The golf trip got out of the group chat, congratulations! Destination is set, flights are booked, the crew is amped. With the trip a few weeks or days away all that is left is deciding on your fit and packing your gear. Below is a list of items to double check and prep yourself perfectly for handling whatever the course has in store. Here is the Golf Trip Guys guide to packing for a golf trip, complete with recommended products to ensure you’re covered for every hole! (if you find it helpful, use the links to add to your gear collection and have the big brands kick us something back so we can continually improve your trip experiences!)
Basic Checklist
Golf Clubs
Golf Club travel bag
Golf Balls
Range Finder
Golf Shoes 2x
Layers
Extra socks
Sun glasses
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Things to consider before your flights
Prep - how to clean your clubs at home and get them ready for travel
Look good play good. Clean clubs make better shots, take some time before the trip to clean them, plus it adds a bit of confidence standing over the first shots of the trip with shiny clubs.
Grab a bucket of water and some dish soap, let the heads of your irons sit for a few minutes to loosen up any dirt. Do not use heavy detergent or cleaners with bleach which could damage your clubs.
With a soft brush scrub the grooves, clean grooves are essential to giving yourself the best spin rate you can produce and promoting a cleaner strike without any obstructions (e.g. grass, dirt) out of the rough or more challenging lies. Rinse with clean water.
Gently clean your grips with a damp towel and remove any dirt
Dry clubs and grips with a microfiber cloth and watch them shine.
Optional to bring yourself some good luck, bust out the scented candles out and craft a ambiance to bring good vibes to your clubs.
Choose the right golf travel bag
How do you choose between a hard golf case and a soft golf travel bag? The answer depends a bit on your type of travel and preferences.
Hard Case: If you main concern is maximum protection the hard case provides more durability and safekeeping but comes at a higher cost and some bulkiness inconveniences. Our crews have had good experiences on multiple trips with the Sun Mountain Kube.
Soft Case: Options in the soft case space have gotten much more durable with some of our favorites being the Sun Mountain ClubGlider with a handy mid section set of wheels for easier airport navigation. The Club Glove line offers high end travel options based on your size needs and also have a handy interlocking systems with carry on bags to cruise through the airport. You can find solid options at lower price points with strong protection. They also provide flexibility in space constraints, easier to load into a rental car or a hotel closet. The Samsonite Softside travel bag has a thick soft shell for extra protection, a detachable shoe compartment and stand-up mobile wheels.
Pro-tip: insert a broom handle to create a 'backbone' to the bag.
For a little extra protection remove your driver head and wrap it in a shirt or other soft item. You can also use bubble wrap, extra towels, or sets of socks as additional club protection.
Avoiding baggage fees pro-tip: check if you or your buddy has an airline credit card that you are travelling on. Some cards such as JetBlue offer a free checked bag to everyone on the booking reservation. So have your buddy book your flight and 3 of you can check your clubs for free. Your buddy can still add your loyalty number so you get your travel points!
Ship sticks is another great option if you have one or multiple connecting flights and are worried about any mishaps with baggage handling. Check our partner site for 10% off shipping your clubs in style with ShipSticks.
Know the weather and how it can change
The constant refresh of the 14 day, then 10 day, then 5 day weather forecast can be the ultimate pre-trip stress inducer depending on your destination. Packing for changing weather can be tricky - even sunny Hawaii can throw a shower or wind at you. Then there's Cabot in May, Florida in October which may offer some nice cheap offseason packages but be prepared to deal with some weather. One of our favorite slogans is "there is no bad weather only bad gear." So make sure you have your layers lined up and prepared.
What to pack for a golf trip in variable to cold conditions.
Breathable, moisture wicking shirts/pants
Waterproof rain pants
Waterproof shell jacket
Bucket hat
Extra socks for a mid-round change - wool socks will be your best friend...
Winter / rain golf gloves - We've had great success with the FootJoys Wintersoft
Hand warmers - can be a nice treat to hold while walking or riding between shots.
Smartwool or other ski type base layer
Flask for a warm bevvy / drink of choice
Hand towel
Rain hood for golf bag
Extra towel to dry grips
Chap stick
What to pack for a golf trip in warm/mild conditions.
Breathable, moisture wicking shorts/shirts
Quarter zip, sweater or light windbreaker for ocean breezes or temp changes.
