So you lucky thing, you’re going on a golfing trip abroad. Well, you’ll need the best Golf travel bag for airlines and transportation to and from the Hotel and Golf club.
It can take years to get your golf bag and clubs exactly how you like them and the thought of them getting damaged in transit or on the plane just doesn’t bear thinking about. The cost of golf equipment has rocketed in the last few years and the average golf bag, with a complete set of clubs, ball and rangefinders etc is £900 and that’s the average cost some sets can be over £2000.
So spending less than £150 to protect them year after year is a great investment.
Golfing holidays are becoming more popular each year and there are some amazing deals available online. How many of us have that golfing bucket list? Well, there’s no better time to go on a Golfing holiday abroad.
At A Glance: Top Golf Travel Bags
- Longridge Hardcase Travel CoverTop Choice
- Bag Boy Golf 2018 T-10 Hard Top Golf Travel CoverLightweight Design
- Izzo Golf Padded Golf Travel CoverCheapest Travel Bag
- Sun Mountain ClubGlider MeridianEasiest To Maneuver
Airlines have tightened the rules on transporting golf bags and clubs on their planes, making it more important that you have the right protective golf travel bag cover for your clubs before you jet off on your bucket list golf trip.
Top Product Overview
Top Choice
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Lightweight Design
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Cheapest Travel Bag
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Easiest To Maneuver
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Top Golf Bags For Travel
Longridge Hardcase Travel Cover
This golf travel bag is our number one choice for a couple of reasons. Number one, it offers total protection for your clubs. You’ll need to take a hammer to this case to damage your clubs. Furthermore, the price is a bargain for what you get. And number three, the customer reviews from AMAZON 80 reviews with most people giving it 4 or 5 out of 5.
The Longridge hard case is a high-quality case that ensures protection of the golf clubs. The cover dimensions are is 49.6 x 14.6 x 12.6 inches, which is more than long enough for your complete set of clubs, but not overly long. Of course, you will likely have to check it in as oversized luggage and maybe have to pay more (depending on the airline).
A little more detail about the case. It can accommodate up to a 10″ golf bag and 46″ drivers. It features heavy-duty abs construction with foam-padded top. The cover also features 3 heavy-duty key locks, 2 retractable handles and easy glide roller wheels to help you move around with ease. After all, you don’t want to carry this travel case. It does weigh a little over 15 pounds, which is not light. But it’s worth it to protect your golf clubs with a complete hard case, right?
Pros
- Hard case gives better protection
- Strong and durable materials
- Large enough to fit all clubs
Cons
- Quite heavy
Bag Boy Golf 2018 T-10 Hard Top Golf Travel Cover
This hybrid half and half golf travel bag offers the best of both worlds. Maximum protection but easy to store one you’re back from your travels. And it’s lighter than a full hard case, by almost 35%, so there’s that too!
Not only that, but this travel bag is waterproof and packed full of pockets and features. This bag definitely deserves to be in our list of top travel bags for golfers!
To help protect your club heads, the top of this bag is durable ABS. And the bottom is lighter, but still strong 600D polyester. And the case is skid-resistant too. All helpful to ensure your clubs are protected along the way.
There are also compression straps inside the bag to help keep everything in place during transit, along with a handy anti-burst strap to make sure nothing escapes when it gets manhandled by those guys in baggage!
In terms of size, you certainly won’t be disappointed with enough space for a 48-inch driver and up to a 10-inch golf cart bag. You can also pack more than just your clubs with pockets for your shoes and other golf accessories.
And because hauling all your gear around the airport or carpark is never any fun, they have also included 2 skate wheels on the bottom to make your life just that little bit easier!
Pros
- Durable ABS and polyester material
- Lightweight hybrid design
- Enough space for all your gear
Cons
- Not as strong as a complete hard case
CaddyDaddy Enforcer Travel Bag
The CaddyDaddy Enforcer is another worthwhile hybrid option to consider. With an upper that is meant to be crush resistant and is also made from ABS, you know the head of your clubs will certainly be safe. And that is always the first part to be ruined.
The softer part of the bag features two large zippered pockets with enough space for all your golfing accessories. They have also included four handy grab handles, to make it easier to move around when you are traveling. A key feature of any golf travel bag if you ask me
And as with most golf bags you will see, it also comes with two heavy-duty roller wheels to take the load of your shoulder when you have to drag this travel bag longer distances!
Another handy feature of this bag is that the bottom part folds into the upper part, making it a cinch to store when you get back home.
CaddyDaddy also gives a comprehensive one year warranty to show you how confident they are with their product too!
Pros
- Strong ABS upper
- Hybrid design great for storage
- Handy external pockets
Cons
- A little heavy
Izzo Golf Padded Golf Travel Cover
The Izzo Golf’s Padded Travel Cover is perfect for your basic transport needs, but I certainly would not trust this one to the airlines. Unless you are desperate that is!
