Have you ever wondered how to carry a golf club on an airplane to ensure safety? Is it possible to travel to a golf club?
International tournaments are also an excellent chance for you to show off your talents. However, traveling to those locations is worrisome.
So, how to protect golf clubs when flying? Fortunately, you can use many tips when packing your gear, such as using a golf travel bag or covering your iron.
This post covers the detailed guides to handling your luggage during the flight. Let’s scroll down to read more information in detail!
Can You Bring Your Golf Clubs On A Plane?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. TSA claims that you can’t bring your clubs as carry-on bags. However, packing them in your checked baggage is acceptable.
It would be best to contact the airline beforehand to confirm their regulations. It may vary depending on the airline.
How To Protect Golf Clubs When Flying?
To secure your clubs and minimize contact on your golf bag as much as possible, you can try these tips.
Not all the following methods can work for you, depending on your setup. Please read through and determine what makes the most sense to you.
Invest in a good bag
Investing in a good golf travel bag appears to be the best method to ensure that your clubs are secure when traveling.
The bag will prevent your clubs from getting damaged, scratched, scuffed, or broken during transportation.
Furthermore, many airlines will not take responsibility for damage if you don’t pack your golf gear in the travel bag.
There are many different types of golf bags depending on features and sizes: eg cart bag vs stand bag…. However basically, there are two types of bags:
Hard-sided bags
They are the safest and most protective options. Hard-sided carrying cases, on the other hand, are more expensive.
Soft-sided bags
This option gives a good level of security at a reasonable price. However, most airlines won’t compensate you if your clubs get broken while being carried in soft-sided bags.
There are many options to choose from. Please check this video for some recommendations:
- Invest in a high-quality bag
Remove the clubhead
The point where the shaft meets the clubhead is typically when the club breaks.
Fortunately, most modern woods and drivers have removable clubheads, significantly minimizing the chances of this problem.
Remove the clubheads with a club tool, put them inside their headcovers, and place them in a bag.
Remember to bring the clubhead tool with you. It’s such a tragedy to join the course and find out you can’t reattach the clubheads.
Cover the irons
It’s often the wood or the driver that breaks after a flight. They are the longest clubs because of their graphite shafts.
The heads of your irons, on the other hand, can quickly become scratched if you don’t cover them adequately.
You can use old socks or something you’re going to wear during the flight to wrap the irons.
- Cover your irons with clothing
Tape the shafts together
It’s normal to snap a twig in half. However, it becomes considerably more difficult when you have a bundle of twigs.
This idea is so accurate for the shafts. Hence, tape the shafts together to get the most out of their combined toughness.
If your bag has spacious compartments for your clubs, it will be best. If you only have a 14-pocket bag, consider taping the shafts in groups of two.
Use clothes to fill the extra space.
This tip is fantastic for two reasons. First, putting clothing in your case around your gear prevents vibration inside the luggage.
If they have less area to move about, there’s less possibility of them shaking within the suitcase if baggage handlers aren’t careful when carrying them on the plane.
This tip also helps you to free up space in other baggage. You may not have to pay for additional baggage if you pack your clothing in your golf bag.
Use a support arm
Although both a golf bag and a travel bag are resistant to lateral stresses, a softshell bag is prone to a top force.
To protect your gear from becoming crushed, consider a support arm. This tool rests in your luggage like a club and is taller than the clubs.
Book nonstop flights
The most stressful part of traveling for golfers is leaving their gear to a stranger and then waiting to see how they arrive.
More layovers and stops increase the likelihood of a luggage catastrophe and the number of airport staff touching your luggage. As a result, book nonstop flights to avoid this problem.
If the price difference is minor, skipping the layover and opting for a straight flight may be beneficial.
- Nonstop flights help reduce the risks
Take a photo of everything in your bag.
Set out your belongings on your bed and snap a picture before packing it for the flight.
Then, take a close-up of each of the higher-end items that you wouldn’t be able to replace if something bad occurred to them.
The photo refers to checking if your belongings remain in your luggage. In case of misfortune, this record can help with filing a claim.
Write your contact on your luggage.
Luggage gets lost when traveling is normal. It’s good to write your name and contact on your gear. Then, the airport can call you if something goes wrong.
Consider the weight
It’s also crucial to consider weight while packing for flight travel. To many airlines, clubs are oversized baggage. However, they don’t ask you to pay for your gear unless their weight exceeds the limit.
The weight restriction for checked baggage on most airlines is 50 pounds, with overweight charges ranging from $50 to $200.
- Consider the weight carefully
Final Words
Your own club set can bring out the best of your skills. Hence, learning how to pack your gear is helpful for your game.
The rule of thumb is to use a high-quality bag and wrap your clubs securely. Then, you are ready to go.
Hopefully, the tips we have shared can turn your traveling with golf clubs a breeze. If you need any further information, please feel free to ask.
Thank you for your interest in the article!
