by Jack Rosol

I love almost everything about a golf trip. I study maps of the destination, plan tee times, sight-seeing excursions, shopping trips, and especially visit locally favorite restaurants. When the Golf Today staff leaves for a golf trip, I make the car rental plans and do all the driving. I really like to do this stuff. However, there is one thing I am getting tired of doing, and that's lugging my golf bag and its carry case all around the airport, to rental car location,(most of the time off the airport), back to the airport. Well, you get the idea, you go through the same thing too. You'lve probably noticed the increasing number of times you have to lug your stuff onto a shuttle bus to a faraway rental car terminal.

Well, golf fans, there's a solution to our problem, a company that relieves us of all the trouble associated with dragging your clubs through the rigors of travel. Golfbagshipping.com is a year-old company offering a nationwide service to have your golf bag picked up and delivered to your golfing destination within two days. Your sticks can be picked up anywhere, for example, your home and delivered to your next destination.

"We are enthusiastic about this service because, as a frequent golfer, I understand the frustration and hassle that carrying your own golf equipment can be. If the price is right, why would anyone want to carry their equipment to the airport terminal again?" said John Young, President and CEO of Golfbagshipping.com. I used Young's service from Orlando last month, returning from the PGA Merchandise Show. I tend to gather an incredible amount of flyers, brochures, and folders from a huge number fo venders. The last things I need are my clubs in the final adventure of cramming all this stuff back into a rental car and heading home. I phoned Young at his Fremont, California office and had him send me a shipping label and my problems went away, (actually they arrived back in San Jose 2 days later). A smiling Federal Express driver delivered the heavy-duty plastic bag that I recieved from Young, and we were safely reunited.

Even though Golfbagshipping.com is an Internet company, you can call the toll free number, 888/465-3463 (888-Golf-4-Me). You don't need a computer to take advantage of this convenient service.

In the future, shipping packages will be available in every major golf course and retail shop so that shipping packages will be more quickly and easily obtained. Prices are based on the distance your bag will be shipped and range from $39 to $59. Ask the pro at your course to have a supply of shipping bags for your foursomes next trip. Remember how much fun it was stuffing your luggage and clubs into your last rental car? Golfbagshipping.com makes this misadventure a thing of the past.