Golf Bags for Beginners

July 19, 2009 by admin

Golf bags aren't as sexy as a new driver or $300 putter, but anyone who has ever struggled with a bag that offered inadequate storage space, didn't protect the club properly, or wasn't stable when placed on the fairway can attest to the fact that a good golf bag can be essential to the enjoyment of a round. That's no less true for a beginner, as newcomers to the game need to pay particular care to pick a bag that meets their needs.

For beginners, the first key question to answer is whether they plan to walk most of the time and carry the bag, use a cart most of the time and strap it down to the carrying surface there, or do a little bit of both.

Staff bags are the heaviest, and for most beginners they aren't the best option. They're heavy and aren't usually meant to be carried on a cart, so unless someone is playing mostly at courses or tournaments where caddies are readily available, a staff bag can be cumbersome.

Cart bags are less heavy, but are still designed with the premise that they won't be carried for long distances. They generally have front-facing pockets for easy access to gear, and are set up to strap securely onto the electric cart, push cart, or pull cart as needed. Carry bags are lighter and usually have less pockets, because as anyone who has carried their own bag for 18 holes knows, any added weight is unappreciated at the end of the day. There are also bags that are designed to serve in both areas, front-loaded to fit in a cart and light enough to walk with.

Most beginners are going to want a bag that is relatively inexpensive, which means making sure not to pay for unwanted or unnecessary features. Lighter is generally more comfortable than heavier, particularly for those who walk the course. But don't forget to make sure there is space for everything needed. A good bag doesn't need to have a dozen pockets, but it needs to have the space for things like sunscreen, hats, and extra golf towels in addition to the obvious like balls and tees. Ready access is also key; beginners should make sure that their bags make it easy to get new balls and tees as needed, as most will have to do both frequently as they learn the game.