Just flew to Oahu with kite gear in golf bag with clubs. Southwest guy opened the bag, saw the board and charged me the $50.
Maybe I am missing something here, but I think with Southwest you do not even have to pretend they are clubs. They specifically allow kiteboards the way I read it
Any of the items listed below may be checked in substitution of one piece of the free Checked Baggage allowance for each Passenger at no charge on a one-item-for-one-bag basis. If the item of sporting equipment exceeds 50 pounds in weight or 62 inches in size (outside length plus height plus width), excess weight and size charges may apply.
Archery equipment, including a bow, arrows, and an average size target (large target stands cannot be accepted), so long as the bow and arrows are encased in a container acceptable to Carrier for withstanding normal Baggage handling without sustaining damage to the equipment.
Baseball/Softball equipment, Effective March 1, 2012: including one bag generally consisting of four bats, one helmet, one pair of cleats, one uniform, one glove, and one pair of batting gloves. The catcher may have additional equipment.
Boogie or knee board.
Bowling bag, including ball(s) and shoes.
Bicycles (defined as nonmotorized and having a single seat), including Bike Friday and Co-Pilot, properly packed in a hard-sided bicycle box that fall within the dimensions and weight limits established for normal Checked Baggage, (i.e., 62 inches or less in overall dimensions and less than 50 pounds in weight). Pedals and handlebars must be removed and packaged in protective materials so as not to be damaged by or cause damage to other Baggage. Bicycles packaged in cardboard or soft-sided cases will be transported as conditionally accepted items.
Fishing tackle box and fishing rod, so long as the rod is encased in a cylindrical fishing rod container suitable to Carrier for withstanding normal Checked Baggage handling without sustaining damage to the rod.
Golf bag in hard-sided golf bag carrying case provided by Passenger, including clubs, balls, and shoes. Hooded golf bags or golf bags in a soft-sided carrying case provided by the Passenger will be conditionally accepted.
Hockey and/or lacrosse stick(s) as long as multiple sticks are either taped together or encased in a suitable bag or container. Effective March 1, 2012: two hockey sticks taped together and one hockey equipment bag generally consisting of hockey pads, helmets, pants, jersey, gloves, and skates.
Kiteboard
...
I was amazed they knew what a kiteboard was.
Hawaiian charges $35 unless they claim like they did to me that I have a "set" which meant windsurfing and they wanted $100...interisland.