Our Picks: 13 travel essentials for the globe-trotting golfer

By: Jessica Marksbury

November 22, 2024

Get to your destination in comfort and style with these travel must-haves.

GOLF

Welcome to GOLF’s 2024 holiday edition of Our Picks, where our experts are hand-selecting the items you — and your golf-loving family and friends — need on your radar. Scroll below for our latest batch of recommendations, and visit our Best Golf Stuff of 2024 hub page for more articles.

At a time when travel seems more difficult than ever — cramped seats, airport delays, and sky-rocketing prices — demand is still high. The fact is, travel is a part of life for most of us, and when golf is in the equation, something we look forward to rather than dread. (Need some inspo for 2025? Check out our newly-released ranking of the Top 100 Courses You Can Play.)

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Regardless of where you’re headed, packing efficiently remains a high priority to make your experience the best it can be. Bringing the right accessories can seriously enhance your trip, making your time on the plane and at your destination a pleasure instead of a grind.

Below, check out 13 items that we think are non-negotiable when it comes to trip-taking. From tech accessories like earbuds and iPads to items you’ll enjoy both on and off the course, like a luxe blanket and a travel outfit you’ll want to wear everywhere, use our guide to make sure you get from Point A to Point B in comfort and style.

13 travel essentials for golfers

Keep scrolling for our picks of the best travel essentials you should buy.

Bag Boy Travel Bag

Your clubs will travel in style with this bag, which features six wheels on the base for maximum mobility. Strategically-positioned handles make lifting and loading a cinch, and the bag collapses into itself for easy storage when not in use.

Freestyle Travel Cover

$179.95

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A premium duffel

This handy duffel doubles as a garment bag, giving you the ability to lay out your clothes, zip them into a comfortable-to-carry and luxe duffel — with loads of room to spare! — and arrive at your destination unwrinkled.

Vessel Signature Garment Duffel Bag

$275

The Signature Garment Duffel combines the portability of a duffel bag with the functionality of a garment bag.

A GPS Golf Speaker

Traveling often means consolidating — packing as little as possible whenever possible. That’s why this GPS rangefinder/speaker combo is a favorite. Two uses in one package!

Blue Tees Player+ GPS Golf Speaker

$199.99

In a world where precision is paramount and accuracy is everything, only the best can rise to the top. Welcome to the future of golf. Meet Player+, a revolutionary GPS Touch Screen Golf Speaker powered by the Blue Tees Game App. A powerful speaker unlike anything you’ve seen before, get access to over 40,000 courses at your fingertips with an out-of-this-world sound experience. Touch Screen Display Radical Deep Bass Front/Center/Back Links Party Pairing Driving Distance Dual Pair With Any Player+ Visual + Audible Distances Magnetic Strip Power Bank Dynamic Hazards 100-Foot Range Score Keeping 10+ Hours Battery Premium Dynamic Audio IPX7 Waterproof

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A compact massage device

Nothing makes the body feel achy and tired like a ride on a plane. This compact device is great for a pre-round warming up or loosening a tight and cramped muscle.

Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2

$129

Made to move The ultimate portable and mini massage gun. Lightweight, versatile, and sleekly designed, it offers relief on-the-go – massaging away stress and tension, loosening muscle knots, and targeting fatigue. It’s more than just an ordinary massage gun – it’s designed for go-getters like you to help you do what you love, more. Wellness that moves with you The Hypervolt Go 2 makes your body feel like new. Warm-up fast, release stress and tension, and unlock tight muscles, wherever your life takes you. Just a few minutes a day will help you feel revived and find your full range of motion.

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Noise-cancelling earphones

Earphones are a must when traveling, and these bestsellers from Bose not only sounds great, they feel great too.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

$149 (Was $179)

Iconic audio, renowned noise cancellation, and a relentless, long-lasting battery — all in a compact, durable package.

A high-quality screen

Your airplane seat becomes your personal theater with a nicely-sized screen — big upgrade from watching things on your phone!

Apple 10.9-Inch iPad (10th Generation)

$279 (Was $349)

Colorfully reimagined and more versatile than ever, with an all-screen design, 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display.

A cozy blanket

If you’ve never felt the unbelievable, luxurious warmth and coziness that is a Barefoot Dreams product, start with this one. An economy seat in row 32 can feel like the pinnacle of luxury with this blanket on your lap.

