Golf clubs aren’t exactly fragile items, but they are expensive and can break during a move. Some special care needs to be taken on how the clubs are packed to protect them from damage or breakage while in transit.
Follow these seven steps to pack your golf clubs and ensure that they are ready to be moved safely and securely:
1. Bubble Wrap
Each golf club needs to be entirely wrapped in bubble wrap – from the head to the tip of the stick. Secure the bubble wrap with packing tape. For extra protection, you can double wrap each club. Be aware that packing paper or newspaper will not provide sufficient protection against the clubs banging against each other during the move.
2. The Heads
The heads of your golf clubs are vulnerable – especially your drivers and woods. Neoprene head-covers are ideal for providing some added protection. If you don’t have these protective covers, you can wrap the heads in bubble wrap and then place a thick sock over the wrapped head.
3. Make A Bundle
Use packing tape, string, or zip ties to secure all your golf clubs together in a bundle. Packing each golf club individually makes them far more prone to breakage. However, when bundled together tightly, they provide a thicker surface area that is more difficult to break. The bubble wrap, socks, or neoprene head covers will prevent the clubs from damaging each other in a bundle.
4. Bag It
Your golf bag is specifically designed to hold and protect your golf clubs. Place your wrapped and bundled clubs in your soft bag. The bag will provide additional cushioning in the event of an impact. However, you may also want to invest in a “Stiff Arm.”
A Stiff Arm is an adjustable, telescopic stick that can be placed inside your golf bag. The idea is that when the arm is extended to a length that is greater than your longest club, it will absorb any impact and protect your clubs. If there is too much space in the bag, you can fill these using towels or clothing to add additional cushioning and protection for your clubs.
5. Box It
Place your golf bag containing the wrapped and bundled clubs in a cardboard box. Try to find a box that is as close as possible to the size of your golf bag. Then pack the box spaces with newspaper, blankets, towels, linen, or even clothing. The aim is to prevent the bag and, therefore, the golf clubs from moving around in the box. Give the box a gentle shake; if you hear movement, you need extra packing material for additional cushioning and support. Add more packing material until you can’t hear any movement.
Seal the box up securely with packing tape. Make sure that both the bottom and the top of the box are secure.
6. Mark It
Mark the box as to its contents – golf clubs. If you want, you can also mark the box as fragile – handle with care. This will ensure that anyone handling the box will take extra care. You should also mark the box with an arrow and “this-side-up” to ensure it remains in the right position and isn’t turned upside down or on its side.
7. Load It
It is recommended to load your golf clubs last on the van. This will also ensure that the box containing your clubs will be the first item removed from the removal truck. It is also advisable to load the box onto the truck yourself and not let the movers do it. The same goes for offloading your golf clubs.
If you follow these steps, your golf clubs should have more than adequate protection while being handled, loaded and offloaded and during transit. However, if you are extremely concerned about your golf clubs getting damaged or broken during the move, it may be best to take them in your private vehicle. If you rely on moving company as part of your move, it is more important than ever to make sure that your clubs are packed securely and adequately protected.