11 ironclad golf journey suggestions from the 2025 season

Nobody likes ache. And no organ likes it lower than the mind.

For its many touted items of cognitive operate — considering, reasoning, feeling, respiratory — the mind possesses an equally uncanny capability to overlook. When introduced with disagreeable stimuli, the mind will go to nice lengths to keep away from experiencing it. Often, the coping mechanism of alternative is amnesia.

For probably the most half, the painful moments in my life are mundane: Leaving chapstick within the laundry, by accident washing an article of crimson clothes with the whites, or placing efficiency materials by means of the dryer. (For a type-B individual in a type-A family, laundry is a frequent space of anguish.) But in some circumstances, the teachings from these painful moments are actual alternatives for studying — organizational hacks, vital classes for navigating high-stress conditions, methods to maintain my shirts from turning pink — that I’m unconsciously selecting to overlook.

One of my favourite podcasts, The Ringer Fantasy Football Show, has developed a genius means of doing exactly this type of psychological indexing. In an episode that has change into an annual custom, hosts Danny Kelly, Danny Heifetz and Craig Horlbeck take the tip of every fantasy soccer season handy out their Memento tattoos — or the painful classes they’d tattoo upon themselves to recollect for the next 12 months. The episode is a wink to the 2000 Christopher Nolan film, through which the amnesia-stricken protagonist character tattoos himself along with his autobiographical info, however can be serves as a sort of mea culpa to the viewers, a possibility for collective studying from particular person ache.

I’ve realized an uncommon assortment of painful classes from golf in 2025. I’ve spent massive parts of the final six months on the street, criss-crossing the United States (with golf golf equipment often in tow) in pursuit of the most effective golf tales. I’ve spent mornings on Jim Nantz’s yard par-3, afternoons at Arnold Palmer’s barnyard storage facility and evenings on cliffside par-3 tracks. I’ve filed tales from a trailer-park with questionable heating and a flat with questionable plumbing and an house in the midst of nowhere with questionable wifi. Along the best way, I’ve picked up some issues about touring and golf and life that I believe may assist some people again house. And so, with the spirit of the Memento tattoo in thoughts, listed below are the 11 classes you must know.

My 11 golf Memento tattoos for 2025

1. You can survive with a lot lower than you suppose

I discover a number of vacationers — and particularly, golf vacationers — fall sufferer to a sort of journey nervousness: They worry they won’t have the requisite quantity of garments/golf equipment/gear, and they also overpack to cowl for all cases.

If there’s one single lesson I’ve realized from 5 years of journey at GOLF, it’s which you could survive with far lower than you suppose. Never overlook a belt, a toothbrush, socks and underwear. Everything else? You can most likely lower your packing checklist in half and survive with out anyone noticing.

Also useful? Neutral fundamentals, like white sneakers and non-logoed shirts and pants for males (I really like Buck Mason for these), which could be swapped interchangeably for a lot of totally different appears to be like!

2. Your golf bag weighs greater than you suppose

I would really tattoo this one on my brow, as a result of it might be the one solution to successfully remind my fool lizard mind {that a} checked golf bag will not be license to pack limitless further clothes and sneakers.

Here’s the fact: With your bag, some golf balls and a pair of spikes, your journey bag ought to weigh nearish 35 kilos. Most airways have imposed a strict 50-pound restrict on baggage (23 kgs if you happen to’re touring by means of Europe). That’s not a number of room!

(I’m additionally noodling with the thought of bringing a half-set of golf golf equipment subsequent time solely to lose the bags weight, however can’t resolve if that makes me an unbearable hipster.)

3. Leave house for gadgets acquired alongside your journey

But James, you is likely to be considering, in case your golf bag weighs 35 kilos, meaning you continue to have 15 kilos for different stuff. Yes, that’s true, however do you have got any thought how simple it’s so as to add 15 kilos price of sneakers, garments, or drone tools to your golf bag? (Very simple!)

And do you have got any thought how simple it’s to do these issues unwittingly in your outbound flight, leaving out the very actual chance that you just may get hold of souvenirs or keepsakes out of your new, far-flung golf vacation spot? And do you have got any thought how arduous and embarrassing it’s to search out different locations to retailer your newfound baggage weight while you’re on the entrance of a protracted, meandering baggage line in a crowded airport to your return flight? And do you have got any thought how readily baggage handlers make the most of the orange “HEAVY” tag as license to maintain your bag from reaching its supposed location?