The padded soft case is lightweight and includes a durable vinyl base for added protection. The padded carry strap offers comfort while carrying over your shoulder. This bag is a great option if you’re on a budget, but I would add some clothing and other protection if you are having to check this one in.
It cost less than a box of top quality golf balls, which is great if you don’t have a lot to spend, that’s for sure.
Pros
- Cheapest option on this list
- Easy to pack
Cons
- Not great protection if on an airline
Callaway Golf Clubhouse
This Callaway clubhouse golf travel bag is perfect for an overnight getaway or short-distance golf holiday.
The travel cover/bag will ensure your clubs are ready to transport safely with a neoprene comfort grip handle and reinforced wheelbase. This travel bag also features exterior quick-release tie-downs to keep everything secure and in place. And on top of that, it has an internal shoe pocket, so you don’t have to carry your dirty golf shoes in your regular luggage.
Finer details include a business card identification holder to allow you to identify your bag after arriving at your destination. And there is a reinforced wheel-base to keep this thing rolling longer than you would expect.
Again, as this is a soft bag, it will certainly be a great travel companion, just not on an airplane. But, if you do decide to use it for that, pack your clubs inside clothes and other protection to ensure they arrive safely at your destination!
Pros
- Relatively lightweight
- Roomy
- Space for shoes
- Compression straps on the outside
Cons
- Won't protect your clubs against baggage handlers without additional help
Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian
The Sun Mountain ClubGlider is a golf travel bag that is a pleasure to wheel about the airport. It’s so easy to maneuver you won’t believe it. There is also ample space inside this bag to fit all your golf clubs, balls, shoes and other accessories. No matter how heavy you travel.
The one big downside of a bag like this is that it is not a hard case. Sure, it is lighter at around 11 pounds, but it only has foam to protect the heads of the clubs. Most people might assume this is enough, and it probably is, but if you want more then you should add (like most do) the Bag Boy Backbone to your purchase. This provides an umbrella-like structure to the top of the bag ensuring that your clubs are protected even more.
For the rest, this golf travel bag is a great buy for anyone who likes to play golf overseas!
Pros
- A pleasure to wheel around
- Lightweight
- Plenty of space
Cons
- Needs the Bag Boy Backbone for full protection
What to look after in the best golf travel bags?
- Lightweight
- Good padding for protection
- Wheels making it easy to pull
- Lots of pockets
- Security
Most Golf club travel bags for airlines will come with plenty of storage and pockets but some also come with a Golf Shoe pocket which makes it easier than putting your golf shoes in your suitcase.
Price
Price will also be a big consideration for most golfers looking to invest in a golf travel bag for travel. There’s a wide range of bags which will suit all budgets. In this article, we will cover all price ranges and see if the more expensive ones are really worth the extra cash. If you fly overseas on golfing trips regularly, you may want to look at the higher end options to keep your clubs fully safe if transit. If you prefer to play social local golf and not very often, then a low-budget option may be a better option for you.
Space For Golf Gear
Another big one for me is the overall space. You want to be able to fit in all your golf clubs, your golf bag, perhaps your shoes and other accessories as well. And that is not including any extra padding you may want to add if it is a soft bag.
Features
Wheels – Modern golf travel bags are lightweight but still too heavy to be lifting all around the airport. So buying a golf bag with wheels is a must. Most golf travel bags now come with wheels but some budget models don’t so be careful to check before ordering.
Padding – The thinner golf travel bags may not have the protection you need. They are fine for shorter trips and local golf and storage in the garage or loft, but if you’re going abroad you will need to look at the padding within the bag. Airports are not known for their care and attention when loading bags into a plane. They often get thrown around, so padding is a key point when purchasing a new golf bag. When considering a Golf club travel bag for airlines padding would be number 1 on my list.
Waterproof – You need to think not only about where you’re traveling to and the weather conditions but also where at home you will be storing the golf travel case. Most bags are waterproof but some more than overs. If your traveling more locally in the UK then the quality of the waterproofing will be very important and high up on my must-haves when buying a new bag.
Size matters – There’s a wide range of sizes available. Some are designed just to hold your clubs, but some are designed to hold your clubs, shoes, spare balls and all the accessories you’ll need on your golfing trip. Before buying please make sure you know the exact size of your clubs including the headcovers and also think about the type of bags you want. Will it hold everything? Or just your clubs.
Type of golf club travel bag for airlines
Golf bag covers
These are a simple and affordable option for the occasional golfer. These bags are lightweight and can be easily packed away and folded for hassle-free storage. When not in use they can be easily stored ready for your next trip. Even though these bags are material and foldaway some still come with wheels which make them easy to move around.
Hard case
These are perfect for long-haul trips or regular flights on airlines. The lightweight composite material are made from modern high tech material which offers great protection for your golf clubs. These cases offer maximum protection but are heavier and harder to store back at home.
Half and Half cases
Some cases are made from half hard material and half-soft material. These offer a combination of the best of both hard and soft cases. They offer maximum protection for the club heads but not as good for the rest of your clubs. There are better to store away than full hard cases, so they are an option worth considering.