How to Choose the Best Golf Bags
Wilson Staff Nexus III Carry Bag, image: wilson.com
Choosing the best golf bag for you is a decision that should fit your golf game, the same as your clubs, balls, and shoes. Yet, in this case it is not based on your physical or mental ability but how you play the game. Do you walk the course or ride a cart? If you walk, do you pull a trolley or carry the bag? Are you a world traveler, seeking out the best golf courses far and wide? Let’s examine the different types of golf bags that will work best for you in each situation.
Golf Staff Bags
Golf staff bags are the high-end golf bags that you will see at professional tournaments. They are very often splashed with professional player names and sponsor logos. Due to the bags large size and weight, it is not recommended to carry it yourself. If you ride or cart or hire a caddy, these roomy bags with plenty of storage can be a good choice. They can make a perfect vehicle to transport a bevy of golf accessories you may need on the course.
Louis Oosthuizen Using PING Tour Staff Bag, image: golfmagic.com
Large golf bags typically have two dividers and contain padding on the best golf bags. Some golfers may prefer bags that feature individual plastic tubes for each of the 14 clubs. Others have special putter wells for the club pulled most often from the bag. But the specialized look of a PGA players golf staff bag is not limited to only professionals. Golfballs.com offers personalized golf bags that can be ordered with a custom logo or saying.
Golf Cart Bags
As the name implies, golf cart bags are designed to spend most of their time on a golf cart. This means that cart bags have more than enough room to fit equipment for the day, are not for the walking golfer. Today’s golf cart bags are specifically designed for their duty with non-stick rubber bases that help anchor the bags in the cart.
Titleist Deluxe Cart Bag, image: golfballs.com
Golf Stand Bags
Golf stand bags are engineered with the average walking golfer in mind. They make use of retractable legs that can deploy to stand the bag up on the fairway. Stand bags can also be strapped onto a pull cart or into the back of a riding cart but take care not to damage the legs.
If you plan on using a stand bag as a walking bag, take care to find the straps that make the most sense for you. A dual, backstrap-style can lessen the burden on your back as you hike the 6-7 miles in a typical 18-hole golf round.
Golf Carry Bags
Carry bags are the subcompacts of the golf bag world. They are light, having only a few pockets with enough room for a few extra balls, gloves and perhaps a wind jacket. A carry golf bag may not even have interior dividers for golf clubs. Many golfers make carry bags their “second bag” for the occasional time when they may walk instead of ride.
PING Hoofer 14 Carry Bag, image: golfalot.com
Golf Travel Bags
While not used on the course, travel bags are invaluable for protecting clubs in transit. When you need your clubs to arrive at your destination undamaged, a hard plastic “coffin” is the best call.
Sun Mountain Club Glider Meridian Travel Bag, image: golfballs.com
Soft shell travel bags are much more maneuverable, and today’s technology has made them almost as indestructible as hard shells. Just to be sure, fill up extra room in the golf bag with towels to limit movement of the clubs as much as possible on their journey.
