How to protect your golf clubs, and what to do if they’re stolen
It takes years of trial and error, along with great expense to build up a collection of second hand golf clubs that you’re proud of. Replacing an entire set takes a lot of time, tracking down the brands and models that you came to rely upon so heavily, and it’s estimated that even replacing a standard set of clubs could set you back around £1200.
Whether they’re stolen from your car, your house or somewhere else, victims of theft are usually unaware of the single article limit that applies to each golf club on their insurance policy. That means that, even if you’re covered, unless you have specified these items on your insurance policy you may only be entitled to claim up to around £100 per club.
How to keep your second hand golf clubs safe
It may sound obvious, but the most important thing you can do to protect your golf clubs is to keep them out of sight. Making sure they’re hidden in your car boot, garage or house means that you won’t be tempting opportunistic thieves to help themselves.
Next, make sure your preloved golf clubs are always locked away and protected by an alarm if possible. A house alarm and/or a padlock on a garage can provide an extra layer of security, and a car alarm will alert passers-by if someone is trying to break into your vehicle.
Your golf clubs should be insured on your home contents policy, and on your vehicle policy if you travel with them. However, every insurance policy is different, so make sure you familiarise yourself with the wording of your particular policy, and make sure that any particularly valuable clubs are specified with their replacement value. You don’t want to wait until they’re stolen before you find out you don’t have an adequate level of cover!
Finally, make sure your clubs are registered on ImmobiGolf. This is a relatively new initiative that’s absolutely free. Should your clubs ever fall into the wrong hands, you’ll stand the best chance of getting them back if they’re registered on this database. It’s really easy to do - simply find the unique serial number that’s etched onto the club and register it on the database. (If there’s no serial number, there’s a chance it could be a counterfeit club - check out our article on how to identify a counterfeit club to learn more).
We’re a registered supplier of ImmobiGolf marking kits, which include window stickers that make it clear your property is registered and protected, numbered security tags and visual deterrent badges for golf club bags. Pop into one of our stores and pick yours up today.
What to do if your golf clubs are stolen
If you discover that your golf clubs have been stolen, you need to report it straight away. As long as you’ve registered them on ImmobiGolf you’ll be able to create an alert that lets you know if they’ve been found. This will also alert the police and other traders. You also need to report the crime to the police so that you are given a crime reference number to use in any insurance claim.
Read your insurance policy carefully to understand the level of cover you have per club and golfing accessories such as GPS/rangefinders etc., and let your insurance providers know straight away. Hopefully there will be no nasty surprises! They’ll ask you to list the clubs you’ve lost, including make and model number, so it’s a good idea to have this written down in advance.
It might be worth alerting golf courses and driving ranges near to you just in case they spot someone using a club that might be yours. The more you get the word out, the better.
And of course, if the worst happens and you lose your beloved golf clubs, you’ll need to organise replacements. Luckily at golfclubs4cash we have an unrivalled range of the best second hand drivers, irons and more from leading golfing brands on the market - everything you’ll need to get back up and running quickly. You’ll have a good chance of finding a club that’s as good as, if not better than the clubs you had stolen.