Everyone loves a great golf vacation, but it can quickly fall to ruin if your clubs are broken by a baggage handler. The Travelling Golfer has some tips on how to protect your golf clubs when flying.

Whether you’re traveling domestic or international, you must have a traveling golf case to protect your clubs. There are two different types of golf cases to choose from: a hard plastic shell or a soft padded case. The hard plastic shell case will give your clubs more protection, but it comes with a much higher price tag. The soft cases are the cheaper alternative, but be warned that most airlines won’t insure soft cases.

If you have a soft case, the Travelling Golfer suggests you “make sure to take as much pressure off of the clubs as you can. This can be done by wrapping a towel or a soft object around the club heads and shafts, especially those which stick out of the end of the golf bag.” After wrapping all the clubs and packing up the soft case, shake it to make sure you don’t hear any of the clubs hitting each other. If you do, go back and wrap some more.

When packing a hard case, you should start off just like you did for the soft case. Make sure you bag fits in the case easily, leaving just enough room. Then fill the extra spaces with golf towels in order to protect the clubs. Since the hard cases are heavier, check the weight restrictions your airline has for luggage. Make sure to take an extra bag with you to the airport in case your clubs are too heavy and you have to remove some weight to check them.

Do you have any golf club traveling tips or stories?