How to pack a golf bag for the tropics

The packing list for a golf week in the tropics differs less from one at home than you would think, but the differences there are are the ones you notice most once you arrive.

Soft spikes are a requirement, not a suggestion

Every course on the island requires soft spikes. With metal ones you will not get off the first tee, and finding replacement shoes in your size on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean is not a problem you want to solve on arrival. Check the soles before the shoes go into the bag — not the evening before you fly.

Bring two pairs if you can. A pair soaked in an afternoon shower will not be dry by the next morning in that humidity, however much newspaper you stuff into them.

Gloves: more than you think

This is the single most common thing we see people get wrong. A glove damp with sweat loses its grip, and at thirty degrees and high humidity that happens somewhere around the 12th. Bring at least two, ideally three, and change during the round rather than struggling on with one that slips.

Clothing

A collar is required at every club. Light, breathable fabrics — cotton gets heavy and stays heavy. Shorts are allowed on every course we play, but a pair of long trousers is useful in the evenings.

For the welcome dinner and the prize-giving, smart casual. Nobody needs to pack a jacket, but a collar and a pair of shoes that are not golf shoes will take you a long way.

The rain jacket

It comes. Every time. Tropical rain arrives quickly, falls hard and is over within twenty minutes — and those twenty minutes are a good deal more pleasant under a thin waterproof than without one. It does not need to be winter kit; a light, packable layer is enough.

Sun protection

SPF 50 or higher, and reef-safe if you can. The island lives off its coral reefs, and several of the excursions go out onto them. The sun at twenty degrees south is stronger than the number on the thermometer suggests, and a burnt neck on day one ruins days two to seven.

A cap or hat is not optional in practice. Nor are sunglasses.

Baggage

The price includes a golf bag and a 23 kg suitcase per person. That is plenty for a fortnight as long as you do not pack for golf and for the beach as though they were two separate holidays. The flight goes via Dubai and the golf baggage is included — you do not need to arrange it separately.

What you do not need

Malaria tablets. The island was declared malaria-free in 1973 and prophylaxis is not needed. Insect repellent is still worth having, but for comfort rather than safety.

Clubs, if you would rather travel without them. They can be hired on request. If you want to play with your own it is worth the trouble — but it is a choice, not an obligation.