The 10 Best Golf Travel Bags
This wiki has been updated 35 times since it was first published in June of 2016. Just imagine the scene: You've saved up all year for the most awesome 36-hole weekend, but when you arrive at the course on the first day, your clubs are damaged and you have to play with a crummy rental set. You can easily prevent this tragedy, however, by protecting your gear in transit with one of these golf travel bags. They're designed to keep your equipment safe wherever you go. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Sun Mountain Clubglider Meridian
2. CaddyDaddy Constrictor 2
3. AmazonBasics Soft-Sided
Editor's Notes
November 07, 2020:
For this update, we've added two new models with high ratings and low prices. The AmazonBasics Soft-Sided has excellent storage space and two outer pockets, while the Himal Universal will appeal to people who want a more streamlined look. The Bag Boy T-2000 is another newcomer; it gets high marks for organization with its multiple pockets and zippers. We've also added a new Special Honors listing for those who prefer form to function - and for whom price is no object.
The Izzo A56028, the CaddyDaddy Enforcer, and the Founders Club Cover Luggage have all been removed. While they are all still available and all still good bags, you have numerous options when it comes to choosing a golf bag - and these simply no longer cut the mustard. Finally, we've also updated the information for several items, including the K-Cliffs Mini, the CaddyDaddy Phoenix, and the Sun Mountain Clubglider Meridian.
April 15, 2019:
If you plan on lugging your clubs further than just to the local course and back, then you need a good travel golf bag. But exactly what type of travel you have planned will affect which model is best for you, so we rounded up a good variety to guard your gear, no matter where your adventures may take you. For shorter trips, the K-Cliffs Mini and the Izzo A56028 will do just fine, as they are made almost entirely of fabric and add almost no weight to your gear, so if you must personally carry these for much of the day, it won't be a huge bother. If TSA agents won't be handling your clubs, then these two aforementioned models should do a sufficient job of protecting your gear. That being said, those who plan on bringing their clubs on plenty of planes will want the SKB ATA Standard and the Samsonite 6850. These impressive hard-shell options will take good care of your clubs, even when TSA agents and luggage handlers do not. If you are away from home, then you may appreciate some roomy options that can hold more than just your golf gear. That's when the CaddyDaddy Phoenix will come in handy, as many say you could get away with packing enough clothes for a weekend trip inside of it. The Golf Travel Bags Caravan 3.0 also stands out in the storage department, with tons of roomy pockets for essentials like sunglasses, a wallet, and more.
Special Honors
Louis Vuitton Golf Bag This custom-made piece is trimmed in leather and covered in the brand's famous monogrammed pattern. Its large, padded strap lets you carry it on your shoulder, and it has numerous interior and exterior pockets for stashing your Rolex watches, diamond necklaces, and keys to the Lambo. louisvuitton.com
4. Golf Travel Bags Caravan 3.0
5. CaddyDaddy Phoenix
6. SKB ATA Standard
7. Himal Universal
8. Bag Boy T-2000
9. K-Cliffs Mini
10. Samsonite 6850
How to Choose a Proper Travel Bag for Golf
If you're constantly traveling by air, it makes sense to select a hard-shell transport case for your clubs.
The more you golf, the more you understand the importance of owning a reliable travel bag for your clubs. Whereas amateur players might enjoy hitting the links during a vacation, a lot of avid golfers make it a point to compete in several tournaments a year. Either way, an appropriate travel bag becomes a must.
If you're constantly traveling by air, it makes sense to select a hard-shell transport case for your clubs. The majority of these hard-shell cases are made out of hermetically-sealed polyethylene or ABS plastic, either of which can absorb the brunt of getting tossed onto a luggage trolley or an airport carousel. Hard-shell travel cases are generally designed with wheels, which are essential, given that these cases tend to weigh between 14 and 20 pounds without the added bulk of clubs.
Travel bags that are made out of polyester, nylon, or any other type of durable material tend to weigh less than 10 pounds, which makes them easier to haul on your shoulder. Fabric bags are also more flexible than their hard-shell counterparts, and they are designed with an array of compartments, which is great for accessing minor items on the go. It should be noted, however, that any fabric bag might yield the potential for wear and tear, especially if its material has not been reinforced along the bottom.
