How To Travel With Golf Clubs

Golfing is an excellent way to relieve stress and get you out into nature. To many people, golfing is more than just a hobby. Golf is enjoyed by people all over the world. In fact, golf is played by over 50 million people worldwide in over 206 countries.

Many studies have been conducted on the physical and mental benefits of golf. These studies determined that golf was a valuable form of physical activity, with beneficial cardiovascular associations and a positive effect on mental health.

People spend very good money to be able to indulge in the finest courses that the world has to offer. Often this means traveling by air, which complicates things a little bit. A lot of golfers have never had to travel long distances with their clubs before.

In this article, I’ll talk a little bit about the most common problems people face when traveling with clubs, and their simple, effective solutions.

The Hurdles Of Traveling With Clubs

Before flying with golf clubs, you should know what you’re getting into. Taking a golf trip can be very exciting, but traveling with golf clubs, unfortunately, isn’t. If you aren’t properly prepared, it’s possible something might break during your travels; or even end up lost. You also have to consider the extra fees that will inevitably be charged due to your extra bag.

Most airline companies operating out of the United States will charge $35 for a second bag, which is what your golf bag will be considered. Not only will airlines charge you a fee for you extra bag, in this case, your golf bag, but they also might not handle it very carefully.

It can be scary to hand over your favorite clubs to the well-meaning attendant at the baggage check-in, but it is a necessary evil. It must be done. Did you want to go on that golf trip after all? Don’t worry; you can make sure your golf clubs survive the trip by packing properly and choosing the right bag.

Choosing A Golf Bag

Golf bags come in two types: hard case, and soft case. Your first step when it comes to choosing a golf bag is to decide whether you want a hard case or a soft case. Neither bag is perfect, so you’ll have to decide which one suits you best. I’ll briefly cover the two kinds of bags and discuss the pros and cons of both.

Hard Case​

A hard case will provide the better protection, due to its sturdy exterior, but it might be a little more difficult to pack into a small car. The hard cases are a lot bigger than the soft cases, so if you know that the car you’re going to be traveling in will be small, you might not want to go with the hard case.

Another thing about the hard case bags is that most airlines will only cover damages to clubs if they’re in a hard case. If your clubs are damaged while in a soft case bag, the airlines will probably let you know that you’re on your own.

If what you want is the most durable protective case and space isn’t an issue, you’re probably going to want to go with a hard case bag for your clubs. Also as a general rule, it’s a good idea to get a bag without legs. Even with a hard case, a bag’s legs can be extremely easy to break.

Soft Case​

As for soft case bags, there are those with and without a stiff arm. A stiff arm will prevent your clubs from being bent if dropped or thrown in any way. If you’re planning on getting a soft case bag, I strongly recommend one with a stiff arm.

If you know that the car you’re going to be traveling in isn’t going to have a lot of room for your clubs, you might want to consider a soft case bag. They’re usually considerably smaller than hard case bags by sacrificing some protection.

If you’re going to be going with a soft case golf bag, it’s recommended that you pack extra carefully to prevent damage to your valuable and surely beloved clubs. A soft bag with a stiff arm will provide the most protection while still being small enough to fit into most small cars without problem.

Properly Packing Your Golf Luggage

One of the most important things when it comes to preventing the damage to your golf clubs is knowing how to pack your bag properly.

When placing the clubs in your golf bag, you should first remove the heads of any clubs in which it is possible. Secondly, make sure all the clubs are packed in tightly and don’t have too much room to move around.

You can take some extra socks or any cloth really and stuff it in between the crevices in the bag, so the clubs don’t slide around as much while being transported. After your clubs are properly packed into your golf bag, you’re ready to put your golf bag in your case.

After you’ve placed your golf bag into the case, try to fill out the extra space in the case with clothes. This will further prevent the bag and clubs from moving around during your travels.

Are You Ready?

Now that you know a little bit more about the process of traveling with golf luggage, and properly packing your bag, you’re well on your way to having an all-around amazing golf trip without damaging your clubs.

Do you have everything you need? Have you been able to choose whether or not you’re going to go with a hard case or soft case carrier? Do you know how much your airline will charge for your extra bag? Once you’ve figured all these things out, you can attain some peace of mind. The only thing left ahead of you, is your wonderful trip.

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