Travel Equipment
Yes, it’s about that time of year again when the temperature falls, and the autumn leaves explode into a spectrum of colours. This means two things: first, chances are that your last local round of the season is imminent, and second, as a result you are currently fantasizing and / or planning your winter golf getaway. That being said, an important detail of your getaway is ensuring that your clubs make it from point A to point B in one piece. There are a few different options that you have to ensure that this happens. Most golf bags sold today come equipped with a detachable club head cover. This may be fine to attach between uses, but does not offer much protection when you travel, particularly when you are putting the fate of your precious sticks in someone else’s hands. So, it is in your best interest to use this cover in conjunction with something a little more protective.
Key Features:
- Durable zippers / clasps
- Ability to lock the case
- Quality construction
- Wheels for easier transportation
- Multiple handles
- Additional pockets
- Manufacturer's warranty
Soft Carrying Case
These cases are polyester/nylon based and offer an intermediate level of protection with additional foam padding around the heads and shafts of the clubs. They usually have extra pockets for shoes, balls, and other golf accessories. But, the main benefits of this type of case are that they are easier to pack into a car trunk, are collapsible when not being used, and are considerably lighter than their hard/rigid case counterparts. These cases range in price from approximately $60 to $150.
 Hard Carrying Case
These cases are made of a tougher, rigid plastic material and fit over top of the golf bag to offer the maximum amount of protection available in cases. They often provide greater security than soft cases using some form of lockable clasp to ensure that the case remains fastened shut. Their key features are this security and absolute durability. The compromise when using hard cases is the ability to pack them into a vehicle, the amount of space they occupy when not in use and their weight. These cases start at approximately $150 and up.
Additional Accessories
A company called “Club Groove” offers a product called the “Stiff Arm” to use in conjunction with soft bags to provide additional durability. Essentially the stiff arm has a long shaft and a rounded head that fills out additional space in the soft case. By doing this, if the bag is ever dropped upside-down on the club heads, the stiff arm prevents this direct force on the club heads.
Airline Policies
Airlines have varying policies in the way they treat golf clubs. Policies have differing amounts of detail and liability concerning whether your clubs count as a regular piece of baggage, how they should be packaged, the acceptable number of clubs per bag, damage claims, etc. so it is in your best interest to ask the specifics.
Be aware that in a worst-case scenario, clubs are considered to be a piece of luggage included in the personal weight and number of bag restrictions. This means that if an airline states that the allowable number of bags is 3, and the total weight limit is 60 kg, that your clubs count as 1 bag and the weight of the clubs is counted in the overall limit as well.
Most policies are written so that it is in your best interest to package your clubs as securely as possible. Many state that if you choose not to use a supplementary soft or hard carrying case that your clubs are likely subject to a limited release legal form that prevents you from making a claim should your clubs become damaged.
For direct links to various airline golf club policies, please follow the links below:
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