Packing tips for golf trips

There are too many golf courses in the world to limit yourself to your home green. And most golfers invested too much time into finding the perfect set of clubs to get on a flight without them. Due to their size, golf bags must be checked and thus count towards your baggage allowance.

Every airline has a different policy when it comes to sports equipment, so check with your carrier what exactly their requirements are for transporting golf bags.

Here are our top packing tips for your golf trip:
• Transport your golf clubs in a protective bag or hard-shell case suitable for air travel. If you transport your clubs in a soft bag, most airlines will make you sign a limited liability release and won’t cover any damage to your equipment sustained during the flight.
• Airlines are strict about what constitutes golf equipment. Don’t put anything other than your clubs (max. 14), golf balls (max. 12) and golf shoes in the bag, otherwise you may have to pay extra fees. Some airlines allow a golf umbrella, too.
• Golf bags aren’t subject to normal baggage size restrictions, they can measure up to 75×29.5×25.5 inches (190x75x65 cm) and weigh up to 50 lb (23 kg).
• Be aware of the dress code for your chosen golf resort and pack accordingly. Also check the weather forecast to find out how many layers of clothing you’ll need. Is it going to be rainy? Find out if you can borrow umbrellas at the golf course.
• Do you need all of your 14 clubs? If you never use your 6 iron, maybe it is best left at home.

A few other things to keep in mind:
• Be prepared to wait a little longer for your bags. Oversized baggage such as golf bags are often loaded into the plane first and unloaded last. This is especially important when you book connecting flights and need to re-check your bags. Allow plenty of time for collecting your baggage and checking it in for the connecting flight.
• You spent a lot of money on your clubs. Don’t be cheap when it comes to golf travel insurance. Not only will you be covered for loss or damages during transport, most golf travel insurance policies also cover the costs of hiring clubs (in case yours get lost on the flight), non-refundable green fees and liability.
• Fertilizer can set off explosive trace detection machines. If you’re being swabbed and test positively, tell airport security that you’ve spent the last week on a golf course and are likely to have picked up traces of fertilizer there.

Want more tips on travel? Check out our How-to Series, or read our Top 10 Golf Destinations.