When you plan to play golf on a trip, you could rent clubs at the course. But if you want the best chance to play a round with an impressive score, you’ll want to bring your own clubs.
The safest and smartest way to carry your golf clubs on your trip is with a golf club travel case. These cases often are big enough to fit your entire bag and club set, and they may be soft-sided or hard-sided.
To learn more about golf club travel cases and bring your game wherever you go, continue reading our buying guide. Our favorite case is the CaddyDaddy Golf Constrictor 2 Travel Cover, which includes lockable zippers and straps for maximum security.
When traveling with your golf clubs, you’ll want to think about the method of travel before deciding whether you need a golf club travel case and what type you need.
A soft-sided case is usually a good choice if you’re traveling by car, train, or sea. These cases have thick cloth exteriors, so they will flex as you carry them. They have a little bit of padding on the interior, but their level of protection lags behind hard-sided cases. However, they are generally less expensive and are almost always less bulky.
A hard sided case consists of impact-resistant ABS. It will not compress when placed under the weight of other items, protecting the gear inside of it. These cases often have quite a bit of padding as well.
We always recommend a hard-sided case for your golf bag when traveling by air. Baggage handlers will not have the time to take special care with your golf bag when loading it on the airplane.
If you’ll be traveling by car with a lot of other people with a trunk full of luggage, a hard-sided case is a smart choice to protect the clubs from being crushed.
Golf club travel cases may have a few features to better protect your clubs and make carrying the case easier.
Soft-sided cases often cost $100 or less, but you should expect to pay at least $200 for a hard-sided case that will accommodate your entire bag. In general, more expensive cases have larger capacities and offer more protection.
A. Some hard-sided cases do. However, you need to be certain the lock is TSA-approved for air travel. Otherwise, it does you no good, and you’ll have to purchase one separately anyway.
A. There are no guarantees, of course. But your clubs have a good chance of remaining undamaged with a sturdy case. We recommend insuring them, though.
CaddyDaddy’s Golf Constrictor 2 Travel Cover
Our take: An extremely sturdy travel case that will keep your clubs secure throughout the entire trip.
What we like: Large enough to work with a huge golf bag. Case weighs only 8 pounds, so it doesn’t add much bulk to your travel load.
What we dislike: It has wheels, but they’re not as sturdy as they should be.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
IZZO Golf’s Padded Travel Cover
Our take: A value-priced golf bag travel case that has more interior padding than others in this price range.
What we like: Will collapse down when you need to store it. Can accommodate even a large golf bag.
What we dislike: It doesn’t have wheels, so you’ll have to carry it over your shoulder through the airport.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Samsonite’s Hard-Sided Golf Travel Cover
Our take: A trusted brand name in travel gear has created an extremely durable case for carrying a golf bag.
What we like: Has plenty of padding inside the case. Includes four wheels that can swivel, making it easy to maneuver this case through an airport.
What we dislike: Expensive. It’s so big that it may not fit in the trunk of a sedan.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Kyle Schurman writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
