Golf travelers know the anxiety that comes with handing their clubs over at the airport. While most of the time, this process goes smoothly, occasionally issues may arise. Lost clubs, damaged clubs, or clubs that never make it onto the plane can all be nightmares for traveling golfers. Unfortunately, the East Tennessee State golf team experienced one of these nightmares when a video of airport workers mishandling their golf bags went viral on the eve of the NCAA Championship. This incident prompted an apology from Delta Airlines on Thursday, as the golf community expressed outrage over the treatment of the team’s equipment.
The video captured by the ETSU Men’s Golf official account shows baggage workers throwing the team’s golf bags onto the tarmac with reckless abandon as the team was arriving in San Diego for the NCAAs. The behavior displayed by the workers clearly risked damaging the precious cargo of the golf team, just days before the biggest event of the year. The video quickly spread on social media, garnering attention from frustrated golfers who could relate to the team’s plight. The backlash on Twitter prompted Delta’s PR team to issue an apology, acknowledging the mishandling of the equipment and expressing a desire to make things right for the ETSU Golf team.
Despite the unfortunate incident, it seems that the ETSU golf team will not be negatively impacted as they prepare to compete in the NCAAs. The team is scheduled to begin play on Friday morning in Carlsbad, and it appears that they will have the necessary equipment to participate. The apology from Delta Airlines and the swift response to the situation demonstrate a commitment to customer service and a recognition of the importance of the team’s equipment for their performance in the championship event. While the mishap was certainly concerning, the team can now focus on their competition without worries about their clubs.
As golfers around the world continue to face challenges when traveling with their clubs, incidents like this serve as a reminder of the importance of proper handling and care for golf equipment. The viral nature of the video highlights the power of social media in holding companies accountable for their actions and ensuring that customer concerns are addressed. Hopefully, this experience will lead to improved practices and procedures for handling golf equipment in the future, minimizing the risk of damage or loss for traveling golfers. In the meantime, the ETSU golf team can take comfort in the support they have received and focus on their performance in the NCAA Championship.
