People ask me all the time, "Is it better to ship my golf clubs or travel with them?"
Well, I can't vouch for other delivery services, but if you're shipping golf clubs with Ship Sticks, my answer is usually, "yes, it's better to ship them."
Sure, there's a fee to ship your golf clubs, but when you compare it to the fees AND time AND hassle of traveling with your gear, I've found you'll usually come out way ahead with Ship Sticks.
There's a lot to consider, so I put together the following side-by-side infographic / chart comparing all the costs and "hassle factors" of a sample 4-day golf trip where time is valued (conservatively) at $3 per minute...
As you can see, when you factor in the costs AND time AND hassle of traveling with your clubs, it's pretty hard to argue with shipping your golf clubs with Ship Sticks.
The asterisk (*) above means prices vary based on origination, destination, and transit time, but I think you'll find Ship Sticks is still the way to go.
See for yourself and get an instant price quote here.
Sorry to be Johnny Thundercloud here, but a cautionary tale.........
I'd never thought of shipping my clubs until a friend spotted an ad for someone who did it, so I decided to give it a try. I work overseas and was fed up of hiring clubs all the time.
It turned out to be a very bad decision.
I gave them MORE than enough time to ship them from home to the first resort where I was playing.
I arrived at the hotel. No sign of my clubs.
Not knowing when they would come, I then hired clubs day to day.
Meantime my friend (who had suggested the shipper) hired clubs for the whole week, paying much less than me.
I wrote to and called the shipper numerous times and could just never get any answer.
My clubs arrived one week late, on the morning we were leaving!
I then took them with me on the plane to the second resort we were playing at, used them there and left them at the hotel, due to be collected the next day.
Weeks later, they'd still not arrived at home, so I called the hotel, who said my clubs were still sitting there! Nobody had come to collect them!
Still no answer whatsoever from the shipper, so I asked the resort hotel to please hold them for me.
They did that for over a year until I could go back and collect them in person. Nightmare.
So, for me, that's twice I've shipped my clubs; the first time and the last time!
Not to say I will never use them but I have looked into Ship Sticks a few times. The cost could get up there. To me it was the inconvenience of not having my clubs available when I want them so I can play golf. It was necessary to ship my clubs several days in advance of my departure to insure they would be at my destination when I arrived. The clubs would also arrive back at my home several days after my return.
I understand Ship Sticks cannot instantly transport clubs back and forth but I just did not want to be without clubs Several days before leaving and several days after returning. I have a couple friends that have used Ship Sticks and things went well according to them. As for allocating cost for my time there is no way I would value that. I am traveling there and back anyway. At $3/minute which equates to $180/hour most of us would like to have or have had a job that pays that much. I also want to see things in the area so I would want a rental car anyway and a large SUV is not required. I would most likely have at least one checked bag instead of carry on anyway.
Edinburgh - hope your golf's better than your spelling
In the interest of transparency it would be good to know if this content was sponsored by shipsticks...it strongly feels like "advertorial" content.
Thanks for your comment, Des. For this chart we looked at how most of our USA-based readers would most commonly use Ship Sticks, i.e., shipping <em>within</em> the USA for a 3-night/4-day trip, which would allow one to pack clothes in a carry-on bag and avoid checked bag fees. For international shipments, there are more regulations, logistics, and costs involved.
This is an article that shows you can prove anything with statistics - first who can get the $39 rate and who travels with no baggage except the golf clubs. Lets look at using Ship Sticks from Toronto Canada to Panama City Beach Florida - cost is $310 return. Now the cost of travelling with golf clubs and one bag - cost is $220 (Mini Van to Airport and return vice limo, extra cost $10; checking golf clubs at both airports $70 (note: if you are in the military or retired both Air Canada and WestJet do not charge for up 3 or 4 bags respectively); baggage claim both airports $0 (have to wait for first bag anyway); SUV rental car vice 5 pax rental car extra cost $140 - actually one can argue that this cost is only valid if you golf at one course; if you are golfing at different courses then you are going to need a SUV anyway. So take off baggage fees and SUV and cost is reduced to $10. The biggest reason for using Ship Sticks is not cost but the nice feeling of not dragging clubs through airports. We go on a golf vacation down south every winter and for the extra cost of $10, I'll drag the clubs
Hi Bill, for shipments originating outside the USA, you'll need to call Ship Sticks to see if they can help you: (561) 429-3900.
I would like a quote to ship clubs Edinborough(Scotland) to Perth(Australia) about 3rd August 2017. I am finishing golf trip in Edinborough then travelling for a further 3 weeks in Europe with wife
OK, this analysis is way out there. Not to say shipping the clubs is not a bad idea. It's the not having to lug the clubs to and from the airport and paying baggage fees that is the benefit. Not to mention the possibility of damage to your equipment. You can't make it work out with dollars, it's soft numbers that make this work. I did see a two seat sports car (an Alpha Romeo) parked out of place at the rental car next to the check in booth inside the parking garage. I asked what it was doing there and the lady said the guy had golf clubs and had to change his rental since they would not fit but you don't need an SUV to transport golf clubs.
Hi Don -- looks like $65 each way (Phoenix, AZ to Greenville, SC). Glad you like our tips!