Welcome to I Tried It, a GOLF.com series about golf items — apparel, gear, accessories, etc. — that we’ve recently taken out for a spin. We’re here to give our honest, no-frills takes on the latest and greatest golf or golf-adjacent items. So, scroll down to read about what we love about golf’s newest (or new to us) products.
As a frequent traveler, the allure of Golf on the Road always exists. I wonder what the San Francisco munis are like? What courses can I sneak on in Austin? I have that open invite in Philly — should I take it?
And in my 20s, I chased it. I lugged clubs through every airport, on every trip — you name it. But before long, my very basic travel bag took a beating. I’d cringe as airline employees dragged and dropped it on the barrage carousel, the thin canvas surrounding my irons fraying in numerous spots. I had received the travel bag for free from an industry pal, and it lived up to one of life’s truisms: you get what you pay for. In this instance, I owned a cheap travel bag, and it made traveling with clubs worse.
I had to hold its handle a certain way for the bag to roll straight. I had to be on linoleum floors, not sidewalks, for its wheels to keep from catching and dragging. Golf on the Road was less attractive with my travel setup. It was time for a change.
I waited until the very last minute — visiting a PGA TOUR Superstore en route to the airport — but I landed in the right spot: the Club Glove Club Traveler.
Club Glove Club Traveler
This is an extremely anecdotal observation, but in my experience, the proper golfers I see at oversized baggage claim are always carrying their weapons in this bag. The slimming, padded nature of the Club Traveler makes it seem like your sticks are zipped up tightly in their own little sleeping bag. The base of it is rigid, providing protection, but also a sturdiness to keep form as you bob and weave between other travelers in ground transportation. It feels like an extension of my arm as I race from baggage claim to whatever ride-share driver is waiting for me.
The Club Traveler comes with a “Stiff Arm” extender to make sure your longest clubs aren’t feeling any undue pressure, and its wheels glide smoothly, regardless of the surface. In the most simple terms, I no longer feel any angst about how schleppy it’ll feel to Golf on the Road. I’m back to adding golf to most of my travels, even if there’s no golf at the center of the trip. It may cost a decent penny up front — $350-400 or so, tax included — but it’s a purchase that feels more and more efficient each time you use it.
