How do I take golf clubs abroad??

Question

I'm going to Kenya next week and want to take my clubs with me, is there anything i need to buy to enable me to do this?? Any other tips??

Thank you

Answer 1

buy a hard cover case.  Tie your woods together with a sock so they dong clang around.  Also, check with your airline, in most cases sports equipment does not count towards your allwable weight limits .... you you can fill up the case with all kinds of extra's ... balls, shoes, tees, clothes ...etc.  Also mark your case with some distinguishabe, non removeable mark so you can pick it out easily and identify it should it get "lost"

Answer 2

Have the broad carry them.

Answer 3

There are two risks that you will have taking golf clubs overseas.  One is theft and the other is damage.  To reduce damage you can buy travel covers (soft cover or hard shell) for around 200 dollars.  They're available at golf stores, or online stores.  Shop around until you see what you like.

As for theft, there's not much you can do.  Airlines don't seem to care much about people's belongings anymore.

Answer 4

There are lots of different travel bags available for purchase no matter what your budget is.

The most expensive models often feature extra padding or even a hard shell for protecting your clubs. I would recommend you seriously consider a bag with wheels for easy transport. You can decide what you are willing to pay and what features you need.

Depending on your method of travel, you may want to ensure that you won't be charged extra (or if you will be charged, what the fee and size limitations are) for as large and heavy as a golf set can be.

Check out a decent selection of travel bags at Rock Bottom Golf: [ http://rockbottomgolf.com/bags-travelbag... ] - You can get 10% off your order by using Slick10Off as a coupon code there.

Answer 5

Buy a hardside carrier; I've made two trips to the British Isles with my clubs with no worries.  You can get one that locks; the US TSA will want to inspect your bag, so leave it unlocked for them, and then lock it.  Some random suggestions:

-Check with your airline about replacement cost for luggage, including sports equipment.  

-To that, check with your carrier about size/weight restrictions.  If you have a lightweight stand bag, take that as opposed to a heavier cart bag.  From my experience, a set of clubs in my stand bag, three dozen balls (I go for a week-long trip involving several rounds), two pair of golf shoes, and a rain jacket all come in under 50 pounds.  You may have to pay a surcharge depending on the size/weight.  It's a good time to go through your bag and take out anything you don't need or is old.  

-This sounds silly, but double-check that the bag tag they put on your clubs matches your itinerary; one of the guys on my trip in 2004 had his bags accidentally tagged to go to Atlanta instead of Manchester (England).  

-Take pictures of your clubs, and have a log of each club (make, model, age, cost); if something happens, this will be important for replacement/insurance purposes.  

-Some airlines will ask how many clubs are in your bag; 14 is the norm although sometimes I'll bring an extra putter.

-It's not a bad idea to put a few stickers on your carrying case for easy identification; include a luggage tag with all your info (both inside and outside the case).

-I'd bring sunscreen with me and check with the local authorities on any bug repellent suggestions.  What works here doesn't always work there.

-Put your golf gloves in ziploc bags.  It keeps them dry and fresh.

-You can do the same with ballmarkers, tees, and a divot repair tool (I have a nylon bag for all this stuff).

-If you're playing multiple rounds on consecutive days, bringing a second pair of golf shoes isn't a bad idea if you have two pair.

-When you get your bag in Kenya...if you're concerned at all, open your bag in the bag claim area and do a club count.  

-If you're hiring a car, make sure your carrying case will fit.  Don't just assume it will.

Enjoy your trip; play well!

Answer 6

You need a good padded travel cover to protect your bag and clubs.  They range in price from about $20 for a soft sided one up to about $300 for a top of the line hard shell case.  It is like buying insurance - the more valuable your set of clubs the more you should protect them.

Also when I travel for golf I put one pair of golf shoes in with the clubs, and another in my luggage.  This way if the airline loses my clubs, I can still play golf in my shoes with a rented set.  If they lose my luggage but not my clubs, I can play golf without having to buy a new pair of shoes.