Ship your clubs or fly with them? A golf traveller’s guide.
What airlines allow for golf bags, what shipping clubs to Scotland or Ireland costs, how far ahead to book, what you can’t pack, and when shipping is worth it.
Start with your ticket, not the shipping quote.
On most long-haul fares a golf bag travels as one of your normal checked bags. British Airways treats a golf bag or hard case as a checked item if your ticket includes one, with a 23 kg limit that covers the clubs, balls, tees and one pair of golf shoes. Aer Lingus carries sports equipment within the standard allowance on its North America routes, and its transatlantic Smart and Flex fares include one 23 kg bag. Delta and American apply their usual 50 lb (23 kg) checked-bag limit, then an overweight charge; Delta lists US$100 for a bag of 51 to 70 lb. So if your fare already includes a bag and your clubs come in under 23 kg, flying with them usually costs nothing extra.
What shipping costs, and what you get for it.
Luggage Forward, the specialist most US golfers use, prices golf bags from US$129 for a small bag (up to 18 kg, 127 × 30 × 25 cm) and US$149 for a large one (up to 22 kg, 132 × 38 × 30 cm). Those are starting prices; international routes and faster delivery cost more, and you get the exact figure for your route when you enter the pickup and delivery addresses. In return the company collects from your home, office or hotel, completes the customs paperwork for international trips, and tracks the bag to the course or hotel. Each bag carries complimentary value protection up to US$500, and deliveries are guaranteed on time or you get back double the shipping cost.
When shipping earns its price.
Shipping makes most sense when the bag is the awkward part of the trip, not the expensive part. A week in Ireland that moves from Lahinch to Ballybunion to Waterville means three hotels, a hire car and the Ring of Kerry with a golf bag across the back seat. A St Andrews trip by train means lifting clubs on and off at Edinburgh and Leuchars. Tight connections on a two-flight itinerary put an oversized bag at risk of missing the second flight. Bandon Dunes, whose nearest airport is the small Southwest Oregon Regional, is a classic domestic case. If you are flying direct to one resort and the fare includes a bag, the airline is cheaper.
Book early, especially for customs.
Domestic shipments can move in as few as two business days, but international trips need more time for customs, so book well before you travel. Luggage Forward accepts bookings up to 180 days before pickup and mails a forwarding packet, with the tracking tag for your bag, up to a week before collection. Pack your clubs in the hard or soft travel case you would use for the airline; no box is needed. If the bag is heavier or larger than the category you booked, the price moves up a category, so weigh it at home. You can also ship the clubs home from a Scottish or Irish hotel or golf course at the end of the trip.
What you cannot put in the bag.
International shipments carry stricter rules than a checked bag. Lithium batteries are not allowed, and that includes rangefinders and the small tracking devices many golfers now hide in their bags, so carry those in your hand luggage. Pressurised containers, including sunscreen, are out, as are electronics, tobacco, valuables and currency. You get a list of common disallowed items when you book. Airlines have their own limits: British Airways, for example, does not accept swing-weight load strips in a golf bag.
A simple rule for your trip.
Check three things before you decide. First, does your fare include a checked bag for the whole journey, including any connecting airline? Second, will the bag weigh under 23 kg in its travel case? Third, how many times will you move it between hotels, trains and cars? If the answers are yes, yes and once or twice, fly with your clubs. If you are on a basic fare, travelling by rail, touring several bases or connecting through a busy hub, get a shipping quote and compare it with the bag fees both ways.
Get a quote for your route.
Enter where the clubs start and which course or hotel they should reach, and Luggage Forward shows the price and pickup dates before you book.
Get a shipping quoteSponsored link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we work