Shipping clubs?

[skipsaw]

This post isn't exactly about regional courses, but it is about golf travel, so I thought this would be the most relevant place to ask.

I will be taking a trip in September to Lake Tahoe and driving from there down to Las Vegas. Insted of dealing with hauling my clubs through airports and paying the extra fees that they charge now for extra baggage, I am considering having my clubs shipped instead.

Does anybody have any experience doing this, and if so, are there any recommendations for which service/company to use?

Many thanks.

[jwkde]

I did it once on a business trip where i was making 3 stops but only play golf in stop 1 and 3. I had the clubs shipped from the hotel in city 1 (after playing) to city 3.

Worked great but it can be expensive if you want them to arrive quickly. I had several days in between 1 and 3 so i chose the slower delivery time.

THis was before the airlines imposed all the baggage fees so it is probably much more cost effective and less of a hassle.

I used Sports Express http://www.sportsexpress.com/

Hope that helps

[Harry Longshanks]

Another member ( erova ) posted this link:
https://www.theluggageclub.com/

in this thread: Traveling International

I did a quick price check for a domestic trip, and it was considerably more expensive than checking the clubs, even factoring in the new luggage charges imposed by the airlines.

Personally, I travel relatively light most of the time, so dragging my clubs isn't that big of a deal. I have a Club Glove Burst Proof II with Wheels , and a Stiff Arm , and I find it very easy to navigate. The only thing I wish I'd done differently is get it in a bright color instead of black. I love black - but so does everyone else when it comes to luggage.

[gortyl]

Another member (

This is what I posted in that thread....just another option:

Well, it's not England, but maybe it will give you a general idea. I just shipped three golf bags from Missouri to Pebble Beach and it cost us $564 total roundtrip or $188 per bag. It was a no-brainer for us. Obviously, I'd guess at least double, maybe triple that to Europe, but I agree with erova, if I had to do Scotland again, I'd ship. My wife still has pictures of me dragging that damn bag (along with our other luggage) through Heathrow on a cart with a broken wheel. Brutal. Back to the shipping - I used http://www.golfbagshipping.com . I gave a review of them somewhere else in this forum, no time to look it up, but in short, they were awesome. The customer service was amazing and it was very easy.

[iacas]

Personally, I travel relatively light most of the time, so dragging my clubs isn't that big of a deal.

I think the other thing to consider is the possibility that your luggage will be lost or delayed, too, as that can absolutely ruin a golf trip (as I recently discovered).

So mailings clubs is not just about convenience, but also about security in the knowledge that your clubs will arrive.

[sam004]

What about UPS ground ?
I recently traveled from the Mid West to the East Coast.

I paid the baggage fee charged by US Air going out, but shipped UPS ground for the return.

The other posts in the thread link to a somewhat expensive option.
I took a chance and shipped mine in a soft travel case. I would have felt better about a hard case with a lock, consdidering the value of my clubs.
They arrived OK, I figured how much worse is UPS than the airline baggage
animals ?

I paid about $55.00 to ship from a UPS store to my office. It took 2 days by
UPS ground, with a declared value of $1500 and a shipping weight of
about 50 lbs.

The same shipment 2nd day air [same ship time] $200. Overnight, $ 350.

[immts007]

I travel light as well, and my clubs are my one checked bag. I just went to California and used my new Trav-a-lite Ultima II. I love the size weight and convenience. I was able to fit all 14 clubs in, and get the top on with little effort.

[Kltdefer]

I think the other thing to consider is the possibility that your luggage will be lost or delayed, too, as that can absolutely ruin a golf trip (as I recently discovered).

I have to second this...last year I flew to ONT via Alaska Air. Alaska left my bag in Seattle. They told me I had "voluntarily gave up my luggage" and they would not send me my bag in when it arrived 4 hours later. I asked when did I 'volunteer' my luggage. She replied (straight faced) "when you used curb side check-in"...I was BS to say the least. It screwed up & delayed our golfing plans.

I plan to see if DHL or UPS would be okay options.

[Guest]

Immts,

Did they charge you any addittional "size" or "special equipment" charges for the trav-a-lite?

I have one as well and am planning a trip to Scottsdale. It will be my second bag and I know I'll get hit with $25, but I'm wondering about the L x W X H restriction. The Trav-a-lite comes in maybe a half inch shy 62" and that is exactly the point where they start charging $150 extra.

thx,
JT