Ok, you’ve been dragging your sticks around in the same old Top Flite beginner bag since middle school.  Sure, you’ve upgraded to fancy things like Epics and EvenFlows, but now consider that last piece – the golf bag.  Buying a golf bag is as personal and functional as anything in the game, so I’ve put together a little golf bag buying guide to help you along the way!

What kind of bag do you need?

You’ll have lots of options here, but for practicality sake, really think about what kind of golf you play.  Do you walk or do you ride?  Are you someone that likes to carry a lot of junk, or are you so good you just need like one sleeve of balls?  Do you have a bum leg or a wonky back like me?  Do you have a caddie, so you don’t care how heavy the bag is and want to carry things like backup sunscreen and a six pack (of iced tea)?

The major categories will of course be the stand bag, the cart bag, the Sunday bag, and the staff bag.

What to Look For

First off, I’ll tell you about my preferences and what I look for, then we’ll do a brief look at each of the types of bag.  I’m a dedicated walker.  I care about the weight of my bag, how easy the legs work, the convenience of the storage, and how the clubs can be organized.  I’m a semi-minimalist, meaning I’ll carry a dozen or so balls, have to constantly clean out all the half broken tees I scavenge, my wallet/keys/stuff, and a little bag for ball markers and pens.  Occasionally the rain gear too.  That’s it.  TIP #1… take out all the stuff you have in your bag and make a little list.  If you don’t use it, toss it.  If it “Sparks Joy,” keep it.  You’ll want to know what’ll go into your new bag.

Stand Bags – The Utility Player

When you’re considering a stand bag, you want a lot of versatility.  TIP #2… Consider how much you walk when you play, how easy it is getting clubs in and out, and how much cargo you need to carry.  Most will allow you to carry at least a little bit of everything you need: balls, tees, gloves, markers, rangefinders… but not much else, so don’t go crazy.

For me, the most important things about a stand bag are weight, balance, and how you sort the clubs.  Luckily these days, most manufactures are coming in under five pounds, with some even half that.  Since you’re hoofing all over the place, the less weight you’re hauling around, the better.  

Next, check out what kind of straps you’re using.  This is a big deal because the stand bag is getting picked up and set down 100+ times, and you want swift transitions and nothing catching. 

Another thing to consider for your own personal buying guide is how you organize your sticks.  There’s lots of options here, and I really like lots of dividers because it seems to minimize the bag chatter a bit.

This is your everyday bag, so it’s got to feel good!

Cart Bags – For Those Who Say Screw Walking

You’re still an athlete, sure.  But there’s no way in the world you’re going to carry your stuff around at this point.  Well, there’s a solution for you.  And you’re going to pack the whole trunk of your car in your cart bag and love it.  

The good thing about the cart bag is that it lets you have all the things you want on hand and never have to worry about leaving stuff behind.  Bring the umbrella, the rain gear, some refreshments, and all the Mojos and Noodles you can fit in it.  You’re looking for accessibility here and the cart bag does it best.

One feature I really like in modern cart bags is the full length divider tops.  Many manufacturers make them 14-way.  That’s a cool feature, considering it’s such a pain when you’re reaching for your butter-soft Miura wedge and it’s not getting jammed as you pull it out.  It also makes it obvious if you leave a club on the course somewhere, as you’ll notice it’s missing easier.  Nothing worse than lost-club panic…

Sunday Bags – You Only Need Half A Set

Let’s talk minimalism.  The Sunday bag will appeal to folks that just want to catch that after-work nine.  Bring a half set of clubs, a sleeve or two of balls, and get going.  There’s actually a lot of variety in the Sunday bag category.  You’ll find some gorgeous handmade and super old school leather bags, and even mini versions of a regular stand bag.  Make sure you’ve got enough room to hold the bare essentials and certainly try a few out (with some clubs in it of course), as the balance points can vary wildly in these.  

While the reduced weight and mobility of the Sunday bag is great, there could be a drawback to consider – you’re picking the thing up off the ground a lot, so functionally, you’re bending up and down more than your regular stand bag.  There’s some cool options that have legs – see my review of Mizuno’s BR-D2 – but you’ve got to worry about them getting dirty.  I’ll admit that I’m often finding myself leaning towards a Sunday bag, but often I need just a little more room… and that’s why I see this as a special occasion bag most of the time.

Staff Bags – Go Get One, Pro

For when you want to announce to the world:  “Jon Heise is here to shoot his 85 and he liked his r7 SuperQuad TP so much he bought this gigantic personalized staff bag 11 years ago!”

Definitely a luxury item.  They serve much the same purpose as a cart bag with their immense storage ability, and while usually bulkier and heavier, more walker friendly.  You can see the need for tour pros to have every tool they can ever use available to them and also slap a big logo on it, but it’s not always the best choice for everyday use.

TIP #3… if you need to make a statement, absolutely buy a staff bag.

WHICH ONE DO I GET?!

My obvious answer to that is to tell you get one of each of them.  If you’re a Driving Range Hero like us, you’ve got four sets of clubs sitting in your closet that need to be organized.  Duh.  The great thing is that there’s a ton of good options out there these days.  You can buy a decent standard stand bag for around $70, or you could go full-custom staff bag for $500-600.  It’s all about what makes you happy and fits your needs as a player, and that’s all that matters!