You might be a seasoned pro when it comes to golf, but you don’t have to be a seasoned traveller to pack like one. When planning a golf trip, there are lots of things you need to consider. You want to do all you can to make your trip as smooth and enjoyable as possible whilst protecting your precious clubs at all costs.
From expensive and complex gadgets to the smallest but most invaluable accessories, there are lots of ways you can prepare for your trip. Before you get ready to tee off on your next golf trip, let us help you.
Below, we’ve pulled together a list of the 10 best travel accessories for any golfer.
1. Golf bag cover
You’ve spent enough of your time and money choosing the perfect clubs, so you will want to protect these at all costs. If you’re travelling by car, train or even bus, you have a lot more control over your belongings. This is also the case if you’re planning on shipping your golf clubs ahead of time.
But unfortunately, when you’re travelling by plane, this is not always the case. Once you’ve checked in, your bags have a rough journey ahead of them, being transported through the airport and loaded into the hold with hundreds of other bags.
For this reason, you want to get a travel cover to go over your bag and protect your clubs. There are lots of durable but lightweight options out there that will give you peace of mind while you’re travelling. For example, the OGIO Alpha, J Lindeberg Pro and Masters flight bag covers.
Though there are lots of options out there, choosing a bag cover with wheels makes it much easier to transport your clubs around.
2. Luggage tracker
Despite the fact that most of our luggage arrives fine and on time, there can still be the odd occasion where bags are misplaced or delayed. When you’re away on a golf trip, the last thing you want is for your clubs to go AWOL.
The good news is, technology has enabled us to now track our bags if something should happen to them. So why not grab yourself an Apple AirTag, Tile Pro or even the more budget-friendly Amazon equivalent? Then you simply pop it in your bag, and you can rest easy knowing you can always locate your bags.
3. Wireless earphones
From the aeroplane to the course, there are times when you might want to block out the world with some music or a good podcast, particularly if you need to eliminate distractions during a game.
Wireless headphones, particularly earbuds, make this much easier and mean no annoying cables are hanging around and getting caught. So be sure to get yourself a good set of comfortable, noise-cancelling headphones before you set off.
4. Reusable water bottle
When you’re away, it can be too easy to fall into the trap of buying bottled water. Where possible, it’s far better for the planet to take a reusable water bottle with you and fill this up before you head out each day.
Of course, you need to check whether you’re OK to drink the tap water at your chosen destination. If you can’t, find out whether the hotel or golf club offers a safe place to refill your water bottles. In some cases, this might not be possible, but if you know there will be water stations along the way, grab yourself a bottle to take with you.
5. Smaller backpack
If you’ve packed everything carefully in your travel case, the last thing you want to do is to have to empty it all to go out for the day. A backpack can be a great way to keep all your most important belongings with you when you travel, but to also take all the essentials with you on a day out on the course.
Choosing something like the OGIO Alpha Recon 320 or the Paravel fold-up backpack gives you plenty of room for your belongings. You can use it for your water bottle, snacks, sunglasses, headphones, etc.
6. Bag bungee
It might seem simple, but bag bungees slip over your suitcase or golf bag and can help to attach a second, smaller bag. This means if you have a travel bag or backpack you want to offload for a little while, you can easily attach the two bags together and make your life much easier.
7. Crease release spray
Even the most seasoned travellers will struggle to pack a bag that leaves every item of clothing crease free. But if you’ve spent hours carefully choosing your outfits for the course and the evening events, the last thing you want is to be the one walking around with huge creases in your shirts or shorts.
Crease release spray can remove wrinkles and smooth out fabric to give your clothes a fresh look and smell. Plus, it’s small enough to fit nicely in your bag without taking up a lot of room.
8. Blister prevention tape
Whether you’re playing 14 holes or 36, there is nothing worse than trying to struggle on with a blister. Having some blister prevention tape in your golf bag or backpack can be a real lifesaver in these situations.
9. Reusable travel towel
Golf towels are important for keeping your clubs dry and clean and even dealing with sweaty hands. But when you’re trying to travel light, you don’t want anything too bulky. A foldable microfibre towel can be a lifesaver in both hot and cold climates, especially if you’re expecting any rain.
Handy towels like Trespass Dripclip mini microfibre towel are easy to transport and very effective. Or, why not opt for Gorilla Gold grip-enhancing towel wipes. Just make sure you have these in your bag so you’re prepared whatever the weather.
10. Glove stash book
Last but not least, trying to pack efficiently whilst also ensuring that you have everything you need can be tricky. Then on top of that, you want it all stored away neatly to maximise your space.
A glove stash book is a handy accessory that helps you to keep your gloves neat and stops them from ending up in a ball in the bottom of your bag. This keeps them fresher for longer and makes them much easier to find when you’re getting ready for your day on the course.
