Shipping golf clubs question

Does anyone have any experience, and can provide information about shipping golf clubs?

I have some in-laws coming in to town, from Texas, at the end of July, and they plan to play at a few courses while they are out here.

They have never been out of driving distance for golf before, and they are flying to Vegas, but have heard horror stories about the hassles of lugging your clubs through the airport, and the car rental shuttles, rough-ians throwing the luggage around from plane to plane...etc..etc.

They want to just go ahead and ship them to my place.

I have seen the FedEx commercials for this, but I have also heard of those local services that offer help in these matters.

Does anyone have any good information they can provide, so I can relay this to them?

What kind of places offer this service, and around how much can they expect to pay.... if using FedEx or some other type service?

Any help would be truly appreciated.

Thanks

--Rizzo

Rates seem to run from $50-$80/$100 depending on carrier, insurance requested, weight, etc. Each way.

Let me address those horror stories. My clubs fly with me all over, and not just domestically. Knock on wood, I've never had a problem. I probably will at some point but that's life. But I don't think TSA baggage handlers are any more/less oafish or delicate than your typical delivery courier. It's just not logical; a UPS plane is "safer" than Southwest? FedEx conveyor belts are mink-lined and LAS' aren't?

Flying or shipping, have them put the golf bag in a good, sturdy travel cover. ClubGlove is by far the industry standard. It needs to fit somewhat snuggly (and you can put other stuff in it). And get a Stiff Arm by ClubGlove. It's an umbrella-like device that goes inside the bag and is extended to be longer than the longest club, that way it takes the force when the clubs come down the chute the wrong way.

The one advantage to shipping is of course not having to pull your clubs through the airport, etc. To me that's a nonstarter. And flying them is cheaper. Obviously all will not agree. And to reiterate, my clubs have been on scores of flights.

Thanks for the info Ken.

--Rizzo

Di nada, Frank.

Before the frugalista come unglued: ClubGloves are NOT cheap. I bought my most recent version at Costco in Tucson -- only place I've seen 'em at Costco -- and at one Ben that was half off the price you'll find elsewhere. The BIG ClubGlove runs something like three. It's a business expense and need for me, but I did use ClubGlove before this gig. It's not the right solution for all because they might not fly that often or they have something else or they're willing to roll the dice, but they are superior products. At min advise them to get the Stiff Arm, which is 25-30 bucks.

Yeah, that is what I was thinking too.

They are not the worldly travelers, and probably would not see much use out of an expensive travel cover.

I was hoping some one who has used FedEx or UPS to ship their clubs in the past could chime in and see if they provide kits of some sort, like the commercials show.

I was just talking to one of them in-law dudes and he asked me to check out golfbagshipping.com

They were quoted 60 bucks each way and this company sends them a kit a few days prior to pick up date, and they send some one to their house to pick it up for ya.

I think they are sold on that idea for now ...but I bet shipping with Fed Ex might still be a bit cheaper.

Oh well...I tried to help them.

Thanks for your advice anyway, will mention the stiff arm to them.

By the way...you might see me, on this forum more often, as I have recently purchased a set of clubs, and am just starting to learn the game very slowly.

So far, I've been taking baby steps, but the game sure seems like lots of fun!

I'll be looking for beginner advice, and insider tips on when, where and how to get on the best courses for the right prices.

--Rizzo

I have a set of clubs at my buddy's place in LV, but I used to travel with. I wish years ago I would have thought about shipping instead of travelling with them. I first started shipping bowling balls to Nat'ls in thearly 2000s (schlepping 6-8 balls is no fun as ABC didn't even allow rolling bags at the tournament). When I traveled with clubs I would take a towel and wrap it around the club heads secured by either a bungee cord or a really healthy rubber band. Put on the foul weather cover followed by the travel cover. Fill the travel cover with items you might otherwise pack to give protection for your shafts and you have a poor man's Club Glove. I have had friends that just threw on their foul weather cover, left it at that and had problems. Ken will tell you that airlines have disclaimers when it comes to club liability. Buyer beware.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

I go to Bandon every year and likewise Hawaii. I ship 2 sets of clubs Fed-X. One in a Club-Glove one in a high quality hard case. Weight is 40 # +/-. Cost to Bandon from LA (1200 miles or so) is $95 or so per set each way.
I started shipping after I had my clubs lost-delayed 2X to Hawaii and once to Bandon and now I can track them and know I'll have them for the intense use they get up there.
3 more weeks I do it again.

The wife and I have shipped our clubs to LV for the simple reason of not wanting to drag them through the airport along with luggage.
UPS does have boxes that are large enough for your clubs. You can pick up alittle "bubble wrap" and place around the heads of your clubs or simply tie your golf towel around and weave between them. It has worked just fine.
Cost about 5 years ago was around $45 each way.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

The in-laws have come and gone and they ended up going with the "Golf bag Shipping dot com" option.

They signed up for it, and paid online in advance, then the company sent them a "packing kit" which included tie wraps, mailing labels, and a large, heavy duty, shipping bag. (times 2)

They setup a pick up call tag with FedEx, and they came by and picked up the clubs at their place.

Then they were shipped to my house, , and arrived one day before they got into town. They arrived in great condition, and had not been beat up, nor was anything broken/missing.

They had also setup a pick up from my house for the date that they would be leaving, so the clubs would go back. They used the 2nd packing kit, and tie-wraps, and Fed Ex came by and picked those up.

They paid 65 bucks each way...or a total of $130 round trip, and they sent them 3-day air via Fed Ex.

It was a pretty good deal for "non-frequent" travelers.

I like the club glove option myself, for folks who know that they are traveling with their clubs often.

--Rizzo