Transporting golf clubs

[colin1]

Good Evening all.

I'm looking for some honest,constructive feedback from you all please!

I'm not yet in business but I'm looking at offering a golf clubs collection and delivery service dedicated to travelling golfers. This will be a door to door service covering UK, EU, USA, UAE and many other golfing destinations worldwide.

Prices will be very competitive in comparison to airline excess baggage charges. We will collect a set of clubs from your home or club 3 days before you travel and deliver them directly to your destination. Your clubs can be ready at your Golf Resort, waiting for your early morning tee off. Equipment will be insured in transit and transit time will be 3 days. Price example - collect 1 set of clubs from Leeds, deliver to Portugal within 3 days - £85.20

This
fantastic service offers great convenience and will also save you money too!

Any thoughts?

Really appreciate any feedback guys.

Col

 

[Leftie]

Last time I paid to take mine, I think I paid about £15 or £20 each way. Say £40 total.

And you will be charging £85 and that looks to be just to get them out there

Good luck.

 

[Alex1975]

My worry would be my clubs not being there for my early morning tee off. If they are on the same plain as me I would feel more like they were with me.

 

[CliveW]

I've golfed in Portugal, Tenerife, Canada and USA and my golf clubs have always been included with my baggage allowance.
I'm off to Florida in February and Virgin do not charge extra for golf equipment.
The only time in fifteen years that my clubs went missing was when I had to change flights at Heathrow and there was very little time between flights. They arrived on the following flight and my insurance covered the cost of a hire set.

 

[Smiffy]

Flew to Scotland earlier this year with EasyJet, I think they charged £18.00 each way for my clubs, so £36.00 in total. On all of my previous trips to Portugal/Spain playing golf, I have never had to pay excess baggage for my clubs.
Plus I had the peace of mind knowing that they were with me every step of the way.

 

[surefire]

When I fly to the US, my clubs are either included in the allowance, or its $100 for the round trip.

When I played in Tenerife this year, it cost me £50 round trip to take my clubs.

In both these cases my clubs got there within 1 day, not 3!

I would also prefer having my clubs with me rather than sent to a golf resort, because it means I can sort out all the other bits that are packed with them, before heading to the course, like balls, shoes, etc...

 

[USER1999]

I have had similar experiences to the other guys, in terms of travel around Europe, the US and South Africa. My clubs have always been free, or part of my baggage allowance. The only time I have been charged silly amounts was going Air France to Buenos Aires, which cost £60 each way.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Prefer to have my clubs on the same flight. The cost isn't inhibitive and certainly not £85 so I wouldn't be interested

 

[bobmac]

Colin, you're asking us to pay you to take our clubs to the airport? But I'm going there myself.
You're asking us to pay you to check them in. But I'm going there myself.
You're asking us to pay you to collect them at the other end? I'll be there myself.
And you're asking us to pay you to take them to the golf club. I'm going there myself too.
Please don't waste your money on this Colin.
If no-one has done this before, there's normally a reason why.
I'm out.

 

[Smiffy]

We will collect a set of clubs from your home or club 3 days before you travel

No good if you fancy a "quick knock" the day before you fly out to limber up.

 

[PaulE]

There's also this which I believe is run or owned by Paul Mcginley.
I know they're not your own clubs but it eliminates any risk of loss or damage to your own stuff.
If I were you Colin I'd have a re-think.

 

[funkyfred]

I'm paying £18 e/w to go to Portugal next year, plus I hope to be playing a couple of days before I go, so i'm a non runner on this one.

 

[Robobum]

Not sure this is the market you are aiming it at. Probably more for the high roller who can't be bothered with mundane things like packing your own clubs.

But then again they'd probably buy a new set when they get there. Not sure there is a market for it then.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Two issues with this, the check in questions. The conversation will go something like this...

1. Check in person: "Did you pack this bag yourself?"
Colin: "No"

2. CiP "Has anyone asked you to carry something onto the plane?"
Colin: "Yes"

Que the CiP franticly hitting the panic button, the clubs getting siezed and you getting nervous as the customs fella lubes up his rubber glove.

 

[mrwoo]

When me and Mrs Woo go away, the mad cat lady comes round to look after Ringy-bingy-boo-Woo.
Therefore you could offer to look after peoples clubs when they go on a non golfing holiday?

 

[USER1999]

Your cats name is nearly as good as my mates cat, Poo bum smelly.

 

[Ethan]

I have used a service like this, when on a multi-city trip in the US and didn't want to take my clubs round all the airports involved. They used UPS as the carrier and my clubs left San Diego the day I did and were at home before me while I went to a few other places over the next 3 days.

It is a good service, and I completed an inventory of the clubs in case of accident or loss.

I do think it is for a small segment of the market, though. If I had a holiday home somewhere and could otherwise travel with hand luggage only, I would consider it.

 

[Smiffy]

When me and Mrs Woo go away, the mad cat lady comes round to look after Ringy-bingy-boo-Woo.

Your cats name is nearly as good as my mates cat, Poo bum smelly.

Thank [****] I just called ours "Colin"

 

[fundy]

Ethan

if you have a holiday home somewhere you tend to have a second set at the holiday home if those I know are anything to go by. as many have said, cant see there being much demand

 

[19th]

Seems a tad expensive and out of the travellers control...maybe adding pressure hoping they have arrived safely, with all that green fees having been paid for the next five days.

On the subject of clubs landing safely at the holiday destination - we, a party of twelve golfers, made our normal trip to Spain and landed minus our clubs ..they were left on the tarmac at Glasgow due to an overloaded hold(?)

Our first days golf was a walk along the beach following breakfast, kicking sand, went for coffee and mine host appeared with the tray of coffees and a tray of brandies - that took the edge of the disappointment and three or four later ... what golf! They did arrive the next day and yes, we did frequent this coffee shop often.

We also, with Thomsons Travel, experienced an odd exclusion in their pick up rules from the hotel ... if the bus hold is too full your clubs are not accommodated!!

I had to take a taxi with the clubs to the airport when this happened to our party.

Maybe this chaps service is not so bad after all!!