Australian golfers making bucket-list trips to Japan, Scotland, Ireland, or the USA face a frustrating choice: pay AUD $150–300 in airline golf bag fees each way, risk having precision equipment damaged by baggage handlers, or leave your beloved clubs at home and hire inferior rental sets.
Luggage Forward offers a fourth option: ship your clubs from your door directly to the first tee, arriving before you do.
Ship My Luggage with Luggage Forward →
The Real Cost of Flying Golf Clubs vs Shipping Them
| Flying with Golf Clubs (Airline) | Shipping with Luggage Forward | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost (Australia → Japan, return) | AUD $300–600 (both ways) | AUD $280–420 (both ways) |
| Risk of damage | High — baggage handlers are rough | Very low — specialist handling |
| Airport handling | Separate golf bag check-in queue | None — collected from home |
| At destination | Baggage carousel (often last off) | Waiting at the golf club or hotel |
| On-time guarantee | None | Yes — full refund + compensation |
On many long-haul routes, Luggage Forward is actually cheaper than airline golf bag fees — and significantly less stressful.
Popular Golf Destinations for Australians
Japan (Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kyoto region)
Japan golf tourism is booming among Australians — immaculate courses, extraordinary hospitality, and course conditions that are exceptional. Shipping clubs from Australia to Japan takes approximately 3–5 days. Ship directly to your first course or hotel. The Luggage Forward booking page shows real-time availability for Japanese destinations.
Scotland and Ireland (The Open courses, links golf)
St Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal County Down, Ballybunion — the bucket-list links courses of Britain and Ireland are the ultimate Australian golf trip. Shipping clubs from Australia to Scotland takes 5–7 days. Book 10+ days before your tee time. Ship to your first hotel or directly to the club.
USA (Pebble Beach, Augusta region, Pinehurst)
American golf resorts are equipped to receive Luggage Forward shipments and many have specific relationships with the service. Shipping from Australia to the USA takes 5–8 days. Delivery directly to the pro shop or hotel is standard.
New Zealand
For shorter trips, New Zealand is an easy Luggage Forward destination — 1–2 day delivery, straightforward customs (no food or plant material in the bag), cost-effective for premium course areas like Queenstown.
What Luggage Forward Provides for Golf Club Shipping
- Specialist golf bag handling — clubs treated as priority items
- No need to box your clubs — ship in your existing travel bag
- Real-time tracking from pickup to delivery
- Delivery to hotel, golf club pro shop, or resort
- Return shipment available — ship clubs back to Australia from your final destination
How to Book
Get an instant quote for your specific clubs and route at book through VelvetVoyager's Luggage Forward page. Select "Golf Bag" as your item type, enter your pickup address in Australia and your destination club or hotel, and choose your delivery date. The quote is all-inclusive.
Ship My Luggage with Luggage Forward →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to ship golf clubs or pay airline fees?
On long-haul routes (Australia to Japan, Scotland, USA), Luggage Forward is often comparable to or cheaper than airline golf bag fees when you factor in both directions. On short-haul routes, airline fees may be cheaper. Always compare the specific quote for your route.
Do I need to box my golf clubs for Luggage Forward?
No — ship in your existing golf travel bag without additional boxing. Luggage Forward handles golf bags as specialist items. Ensure your clubs have adequate internal padding (head covers on all clubs, towel padding for shafts) as you would for any travel.
How far in advance should I book?
Book at least 7–10 days before your first tee time for international destinations. For Japan, Scotland, or Ireland, 10–14 days is ideal to allow for transit and any customs clearance time.