Home is where my golf bag is

YOU KNOW YOU'VE been living out of a suitcase for too long when the hotel staff in three different countries greet you with, "Welcome back, Mr Gangjee. Same room?" I wish I were exaggerating, but this is the reality of life as a touring professional golfer.

- Rahil Gangjee

YOU KNOW YOU'VE been living out of a suitcase for too long when the hotel staff in three different countries greet you with, "Welcome back, Mr Gangjee. Same room?" I wish I were exaggerating, but this is the reality of life as a touring professional golfer. Somewhere along the way, our actual postal address became less important than our luggage tag. Most of us on Tour — especially the journeymen, the grinders, the sleep-on-an-airport-chair veterans — know exactly what it means to be semi-permanently displaced, passport always on standby, and socks always slightly confused about which time zone they're in.

Now, don't get me wrong — I'm not complaining. (Okay, maybe a little.) I love what I do. Golf has given me the world — literally. But when you're on the road for 30-odd weeks a year, certain truths begin to emerge. And the most important of them? That suitcase isn't just a piece of luggage — it's a way of life.

The tour life starter pack

Here's what most people don't realise: Pro golf isn't all private jets and luxury suites. Unless you're a top-10 player (with a yacht and a support team that includes someone just to carry your Bluetooth speaker), you're booking budget flights, praying your golf bag survives baggage handling, and measuring hotel rooms based on whether your foam roller can roll freely or not. Packing becomes an art form. You learn to fold things with military precision. You've got socks for grass, socks for gym, socks for fancy media events (which no one tells you is formal until you're already in your t-shirt and tournament cap). You travel with two belts, three gloves, and zero margin for error.