26 Items To Pack For A Guys’ Golf Trip (PDF Checklist)

Excitement is in the air.

You’ve booked your tee times, bought your plane tickets, and found a place to stay. All that’s left to do is pack. 

But…what exactly do you need to pack to make this year’s guys’ golf trip a success?

The list of things you’ll need to pack for your guys’ golf trip will depend on where you’re going, how long you’ll be gone for, and the typical climate for this time of year. Whether you’re just packing for a weekend golf getaway or your annual buddies golf trip, here are a few essentials you CANNOT afford to forget: 

12 Golf-Specific Items To Take On Your Next Guys Golf Trip

1. Golf Bag

Okay, this one goes without saying. No golf bag = no golf clubs. Considering you’re going on a golf trip, this will be a problem. 

If you have more than one golf bag, I would recommend transferring your clubs to whichever option is lighter. For example, if you have a cart bag and a carry bag, you’re probably better off bringing the carry bag.

This will help you save on the cost to check your golf clubs at the airport, and just make your life easier in general.

2. Golf Balls and Tees

When preparing for a golf trip, I always make sure to pack enough golf balls to last the entire trip.

Here’s why:

1. Chances are you’ll be playing some new courses. If you’re unfamiliar with the layout, it’s a good idea to have plenty of ammunition.
2. If you’re playing high-end courses, it’s generally frowned upon to spend several minutes scouring the woods for your last golf ball – you may as well come prepared! 
3. Pro shops often have ridiculous markups on equipment, clothes and golf balls. If you can afford to buy your golf balls there, great! But if not, I’d recommend packing plenty of your own. 

Golf Travel Tip: Many large retail stores will sell a bag of 50 or more lightly used golf balls at a steep discount. If you’re on a tight budget, consider splitting the cost of one of these bags with the rest of the gang on the trip. 

3. Golf Glove

It’s not the end of the world if you forget to pack your golf glove. But, with that said, you might as well save yourself the extra fifteen to twenty dollars it will cost to buy a new one at the course.

Also, it’s not a bad idea to bring an extra glove in case yours rips – or more likely – one of your friends forgets theirs and needs to borrow one. 

4. Golf Shoes

Golf shoes are perhaps the easiest item to leave behind. That’s because you’re probably not going to be wearing them while traveling, and you don’t normally store them in your golf bag. 

It’s important to pack them in your golf bag as soon as you’ve finished your last round before the trip. 

Golf Travel Tip: You might also want to bring a few extra spikes and a spike replacement tool. You never know when one of your spikes is going to fall out. After all, you want to have maximum traction so you can bomb it off the first tee at a new course!

5. Golf Clothes

Depending on where you’re going, the type of golf clothes you’ll need to pack might change. For example, if it’s going to be hot and sunny, be sure to pack a few pairs of shorts. If it’s going to be cold, consider adding a sweater or long-sleeve compression shirt to your luggage. 

Of course, the weather can change quickly, and it’s a good idea to be prepared for any possibility. 

Golf Travel Tip: If you’re flying to your destination and don’t have much space in your carry-on bag, consider packing extra clothes in your golf bag. As long as this doesn’t put your bag over the weight limit, you might be able to avoid the cost of checking an extra suitcase at the airport. 

6. Belt

This is huge. Unless you wear a belt every day off the golf course, it can be an item that’s very easy to forget. 

And, not only will you look goofy on the course without one, some courses might not even let you tee it up because it violates their dress code. 

So, instead of having to shell out fifty, sixty, or even seventy dollars in the pro shop for a new belt, be sure to check this item off your list before leaving.

Golf Travel Tip: If you take pride in your style on the course, consider investing in a double-sided belt. For example, you could buy one that’s white on one side and black on the other. This way, you can change up your look each day without packing any extra luggage. After all, look good, play good, right?

7. Sunglasses

You step up to the tee and HAMMER a drive. I mean this is an absolute BOMB. But… you have no idea where it went because you lost it in the glare from the sun. 

This is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a golfer. 

Don’t let it happen to you – remember to pack your sunglasses. 

8. Sunblock

The fastest way to ruin a golf trip is to get a bad sunburn on the first day. This is supposed to be a time to relax. But relaxing can be hard when you’re writhing in agony just from putting on your shirt.

Also, according to skincancer.org, regular use of SPF 15 (or higher) sunblock can reduce your risk of melanoma by up to fifty percent!

9. Hat

Again, to make sure your golf vacation is everything you hoped it would be, you need to protect yourself from the sun. 

