Golf Travel Tips

By TravelGolf Staff

Nothing can ruin a good travel or vacation faster than finding something wrong or missing with your clubs and equipment before you even get to the first tee. Just as practice before a round of golf is good for your game, proper planning and preparation can help assure that your equipment is as ready as you are when you reach your destination. The following air travel considerations and tips have been compiled form experienced golf travellers.

Plan to pack and prepare your clubs for the trip in the same manner as the rest of your luggage. Prepare the night before: Clean out each pocket of the bag and discard old gloves, balls, etc.; Add a dozen of your favorite balls, one new glove, sunscreen and a small bag of tees, markers, repair tools and extra spikes. A pair of soft-spike shoes can be packed in most large pockets. It is recommended that you travel with soft-spike shoes, because metal spikes are no longer accepted at most courses.

On a short non-tournament business or pleasure trip of three days or less, consider renting clubs at your destination. Good rental sets are available from anywhere between $15 to $45 per day at most all courses. Put a glove and a couple of sleeves of balls in your favorite pair of soft-spike shoes and pack in your suitcase.

Even if you fly to play only once or twice a year, protect your clubs and bag with a soft, zip-up travel cover with a lock. Put on the snap-on or pull-over rain cover that came with your bag, zip and lock the cover, and your clubs should be adequately protected for most airline baggage-handling conditions.

If you fly with your clubs often or play an extended two- or three-week trip with several flights and destinations, consider purchasing a hard-shell travel case. Made of durable plastic or aluminum, and constructed like a suitcase, the hard-shell cases offer the most protection for your clubs, and many come with wheels for rolling through the airport.