You might have seen the recent viral video of Delta Airlines baggage handlers being "less than respectful" of a college golf team's clubs. It probably made you think twice about traveling by air with your golf clubs as luggage.
While Delta apologized for the incident and vowed not to let that happen again, nevertheless you should protect your clubs before dropping them at the airline baggage drop. Here's our best advice.
Use a hard-shell case
Obviously, this is your best protection – vs. soft-shell cases that might not prevent damage in cases like the viral video. In fact, most airlines want you to protect your clubs in a hard case. If there's damage done, they'll cover it (up to a monetary limit that may or may not cover your full loss). While a minority of airlines won't accept your clubs for travel unless they're in a hard case, most will allow a soft case as long as you sign a legal waiver that they're not responsible if your clubs get damaged.
If a soft-shell case is all you have to protect your clubs during travel, then take the following steps. (Even consider doing these things with a hard case.)
Remove your club heads
For any clubs that have removable heads (probably just your driver, fairway woods, and perhaps hybrids), unscrew them and put them somewhere safe, like your regular luggage. If you put the heads in your golf bag, then put them in bubble wrap.
Pack some clubs upside-down
After you've removed as many club heads as possible, and if your golf bag will allow it, put as many clubs as possible in your golf bag upside-down. The sturdy bottom of your bag will provide better protection for the most vulnerable part of your clubs. This goes for the shafts of the clubs with the heads removed, too. Of course, if your golf bag has club slots with sleeves, this likely won't work, other than for the shafts with heads removed.
Buy a Stiff Arm
Invest in a golf-travel protection device, of which there are many to choose. These are sturdy poles with a hexagonal cover on top, which will help protect your clubs should one of those careless baggage handlers drop your bag on it top.
Wrap club heads in bubble wrap
For clubs that you can't remove the heads or be put in your bag upside-down, securely protect the heads with bubble wrap.
Fill empty spaces in the travel case
You don't want your clubs to rattle around inside the travel case, so fill any empty spaces with towels or clothes. This provides a bit of extra protection.
Don't go overweight
Airlines have weight limits for golf clubs as luggage. Go over that and you could face hefty overweight fees. Should you need your golf luggage to weigh less, you could put golf balls, removed club heads, and/or golf shoes in other luggage. Or travel with a lightweight walking golf bag instead of a heavy cart bag. (See our previous article about airline golf-baggage fees and policies.)
Do you really need all your clubs?
Travel puts your clubs at risk, no matter how well you pack them. Got a $500 putter? Maybe don't pack it and bring an older one that you can tolerate having it get damaged. Ditto for an expensive driver. Maybe travel with an older set of clubs. This may be a no-go – it would be for me – but it's the conservative golf-travel option. You can also lighten your golf load by dispensing with some clubs, to ensure your bag doesn't incur overweight fees. Maybe you can deal with 3 wedges instead of 4, just for golf travel.
Good luck, and happy golf travel!
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