What to Pack for a Golf Holiday: The Checklist

A golf holiday is only relaxing if you have packed properly. The essentials are a padded travel bag to protect your clubs, plenty of balls and gloves, weather-appropriate layers, and comfortable shoes. Here is the full checklist so nothing gets left at home.

Protect your clubs in transit

Airlines are not gentle with golf bags. A padded or hard travel cover is the single most important thing to pack, protecting your clubs from the baggage hold.

For how to pack the bag itself, see how to pack golf clubs for a flight, and browse travel bags.

Balls, gloves and tees

Take more than you think, especially on unfamiliar courses. A durable multipack of balls, a couple of spare gloves and a big bag of tees cost little and save a panicked pro-shop dash.

Layers and waterproofs

Weather abroad can still turn, so pack a light midlayer and a packable waterproof that squashes into the bag.

The rest of the checklist

• Comfortable, ideally spikeless shoes you can also wear off the course
• Sun protection: hat, sun cream and sunglasses
• Your rangefinder or GPS, plus its charger
• Plenty of tees, ball markers and a pitch fork
• A towel and a spare base layer

See more in shoes and accessories.

Frequently asked questions

What should I pack for a golf holiday?

A padded travel bag for your clubs, plenty of balls, spare gloves and tees, a light midlayer and packable waterproofs, comfortable shoes, sun protection, and your rangefinder or GPS with its charger.

How do I protect my golf clubs when flying?

Use a padded or hard travel cover, put a towel or clothing around the club heads, and consider a stiff arm or an upside-down club to take the impact. Our guide on packing clubs for a flight covers the detail.

How many golf balls should I take on holiday?

More than at home, since you will be on unfamiliar courses. A durable 15 or 24-ball multipack is cheap insurance against a costly pro-shop top-up abroad.

Do I need waterproofs on a golf holiday?

It is worth packing a lightweight, packable waterproof even for a sunny destination, as weather can turn. It squashes into the bag and saves a washout.