Teeing off for a golf holiday, make sure you have specialist cover

Golf holidays are increasingly popular as there are such a wide range of breaks available, from a long weekend in the UK to soaking up the sun as you progress around the course in Spain or Portugal. Many winter sport destinations in the States and Canada have become all-year round resorts, transforming ski-out areas to fantastic courses with a scenic backdrop of lakes and mountains and vast evergreen pine forests.

Whether you are taking a short break at one of the many high quality resorts in the UK or going further afield to chase the better weather, so rain doesn't stop play, make sure you have specialist golf travel insurance for your golf equipment and personal liability away from home.

You will be travelling with quite delicate equipment, potentially worth several hundreds if not thousands of pounds. That needs adequate cover everywhere it goes, from security check-in to the corner of the 19th hole. There are some specifics about golf insurance you should confirm when taking out golf insurance.

Bearing in mind 68% of golf theft takes place at night and equipment is often stolen from cars, does your policy cover this? Check what level of insurance you have against theft. You should insist upon new for old cover, rather than indemnity or intrinsic value. The latter takes into account the depreciation and market value of equipment and can leave you hundreds of pounds short if you have to replace any items.

Playing away from your home club, you need to think about you personal liability insurance too. This will protect you against claims for those wayward golf shots or errant swings you make (only on the odd occasion of course!). Check you are covered for playing in the States or Canada, the home of the no-win no fee, personal claim culture. You should also get third party property damage in case you have an accident involving someone else's property.

If you are travelling with someone who is sports mad but not for golf, make sure you get cover for any activities they may wish to try too. A specialist travel insurer will cover up to 75 activities from bungee jumping to white water rafting. Or maybe the lure of hotel's luxurious poolside or spa room is just too strong...

As with any holiday it is important that you invest in the appropriate travel insurance that will cover you for even the most specific of needs - such as medical travel insurance if you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition, or family travel insurance if you are planning on taking the whole tribe abroad.

Whatever you do on your golfing holiday get the right travel insurance and there will be no handicap to your enjoyment.