Golf Vacation & Travel Tips

What to Bring and Packing Tips for the Golfing Traveler

What not to Forget and How to Prevent it from Getting Lost or Destroyed

Anyone who's spent time golfing and who's taken at least one vacation that required the use of a suitcase probably already has a good idea of what to pack and how to pack it when planning a golf vacation. However, in the excitement of last minute preparations it's possible to forget a few things or to pack them incorrectly, both of which can have detrimental effects on the success and enjoyment of your trip.

What follows is a brief reminder of important items that you should have securely packed away prior to your departure. Print it out and post it on your refrigerator to serve as a final checklist. You might even want to make a few copies of it to share with your traveling golfing companions or simply refer them to this website.

• Airline tickets
• Battery operated hand-held fan (for those REALLY hot days on the course)
• Bug spray
• Clothing deemed appropriate for the weather conditions that you'll likely encounter
• Clubhouse attire or other formalwear that you might need
• Copies of your travel itinerary including tee times and important telephone numbers
• Golf shoes that meet the requirements of the golf course(s) that you'll be playing on and that are already "broken in" (otherwise, take along some moleskin for the blisters that you're likely to acquire)
• Golfing gear including, but not limited to, your clubs, balls, tees, gloves, replacement spikes, towels, etc (take along extras as you deem necessary)
• Hat(s)
• Medicated sprays/lotions for sunburn and/or poison ivy/oak/sumac
• Medications that you regularly take (pack a few extra days supply)
• Rain coat and rain pants
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Yardage books and any other course-related information that you've requested and received ahead of time

If you're flying to your travel destination, be sure that your luggage meets the airline's specifications (e.g., weight, size, number of bags). You should also be absolutely certain that the golf travel bag that you're using to ship your clubs meets their guidelines, including the type of locking mechanism that it can have. While you might be tempted to pack a large quantity of items in the pockets that your travel bag potentially contains, don't rely on such a case to provide the highest level of security to any valuable items that you're traveling with; keep such important items in your possession at all times.

Be aware of the airline's guidelines for packing such items as nail files, razors, scissors, matches, and other things that might be deemed dangerous and/or a breach of security. Most of these items most now be stored in your luggage that has been checked in and that will be transported in the cargo compartment of the airplane. As a sideline note pertaining to storing certain items, you should always pack "spillable" type items in Ziploc bags or plastic containers.

Common sense dictates that you should keep your valuables in your carry-on bag. This includes your money/credit cards, keys, glasses/contact lenses, medications, jewelry, identification papers, airline tickets, and travel itineraries. You should also have the telephone numbers for the airlines, hotels, golf courses, car rental agencies, travel agents, etc that you're dealing with; carry such information in your easily accessed carry-on bag.

It's a good idea to get into the habit of placing a copy of your mailing address (whether your hotel destination or your home address) that has been written on an index card in each of your travel cases; this increases your chances of being reunited with any pieces that become lost and/or that are damaged along the way. Pictures of each bag and their contents are yet another good item to have in your possession while traveling and/or to leave a set at home along with a copy of your itinerary.

Give some thought to the necessities that you'd like to take along on your golf vacation, as well as plan on how best to get such items safely to your destination. There's nothing more satisfying than returning home after a golf vacation with intact luggage and no regrets for forgotten items.

See you on the Golf Course, John "Duffer" Walsh

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