Extra socks for sweat
Sunscreen
UV sleeves
Rain hood for golf bag
Extra towel to dry grips
What to pack for a golf trip in hot, sunny conditions
Breathable, moisture wicking shorts/shirts
Quarter zip, sweater or light windbreaker for ocean breezes or temp changes.
Extra socks and extra glove for sweat
Sunscreen
Water bottle
Bug spray depending on location and level of humidity
UV sleeves
Chap stick
Umbrella
Summary of how to pack for weather on a golf trip
Base Packing Checklist | Add if warm/sunny (e.g. Hawaii, Florida summer desert) | Add if mild/windy conditions (e.g. Scotland, Michigan, WI) | Add if colder temps are possible (e.g. offseason) | Add if rain is forecasted |
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Shoes and Socks - tips for comfortable feet
Happy feet make for good golf or at least make the bad shots more comfortable. If you can swing it space and cost-wise -- we highly recommend packing two pairs of spikes --especially if you are going to play more than 3 rounds. At the very least pack extra socks and swap to a new pair of socks for that second 18 of the day. Your feet will thank you and it may give you what you need to take down your tired foot opponent who didn't read this blog.
Pro-tip: save space by packing socks into your shoes or using the socks to cover your irons and reduce clatter during the plane ride.
Essentials for the Course
A bit of pre-planning here can save you from having to buy items last minute at 5x pro-shop prices and save that cash for the good stuff like new polos or logo q-zips...
Load up on golf balls before you go - hit the local store or online deal rather than having to shell out cash at the pro shop when you realize a few too many went into the hazard.
Bring at least 2 pairs of gloves, nothing quite like the feel of a fresh glove to kick off the trip, then have that extra if sweat or rain soaks.
Check the basics - tees, ball-marker, pitch fix.
Pro-tip: Some courses like Pinehurst have branded tees at the starter shack. Load up on these...seasons later you'll find one in your bag and get the trip feels all over again.
Document the trip while remaining present
Camera - hard to forget as most everyone has a high quality machine on their phones. Create a group shared folder to capture all the shots in once place accessible to all.
Hopefully your crew has a designated documenter that loves to capture video and photos from the trip. A tripod stand for the smartphone is a great investment for capturing tee shots.
Pro-tip: there are a number of apps that will add shot tracer tech to your videos. One app we found was SmoothSwing, adds tracing to your videos and full version (w/o watermarks) is available for only $10.
If your group is the sentimental type create a photo book of the trip on shutterfly.
Stay Hydrated and Recover Faster
Snacks and Hydration Gear: Keeping energy levels up is key, especially on longer courses. Pack protein bars, energy snacks, and a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated.
Whether its recovery from the round or the post round activities, set yourself up to be in the best condition possible for the next round.
Liquid hydration packs, Pedialyte and/or Gatorade
Ibuprofen
Portable resistance band for stretching and pre-round warm up
Massage ball, recovery tool, or compression socks to relieve tired muscles after each round.
For high end pick up a portable massage gun to really ease the muscles back into shape - Theragun 2.0
Tech Gear
Tracking & Gadgets: Don’t forget your GPS watch or phone with a golf app to track your game, and a portable charger to keep your devices powered.
Bluetooth speaker
Pro-tip: stash an Apple air tag somewhere in your golf bag so you can track it's whereabouts at all times.
The fun stuff
Bluetooth speaker for tunes on the course
Cooler pack to keep the beevys chilled
Flask (for emergencies)
Travel Essentials
Packing Cubes & Laundry Bags: Separate your golf attire from casual clothing to stay organized. A laundry bag can also help with sweaty post-round clothes. Pro-tip: most hotels have a laundry bag hanging in the closet, grab it when you get there.
Phone charger
Headphones
Toiletry kit
Phone charger
Final Tips for Packing
Keep Liquids in Check: If flying, make sure any liquid items, best to check items like sunscreen, cleaning sprays or the bottle of Fireball.
Double-Check Airline Policies: Always verify the airline’s rules for sporting equipment to avoid unexpected fees.
Ready to pack like a pro and make your next golf trip stress-free? With the right prep and these essentials, you’ll be ready to enjoy every moment on the course, from your first tee-off to the 19th hole.
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