Golf travel gets bad news with temporary closing of Gear-To-Go

Traveling golfers sick of lugging their golf clubs through airports got a bit of bad news recently.

A golf club rental/demo company called Gear to Go, that I thought had a great deal of potential, has closed, it says temporarily.

“We’re in the process of seeking funding to reopen Phoenix again next November as well as expand into Palm Springs, San Diego, Monterey, Reno/Tahoe and Las Vegas over the following twelve months,” company president Bob Klingensmith told TravelGolf. “With success at that level, we’ll expand nationally during the following 12 months. It all depends on funding.”

It’s a great idea. You pick out the clubs you want to play with at a given destination and they’re waiting for you at the airport. Throw them in the rental car and you’re ready to go. For example, you could rent a brand-name set of clubs from Nike or Callaway for about $200 a week. That price compares favorably to many rental outfits.

Golf club manufacturers, hoping to advertise their clubs, initially expressed interest, Klingensmith said, but apparently the idea isn’t working out as well as the company hoped. Too bad. Here’s hoping they get the funding they need.