If you are a golfer (or know a golfer!) you know your golf bag is a critical piece of equipment. From keeping your clubs arranged to organizing your tees and balls, you'll come to rely on your golf bag to carry all your golf equipment. If you primarily use a cart, then you can find a cart golf bag (no support stand). Cart bags are normally a little bigger and heavier. But if you walk the course, you'll want a stand bag. Most golf bags made in the last few years have built-in pop-out stands - set the base firmly on the ground and out pops a pair of legs which support the bag and keep it vertical, giving you easy access to your selection of clubs without having to lie your golf bag on the ground. So that is the first feature you should look for - a good stand that is sturdy and compact.
The next thing to look at is the material of the golf bag. You can get a fancy leather bag if you want to spend a lot of money. Burton makes a nice line of leather golf bags. Most golf bags are made of nylon and are relatively weatherproof. All bags have their own storage system designs. Some have individual slots for each club, some have just a half dozen club compartments. Most have at least 6 or more pockets (some have up to 15), so think about your storage needs. Is there room for your rain gear? Finally, consider the weight and size of the bag. If you are going to be carrying it for 3 or 4 miles a round, you want it to be comfortable and easy to manage. Expect to pay $79 to $200 for a good quality golf bag.
Most Popular Golf Bag Makers
Some of the leading golf bag manufacturers are Ogio, Taylor Made, Nike, Datrek, Burton, Ping, and Callaway. Technologically, there have been no real breakthrus in the world of golf bags, so choosing a brand is more about picking a style or design that appeals to you. All the brands listed above are top-notch and comparable in build and quality.
Shopping for Golf Bags Online
When shopping for a golf bag online, sporting goods stores are a good starting place. SportsAuthority.com carries a full line of cart bags, stand bags, and travel golf bags and offers free shipping on golf bags. A Callaway Golf STS Stand Bag will set you back just $99. Same for a Taylor Made Tour Stand 2.5 Bag - $99. The Taylor Made is a nice bag, with dual shoulder straps for easy carrying and plenty of storage room. The Nike Xtreme Lite Stand Bag is $139 and has 8 pockets. The Callaway Golf Great Big Bertha Cart Bag goes for $159 and the Burton Premier Staff Bag - Leather is $799. Sports Authority has just about any bag you could want - great place to shop.
You can also try the Golf Wearhouse (TGW.com). They offer a 30 day money back guarantee on all the products they sell. And they sell just about every golf bag under the sun. They have Bag Boy golf bags, Burton, Callaway golf bags, Cleveland, Cobra, Mizuno, Nike, Ogio, PING, Sun Mountain, Taylor Made golf bags, Titleist, Wilson, and more. The Ogio Shock II Stand Bags are just $99 and even have a water bottle holder. The Cobra Deluxe Lightweight Stand Bags are also $99. They have pictures of each bag with additional descriptions.
Hard Golf Club Travel Bags
When traveling on vacation and taking your golf clubs with you, you will need a golf club travel bag to check for airline travel. These travel bags can either be hard sided (plastic or metal) or soft. A hard bag is heavier and sometimes tougher to store and maneuver (like getting them into a car trunk), but it stands up better on its own and balances, unlike the soft bags that can bend and lean. Look for a travel bag with sturdy locking mechanisms and hinges. Like all luggage, these travel golf bags can take a beating and need to be durable. You can get a hard-sided travel golf bag for as little as $99 (Bag Boy THC-3). Soft sided bags are often made of ballistic nylon and can run $99-$199. All travel golf bags have wheels at the bottom so they can be dragged or pushed without too much exertion. Make sure your travel bag it largest to hold your golf bag, especially if you have a larger cart bag.
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