Business trip to San Antonio, First Time Checking Clubs On the Plane

[TitleistJunky80]

I was wondering how everyone's experience has been checking their clubs on the plane. I am a little concerned, because my clubs are my most prized possession. I am probably going to fly Southwest, but I was also considering shipping them FedEx, but would rather save the dough and just check them.

 

Any horror stories or good experiences?

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

I've flown with golf clubs maybe a dozen times in total. Three trips in a soft-side ClubGlove and the rest in a hard SKB shell. Zero club injuries while in the hard-shell case, one slightly bent putter shaft on a return trip in the ClubGlove.

So that tells me the odds are pretty favorable whichever type of carrier you use but I have no doubt whatsoever that a hard-sided case (plus "stiff arm") is the safest.

My clubs have always arrived to me at my destinations within an hour or less of getting off the plane. On one return trip my clubs and suitcase were left behind and I had to wait overnight for them. But that was when I was back home and didn't need the clubs anyway.

Not much else to share. It's a PITA to schlep a set of clubs in a travel case around airports and rental cars. But I'm sure you guessed that.

I'll also say that I would not carry my own clubs if I were playing just one round of golf. Rent clubs at the destination if it's just one round and if it's a resort course for fancy operation that offers rentals. Too much hassle for too little benefit if it's only a single round.

Final comment. If I were really attached to a set of golf clubs I would not check them on an airline trip, period. Don't hand over to the airline anything you can't live with losing or seeing broken. Your odds are very good but it's still a risk.

[cottonseed]

I have checked my clubs at least 40 times and have never had any damage. Get a stiff arm if you have a soft travel bag.

[CaledoniaKid]

A stiff arm is essential. Another move I have done with checking bag or sending ahead via ups is to tightly bunch the heads together and tie and tuck the towel towards the shafts. This really restricted movement and provided cushion. I really liked shipping ahead of time. You can opt for insurance and have the piece of mind knowing the clubs are there on your arrival.

[memphishorn]

This where a back up set comes in handy since if there is loss or damage, you still have your starting line up. I traveled to California last year and took my back up bag without incident other than the $50 cost. One tip I was given was to put your irons in your golf bag upside down with the grips exposed and wrap towels through the grips and woods to protect them. Also, get a stiff arm or a pole longer than your driver.

[teejaywhy]

Flown with clubs a dozen times, no problems. Travel case with a Stiff Arm.

Just make sure it weighs less than 50 lbs.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

The last few times I've flown, a TSA representative has pulled each club out of the bag (or at least part way out). The most recent guy I saw doing it was very, very careful (probably because it was a dinky little airport on a slow day) but others have sort of jammed them back in there sort of sloppy.

So don't get too carried away with elaborate ways of packing or swaddling each club. They're likely to be jerked around and reshuffled before the bag ever reaches the aircraft.

[highergr0und]

I've flown Southwest a good number of times with my clubs..... although the only difference between Southwest and the other carriers is that the bag is free under 50 lbs. After that, the TSA and baggage guys handling the clubs are all the same. I have never had any issues. The only scary thing was on my very first flight with the clubs, I thought the bag was lost after hanging out at baggage claim forever and getting all my bags but the clubs. I felt like an idiot after I asked someone for help just to find out there's an oversized baggage area where the clubs were sitting about 50 feet away. Some airports have the area, sometimes the clubs come out with all the other bags.

I use a cheap, maybe $50 soft case I won at a scramble. I want a club glove, but don't fly enough to justify it in my mind. I have a chopped down hockey stick that I use as a stiff arm, although buying one is totally worth it. You just need something solid that's longer than your driver to absorb the shock of them dropping the bag upside down. After that you just need to protect the clubs at the top by making the top of the bag the same diameter and the bottom. I use a few towels loosely wrapped around and through the clubs. This just stops them other bags from pinching the shafts.

[Clambake]

LIke others, I've checked my clubs quite a few times and never had any issues. I use a Club Glove with a length of PVC pipe doing the same thing as a Stiff Arm. One little tip - if you use a replaceable shaft driver, take the head off and stuff it in your bag for the trip. It means you won't run the risk of damaging it, and it gives a little more room in the clubhead area of the bag to stuff towels etc. to help prevent damage.

[KSI]

Have flown around thirty flights with no issues. Use a SKB hard case but it takes up some room in the rental car truck usually. I think TSA opens and inspects a lot of the golf bags , but have not had any issues with their inspections.

[Truman]

I have flown with mine a couple hundred times. I've never had any problem other than normal wear and tear on the travel bag. I'm on my second Club Glove.

[TitleistJunky80]

Thanks for all the advice. My driver and Hybrids are all adjustable clubs, so I am going to take the heads off and put them in my suitcase. Trying to get a travel cover and I am going to check the bag. Flying Southwest so I get 2 checked bags for free. Hope everything goes smoothly.

[Woogie]

I have always had great luck with Southwest. Enjoy San Antonio.

[avgjoe]

pack em well and you ought to be ok