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic® Throw

$158

Wrap yourself in the irresistible softness of our iconic CozyChic knit™ — an easy-care fabric that won’t shrink, pill or wrinkle.

A functional backpack

This Jones backpack is the perfect carry-on, with a designated padded laptop sleeve, a spot for your water bottle, and a roomy front pocket for quick-grab access to other necessities.

Jones Sports Co. A1 Backpack – Navy

$135

Designed for the professional to keep you ahead of the game, the new A1 Backpack will keep you organized on the go. The padded laptop sleeve protects your mobile office, while the mesh pocket in the large main compartment keeps your accessories in check. Utilize the two front pockets for quick grab items and either of the side mesh sleeves for your water bottle. The padded shoulder straps and cushioned back support ensure a comfortable carry when it’s loaded with your daily necessities.

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A polished shoe bag

A shoe bag is not only a lovely gift, it’s also a great way to elevate your travel game. Keep those shoes separate from the rest of your luggage with this durable and water-resistant nylon bag.

Hudson Sutler Coronado Shoe Bag – Camo

$115

Protect your favorite pair of golf shoes as you travel to and from the clubhouse. Built from a DWR coated ballistic nylon for a sleek look with durability and water resistance in mind. Stay organized with a front zippered valuables pocket for cell phone, keys and wallet. Industrial webbing top carry handle. Nickel grommets located on the bottom for ventilation. Wide mouth zippered opening for easy access. Designed for the avid traveling golfer. Made in the USA. Size Specs: 13.5” L x 6” W x 7.5” H Medium: Perfect for a pair of golf shoes, or change of dress shoes or trainers. Fits up to a size 14 shoe. Zippered valuables pocket Nickel grommets on bottom for ventilation DWR Coated Ballistic nylon Splashproof liner. Lightweight and durable Industrial strength webbing Made in the USA Personalized products are not eligible for returns or exchanges

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Comfy clothes

The wide acceptance of athleisure as everyday-wear means you can get away with wearing your soft-and-cozies at the airport without anyone batting an eye. Luckily, there are plenty of options that still look tailored and put-together. But still comfy! My favorite combo.

UNRL Ultra Tee

$42

Not your basic t-shirt. We created an eco-friendly shirt that blends premium sustainable fabrics with a sueded finish for additional softness. Featuring a scoop hem and a tailored fit, this shirt will play for any daily routine. Sustainably made with recycled eco-friendly fibers Sueded finish for a buttery soft feel Lightweight & breathable UPF 50+ sun protection Scoop cut bottom hem 4-way stretch Wrinkle-resistant; Great for travel Moisture-wicking Anti-pilling

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UNRL In-Flex Jogger III

$68

The In-Flex Jogger III – Designed with our lightest and most breathable 4-way stretch fabric; these pants are as close as it gets to wearing nothing at all. New Feature: Zippered front hand pockets to keep your phone, keys and wallet secure New Feature: Better tapered fit at ankle. Our lightest and most breathable fabric Cooling & quick-dry properties Incredible 4-way stretch for maximum flexibility Stretch waistband with adjustable drawstrings Zippered back pocket Cuffed elastic jogger-style ankles

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ASHER Sero Cashmere Quarter Zip

$195

Looking for an elevated look and feel? Enter the Sero Cashmere Collection. The Sero Cashmere Quarter Zip features our lux performance cashmere blend and signature tonal embroidered ASHER on the left side. Complete with a ribbed knit hem and sleeves for style that performs on and off the course.

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Tomo Alpha

$165

The next generation of our waterproof golf shoes. A single layer knit infused with FLEX tech in the insole and midsole for the most light, comfortable walk you’ll ever have on the golf course. SMART KNIT A waterproof knit that is woven with variable density. Providing stability where you need it, and flexibility where you don’t. LIGHT AND SOFT The FLEX-infused insole minimizes ground impact on your feet and body while allowing you to feel the contours of the green. AMAZING! SOLE POWER Infused with FLEX Tech, these soles are soft and bouncy. Energy returns with every step allowing you to walk effortlessly and #stepintowonder LIGHTWEIGHT Less is more at only 10.9 oz. Your feet will never get tired in these pillow-y shoes.

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Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her original interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.