from Condo Del Mar. Straightforward municipal course, affordable, playable, easy to book on short notice. Perfect for a group with mixed handicaps where half the guys haven't swung a club since last year.

Clearwater Country Club — 15 minutes north. Classic 1920s layout, walkable, no fuss. Older trees, smaller greens, a real "you'll actually remember this round" feel. Good mid-range pick.

Belleair Country Club — 15 minutes north, one of the oldest courses in Florida (founded 1897). If someone in your group has access, this is the premium round of the trip. Book it for day two when everyone's warmed up.

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) — 30 minutes away. Hosts the PGA's Valspar Championship. A legitimate bucket-list round if you want to upgrade one day of the trip.

East Lake Woodlands Country Club — 25 minutes away, two courses, a little more challenging. Good option if the group has a few low handicaps who want a real test.

Booking tip: Reserve tee times the day you book the trip, not the week before. Tampa Bay area courses fill up fast between October and April.

Fishing That Delivers

This is what separates the trip.

You’ve got two plays here:

Inshore (Half Day)

  • Calm water, steady action

  • Redfish, snook, trout

  • Back by lunch

Best for day one or mixed experience groups.

Offshore (Full Day)

  • 20–60 miles out

  • Grouper, snapper, bigger fish

  • Early start, full-day commitment

This is the story day.

The Right Move

Do both.

  • Inshore first

  • Offshore second

Then grill the catch that night.

That’s the moment the trip is built around.

Booking tip: Book charters 30+ days out between November and April. Good captains get reserved fast. Ask about a weather-cancellation rebooking policy before you put down a deposit.

Evenings That Don’t Fall Flat

This is where most trips lose momentum.

Too many restaurants. Too much driving. Group starts breaking apart.

Here’s what works:

  • Grill at the property

  • Sit by the pool

  • Drinks, cigars, conversation

No one leaves early because there’s nowhere better to go.

Pro tip: Assign one guy to grill each night. Rotate. Everyone contributes, nobody gets stuck cooking for 10.

When You Want to Go Out

Keep it close:

  • JD’s Restaurant & Lounge — easy first-night stop

  • Crabby Bill’s — casual, built for groups

  • Guppy’s on the Beach — best dinner spot

  • Keegan’s Seafood Grille — local favorite

  • The Pub Waterside — drinks + live music

Most nights still end back at the pool.

👉 See our favorite restaurants and local spots →

The 3-Day Plan

For shorter trips — three full days, one big group, no wasted time.

Day 1Arrive

Morning

Travel and check in. Unload, drop clubs in the game room.

Afternoon

Pool deck, easy lunch, settle in.

Evening

JD's for a first-night drink, back to the deck.

Day 2Golf + Inshore

Morning

8 a.m. tee time at Largo or Clearwater Country Club.

Afternoon

Inshore charter, half day. Redfish, snook, trout.

Evening

Grill the catch. Drinks on the pool deck.

Day 3Offshore

Morning

Early offshore charter, 6 a.m. out. Grouper, snapper, deep water.

Afternoon

Back mid-afternoon. Pool, hot tub, reset.

Evening

Group dinner at Guppy's. Cigars back at Condo Del Mar.

The 4-Day Plan

The recommended version. Three active days, one buffer on each end, no day overbooked.

Day 1Arrive

Morning

Travel and check in.

Afternoon

Pool, beach walk, easy lunch.

Evening

JD's for a first-night drink, then grill night on the deck.

Day 2Golf Day

Morning

8 a.m. tee time. 15-minute drive, full round.

Afternoon

Back by 1 p.m. Pool, food, downtime.

Evening

Crabby Bill's, then back to the pool deck.

Day 3Inshore

Morning

Inshore charter, 7 a.m. out. Half day on the flats.

Afternoon

Back by noon. Lunch, nap, game room.

Evening

Grill night. Cigars and conversation on the deck.

Day 4Offshore

Morning

Offshore charter, 6 a.m. out. Full day, deep water.

Afternoon

Back mid-afternoon. Beach, hot tub, reset.

Evening

Guppy's for dinner. One last round on the deck.

Day 5Roll Out

Morning

Coffee on the deck. Beach walk.

Afternoon

Pack up and head home.

Evening

—

The 4-day version is what most groups walk away recommending. Three active days, one buffer on each end, no single day that feels overbooked.

The Math Most Groups Skip

Same 4 nights, same group, very different trip.

