If you’re heading out for a golfing vacation for the first time, you may be a little uncertain about the best ways to travel for golf trips. These packing tips can help you figure out what to do with your golfing equipment and what you should pack with you if you’re heading out on your first excursion in golf travel.
Should you take your own golf clubs with you? The answer to the question depends on a number of factors. If you’re traveling by automobile, there’s no reason why not. Simply pack them for travel just as you would to head out to your favorite golf course. If you’re flying, however, there are a number of things to consider. Nearly every airline considers your golf bag as one of your pieces of allowed luggage. Most require that your clubs and bag be packed inside a hard-sided golf case, and won’t guarantee them against damage unless they are packed inside a hard case. You can also include one pair of golf shoes and two sleeves of golf balls in your case to be counted as one piece of checked luggage.
Based on the expense and the possibility of damage to your clubs, many avid golf travel buffs recommend that you leave your own clubs at home and rent what you need when you arrive at your destination. The same doesn’t hold true of golf balls, however. Golf balls can be quite expensive overseas, so if you’re planning golf travel to Europe or Asia, pack a few dozen golf balls for the trip. If you do decide to pack your golf clubs with you, hunt around for a good quality, lightweight golf bag that can double as a field bag.
If your golf trips will take you to the UK, you’ll also want to pack along your handicap certificate. While there are plenty of golf clubs that will let you book a tee time without one, if you want to play the Old Course at Royal Troon, Scotland, golf at St. Andrews or play on many of the other world class golf courses in the UK, you’ll need to present your handicap certificate to prove that you’re worthy of treading the same greens.
Check the dress code on the courses you intend to play and be sure to pack appropriately. Consider choosing wrinkle-free clothing that travels well – you do want to look natty on the golf course, after all. And wherever your golf trips take you, always, always, always pack a good quality, lightweight raincoat because chances are you’ll need it at some point in your trip.