No, you don’t. So be good and convey your golf bag (which ought to be a lightweight standbag just like the one listed beneath), three golf balls, an umbrella and two pairs of sneakers (one pair of golf spikes, one pair of nicer, primary white sneakers).

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4. You want much less clothes than you suppose

Here is my (now and eternally) official packing checklist for seven days within the U.Ok. for the Open Championship:

That’s it! You don’t want any greater than this for seven days in Ireland or Scotland. You received’t want any greater than this. And if you happen to do, it means your gear can’t layer and ought to be changed.

5. You NEED Global Entry

I’m not a gatekeeper, BUT IF I WERE, Global Entry can be the very first thing I’d cover from the general public. If you get on an airplane greater than twice per 12 months and select not to have Global Entry, I’ll eternally decide you each mentally weak and mildly sadistic — and that’s if I’m feeling CHARITABLE!

6. You ought to by no means pack a toiletry bag…

Just a few years in the past, I spotted the dozen tiny objects routinely shuffling between my toiletry bag and medication cupboard had been inflicting me to lose a formidable quantity of my sanity.

Finally, after a bit an excessive amount of intrusive considering, I had sufficient. I went on Amazon and invested round $100 to buy duplicates of my whole day by day toiletry assortment. The end result? I journey in every single place with the creature comforts of house (my typical electrical toothbrush, cologne, moisturizer, and so forth.), and I by no means fear about leaving one thing behind.

(If you suppose I’m insane for this, please break the information (properly) to james.colgan@golf.com.)

7. Always journey with two, individually situated types of ID

I’ve a good friend who we’re going to name “Connor” (as a result of that’s his authorized title). Connor misplaced his pockets on a latest golf journey, and realized the arduous means that even in Jeff Bezos’ America, it may be very arduous/unattainable to “rush” ship a passport or second type of identification to a location.

Connor wound up arriving on the airport in Detroit along with his passport misplaced within the mail, and his pockets en route again to New York. He was capable of board his flight after an exhaustive TSA search aided by an empty night at DTW, however his life would have been a lot simpler (and his safety line wait a lot shorter) with a second type of ID tucked someplace in his backpack. The TSA checklist of acceptable types of ID is surprisingly comprehensive and may prevent an actual headache within the case of catastrophe.

8. SPF, brother

Not to sound like your mother, however I just lately realized that SPF is the one product FDA-approved as “anti-aging.” And even if you happen to don’t care about porcelain pores and skin, sunscreen will proceed to be a stunning product to personal for so long as golf is loved largely outdoors and within the daytime. The key’s getting great things in portions near (however not over) the TSA liquid restrict. Below are a pair I’ve tried and like, however something with adequate SPF will do the trick.

9. Stiff-Arms

I used to be shocked to study from a handful of buddies that Stiff-Arms should not seen as crucial parts of golf journey. In my thoughts, they’re as worthwhile — and crucial — as any piece of bags.

And talking of bags: I journey religiously with a Victorinox Duffel that I’m pretty positive is indestructible (aside from the zippers) and guarded by a lifetime guarantee, a CaddyDaddy Golf Travel Bag I’m fairly positive is indestructible, and a Patagonia backpack I’m utterly positive is indestructible. They price greater than your standard-issue roller-bag, journey bag and backpack, however a headache in the present day is healthier than a couple of of them tomorrow.

10. Airtags

Much like a defibrillator or an Epi Pen, an Airtag is an merchandise you by no means hope to make use of, however you must by no means go away house with out.

Ok, clearly the stakes are decrease right here. But for $25, your peace of thoughts is price the fee.

11. Speaking of misplaced baggage…

Never, ever, underneath ANY circumstances do you have to take a flight with a brief connection in Heathrow and count on to emerge along with your baggage.

I’ve seen sufficient horror tales, learn sufficient indignant tweets, and customarily skilled sufficient unhealthy vibes from members of the golf business who’ve fallen sufferer to those ills to talk on this topic with absolute authority. If you see the flight, keep away.