The short answer is yes. To ensure the safety of your equipment and to meet our transit requirements, your clubs must be packed in a suitable hard-sided or soft-sided golf travel case.
Shipping a standard golf bag (stand or cart bag) without an external travel cover is not permitted, as these bags are designed for the fairways, not the rigors of global logistics.
1. Choosing Your Travel Case
You have two primary options for protecting your investment:
- Hard-Sided Cases: These offer the highest level of impact resistance. If you are shipping high-value clubs or want maximum "crush protection," a hard shell is your best bet.
- Soft-Sided Travel Bags: These are acceptable provided they are specifically designed for golf travel, featuring heavy-duty padding and reinforced tops to protect the club heads.
2. When is a Box Required?
In most cases, a sturdy travel bag is all you need. However, an outer cardboard box is required only if your golf travel bag is deemed unsuitable to withstand transit (e.g., it is thin, lacks padding, or has broken zippers). Think of the box as a "safety net" for older or lighter-weight covers.
3. The Golden Rule of Packing
Before you zip up:
- Remove the Heads: If you use adjustable woods, unscrew the heads and tuck them into their headcovers in a side pocket.
- The "Stiff Arm" Advantage: We strongly recommend using a telescopic support bar (often called a "Backbone") inside your bag to absorb vertical pressure.
- We recommend adding soft items like clothing or towels around the clubs to reduce movement and provide additional cushioning.
Pro Tip: Your travel cover is the "armor" for your clubs. If the armor is weak, the clubs are at risk. When in doubt, box it up!