Your golf bag needs to be as light as possible, so you may need to lighten it up.

 

What does that mean you ask.

 

Nearly all airlines restrict the weight of your golf bag to 22 kilograms or 50lbs (actually 48.5lbs).

 

If you arrive at the counter and your bag is over the weight, THEY WILL MAKE YOU REMOVE SOME ITEMS – like shoes or balls. (This has happened to me twice).

 

So when packing, remove all those balls you found on the golf course. Pick out 12 nice ones or replace them all with a dozen new ones and throw 3 or 4 extra in for good measure, and NOT another dozen. Golf balls are heavy and add substantial weight to your bag.

 

Next clean your clubs. You do not want to show up at the first tee with all that mud and dirt and the extra weight on your clubs.

 

Next, put your golf bag in a golf travel bag - A SOFT GOLF TRAVEL BAG, NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT LOOK LIKE A SMALL COFFIN. Reason: these hard-shell bags do not bend. For sure they protect your clubs but take up a lot more space than a soft one that can be squeezed into a tight space, like your car. Try fitting one of those hard-shell bags into a taxi or your trunk or the backseat of your car, and you will be in big trouble if you have two bags unless you have a large SUV.

 

Get a bag with 4 wheels if you can that swivel in all directions. This type of travel bag is much easier to push through the airport.

 

Trust me, been there done that, never want to do it again.

 

Some say why carry your clubs when you can rent at the location. Well, good idea but not very practical if you plan on playing more than two rounds. Also, the clubs they rent may not be suited to your game or be of poor quality, so you pay for rentals and you end up not enjoying your round because you have difficulty playing with these clubs. This has happened to my wife who was provided with men's clubs in Switzerland. Long way to go to end up with clubs you cannot swing.

 

In the golf travel bag, should be your golf bag, containing :

• Clean clubs

• One dozen golf balls

• Tees

• A ball marker

• Golf gloves 2 or 3 (to match your clothing) lol

• Sunscreen

• Hats

• A towel or two (small-ish to clean your clubs, maybe wipe your face and hands)

• A band-aid or two (just in case)

• Bug spray

• A water bottle (no water in it)

• Lip balm (Chapstick)

• One or two pairs of golf shoes if you can fit them both in

• If you are travelling to a place where you know it's likely to rain, you can add a light rain suit, or at least a wind shirt to the bag. If you intend to play in the rain, then add an umbrella and rain gloves.

 

That my friends should bring you to 40-45lbs.

 

DON'T FORGET TO PUT A TAG ON YOUR BAG WITH YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER – ON YOUR TRAVEL BAG AND YOUR GOLF BAG. JUST IN CASE THEY FORGET TO LOAD YOUR BAG OR, THEY SEND IT TO ARGENTINA WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO BRAZIL. (Both of these have also happened to me).

As you know, a lot of bags look the same (reason for the name and number) but also put a coloured ribbon or something you can readily see on the handle or somewhere. So when 200 bags come down the carousel you can pick yours out quickly without any trouble.

 

NOW YOU ARE READY, SOMEBODY CALL A TAXI.

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