Remembering to pack your hat is a great start. And, if you want to make a fashion statement on the course, you could even invest in one of those classic David Leadbetter wide-brim sun hats!

10. Rangefinder

One of the toughest parts of playing a new course is figuring out the yardages. Elevation, temperature and visual miscues can make club selection a nightmare. 

While it’s nice to have the mindset of just going out there to have fun on a new course, fun seems to multiply when you’re playing well. 

To address this problem, be sure to pack your rangefinder or golf GPS on your golf trip. 

11. Rain Gear

You cross your fingers and hope the weather cooperates, but sometimes mother nature just isn’t on your side. But you shouldn’t let a little rain ruin your golf trip!

At the very least, pack a light, water-resistant jacket and an umbrella and keep them in your golf bag at all times – you never know when the weather is going to take a turn for the worse.

12. Warm Layers

And finally, if there’s even the slightest possibility of cold weather, pack plenty of layers. 

We’ve all played rounds where we couldn’t wait for them to be over because every shot sent a shockwave up our partially frozen arms. 

7 General Travel Items to Pack For Your Golf Trip

It’s also important that you remember all the general travel items you need for your trip, even if they’re unrelated to golf. After all, a missing passport is just as bad as leaving your clubs behind!

Here are a few must-pack items to check off your list before departing:

1. Passport and Drivers Licence

Without these things, your trip will be over before it even begins, especially if you’re flying to your destination. It’s also always a good idea to pack more than one piece of identification for air travel and store them in a separate location.

You never know if a bag containing your I.D or passport will get misplaced or stolen.

2. Itinerary

In the digital age, most people keep their travel itinerary saved on their smartphones. So if you have your phone, you’re probably good. 

However, if you like to keep it old school and print out all of your travel documents, make sure they’re kept in a safe place where they won’t be forgotten. 

3. Swimwear

This is another item that often gets overlooked. 

Whether you plan on taking a dip in the ocean, checking out the resort pool, or even just soaking in the hot tub after a long day of golf, you’ll want to make sure you’ve packed the appropriate swimwear.

4. Extra Towels

If you have space in your bag, you might want to pack an extra towel with your luggage. Some places are pretty strict about taking hotel/resort towels off the premises. 

Also, it’s always nice to keep a towel with your golf clubs so you can give them a wipe-down after those shots where you catch a little too much turf before the ball! 

5. Shower Bag

A shower bag containing your toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, and all other hygienic products is an absolute necessity on any trip. 

6. Phone Charger

We’ve all been guilty of hassling a friend to borrow their phone charger because we have forgotten our own. On this trip, try not to be that guy. 

7. Evening Clothes

While most of your days will be spent enjoying the links, remember that your evenings will be free. You’ll have time to go out for dinner and take part in the night-life in whichever city you’re staying in. 

If this is the case, you’re going to want to remember to pack some casual non-golf clothes for the evenings.

7 “Nice To Haves” On your Next Guys’ Golf Trip

1. Playing Cards/Poker Set

The late-night poker game is a rite of passage for any guys’ golf trip. Make sure you coordinate who out of your group will bring the cards and poker chips so you can win back the money you lost on the course!

2. Cash (For Tipping and Games)

Although now pretty much every business accepts credit or debit, it’s still handy to bring some cash along on your trip. 

This will make it easy to tip course staff and waiters at restaurants. And, of course, you’re going to want some cash for some friendly wagers on the golf course.

3. Laptop/Tablet

If you have a long flight or drive to get to your destination, consider downloading some of your favorite movies onto your laptop or tablet to help pass the time.

4. Your Own Pillow

There’s nothing quite like your own pillow. 

Often, you might find the pillows at the place where you’re staying are too soft or too hard. Making a point to bring your own pillow can help you get a better sleep so you’re refreshed and energized for your round the following day.

5. Reading Material

Between golf, dining, and other activities, you’ll likely have at least some downtime during your golf trip. May as well bring a good book or magazine to fill the time just in case!

6. Sandals/Flip-flops

Regardless of if you’ll be hitting the beach or not, it’s always refreshing to change out of your golf shoes and into a pair of flip-flops or sandals after a long day of swinging the sticks. 

7. Bottle Opener

Golf trips and beer go together like PB&J so you never know when a bottle opener will come in handy. Feel free to throw one in your bag so you don’t need to get too creative when cracking a cold one. 

Packing Up…

There you have it! 26 items to bring on your next guys’ golf trip.