I'm flying down to FL for two weeks this December and I want to take my golf clubs with me for my daily driving range urges. I have a regular golf stand/carry bag that looks something like this



I have the usual assortment of clubs (driver, irons, putter etc) that I carry in it. Is there any way that I can transport my clubs using a regular golf bag or will I need to purchase a special golf travel bag? Is there anything that I can buy that'll fit over my golf bag to basically block the open end and protect the club heads? And if that doesn't work, say that I wanted to just carry 4 clubs with me (7 iron, PW, Wood, Driver), can I just somehow wrap them up and carry them with me?

Just 2 words: Hard Case



The best and only sure way to protect your clubs. They are not that expensive any more, for a stand bag you can get a decent hard case for under $100. Have used them all just go with it and you can use it for a very long time, good investment.

Well, I'm a broke college student and I really don't have more than $30 to spend on whatever I need to transport some of these clubs. Like I mentioned, can I just carry 2-3 clubs in my hand?

They won't let you hand carry them on the plane. Just the heads.

-CHRIS-

Get yourself a pencil bag and put your sticks
in one of those hardcases.

What's a pencil bag?

Hard cases are nice but very big and bulky to transport. Need to consider the rental car too. I used a club glove last bag and pack clothes and use an old broom stick down the middle. They make a "stiff arm" that is basically the same thing.

I use the club glove burst proof to travel, with the "stiff arm" haven't had any problems and I travel a good amount with golf clubs around the country, and I've seen them even throw them while sitting in the terminal.

Pretty easy to spot that its mine they're throwing, custom purple with white lettering for my school team. So you should be ok, but they are quite expensive.

I've traveled with a soft side travel case & never had a problem. I've always wrapped the heads with my golf towel, put the rain cover on & put some sort of broom handle in my bag in case they are stepped on before I put them in my travel case. You can pick them up on ebay pretty cheap.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BENNINGTON-GOLF-TR...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/SKB-Soft-sided-GOLF-BA...1QQcmdZViewItem

Hard Case is the only way to go. I have seen airlines actually destroy a hard case. I can only imagine what they could do to a soft one. Call some golf courses or retailers and see if they might rent a hard case. We had a course in my area that did that. It never hurts to ask.

I take loads of golf trips and a club glove last bag with a stiff arm works great and I have had no issues all over the world.

This is a pencil bag. It's like a sunday bag

-CHRIS-

Sometimes your local mom and pop club shops have a used case laying around for consignment sale I bought one last year for 50.00 buck, an SKB and it has carried my clubs to places as far as Australia and Guatemala without any troubles, you just cant lock it. Try a sports consignment shop or play it again sports. Hope this helps
George

I wrap a piece of corrugated cardboard (3"s longer than my driver) around all the clubs and zip the rain cover up. I place my whole bag in an OGIO travel bag which has done wonders.

I use a Ogio travel bag too along with the Club Glove stiff arm. I usually pack some towels around the clubs before putting on the rain hood. After my trip, all the dirty clothes goes in there too for added padding around the bag.

Check craigslist. I have seen used hardcases for less than $50.

I don't know where you are at, but I live in Texas and travel all over the world with a $29 hard case that I bought at Acadamey here in Houston. The best investment I ever made. It is hard and protects your clubs, has wheels so it is easy to move around. There is one problem that was already mentioned if you get a taxi you need a big one for the bag to fit but so far I have always managed.There are nicer ones but the $29 one does the same thing. You may have to change it out every five years or so. I replaced my once because one of the latches broke, but for five years that was not bad.

I feel that if you dont use a travel cover you dont like your clubs. It is money well spent, considering what i have seen them do to golf clubs, makes me cringe. Good luck!

Another idea is to call a golf buddy to see if they have a travel bag you can borrow. I've loaned mine a few times. As for hard vs soft bags, I was very worried at the beginning that a soft case would not protect the clubs sufficiently, but I've not had a single problem so far. Just do what the others are doing and use a broom stick or extra padding with clothes and you should be fine.

However the more important issue is getting your bag through security fast enough that it gets checked on your plane. I don't know what the other's experience is, but I would say at least a third of the time my clubs don't make my plane. Now granted I push the schedule very tightly so it could be that I'm just not giving TSA a chance to screen my bag in time to get it through...more often than not when I get my bag, I have an inspected by TSA brochure in it...so I know they are opening the bag. Why they can't get to it an hour before the plane takes off is beyond me, but it happens on a frequent basis. Nothing sucks more than having your clubs show up after your tee time (trust me, delivery of your bags after you've landed is never a quick process).

My advice is not to stress out about the type of bag as long as you have one...but make sure you plan ahead so you can minimize the chances that your clubs will miss your flight.

I just recently flew from Texas to Florida and took my clubs. I have used a Bag Boy for several years without a problem. This trip the airline managed to break both stand legs on my Ping Hoofer Extreme.

I have begun my search for a hard shelled case. I just don't see how a hard shelled case cannot be a better choice.