It’s a well-known fact that seven out of 10 doctors agree that quarterly golf trips are mandatory for a long, happy and healthy life.
Those other three jokes? Calling Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard…
Once you’ve sold your better half on the obvious quality-of-life benefits of a late fall golf trip, you’ll need to prepare. Your summer stuff is fine if you’re heading to Streamsong, Scottsdale, or Palm Springs, but you’ll need to pack if you’re going anywhere north of the Mason-Dixon line.
In that spirit, we’ve put together some recommendations to help you stay warm, dry and comfortable while heading to Pebble Beach or any other less-than-tropical golfing destination.
#1: You must stay warm
Northern California is a great place for a fall golf trip. The crown jewel, of course, is Pebble Beach, but there are many other great destinations between Napa Valley and the Monterey Peninsula. Daytime temperatures are typically in the mid-60s, while overnight lows can drop into the mid-40s.
That means layers, my friends.
If you head over to Amazon, you can find a variety of low-priced base layers, long-sleeve polos, and quarter-zips from brands you’ve never heard of, like Lujengefa, Coofandy, MoFiz, and Yousify. They all seem to be useful and, for lack of a better word, cheap.
I’ve become a big fan of the original Pinguin for shirts and lightweight outerwear. Galvin Green Part of golf in the west is on sale now, offering great value and some sweet colors to choose from.
#2: You’ll want to stay dry
If you’re on a bucket list trip, there’s no substitute for good rain gear. You scraped and saved to get to Pebble, Pinehurst or St Andrews, so there’s no way you’re going to let that bucket list round get rained out. And you certainly won’t want to play that bucket list round, uncomfortably wet.
A golf equipment truism states that good rain gear isn’t cheap and cheap rain gear isn’t good. KJUS is almost as good as rain gear, but be prepared to open the old wallet. of KJUS Pro 3L 3.0 Rain Jacket is 540 dollars, while Pro 3L 3.0 Rain Pants cost $499. Galvin Green’s rain gear is also top notch and a little cheaper. We like it ASTON jacket ($389) and ARON trousers ($349).
Galway Bay is another solid choice. theirs Claddagh rain pants run $229, while Corrib Rain Jacket it is $449. If you really want to budget (but don’t forget, when you’re on a bucket list trip), we’ve got you covered this two-piece rain suit on Amazon for $45.
Your golf bag most likely came with a rain hood. If you know where it is, you’re the one for me. If you are in need of one, we can highly recommend what is arguably the highest priced item in the entire ship catalog, Tour Rain Hood from Seaforth. There are different models for the stroller and stand bags and, at $39, it’s a bargain.
A final word on rain gear: If I’m not traveling, I get more wear out of my rain gear when I’m out walking the dog than on the golf course. If it rains during a regular Saturday round, I usually stay home. Unless you’re a golfer on the go, there’s no real reason to invest in top-shelf rain gear.
#3: You’ll want to treat your feet
If you read our article on Heathlander Golf Shoesyou will remember what has become one of my favorite mottos.
The right players walk.
Whether you’re hitting Pebble, Bandon, Pinehurst or St Andrews, walking is a big part of the experience, so comfortable shoes are essential. There are a ton of great options out there, but my favorites include the aforementioned Heathlander. The Heathlander combines riding comfort with plenty of stability and decent traction.
The spikeless Adidas Tour 360 is also a hiking favorite, while the Asics Gel-Ace Pro M is an extremely comfortable spiked shoe.
I just bought a pair Sqairz Pro S2 Nick Faldo Limited Edition Golf Shoe which will also make the traveling team. They honor Faldo’s 1990 season, when he won both the Masters and the Open. The knock on the Sqairz, apart from the square toe, has been that they are heavy. We’ve found the 2025 models to be surprisingly lightweight without sacrificing the stability that Sqairz is known for.
As a recently christened member of Club Medicare, I’ve found that a good pair of aftermarket insoles go a long way. We can give it two thumbs up BROOCHES Foam insoles. The company has a low profile option that works well with golf shoes and keeps your feet from slipping inside your shoes.