Option A

Four Hotel Rooms

$5,600

$350/night × 4 rooms × 4 nights

  • ×No group space, no kitchen, no private pool
  • ×No pool deck, no game room
  • ×Breakfast and parking cost extra
  • ×Two guys per room, sharing beds
  • ×Group splits up the moment you arrive

Option B

The Whole Condo Del Mar Complex

$4,000–$6,500

Whole property, 4 nights, 8–12 guys · roughly $80–$135 per guy/night

  • ✓8 private bedrooms, 8 private bathrooms
  • ✓Private pool, hot tub, game room, two BBQs
  • ✓Full kitchens in every condo
  • ✓Storage for golf clubs and fishing gear
  • ✓Group stays together — the whole trip

And the part you can’t put a dollar on: the trip is actually better because the group stays together.

Indian Rocks Beach vs. Destin: The Honest Read

If you’re weighing a Gulf Coast guys trip, you’ve probably looked at Destin or 30A. Here’s the comparison most blogs won’t give you straight.

Destin / 30A wins on

A shorter drive if you’re coming from Nashville, Birmingham, or north Alabama.

Indian Rocks Beach wins on

Almost everything else.

Drive Time from the Southeast

Destin / 30A

Long haul from Florida, Georgia, or the Carolinas.

✓Indian Rocks Beach

2–9 hours closer from Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, and Atlanta.

Crowds

Destin / 30A

Packed in peak season. Traffic, lines, busy beaches.

✓Indian Rocks Beach

Quiet year-round. No high-rises, no spring-break energy.

Property Setup

Destin / 30A

Mostly high-rise condos with shared pools and amenities.

✓Condo Del Mar

A full private complex — pool, hot tub, game room, BBQs — for your group only.

Fishing

Destin / 30A

Solid offshore. Inshore options are more limited.

✓Indian Rocks Beach

Better, more consistent inshore fishing. Strong offshore. Redfish, snook, grouper, snapper.

Golf Density

Destin / 30A

A handful of courses within 30 minutes.

✓Indian Rocks Beach

Tampa Bay has more quality courses inside 30 minutes than the entire Panhandle.

The short version: if you’re not driving in from Tennessee, Indian Rocks Beach is probably the better call.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The complex has 8 private bedrooms and sleeps 8 comfortably. With sofa sleepers, you can push it to 12. We recommend 8–10 for peak comfort.

  • Yes — individual condos are available. But the full-complex rental is where the guys trip shines. You get the pool deck, game room, and BBQs to yourselves.

  • October through April is peak season — perfect weather, prime fishing, no humidity. Book 3–6 months out for best availability. May through September is lower season with warmer water; great for fishing, heavier afternoon thunderstorms, better rates.

  • Winter highs: 70s. Spring highs: 75–82. Summer highs: 88–92. Winter is the sweet spot for golf. Spring and fall are ideal for fishing.

    • Golf clubs (we have storage)

    • Fishing gear is provided by the charter — just bring sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen

    • Comfortable clothes — dress codes don't exist here

    • A cooler if you want to pack out the offshore catch

  • Yes. Plan for 1–2 rentals or SUVs for the group. Most things are 5–15 minutes away but not walkable. Restaurants and Bars are walkable

  • St. Pete-Clearwater (PIE) is 20 minutes away — limited but growing direct flights. Tampa International (TPA) is 30 minutes away — full major-airline service. For most groups, TPA is easier.

  • Directly across the street. Under a 3 -minute walk in flip flops.

  • Yes — two BBQs on site. Clean your fish at the boat, bring it home, grill it on the pool deck. This is one of the best nights of the trip.

  • Most captains offer a reschedule or full refund for weather cancellations. Always ask before booking. Indoor-friendly fallback: the game room, a round at a covered practice range, or a long lunch at one of the waterfront bars.

  • Yes — but it also works as a pure adults-only guys trip. The complex is yours when you book the whole property.

👉 Looking for a different group size? View all condo options →

How to Book

Reserve the entire complex. Bring the group. Do the trip right.

  1. 1

    Pick your dates. October–April for best weather. May–September for better rates.

  2. 2

    Book the whole complex. That’s what makes the trip.

  3. 3

    Lock in charters and tee times the same week. The good ones fill fast.

  4. 4

    Split the cost across the group. Per-guy, it beats four hotel rooms — and isn’t close on experience.

Book the whole complex. Bring the group. Do it right.