Traveling this summer? Don't forget to pack plenty of socks, sunscreen and, of course, your golf clubs.
Problem is, you can't just throw your clubs into your garment bag, and most golf bags aren't protective enough to keep your clubs and gear safe during the baggage handling process.
For heavy-duty protection, West Coast Trends offers its Club Glove line. The Burst Proof with Wheels is a padded nylon bag with a plastic wheel base. You can roll the bag easily through airports. The bag also features a club security strap.
Is a nylon bag, even with extra padding, going to be enough protection? The University of Texas, El Paso men's golf team found out the hard way that the answer is yes.
In April, the team was traveling in a van to a tournament in Arizona. The rented minivan had an ample roof rack and all the golf bags were strapped to the roof. For some reason, the bags came loose from the rack and began to fall -- as the van was cruising down the highway at about 75 mph.
"I looked through the rear view mirror and saw our travel bags cart-wheeling down the freeway," UTEP coach Rick Todd said. "We stopped immediately and were very fortunate to have collected all of our gear."
They had their bags and the outsides looked OK, but how did the clubs inside handle the spill?
"We were absolutely elated to find that not one club was broken or bent," Todd said. "The only damage, if you can call it that, was a limited amount of scraping on the travel bags from hitting the pavement going 75 mph."
If this bag can handle a beating like that, it is likely to go up against rough baggage handling with ease.
The Burst Proof with Wheels travel bag is completely manufactured in the U.S. and comes with a two-year limited manufacturer's warranty or upgradeable five-year "unconditional" warranty. Get one in your choice of colors for $179.
Club Glove also makes a variety of soft-sided bags and luggage. For information, visit www.clubglove.com.
Looking for a hard sided case instead? Datrek Miller makes some nice options that will protect your clubs without requiring a crane to lift and move around. The Hard Case Sport case is made of heavy-duty ABS plastic and can lock if needed (remember that airport security requires that luggage not be locked for quick inspection). The handles are retractable so it will fit into your rental car or other mode of transportation.
The Hard Case Sport retails for $160. Get more details at www.dmigolf.com.
If the idea of lugging your clubs through the airport -- no matter how well protected -- leaves you cold, or if you like to travel light and don't want to hassle with checking your golf bag, there's always the option of sending your clubs on ahead.
Sports Express is one such service, and unlike other luggage or package delivery services, they specialize in athletic equipment. The company's Web site at www.sportsexpress.com lets you get a quote on what it will cost. You'll pay a bit, but for some folks the convenience outweighs the extra money.
To ship a standard-sized golf bag cross country, from Portland, Ore., to Orlando, in three days costs $107.26 each way, while express overnight service is $201.29 each way. At that rate, you could buy your clubs a seat on the plane.
Even closer to home, from Portland to Phoenix, rates ranged from $91.82 to $190.40. But keep in mind that the cost includes insurance up to $500 (you'll need to buy more at $1 per $100 of coverage), door-to-door pickup and delivery, and a guarantee that if you don't get your equipment on time, they'll pay to rent you comparable sticks. Other luggage shipping services are roughly the same price and don't guarantee they'll find you comparable rentals if something goes awry.
Finally, check on insurance before you go. Even if you have a heavy-duty travel bag or a door-to-door delivery service, damage and theft happen. Some homeowner's policies cover sports equipment, or your insurance company may offer a rider on your policy. Other, specific travel insurance is also available -- check with your travel agent before you go.
