How to Organize Your Golf Bag

Golf is a game of setting paces and finding a rhythm that affords you the best chance of shooting a fantastic round. If something breaks your tempo halfway through the course, it can end up costing you valuable strokes and ruin your chance of posting a great score card. Furthermore, maintaining a wavering pace on the golf course can also frustrate your fellow golfers that are trying to get in a round, but you are taking too long. All it takes is for one person or group’s pace to be off to have an effect on the entire course for the rest of the day.

That’s why learning how to arrange golf clubs in your bag is an important part of starting your round off on the right track. Following these simple steps will guarantee that your golf bag is prepared in a way that will keep you steadily swinging your clubs – instead of hunting for them.

How to Organize Golf Clubs in Bag

When you’re organizing your gear, it’s always a good idea to start with an empty golf bag and all of your clubs laid out before you. If your bag is full of old receipts, score cards and golf gloves that were long-forgotten, then this is the perfect time for you to clean it up while cleaning it out.

Next, you’ll want to stand your golf bag up to observe the different rows that are designated for your clubs. Although many carriers boast several different features, most bags have three rows that are designated for three groups of clubs. Let’s go over the three-row arrangement that is common in most golf bags.

• The Front Row: The front row of the golf bag is the row that is furthest away from the golf bag strap. This is the level that will be closest to you when your bag is on a golf cart, and is the one that is right above the front pockets of your golf bag. The front row should be where your short irons are located, such as your 8 and 9-irons, as well as your wedges.
• The Middle Row: The middle compartment of your golf bag is where your mid-range clubs need to go. All of your irons from your 3-iron up to your 7-iron should fit snuggly within this designated space. Some golf bags provide additional compartmentalization, allowing you to further separate your irons into individual sections in your golf bag.
• The Back Row: This is where your tall boys will be sitting. Your driver, your fairway woods, and even your hybrid clubs should all fit into the back section of your golf bag (the section closest to the golf bag strap). You’ll also want to carry your putter in the back row, if your bag doesn’t include a separate putter slot.

How Many Golf Clubs Are Allowed in a Golf Bag?

Organizing your clubs is one thing, but how many golf clubs in a bag is acceptable? According to the USGA, a golfer is allowed to carry up to 14 golf clubs in his or her bag. Most golfers carry a driver and two woods, irons 3 through 9, a pitching wedge and a putter, accounting for 12 clubs total.

That means that you can have a traditional setup while still leaving room for two more clubs, so you should carefully consider what two clubs would benefit you the most, and then make some room for them in your golf bag. Growing accustomed to carrying a 14-club bag will ensure that you have a wide range of options during your game play, and that you’re legally carrying the maximum amount of clubs while getting used to the extra weight that’s in your golf bag.

Knowing how to arrange golf clubs in bag will help you maintain a steady and fluid pace while on-course. You can also take the opportunity to organize the various pockets in your golf bag while you’re arranging your golf clubs. Making sure that your tees are easily accessed through the higher front pocket – while your golf balls are stored away in the lower pockets – will help balance the weight of your carrier. Plus, taking the time to arrange your equipment will ultimately save you frustration in the long run.