When it comes to travelling with your golf clubs – as we discussed in the previous post – it can become complicated, not to say unpleasant.
If you're tired of feeling anxious every time your golf bag is handled by airport staff, or if you've already suffered damage to your golf clubs during a flight, then this article is for you.
How to Ship Golf Clubs
Did you know that there are services specifically for golfers that take on the task of collecting and delivering your golf set (and luggage) to and from your preferred locations?
This could involve transport from your home address to the hotel you'll be visiting on your next holiday, from a golf course to a hotel located elsewhere, or even from one part of the world to another. Wherever you wish.
You might therefore ask yourselves why you would prefer this method to the usual one of carrying your golf bag:
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You will not be carrying any weight.
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It is easier to get around during your trip, use public and private transport, and carry out any other activities during your journey.
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The golf bag will be handled by delivery professionals, not airport staff. Being more accustomed to shipping large and valuable items, the golf bag and clubs are much less likely to be damaged.
To be thorough, here are the reasons you might prefer to bring your golf bag with you:
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Do you want to have your golf bag with you
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You are not taking your best golf set and you are not worried about the possibility of it getting damaged.
Naturally, there are several good reasons to choose to bring your clubs with you.
If this is the case for you, that's perfectly fine. The aim of this article is to inform all golfers who may not be aware of this service and who might be wondering how to ship their golf clubs and avoid these issues.
Pros and Cons
Perfect service doesn't exist: just as some accidents can happen with airlines, the same applies to shipping services.
Although the consequences are different, let's evaluate them together below:
Airlines
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It is sadly common for one's golf set to be ruined during transit due to storage or handling conditions.
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The golf bag can get lost even if it's on the same flight, as can happen with normal luggage. The possibility is even greater when there are connecting flights.
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It's confusing navigating through all the fares and policies of the various airlines.
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Airlines are generally reluctant to offer refunds for damaged sports equipment.
Shipping services
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There's an extra intermediary, as these companies often rely on external shipping providers like UPS, DHL, and FedEx.
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Despite better management, bags could still be lost or delivered late, as can happen with normal parcels.
As can be seen, various risk factors need to be considered and the choice is not always easy.
It mainly depends on your personal needs and preferences.
That being said, here are our top tips for anyone looking to ship their golf clubs rather than carry them.
Golf club shipping precautions
If you have decided to opt for the more convenient path of shipping your golf clubs, we recommend that you:
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Wrap them in a suitable golf bag, possibly a travel golf bag with appropriate materials.
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Purchase additional cover options and/or take out insurance for golfers, which will cover, among other things, the value of your golf set, personal liability, the bar tab for a hole-in-one and much more.
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Ensure you can print the shipping labels, possibly printing the return label as well and taking it with you on your journey. This way, you will avoid any problems related to the shipping label being incorrect or unavailable.
By following these 3 simple precautions, you will eliminate all possibilities except for delays.
We know that a delay in delivering your golf bag is not pleasant at all, but in this rare circumstance, it is very easy to rent a set of golf clubs directly at the golf course. Furthermore, by scheduling delivery 1-2 days before your arrival, you will have enough time to resolve most situations related to shipping delays.
Is shipping safer than transporting?
Statistically, it is not an easy claim to make.
Every year, just under 11% of all luggage is lost by airlines. This isn’t a huge figure when viewed on a small scale. In theory, you might lose your luggage once in every 100 flights.
However, as we have previously stated, the probability is higher with connecting flights, as the luggage is handled midway through the journey and there is twice (or more) the chance of it being mismanaged.
Despite a lack of clear data on lost luggage by couriers, the significant increase in mishandled baggage by airlines compared to previous years is quite alarming.
Most importantly, as we've already said, most airlines are not adequately equipped or willing to deal with sports equipment, whereas couriers and shipping companies operate differently.
Additional Cover
Did you know that most airlines do not offer any kind of cover for your golf set should anything happen to it on board or while in the custody of airport staff?
This is one of the most important differences between the two solutions: when a company does not take responsibility for damage caused to sports equipment, it generally means that the possibility of damage or loss is higher (and more frequent) than one might think.
Shipping services, on the other hand, offer coverage options.
This means you will not be required to take out insurance if the value of the golf set falls within the coverage limits and that the package will be handled with more care.
Honour Mentions
It is very rare, but not impossible, for the airline to not allow passengers to bring their sports equipment on board.
The following airlines, in fact, do not allow golf club sets to be boarded (as of November 2023):
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RwandAir
This can be due to several reasons and is not a major problem, unless many other companies choose to be part of the list above.
The solution is very simple: just choose another airline for the same route or – as you've already guessed – send your golf set via a shipping service.
The best golf club shipping services
Based on our experience and customer feedback, we feel obliged to suggest ShipSticks As a shipping service provider for a variety of reasons, including quality, ease of use, affordability, and excellent feedback.
We have decided to partner with ShipSticks to offer the best possible service to our customers and allow them to travel hassle-free.
If you need to ship your golf set, you can take advantage of our discounted rates. through this link and book the service directly.
For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us or the ShipSticks support team.
Enjoy your game of golf!
