The Golf Bag

Places can change and transform people. Some excite and energize people while others failed to take off. In 1974, a World Cup year, Yaohan from Japan took root in Singapore for the first time at Plaza Singapura and the two became synonymous. You get Japanese folks peddling their wares and foodstuffs, it was something new and everyone was excited. It was like a new and interesting culture. At the time, Yaohan plastic carrier bags were very commonly reused as a carrier. Then Yokoso's 24 hour supermarket came in 1985 but failed after awhile.

Singapore has moved on rather quickly and in place of the poor man's plastic bag, we are now hip and cool and people all over are seen not just carrying quality merchandise of a bag but designer ones too. Even back packs and common bags like Crumpler has become trendy. Just what do people look for in a bag? This question will not be opened to the ladies. Why? For obvious reason, said Captain Obvious.

The Golf Bag 

Just what do you look for in a golf bag? Some people just like everything big. They have a large car therefore, huge boot space to own a big bag. They gamble big, talk big they just like them big there being no other reason. Others like them small and slim because it is lighter and easier to carry without being too cumbersome. There are folks who choose design over function and others function over design and yet there are those who prefer only certain materials. Typically golf bags are about 8.5 to 9.5 inches at the top width with the largest being cart bags - the very big ones that pros use and carried by their caddies and a slightly more moderate version of cart bag and then we have the stand bag with legs that open up when you tilt the bag to stand which is useful at the range and then you have the Sunday bag where you just put in a few clubs for a short nine hole or at the range. 


The most important thing for a pro after the golf equipment, clubs and gears must be the golf bag as it helps him to get organized. You too should get organised. Need space for your beer? Not in your golf bag please, they have such a thing called a cooler box. Anyway, after reading about all the evils of drinking, I gave up reading.

What Bag?

First of all, you have to determine what type of bag you want and how it will suit your needs. A carry bag or stand bag is the most commonly used as its size ranges from 5 to 8.5 inches in diameter and weighs no more than four pounds. It is most useful when using it for the range or when you do a lot of walking playing the game. Cart bags as the name suggest is meant for courses where only buggies are allowed and are usually at 9.5 inches.

Materials

You can see it as some kind of fashion statement but it can be a very useful thing when one that you select is functional as well. Is it comfortable for you especially with the strap on your shoulders and is it easy to carry and handle? Avoid buying low quality golf bag just because of the price. Of course, the branded ones are more authentic. All bags can carry up to 14 clubs and some like me prefer those that has individual slots for each club and more than this, it must not just be the cross section at the top to segregate but it should have panels inside to prevent criss-crossing and entanglement of the clubs so as to help in retrieval or re-slotting them and at the same time protecting the shafts. Of importance too is that the bag should be made from materials that are at least water-resistant if not water-proofed due to exposure to the elements. It prevents the inside of the bag from getting soaked.

Another important is the weight of the bag because even if you do not carry it to play on a walking course, lugging it around in transportation from/to the car can be strenuous especially after a game or a few beers. But light weight must also mean that it has to be sturdy and good enough to not just hold but protect your clubs. There are those that are PU (PVC-like) and padded, cloth-type and others that are made of soft and light PVC materials.

Criteria

Well, a little bit of style won't kill as long it doesn't hurt your pocket too much. What more than the fact even if you didn't have a mean game, at least you look the part. Even the neighbours will take note. Some may like it bright for attention screaming like a siren, others choose a solid dark colour for practical reasons. Take note that the full-sized PVC padded types feels very strong and sturdy but there a few draw backs - (1) It is really quite huge and is definitely much heavier, (2) the material used can be hardened over time and could tear more easily when hit against sharp, maybe even blunt objects or peel, (3) it has pockets on the front and back which means that storing things in the pockets on where the handle and strap are would be troublesome to retrieve once the bag is strapped onto the buggy. It is also this design that cause it to be bulky due to the protrusion.

I personally like mine with lots of pockets to place all other things - golf balls, tees, long ones, short ones, caps, gloves, ball markers, ball mark repairers, etc., etc. with all pockets concentrated at the front and sides only and nothing on the strap and handle side.

Finally, when you are at the club house, you will see so many golf bags standing around being prepared for a game or awaiting retrieval by owners. You will see many have common colours. You will notice all the big brands are there - Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade, S-Yard, etc. I would want to retrieve my bag in a hurry if there's a fire and run so I prefer one that do not belong to all these very common names or colours. It may have about the same quality and function like some of those from the big boys but the big boys will set you back by another $100-150 which you can actually use to buy a club. This is the same reason why I do not have a Mercedes-Benz or BMW. It is too common especially in Singapore and outselling all the other cars climbing up many spots in the sales charts. Do you think I am kidding?

New - MD Golf - Seve Ballesteros

I had chosen one form MD Golf with Seve Ballesteros lending his name. MD Golf is an Irish company based in the UK. Seve Ballesteros was a great Spanish golfer blessed with breathtaking skills and he and Phil Mickelson are to golf what Lionel Messi is to soccer. Ballesteros attacks the golf course like the lion hunting its prey.

Good luck to you in your hunt if you are in it for a golf bag. I hope to employ the same spirit and skill of Seve Ballesteros. Recently, with the bag in toll, I find myself playing better. Mmm..., maybe it was never the clubs. It's all about the bag?

Golf as in life, play as it lies.