Ship Sticks: A hassle-free way to get your golf clubs to your destination

If you’re like me, one of your least favorite things about traveling to golf destinations is lugging your golf clubs around airports. Everything from hauling them onto the parking shuttle, checking them in at the airport and waiting for them to come out in the oversized luggage bin makes it a hassle.

And don’t get me started on golf clubs that don’t show up at your destination. Most airlines these days don’t even want to cover the cost of your rental clubs, much less having to purchase golf balls or other supplies, if your clubs don’t arrive on time but come within 24 hours of the scheduled flight. I had it happen on three trips in 2012, each one with scheduled rounds that afternoon after arrival. That meant golf without my own shoes, gloves and clubs. And I had to purchase a hat, sunscreen and balls and rent clubs.

There is a solution: ship your clubs ahead of time. It isn’r necessarily a money saver, but it can save you headaches. One company that’s been making inroads recently is West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Ship Sticks, a golf bag shipping company that provides door-to-door service. The company has achieved triple digit growth in less than a year.

“As avid golfers, we know firsthand that traveling with golf clubs is the most cumbersome part of the golf travel experience,” said Nicholas Coleman, CEO of Ship Sticks. “However, using your own clubs is vital to the success and enjoyment of the round. Ship Sticks provides an affordable and valuable solution for golfers to transport their clubs from home to any golf destination around the world.”

I recently used the service to ship my clubs to the Sandestin (Fla.) Golf & Beach Resort on the northwest coast of Florida. Instead of taking my clubs to the airport, I affixed a shipping label to the travel cover and let UPS pick them up instead. When I arrived at my destination, my clubs were already there waiting for me.

Cost for this service is a little more than bag fees, but not much more, especially if you can ship three days in advance. Most of all, it’s worth it just to avoid the hassles associated with traveling with clubs. And when you ship them home, they’re delivered to your house without you having to wait for them in baggage claim, put them on the parking shuttle, shove them into your trunk and haul them into the house.

Using the service is easy. All you need to do is visit the company’s website at ShipSticks.com, fill out the information, give them some credit card information and wait for the email with your prepared shipping slip. Then wait for the delivery guys to take them off your hands.