How to Ship Golf Clubs: A Quick & Easy Guide
No one who plays golf will improve their game by playing on the same course every weekend. Traveling to play on new courses is great fun, whether within the U.S. or outside of it. It's also a great way to improve your game.
However, one issue limiting even the most avid golfers is that traveling with golf clubs can be a hassle. Do you bring them on as a carry-on? Will they even fit in an overhead compartment? If you check the bag, will they be damaged?
Everyone planning to travel with their clubs could use a 101 on how to ship golf clubs. Here is a breakdown of the process for domestic and international shipments.
How to Pack & Ship Golf Clubs
Whether shipping across the country or overseas, you need to secure your golf clubs to prevent damage. Follow these steps for airtight packaging.
Get the Right Materials
You start shipping golf clubs the way you do any task: ensuring you have all the right materials. Since this isn't like packing a bag for travel, you'll need all the materials to ship, which include:
- A sizable box
- Packaging tape
- Bubble wrap
- Packing peanuts
- A polythene bag
- Scissors
Wrap the Clubs
The first step is to wrap your clubs securely. Take large swaths of the bubble wrap and layer them around the clubs individually.
If you have head socks, you can place those on first, but enough bubble wrap should protect against any nicks.
Secure the bubble-wrapped clubs with rings of packaging tape. Make sure nothing can get in or out of that bubble wrap.
Place the Clubs in a Polythene Bag
You can ship polythene bags without a box. However, you don't want to take that risk with golf clubs. They're too vulnerable, even with all the bubble wrap. Plus, if you're shipping multiple clubs (what are you going to do with one golf club?), you want them to all arrive at once.
The polythene bag simply adds a layer of protection and keeps the contents inside the box from shifting too much.
Individually or Together?
Golfing isn't just a great pastime. It's a sport with real, proven health benefits. But you're not going to get any of those if you only bring one club along.
How do you find a box big enough to ship them all? Some people ship each club in an individual package, but that can get costly.
Instead, you might invest in two to three boxes and place two to four clubs in each box.
Fill the Shipping Container with Packing Chips
Once you have your shipping container or containers, place the polythene bag-covered clubs inside.
If you're placing multiple clubs per box, sprinkle enough packing chips around to cover the club. You want the container to be tight with packing chips so that the clubs don't move around too much as they're traveling.
Secure the Container
This step is more crucial than you might think. Tape every single corner and crack on the boxes.
Tape reinforces the structural integrity of shipping boxes, and golf clubs are heavy objects. You're going to need all the reinforcement you can get.
Get Insurance
If you've never bothered to get shipping insurance, you're not alone. It's not always necessary when shipping gifts, clothes, or luggage. But golf clubs are precious items.
Sure, they're replaceable, but you bond with them as they teach you the sport. Many golfers have a club or two that they consider irreplaceable.
Consider getting shipping insurance when you check out with your boxes to protect your prized possessions.
How to Book a Shipment
Shipping within the country and outside it are relatively similar procedures. The international shipment process has only a couple of extra steps.
National Shipment
Choose Your Carrier
Whenever you ship something domestically, you have the option between going through:
They each have their specific requirements, fee structures, and guarantees. It's up to you to research and make a choice.
Pack Your Clubs
Pack the clubs outlined in the steps above, and don't forget to decide ahead of time if you're going to purchase shipping insurance. That way, if the clubs get lost, you won't be out dry.
Ship Them
The final step is simple – bring the clubs to your local shopping center, or have a courier pick them up. Pay for the shipment, make sure you've got shipping labels, and go on your merry way.
International Shipment
Find the Right Shipping Service
Shipping internationally is a bit trickier process. There are several reliable international shipping services, including UPS, FedEx, and Ship Sticks.
Some prefer to go through shipping companies based at the destination where they're traveling. Local handlers will understand the receiving side more thoroughly.
Print Shipping Labels
Before you ship internationally, print out and apply shipping labels to every box. It's important to attach them correctly so that they don't come loose in transit.
Ensure the barcode on the labels is visible and not obscured by too many layers of tape.
You'll also want to remove any old shipping labels if you're using a recycled box. That can cause confusion in transit.
Complete a Customs Declaration Form
This step is an essential difference from domestic shipping. Customs declaration forms are required from your destination.
You just need to find the correct forms online, print them out, and attach them to the boxes in a clear plastic envelope.
Ship Them
Finally, ship your boxes the same way you send a domestic box.
Ship Smart
It's better to over-prepare and overspend when it comes to shipping. You don't want anything to go wrong. It's more than that—you don't want to have to worry about your golf clubs the whole while you're traveling.
If you plan everything in advance and leave no box unchecked, you'll travel easier. The MUT - Multi-use Traveler Bag is perfect for your travel bag. Whether heading to a business trip or a golf tournament, this bag will ensure your clubs are safe and secure during transit. It's the perfect way to protect your valuable golfing equipment with the torsion bar and the zipper closure. Enjoy peace of mind knowing your gear will stay safe no matter how far you travel.
