The traveling golfer..

So this March I'm taking my first "golf vacation" to Orlando.  I'm trying to find the best traveling bag for my Callaway stand bag and just wanted some input on which is the best bag (in the $100-150 range.)

Plus any people with some traveling tips or stories (good/bad) would be great... I feel a little nervous leaving my clubs in the hands of airport baggage handlers ehhhh....

I just ordered a TSA approved lock from this site online. It should arrive in a couple days. We'll see how it goes.

that's a good forum (albeit 2 years old) thanks for the response! Ya i was wondering how locking the bag would work with all the TSA bull how everything must be 'unlocked.' I mean i did a calculation on another thread and i have about 1500 bux in that bag (not to mention the "priceless" aspect of some of my clubs.)

My friend that is also joining tagging along it forgoing bringing his clubs and has opted to rent clubs.  IMO this is stupid but a hell of a lot easier!

Agreed.

Yea, one of my friends in the group decided to rent as well. It definitely sounds a lot easier. I personally wouldn't be able to fully enjoy the vacation without my clubs, but I understand his reasons.

I recently traveled with my clubs for the first time.  I bought a Samsonite soft cover (http://www.golfsmith.com/products/298664/Samsonite/3_Piece_Golf_Travel_Set) and was quite happy with it.  It was pretty rugged and has an internal pad/cinch to wrap around the clubs.  I put my rain cover on the stand bag and cinched the pad around and it felt pretty solid.  My only real complaint about that bag is that the external cinches don't cinch enough to actually tighten themselves around my bag.  If you have a cart bag, I'm sure that's not a problem, but for a small-diameter stand bag, it means there's some wiggle room inside.

I didn't bother with locking it.  It comes with a little luggage lock (don't think it's a TSA-approved one), which would be fine for hanging around the airport I guess, but I really don't see the point of luggage locks.  If someone is in a position to be removing items from the golf bag without its being noticed, cutting around the zipper isn't going to be much harder.  I'd advise taking careful notes and/or photographs of the contents and condition of your bag and checking that everything is still there when you arrive (before leaving the airport).  Some airlines (e.g., Southwest) will not cover damage to your clubs, though, only loss.

The TSA seems to inspect inside golf bags more frequently than ordinary luggage (perhaps every time, based on my experience).  This was a bit of an annoyance because on the first flight they didn't bother to correctly re-pad the internal padding I mentioned.  No problems resulted, but I'd have been happier if they'd done a more careful job.

I've always traveled with the "Last Bag" from Club Glove and "The Stiff Arm."

The Stiff Arm protects the longer clubs.

I have no idea how much they cost or whether you can find them for less than retail. I've had both for about 12 years.

Ditto on both. My clubs have made it between the US and Africa unscathed several times now and the outside of the Last Bag looks like it's taken some epic shots for the team.

I have a Club Glove soft case, and I like it. I am weary every time I watch those sticks go onto the luggage carrier. I had a relative who worked at an Airport and he told me how some people treat luggage and golf clubs especially (as if we don't know already!). Other than a few small nicks and marks, it has made at least 5 trips.

If you get a softcase, I would suggest wrapping the top of the bag with towels, jeans, sweatshirts, etc. A little more extra padding never killed anyone, but not enough and one toss can break shafts.

Although every time TSA goes through and rips all the padding off, but at least it's still there!

You could also just ship it down before hand through ups or fedex  to the place you are staying and have it delivered the day you arriving.

I use a "Golf Guard" hard case.  I've seen them at Dick's but online mine was only $55 or $60.  It's an inexpensive hard case, but the clubs inside simply aren't going to be damaged.  I picked up a couple TSA compatible locks and have had no issues flying with it.

light . . . bulb

This is an opportunity for a course to jump on. And for any course that adopts the step by step process below. . . you're welcome.

1.) Resort course puts together a golfer package that includes free shipping of the clubs with someone like FedEx in a golf bag friendly package. They can be re-useable since they'll go back and forth (return trip) and they can even consider a small fee for oversized Staff bags.

2.) The Course arranges to have the bag delivered directly by FedEx and guarantees (somewhat) that the bag will be waiting for the players when they arrive at the course.

3.) This would work even better for stay and play packages.

There's a place out here in Arizona that does exactly that.  Not that I could afford it, or would have a need to ship my clubs since I live here-but it is a neat option.

Tsa lock and stiff arm by Club glove are good to have. I flew down to SC with both in a borrowed Ogio bag that looked like a hockey bag, not very padded but enough. No issues i wrapped some sweaters around the heads of my clubs also.

I'm not sure where I got it but I have a hard cover cap that fits over top of my cart bag like a rain cover then I use a soft travel bag. Never locked it but I've never had any problems

Great tip Mr. Desmond on the "club stiff arm" those look to be the best security measure yet!  That "last bag" though is a ton of $$$ though, 300 bux, which is worth it but I don't travel via airplane very much (at least not with my golf bag...) I did find a nice Samsonite hard cover case at GG= http://www.luggage.com/Samsonite-Golf-6850-Black-SAM1025.html ... It seems like any clubs inside would be virtually invincible and more importantly it was $130... anyone know if this is any good?

I have a Callaway soft sided bag.  Like the fact that it has a set of harder plastic protectors around the club heads.  I also like the wheels so I can pull behind me.  Have made a few trips and (knock wood) no problems yet.  Has room for jackets, towels and shoes without a problem.

That's the case I ended up getting. I had no problems on my trip. It's a really nice one. Still doesn't have a scratch on it even after its maiden voyage.