5 Golf Travel Items I Tried (and Loved) in 2025.

I’m not a merchandiser or a gearhead. Pro shop memorabilia does nothing for me, and the newest club in my bag is three years old. Both on and off the trail, I’ve noticed a pattern: I don’t like shopping, and the less stuff around me, the happier I am.

That doesn’t mean I’ve sworn off material possessions. I recognize their value, especially when I’m on the road. And because traveling is my favorite thing to do for GOLF, I’m on the road a lot, rushing through airports, jumping into rental cars, and dragging my clubs to this course and that.

None of this is hardship. But it can be a hassle if I don’t have the right things with me. There’s nothing like traveling to clarify what you really need – and what you don’t. As I reflect on the past year, here are 5 items I wouldn’t want to live without.

KJUS Pro3L rain jacket

A lot of outerwear keeps you dry, but a lot of it makes you look like you’re preparing for a moon landing or restricts you like a straitjacket. The Pro3L does neither. It’s sleek, breathable, stretchy, and packed with clever, almost sneaky performance touches: rain gutters at the wrists, a hidden waistband that reduces bulk while chipping and putting, and a feather-light feel that virtually disappears the moment you put it on. Think Burberry meets Batman: the aesthetic of a high-fashion house crossed with Alfred’s talent for futuristic gadgets. Dry never looked so good or moved so well.

Club Glove Golf Travel Bag

This is not a new discovery. It’s more like an old friend. I’ve had my club glove for over ten years and it has taken a beating on all six continents where golf is played. It has yet to tear or fray, and the zipper teeth remain in perfect shape. I wish the same was true for me. The bags are industrial-strength, with heavy-duty straps and nylon-reinforced stitching, in-line skate wheels that glide silently across airport floors, and pockets for shoes and gear you don’t know you need until you need them. Three sizes are suitable for any type of golf bag. They fit snugly around your clubs and fold neatly when empty. The list of Tour pro users is long – DJ, JT, Rory, Brooks and others – but those guys fly privately. This bag is a luxury that the rest of us can afford, and will probably outlast us. Pro tip: don’t forget to get the arm bar to protect against broken drivers. The airlines will replace lost clubs, but will not reimburse damages.

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Payntr X 004 golf shoes

I have bone spurs on my heels that a rooster would be proud of. Don’t get me started on my bunions. So you can imagine my delight at discovering these Payntrs, which come with a so-called Blister-Free PMX Fit Heel. I don’t know what the acronym means, but I do know that they guarantee the shoes with a blister-free guarantee, and I haven’t had to send mine back. They’re water-resistant yet ventilated, flexible yet supportive, that rare shoe you can walk in all day without having to judge your feet at night.

PAYNTR

Full grain leather upper Blister-free PMX fit Heel counter WATERPROOF+ breathable membrane NEVERWET™️ superhydrophobic treatment Ventilated TPU outsole Tour Flex Pro replacement spike Graphite power plate Dual Density PMX Foam™️ midsole Molded Patel footbed

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Sun Bum Sunscreen

Breaking news: sunscreen should protect you from the sun. But during a golf trip you want more. You want something that will last, won’t feel greasy, won’t make you look like a mime, and won’t drip into your eyes on the back nine. Sun Bum checks all those boxes. It’s moisturizing, it spreads well, and you can get it in a TSA-friendly 3-ounce tube, which is nice because sunscreen only works if it doesn’t get confiscated at security.

Buc-ee’s Hill Country Beef Jerky

Like Tiger, I can’t play if my glutes aren’t working, and I feel even worse when my stomach growls. So I always have a snack in my bag. The problem is that many “energy bars” sold in pro shops are bars in healthy food packaging. But jerky – good jerky – is different. High in protein, easy to carry, slow to spoil and very tasty. Buc-ee’s Hill Country Beef Jerky has become highly recommended. It keeps me fueled, stable, and ready to take at least one good swing before lunch. There are more than a dozen flavors, but I like the old-fashioned “steakhouse” version.