Golf Travel Tips

Consider Your Group.
Will your group be golfers only, golfers and non-golfers, family, or are you a 'single' golfer? And what about skill levels? Where you go, where you stay, and where you play can make a big difference as to whether your trip is a 'hole-in-one' or a 'bogey'.

What Type of Vacation?
No matter what kind of vacation you and your companions want to take, whether it's to a bustling city, rustic mountain area, busy beach resort, a town steeped in colonial history, a quiet countryside or a combination of these, there are numerous terrific golf destinations available and in all price ranges. If you'll be accompanied by non-golfers, you'll want to make sure there are things for them to do while you're on the course.

Getting Information On Destinations of Interest.
You can start your search right here! Check out our Destination Guide of South Africa. And visit SA Golf Vacations' Reservations section for golf vacation packages. Check out the courses available -- are they right for your game? Do you need other entertainment? Although many destinations are solely golf-oriented, and couldn't help the non-golfers in your party if they were the Queen and her Royal Consort, all our packages have something for all age groups - both golfers and non-golfers alike.

Traveling With Your Clubs.
Talk about a ball and chain! Clubs are heavy and make traveling tiring -- not to mention special considerations when traveling by plane. But it's often well worth the effort. You can rent clubs at many golf courses, but playing with different clubs is somewhat like playing a different musical instrument than your own, and it can affect your game. If you decide to take them with you, here are a few tips:

• Conserve suitcase space.
  Use your club bag to store markers, tees, golf shoes, gloves, a visor, and other golf accessories you might otherwise throw in your suitcase, carry-on bag or purse. This also keeps those small golf items together.
  
• Protect your clubs by getting a good sturdy bag for them.
  You can find a travel bag for your clubs at golf shops. They run around $75-$100 for a basic one, but it's important to protect your clubs, which are an even larger investment. If you are really protective of your clubs, which is only natural especially if you have a deluxe custom set, they have sentimental value or something similar, then do what the pros do: get a top of the line golf bag. Although this can run into hundreds of dollars, on the up side you could probably drop the bag out of a plane in mid-flight and they'd still come out fine -- and they're even bullet-proof!
  
• When traveling by plane, you can't carry-on your clubs.
  First, they exceed carry-on size limits, and would be a significant safety hazard as well. They'll have to ride with your regular luggage, so you'll want to take a few extra precautions, like the sturdy travel bag, and make sure you have protection against loss.
  
• What if your clubs are lost in transit or at your destination.
  As with anything you pack as luggage, there is a risk of loss. Golfers should check their homeowners (or other property insurance) policy to see if they have 'off premises theft' coverage, the category your clubs would fall under in this case. If so, check the deductible. If your clubs are lost in flight (or at your destination), your deductible could be more than you paid for them or their current value.
  You could also put in a claim against the airline if lost in transit. Claims against airlines are less dependable regarding outcome than those made with insurance companies (since, as the airlines know, most people won't find it worth their while to sue the airline) and will depend on company policy and limitations on loss (e.g., sometimes airlines limit their liability to the cost of the ticket). However, airlines usually will pay something -- and of course, since they lost the luggage, they're responsible for at least some of the cost of replacing lost items. So between the insurance company and the airline, many travelers will be covered for their losses.  However, if you have a really deluxe set of clubs, you may need to get special coverage added to your homeowners or property insurance policy -- much like jewelry is covered, with a special endorsement, appraisal, etc.
  
• Making a claim for losses.
  Travelers who do lose their clubs should remember to put a claim in to the airline and insurance company for all losses -- the cost of luggage, bags, clothing, etc). As usual, it's best to keep purchase receipts for these items. Many people neglect to do this, though you certainly should for something as expensive as a set of golf clubs. No 'proof of loss' will result in having some difficulty proving the amount of your loss, but it won't cause your claim to be rejected.

So don't 'just assume' your insurance or the airline will cover the loss of your clubs. Like the Boy Scouts, ' be prepared'

Hard vs. Soft golf bags.

There are two types of golf travel bags: hard and soft. The hard bags provide the best protection for golf clubs, since they are rigid suitcases made specifically for protecting golf clubs and are virtually indestructible and, as mentioned before, some makers of the bags claim you can toss them from an airborne plane and the clubs will land safely below, irregardless of what might befall innocent bystanders). One testament to their effectiveness is that golf pros use hard cases to transport their clubs during travel. The one major down side to hard cases, however, is their cost -- they start at several hundred dollars and go way up from there.

While your clubs are an important and sizeable investment, you may not be able or may feel it's not necessary to invest that much in a travel case for your clubs. In that case, you can choose from soft golf club travel bags, which start at around $75-$100. If you pack your clubs properly in these bags, they are effective in protecting your clubs, normally withstanding even the most ornery baggage handlers.

Packing your clubs properly in soft cases.

Again, the key operative words: if you pack your clubs properly. A few pointers on this are in order. First, don't place your clubs loose inside the soft travel case. The cloth bag will provide little protection from damage to your clubs. Instead, keep your clubs in your golf bag.
   
If your golf bag has a club head cover, it is a good idea to put that cover on. If it doesn't (I myself have a Ping bag that does not have such a cover), wrap the club heads with your rain gear or the like. Then place the entire bag into the travel bag. In the event there is additional room in the travel bag (with my Ping bag there always is), as suggested in the first column on this topic, you can put some of your clothing or shoes or other items in the travel bag. This lightens your other bags and provides great protection for your golf bag and clubs.