Flying & Golf Clubs

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By Darryl M

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  • 14 Replies
  1. Darryl M

    Darryl M
    Wichita, KS

    I have never traveled with my golf clubs but I may be taking them to Columbus, GA in early July for about a month on business.

    I was wondering what I would need to get, do & prepare for so my clubs can make it there & back safely so I can play some golf while I am not at work.

    Any information will be greatly appreciated...

    Thanks in advanced, DM

  2. Tyler H

    Tyler H
    Appleton, WI

    I have used shipsticks in the past with success. Primarily I use my Titleist Club Glove. I will take the heads of my woods (Take a picture of the setting so you remember what it is) and carry them in my carry on bag. Put the wood shafts tip down in the bag, wrap a few towels around the iron heads and then put the rain hood on. This has worked for me for years.

    TH
  3. Keith M

    Keith M
    Acworth, GA

    I don't travel often with them, but I've had luck thus far when I have. You can use ship sticks or FedEx, which work well. If you want to take them yourself, here are a few essentials.

    1. Good quality travel bag. I use a Club Glove.
    2. If not a hard side travel bag, a stiff arm.
    3. Remove woods and hybrids heads, keep those with you.
    4. Do not leave anything you don't want picked through in your bag, the TSA loves to mess up your bag.
  4. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    Darryl. If you have a hard case, not much you need to do. If you have a soft case, use a protector like Stiff Arm or Backbone. Some guys on the forum suggest removing the head from your driver and carrying it in your carry-on. I wrap a towel around the irons to keep them from banging around and also keep the rain hood on the bag. Enjoy. Nothing better than playing with your own clubs while traveling.
  5. I fly with my quite often. I have a standard stand bag and an old travel bag that fits my clubs snug. One thing that I do now it take my driver and hybrid heads off and turn my 3 wood upside down in my bag. Carry on my removed heads. That way I don't have to worry about anything missing or the chances of my shafts being broken. Some people will put a stiffen in the bag, but I've never done that.

    I personally would not go with a plastic case. My reason is a lot of them won't fit into the trunk of rental cars. Now if you had an SUV, it may not be an issue. But, what good will the protection of plastic do you if you can take in your car?

    The final option is to ship via ship sticks or other shipping company. I have not looked into that as my bags have always flown for free.
  6. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    You are traveling there and they can stay there for the entire month? If only shipping once there and back, you wouldn't need a travel bag - let a golf delivery service send them. My clubs go on more business trips than my wife. so I have the Titleist version of the Club Glove and free baggage allowances on a couple of airlines. As well as the pole to protect the heads of the longer clubs. Using towels to wrap the heads works with any system, and although I've not had an issue, some will pull the adjustable heads and carry them in their overhead baggage. Your golf bag can go to 50 pounds, so you can also more than just balls and clubs..
  7. Todd T

    Todd T
    San Diego, CA

    Military
    Plenty of threads on this... Club Glove will be the end-all be all choice. Just wrap the club heads on a towel and take heads off woods and you'll be fine!
  8. Tom B

    Tom B
    Northborough, MA

    I'd do like Don says if you have the time. Still pack them up good though. I've been lucky and never had anything missing, or broken. But I do take precautions. I don't keep any balls in my bag, I put them in a carry on. Don't need a couple dozen Pro V's going to the baggage handlers or the TSA help. I use a good travel bag, and put a "stiff arm" in it to help protect the drivers and woods, and they all have the crappiest head covers I can find on them ( I go through the lost and found at the Club before leaving), and I turn my Scotty upside down with the grip covered by the long neck crap head cover. I've been lucky. Either because they look like junk, or I've been lucky enough to get honest baggage handlers and TSA folks. I had a friend who thought he'd keep everyone out and packed all his dirty undies in the bag. They checked (they have to), and he got a note saying they didn't appreciate it.
  9. Darryl M

    Darryl M
    Wichita, KS

    Thanks for all the input. I found out my uncle has a club glove so I shall take the precautions everyone has mentioned and get my clubs ready for the trip. Once again thanks TT for the help
  10. Deno

    Deno
    New Jersey

    Military
    I never use a golf bag travel cover with the word "Titleist" on the side. It's like parking a BMW in an empty lot overnight. Becomes a magnet for sticky fingers. I actually snatched a guy at the baggage claim rolling my Club Glove away. He said he thought it was his. I told him we must be related because we have the same last name (in large painted letters on 2 sides of the bag). Shipsticks is the way to go unless you want to meet long lost relatives.
  11. Jason R

    Jason R
    Ottawa, ON

    I use a Club Glove bag with the stiff arm and have had no issues with pretty extensive travel. I also use the club glove iron head covers when travelling rather than a towel, and my rain cover. I have never taken the heads off my driver/3wood but I think this is a good idea and I think I will start doing this.

    I agree with the comments about hard cases - nothing better on the airline, but very difficult to deal with for rental cars etc. Jason
  12. Joshua B

    Joshua B
    Connecticut

    I've just bought a travel bag, stuffed with towels at the top and played the extra bag fee...worked well every time. Have a blast down there friend, play well!
  13. Wade W

    Wade W
    Roanoke, VA

    TSA can be awfully rough with golf clubs.

    I ship every time I can.

    WW
  14. Darron K

    Darron K
    Fate, TX

    I have Club Glove Travel bag and Bag Boy Backbone. Take the heads off my Driver and Hybrids and place shaft tip down. Wrap towels in between and around all my clubs. Place rain hood on and go!
  15. BCH

    BCH

    I believe the best way to go is a hard side cover. Been using one for a couple years. No issues ever other than TSA always checks It out. Not too hard to roll the SKB and it locks. I think the airlines will cover loses if you use a hard side cover but NOT if you use a soft cover from damage. I have found using a stiff arm, soft cover and wrapping does not guarantee protection the hard way. Check with the your airline policies to assure yourself of this fact.

    My hard cover is a SKB and I can put clubs, shoes, balls, etc... It does not fit nicely into a small or limited size vehicle but will fit in SUV well and also in back seat of a mid to full size car.

    Never tried shipsticks as the cost for most of my travel, I could pay for the SKB out of the first trip.

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