This time of year, summer, golf destinations. We travel! We have a few thoughts, as Grey Dog’s on how the travelling with clubs chore might be done better.
First, if you can, use our partner https://shipsticks.com/greydoggolf to handle this for you! Ship Sticks is without peer! The best service…amazing…door to door. Home to resort and back home again! Use the link for a discount!
Here are a few travel tips, courtesy of one of our Advisory Board members, Mike Mattia of springlakecustomgolf.com (By the way, we really recommend you work with Mike, Sue and Nick at SLCG. The official builder-of-choice for Grey Dog Golf. None better.)
- If you can afford a hard-shell travel case, get one. We get it, they’re big and heavier etc. Yeah, we know! But you’ve got a few thousand dollars invested, so let your wallet be your guide! Also, check with the airlines on insurance coverage of hard vs. soft bag carriers.
- When you’re packing your bag in a zip-up soft cover, consider removing the heads of the Driver and longest Fairways if you can and know how. It’s not hard and we recommend the camera on your phone to take a photo of the “settings”. (You know that cool wrench that came with the club? This is a use for it!)
- If you don’t want to remove the heads, well, here’s a thought. Take a broomstick. Grab your Driver (or longest club). Measure on the broomstick an inch longer than the club. Cut the stick. Put that in the bag with the clubs when you zip it into the travel cover. It’ll take the brunt of the force rather than that $750 driver as the baggage lads sling it around the luggage carousel. (And if you’re road-tripping, well, you never know when a broom-stick might come in handy on the highway!)
Here’s a bonus tip from Mike: “I can’t tell you how many snapped Driver shafts we replace because the player used it as a brace when bending to put a tee in the ground! We understand the need for support, but just grip mid-way down the shaft…same support and no snapped shafts!”