In the event that you need a travel golf bag, it might be worth making a list of all the items you'd like that bag to accommodate, including tees, balls, and other handheld accessories. Once you've done that, you can determine whether a specific model has ample storage space or compartments based on mapping out where each of those items should go.
Several Tips for Taking a Set of Golf Clubs on The Road
Your golf clubs are your babies. With that in mind, you'll want to treat those clubs with the utmost care whenever you're traveling. If you're traveling by car, you may want to fasten your golf bag into the backseat by way of seat belts or onto the roof by way of ropes or cords. In lieu of those options, you'll want to place your bag inside the trunk, but only after your other luggage has been loaded in first. Prioritizing in this manner will minimize any risk of your clubs getting damaged. Wrapping your golf bag in a blanket can further protect your clubs from a sudden jolt whenever you hit the brakes, or pass over a bump.
You want an airline's luggage handlers to use extreme caution, regardless of the airline's reputation.
If your golf bag has wheels, you may want to rely on those wheels as a means of hauling that bag through an airport or a hotel. Using a strap taxes your shoulders, and a strap may also cause your clubs to bang around whenever that bag hits your waist.
If you're checking in your golf bag as luggage with an airline, make sure to place a "Handle With Care" sticker along that bag's side, (you can purchase these stickers at any stationery store). You want an airline's luggage handlers to use extreme caution, regardless of the airline's reputation. The same goes for placing your clubs inside the cargo hold of a bus or a train.
The lion's share of public transportation companies will claim they are not obligated to compensate you for items that they deem to be "improperly packaged" or that might have been damaged due to "routine wear and tear." There are a few ways to get around this, but doing so won't change the fact that you won't be able to use your golf bag — or perhaps even your golf clubs — the rest of the time that you're away from home.
A Brief History of Golf
The modern game of golf originated in 15th-century Scotland, where it was banned for a time by James II, who felt the game represented a distraction to Scotsmen who should be practicing archery, which was considered a more conventional sport. Ironically, this ban was lifted in 1502 by James IV, a direct descendant of James II who had begun to play golf himself.
During the 16th century, Archbishop Hamilton of Scotland granted permission for the waterside greens along St. Andrews to be repurposed as a golf course. This became a symbol of mainstream acceptance for golf, and it subsequently resulted in St. Andrews being viewed as hallowed ground for golfing fans throughout Europe.
During the 16th century, Archbishop Hamilton of Scotland granted permission for the waterside greens along St. Andrews to be repurposed as a golf course.
Up until the 1700s, most golf games were played by adhering to unofficial rules. These rules became standardized, however, under the game's first governing body, an organization known as The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. In 1764, this ruling body began to recognize a full "round" of golf as comprising 18 holes (as opposed to the previous 16 to 22).
Golf's first "Open Championship" took place in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1860. This highly competitive tournament proved to be such a success that golf made its way across the Atlantic. The first U.S. country clubs began opening in New York toward the end of the 19th century. Such "clubs" usually featured an 18-hole golf course that was connected to a lavish meeting hall reserved for society's elite.
During the 1920s, experienced golfers and their caddies took to using custom-made bags to tote a full arsenal of clubs. Motorized carts were added into the mix a few decades later, rendering it much easier for even the most out-of-shape golfers to enjoy a full day on the links.
Today, it is estimated that 25 million people play golf worldwide, with more than 23,000 of those people continuing to make an annual pilgrimage to St. Andrew's — a 500-year-old golf club that currently features seven full-length greens.
Shilo lives for adventures in far-away lands and reads books like it’s going out of style (which it is). Dogs are her co-pilots. She’s traveled to 60 countries and has lived in Austin (where she received a BA from the University of Texas), Maine, Paris, Seattle, New Zealand, Los Angeles, and now—Fort Worth. Before becoming a freelance writer over a decade ago, she had more than three dozen jobs, including high school teacher, record label manager, tour guide, and farmhand for endangered livestock breeds. She speaks fluent French and horribly mangled Spanish, which she is working every day to improve. Shilo geeks out over history and culture, and her areas of expertise include travel, art and design, music, pets, food, crafts, toys, and home furnishings. Current obsessions: Gobekli Tepe, tassels, and fresh lemonade.