The best “no brainer’’ in golf doesn’t involve a tap-in, six-inch putt or taking a caddie on Pinehurst No. 2. It’s using Ship Sticks to transport your clubs to courses, resorts and clubs around the world.
The company has been transporting clubs – through DHL, FedEx and UPS – since 2011. But its best delivery might be the peace of mind to the thousands of golfers who have used the service that literally takes clubs from doorstep to doorstep.
Remember the photos from summer of 2022 as golfers’ travel bags were stacked like useless cordwood at London’s Heathrow Airport? They were almost enough to keep one from traveling to Europe and the UK.
“We really had a nice ‘boom’ after people saw that,’’ said Brian Dauer, Ship Sticks’ VP of Operations since 2012.
I experienced the company’s delivery expertise and accompanying peace of mind on a recent trip to Ireland. My clubs were picked up (via DHL) at my house in South Florida and delivered within five days to Curran Gate Luxury Apartments, which overlooks Royal Portrush, site of this summer’s Open Championship in Northern Ireland.
After a week of playing Royal Portrush, Portstewart, Jameson Links, Ardglass, Castlerock and Killeen Castle, y clubs were picked up (again via DHL) at the beachside White Sands Hotel in Portmarnock, outside of Dublin. Three days later they my showed up on my doorstep – safe and secure. Tracking notices were provided outbound and inbound, which made the process even more seamless.
All of this prompted the question: Why hadn’t I done this sooner?
“Most people are shipping two-to-three weeks in advance,’’ Dauer said. “We do everything from ‘Ground’ to ‘Next Day’ Air.’’
Ship Sticks recently signed to be Official Golf Club Shipping Partner of the PGA of America, a deal that included free club shipping for each of the 312 competitors at the PGA Professional Championship this past April in Port St. Lucie, FL.
It’s an agreement that works well for each side, but just as importantly, shows off how far Ship Sticks has come from its early days.
“When I first started in 2012, I was cold-calling PGA professionals,’’ Dauer said. “They said that the idea sounded cool, but none or their members had asked them to ship their clubs. But when we began running commercials in 2014, it started educating golfers that there was an option to waiting at baggage claim. It made my job a lot easier. And for private clubs, it provided a value added.’’
Ship Sticks’ clients, Dauer said, now includes more than 3,500 facilities worldwide – a portfolio that features some of the best known private clubs in the country, as well as famed resorts such as Pinehurst, Pebble Beach, Trump National Doral, Kiawah Island and Bandon Dunes. Shipping costs depend on bag weight, destination and timing, but in general are in line – or better – than major airline charges.
Ship Sticks’ success also serves as a barometer of sorts into the health of the golf travel industry, particularly among high-end golfers and private clubs at “out of the way’’ destinations, such as the growing number of clubs in the Nebraska sandhills.
“We see a fair amount of shipping to that area each year,’’ Dauer said. “This summer, we’ll see a lot going to that area from private clubs, and also in the Northeast, with people coming in and out for their Member-Guest events. So, that’s always rocking.’’
And, it’s a no brainer.
Photo Courtesy of Ship Sticks