After 65 years of low strength, I’m a fan of the high arch support model.
of Blumaka website it has a PF Flyer vibe (you’ll run faster and jump higher), but I was sold once I found out Kansas City Royal outfielder Mike Yastrzemski wears them. Hey, if they’re good enough for the grandson of a man named Yaz (we love it), are good enough for me.
If you know, you know.
#4: Take care of the inner man
Writing for MyGolfSpy has been a blessing. I’ve been able to go places and do things I never would have imagined in a million years. What I am about to write, however, is a sentence that I never in my life thought I would say out loud, I have no problem writing it for publication.
I want to talk to you about men’s underwear.
And I promise I won’t model anything. Nobody wants to see it.
While a cheap 6-pack of tights gets the job done, there’s a brave new world of boxer briefs that make you feel alive. 2UNDR may be the Cadillac of boxer briefs, but I’ve also added a pack of boxers and tank tops from a Canadian company called Man made. The company advertises something every man can appreciate: an “ergonomic anti-cage bag” called the Mansack.
Really.
Calling Man made shirt just a t-shirt is like calling Torrey Pines a pretty little muni. It doesn’t do justice. It’s made from Pima cotton and Manmade says it’s comfortable in the chest and arms, but relaxed in the midsection. It works as a base layer or under a sport coat. It’s so beautiful.
Hey, they had me “quieted in the middle.”
Depending on the temps, some long johns with compression go a long way. I have a couple el-cheapo pair adidas from Amazon for $20. If you want to go luxury, we sing the praises of comfort and warmth Elof from Galvin Green ($99).
Hey, at my age, I’ve earned the right to spoil the inner man.
#5: WITB, or what IS The bag?
Choosing a golf bag for your trip is quite simple. If you have a golf bag, this is what you’re bringing. If that’s you, feel free to skip ahead to the next section.
However, if you are shopping for a new bag for your trip, there are a few things to consider. Light, of course, is good. I love minimalist bags that don’t tempt me to load things up just for the heck of it. of Sunday Pen Style Bagat five pounds, it’s a little heavier than the others, but it’s designed to carry just the essentials, including an outer shell and enough golf balls.
Not for nothing, it also carries the caddy of the old course seal of approval.
If you want even lighter weight with more storage, check out the Sun Mountain Eclipse 3.5. Mine is a few years old but has served me well.
If you travel often, then it’s certainly worth investing in a high-quality travel bag. You can’t go wrong with anything from Club Glove, and Sum Mountain Clubglider Tripat $289.99, it might be one of the best golf deals around.
A great travel hack I came across recently was to protect your clubs by covering them with a five gallon bucket inside your travel bag. I have to admit, this never occurred to me. For about $30 on Amazon, you can pick up a generic version of the Rigid arm with a protective pad included.
If you want to go all in, we came across this gem a few weeks ago.
It’s called Oxybag, a five-layer inflatable pillow that fits inside a standard golf travel bag. The idea is that it provides strong case-level protection without the bulk. We’ll be diving more into this interesting little product in the coming weeks, but it’s intriguing enough to include here.
Odds and ends…
I’ve been to Scotland four times and brought an umbrella each time. Never used it though. I left one in the dressing room at St Andrews but never opened it on the golf course. It’s not a bad thing to overcome.
They sell waterproof golf caps, but I’ve found that spraying some of your favorites with Scotchgard Outdoor Water Shield does the trick.
Always bring two pairs of golf shoes, just in case one gets wet. Same with gloves: bring two or three plus a good set of rain gloves. Red Rooster Rain rooster is a particular favourite. Also, pack extra golf balls in your suitcase. It will be cheaper than buying resort add-ons.
Ship Sticks is not difficult at all, unless you have airline status and check your baggage for free. You will need that money for souvenirs.
We hope you enjoyed this little packing primer for your fall getaway. What are some of your go-to travel items for less-than-spectacular weather?
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