Golf Travel Case Or Golf Travel Bag: What's The Right One For You Part 1

With the investment in your clubs and your time you want to protect your clubs when you are traveling from home to course. The way you can protect your clubs is with a quality golf travel bag.

There are two main types of golf bag: hard and soft. There also is a hybrid, which takes qualities from both the hard golf travel bag and the soft-sided travel bag. The term golf travel bag and golf travel case are both used. Golf travel case usually refers to the hard side golf travel bag and golf travel bag is used for hard, soft and hybrid.

Hard Or Soft?

Hard golf travel bags are the ultimate in protection. With a rigid exterior and a padded interior these golf travel bags will protect your clubs from the jostles, bumps and dumps of traveling. With the molded exterior these golf travel bags start at a price of $120 and go over $400.

In a hard golf travel bag your golf case is placed in a padded container, strapped down and then latched in. The security and protection of the hard golf case make it the choice of golfers traveling by airline.

Entrusting your clubs to baggage handlers in airports means taking a high-risk chance. Baggage handlers have to quickly load and unload baggage since all schedules are been decreased. This leads to short time turnarounds, which means the baggage handlers are in a big hurry to unload and load the plane.

During the turnaround your clubs can be dropped, thrown, crushed and tossed. So the more secure you can make them, the better you clubs will survive the trip. Hard golf travel bags provide this protection.

A soft-sided golf travel bag can be easier on the wallet. But because its sides are made of a reinforced fabric, the jostling and bump protection is not as good as a hard sided golf travel bag. If you are traveling by car, the soft-sided golf travel bag will be your choice for protection and ease of use.

In a soft-sided golf travel bag your case has a specialized hardtop or helmet. The helmet fits over a pad and the top is latched on.

One notable soft side travel bag is the Club Glove Last Bag. This travel bag is extremely well padded and uses a stiff arm to minimize damage to your clubs.

There are also hybrid cases available which blend the strength of hard cases with the ease of a soft case.

Which Size Golf Travel Case?

There are two measurements you will need to know in order to choose the best golf travel bag for your needs. The first is the diameter of your bag, and the second is the height of your driver/putter.

A staff golf bag has a diameter between 12- 13 1/2”. To close your golf case you will need a case larger than the diameter of your bag. Many brands specifically state they are made for staff bag travel.

Regular golf bags are between 91/2” –11” in diameter.

Longer drivers can be up to 51” in height. So check for XXL cases to fit these drivers.

Your golf travel bag will protect your investment in your clubs for many years to come. So measure your clubs and I’ll be back with part 2 of tips to choose your golf travel bag.

Here are some great bags to choose from: