Golf Clubs

[IanandSarah]

Hi,
Can anyone tell us the safest way to wrap golf clubs to take to Florida, via British Airways, Gatwick? Is there a 'shrinkwrap' machine at Gatwick? If so, where is it etc.
Thanks in advance,
Ian

[wrpac00]

I put mine in a golf travel bag.

[MarkJan]

If you take a travel bag, you can fit clothes in as well. This may mean you take one suitcase less.

[IanandSarah]

Hi, Thanks for that. If we left the clubs there, (We plan to) do you think we could fill the case to bring clothes etc back??
Ian

[ShirleyD]

If you are flying BA you are allowed 2 suitcases up to 23kg each and golf clubs for no extra charge

[edlea]

As long as you don't exceed your airline's weight and number (usually 2 bags each at 23kg) you can take your clubs out and fill the bag with clothes on return.
If, as one of your replies states, BA let you take clubs FREE and EXTRA to your normal allowance,(a) this is extremely generous in these cost-conscious days and (b)I would imagine they'd want some evidence that it's golf clubs in the bag, ie they would check them ; otherwise, they just might as well advertise that if you fly with them you can take an extra load of clothes with you as opposed to to "normal" passengers.
We (four in our family of five) play golf and have taken clubs to all sorts of foreign places but we haven't as yet used BA.
We use golf travel bags which we buy online for around £14 (why pay £85 for one which comes from the same Chinese factory but has a well-known manufacturer's logo on the side ?) and pack the heads with bubble wrap to stop the irons chafing. (I assume your woods will have headcovers.) We usually get two sets in one travel bag using small lightweight carry bags. This summer we got two sets of ten clubs ( we usually leave out our least-used clubs) and two pairs of shoes (in each bag)for a total of just under 21kg. We don't bother taking balls (which can add up to quite a weight) as you find loads of pristine Pro VIs on American course as the locals can't be bothered to get off their carts to look for them !!
Happy packing and enjoy !![8D]

[Lynne S]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ShirleyD
If you are flying BA you are allowed 2 suitcases up to 23kg each and golf clubs for no extra charge
[/quote]

Virgin also have the same baggage allowance

[sunseeker]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Lynne S
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ShirleyD
If you are flying BA you are allowed 2 suitcases up to 23kg each and golf clubs for no extra charge
[/quote]

Virgin also have the same baggage allowance
[/quote]

Not as i read it, your golf bag appears to be part of your luggage allowance.
Taken from Virgins web site.

Golfers can check in one golf bag (which includes a maximum of 14 clubs, a dozen balls and a pair of shoes) as a single item of Checked In baggage.


Dave

[MarkJan]

If you leave your clubs there (been there, done that,) just fill the travel case with clothes as you have said.

[edlea]

I've now checked the BA website and you are indeed allowed to take a set of golf clubs FOC. However, there are (obviously) restrictions : 14 clubs, a doz balls and one pair of shoes. This would imply that presumably from time to time, someone checks inside to see this generosity is not being abused. The website further adds :

"The following items should not be packed in sporting travel cases:
sport clothes
sports holdalls and bags
smaller items or accessories such as football shin-pads
We will accept these as part of your checked baggage allowance."

Whilst some may take the risk and get away with it, if you leave your clubs out there and then pack the golf travel bag with non-golfing items (such as clothes) you might leave yourself open to some hefty additional luggage charges.

After all, they do to tell you NOT to pack non-golf specific equipment.