Planning a golf holiday is exciting; watching your clubs disappear into a baggage belt is less so! It can be a worrying time, but a decent golf travel bag can be the difference between your clubs arriving in the same condition they left in and turning up with a snapped driver shaft or a dented fairway wood.
But don’t worry, this guide from the experts at Clarkes Golf will point you in the right direction, so you can keep your clubs safe and sound while they're travelling from A to B.
Hard Case vs Soft Golf Travel Bags
The first decision is the most fundamental one: hard case or soft. Both will protect your clubs, but they work differently and suit different types of golfers.
Hard Cases
Hard cases offer the strongest protection. They’re built from rigid materials, typically ABS plastic or polycarbonate, and are designed to take the knocks and drops that happen in baggage handling without passing any of that impact onto your clubs. If you’re travelling with expensive equipment and checking your bag into the hold, a hard case will offer you the best peace of mind.
The trade-off is size and weight. Hard cases are bulkier, heavier when empty, and less straightforward to transport around an airport or resort. Most also require your clubs to be removed from your golf bag and laid flat, rather than wheeling your bag straight in.
Soft Cases
Soft travel bags are lighter, more flexible and easier to carry. You put your golf bag in as normal, zip it up, and you’re done! Many golfers find this setup more practical, especially on shorter trips or when connecting flights are involved.
The protection level depends on the quality of the bag. A good soft case will include internal padding, a stiffened top to protect club heads, and durable external materials. A cheap one offers little more than a fabric sleeve. For most recreational golfers travelling occasionally, a quality soft case is perfectly adequate. For frequent flyers, or anyone carrying irons they’d rather not replace, a hard case is worth the extra hassle.
Golf Travel Bag Restrictions for Popular Airlines
Airlines treat golf clubs as oversized or sporting equipment, and most will carry them - but the fees, allowances and size limits vary considerably. It’s always worth checking directly with your airline before you travel, as policies do change. Here’s a general picture of how the main carriers handle golf clubs:
- EasyJet allows golf equipment as a single checked sports bag. The combined weight allowance depends on your ticket type and any pre-purchased hold baggage. Golf bags typically fall within standard hold baggage rules.
- Ryanair accepts golf clubs as additional sports equipment. You need to pre-book and pay a sports equipment fee, and the bag must meet their weight limit.
- British Airways includes sports equipment under its hold baggage policy. Golf clubs can usually travel in place of one piece of hold luggage, subject to weight limits.
- TUI, Jet2 and other package holiday operators often include golf bag carriage as standard or at a reduced rate on golf holiday packages. It’s worth confirming at the time of booking.
The key thing to check for any airline: the maximum weight for golf equipment (often 20-23kg), whether clubs must be in a specific type of bag, and whether there are additional fees on top of your standard baggage allowance. Always declare your clubs at check-in rather than trying to include them with regular luggage.
What to Pack Alongside Your Clubs when Travelling
A travel bag protects your club, but there are a few other things worth sorting before you fly. We’ve put together a full guide to the best travel golf accessories to cover everything you might need on a golf holiday, but here are the essentials.
Club head covers - Make sure every wood and hybrid has a cover fitted before the clubs go into the bag. Club heads moving around in transit are one of the most common causes of damage.
A stiff arm or club protector - This fits inside your bag to stop the zip of the travel bag from pressing down on your club heads. It’s inexpensive, but absolutely worth the small addition.
Padding for shafts - Some golfers wrap towels around shafts for extra protection. Others use purpose-made neoprene shaft sleeves.
Shoes - Many travel bags have a seperate shoe compartment. If yours doesn’t, pack shoes in a shoe bag to keep the rest of your gear clean.
Valuables out - Remove your GPS device, rangefinder and any other electronics before checking the bag. Carry those in your hand luggage.
Travel insurance - Make sure your policy covers golf equipment, and know the declared value of your clubs in case you need to make a claim.
Our Top Golf Travel Bag Picks
We stock a range of travel covers to suit different budgets and travel styles. Here are some of the options worth considering.
Best for Maximum Protection: Motocaddy
They may be best known for their premium line of golf trolleys, but Motocaddy also has considerable skin in the game when it comes to hard case golf bags. If you want your clubs treated like hand luggage regardless of what happens on the baggage belt, a Motocaddy hard case is a great choice. Look for a case with internal padding, TSA-approved locks, and smooth-rolling wheels. Hard cases from established brands tend to have well-thought-out internal fixings that keep clubs from shifting in transit.
Best Soft Travel Bags: Big Max
Big Max makes some of the most practical soft travel bags on the market. Their cases are well-padded, straightforward to pack and built to handle the kind of treatment airport baggage gets. If you want a reliable soft bag at a sensible price, Big Max is a strong place to start.
Best for Frequent Travellers: Sun Mountain
Sun Mountain are specialists in golf bag travel solutions, and their travel covers reflect that experience. Their bags tend to offer a good combination of protection, organisation and ease of use - which matters when you’re moving through airports regularly.
Best Premium Option: Titleist or Callaway
Both Titleist and Callaway produce travel bags that match the quality of their club ranges. If you’re already playing with their equipment, it makes sense to protect it accordingly. These bags tend to offer premium materials, better internal organisation, and more considered design details.
Looking for even more protection? Browse our full selection of golf travel covers to find the right option for your next trip.
Ready to Book Your Golf Holiday?
Get the right travel bag sorted before you go, and you won't have to think about your clubs until you get to the first tee. Browse our full range online, or get in touch with the Clarkes Golf team for straightforward advice on the best option for how and where you travel.