Golf, one of the most popular sports in the world, has been proven to improve both physical and mental health, however, the little-known key to a perfect game of golf is having the best possible equipment whilst looking effortlessly fashionable. Forget clubs for movement, we’re talking about having the best golf bag on the course.
Looking fashionable can be easily achieved by wearing stylish golf attire, but your look can be elevated with a sophisticated golf bag. But you need a golf bag that’s also functional so you can entirely focus on your game. A cool golf bag will keep your clubs protected and organised, will easily hold all of your golf necessities, and won’t tire you out when lugging it from hole to hole.
Features to look for in a golf bag
The best golf bags need to have features that strike a balance between function, comfort, and style. Are you a walker or cart rider? Or do you feel the need to store extra accessories like a rangefinder? Once you’ve figured these out, you can assess what type of golf bag you need (see below).
All types of golf bags, however, should have some of the same essential features; pockets are an ideal feature to help you stash any accessories such as golf balls, tees, and even your necessities like your phone and water bottle. Another essential feature to look out for is the strap because you will eventually lug the bag from hole to hole, so a comfortable, padded strap is a must-have as it’ll keep your shoulders healthy for those later rounds.
Different types of golf bags
There are many types of golf bags, with the most common type being the carry bag, which is the smallest and lightest option. They are sometimes known as Sunday bags because they are generally used during casual rounds and for those golfers who want to walk the course and not be weighed down.
Another type that you will come across regularly as you shop around, is the stand bag. They come with two retractable legs that cause them to stand, making it easy to access your golf clubs between holes.
Finally, there’s the cart golf bag, which is specifically designed to sit on the back of push carts or powered golf carts. Cart bags are the largest and heaviest types of golf bags, so if you’re a golfer who likes to bring a lot of equipment to the course, a cart bag is the golf bag of choice for you.
So, if you’re looking for a new smart-looking, practical golf bag for your new swanky golf club membership or an upcoming business trip or just to spoil yourself – we’ve teed up the best golf bags on the market.
Callaway
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Price: From $160
Origin: Carlsbad, California
Always creating innovative and high-performing golf equipment, Callaway has a deep understanding of the game and of those who play it. Ever since their founding in the early 80’s, the brand has used intelligence and a little bit of imagination to craft some of the best golf products available and that has helped them stay at the top of the game.
Callaway has a huge range golf bags, perfect for whether you walk or ride on the golf course; they have waterproof golf bags, ultra-light golf bags, and big cart bags. The one thing Callaway bags have in common is they all feature a mixture of durability and usability to the max ensuring that these golf bags will last.
Ogio
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Price: From $250
Origin: Carlsbad, California
Founded in 1987 by Michael Pratt, OGIO began as an athletic luggage brand and is actually an acronym for, ‘Our Gear Is Organised’. After years of developing products with unique designs that came with various problem-solving features, the brand was acquired by Callaway in 2017, and joined their family of brands, adding golf bags to their range.
Ogio’s range of golf bags are some of the best to help better your game thanks to their increased organization, innovative features, unrivaled durability, and performance-enhancing fabrics. With every type of golf bag available, whether you ride or walk, you’ll find your perfect bag with Ogio’s exceptional range.
Sun Mountain
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Price: From $230
Origin: Missoula, Montana
Established in the picturesque mountain town of Missoula, Montana in 1981, Sun Mountain has a special place in the development of the golf bag. Founder Rick Reimers was the first to innovate the golf bag with backpack technology to create a non-collapsible carry bag, and in 1986, he made Sun Mountain the first brand to develop a bag with legs.
Flash forward to today, and Sun Mountain has a large variety of golf bags in its range. Cart bags and stand bags are available in lightweight and even genuine leather options. For a smart-looking golf bag that’s also functional, you can’t go wrong with Sun Mountain.
Maxfli
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Price: From $120
Origin: Buffalo, New York
One of the largest suppliers of golf equipment, Maxfli’s dedication to creating premium products for all levels of golfers has seen the brand be recognised by some of the biggest companies in sports. From Dunlop, and Slazenger, to TaylorMade-Adidas, Maxfli has acquired a reputation for supplying the very best golf gloves, balls, and golf bags you can find.
Maxfli’s range of golf bags are durable, spacious, and will take your golfing organisation to the next level. Their functional yet stylish bags are available in an array of colours and patterns, and come in both stand and cart varieties.
MacKenzie
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Price: From $400
Origin: Beaverton, Oregon
In the summer of 1985, MacKenzie’s founders, Peter and David Jacobsen, spent a weekend in the historical ‘home of golf’, St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. The course there is known as the ‘Auld Grey Toon’ and dates all the way back to medieval times. They were inspired by the history and sophistication of the course and put that energy into the creation of their golf bags.
If looks are important to you, then MacKenzie’s has one a range golf bags. They feature classic designs and are crafted using fabrics commonly seen in modern bags but with added leather trims to complete that timeless look.
TaylorMade
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Price: From $190
Origin: Carlsbad, California
When Gary Adams founded TaylorMade in 1979, he started by taking out a $24,000 loan on his home and rented a 6,000 square-foot building that at one time was a television assembly plant. Thankfully, the risk paid off and the brand has grown into a household name on tour and their products help golfers of all levels play their best game.
Providing comfort and organisation is just one part of that, and any TaylorMade golf bag will bring ultimate convenience to your next round. Their range of golf bags have a classic American design style, and are crafted from durable materials that’ll keep your golf equipment safe and organised.
Titleist
7/16
Price: From $225
Origin: Fairhaven, Massachusetts
The story behind how Titleist began is an interesting one and involves, of all things, an x-ray machine. When founder Phil Young played a game with his friend who was the head of the x-ray department at the local hospital in 1932, he disputed that his golf ball was faulty. To prove it and settle the argument, they x-rayed the ball and found that the ball had an off-centre core. The brand then entered the market with golf balls and today their range includes golf bags.
Titleist’s range of golf bags includes cart, stand, and hybrid varieties, in a variety of timeless colour schemes. Functional and stylish, Titleist’s golf bags provide superior club separation and protection, as well as organisation with an abundance of pockets.
PING
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Price: From $240
Origin: Redwood City, California
Alongside a career in engineering, PING founder Karsten Solheim began making putters in 1959 in his own garage in Redwood, California. He officially left his job at General Electric to focus on his brand that would officially become known as PING in 1967, and grow into one of the most trusted golf equipment brands today.
PING shows the same dedication to their golf bags and they are among the most comfortable, multifunctional bags available. With both cart and stand bags available, all with supreme durability, organisation, and sturdiness.
Mizuno
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Price: From $210
Origin: Osaka, Japan
Being leaders in the sports equipment industry since 1933, there isn’t a sport that Mizuno hasn’t graced with their expertise, and golf is among them. With almost an entire century under their belt, Mizuno’s golf equipment has been used by the best on tour and enjoyed by golfers of every play style and skill level.
Mizuno’s golf bags maintain their position at the top and feature industry-leading technologies to create products that are lightweight, durable, and comfortable. With carry, cart, travel, and stand bags on offer in a variety of colours, no matter how you get from hole to hole, Mizuno’s golf bags will make carrying your clubs a breeze.
Vice Golf
10/16
Price: From $199
Origin: Germany
A young brand, Vice Golf was founded in 2012 by Ingo Duellmann and Rainer Stoeckl, and originally only sold golf balls inside their native Germany before expanding into the U.S market in 2015. In such a short time, the brand’s range has expanded from golf balls to high-quality apparel, and the latest addition is their golf bags.
Vice Golf don’t have a particularly large range of golf bags, but the few golf bags they do have are rather impressive. They have one cart and one stand bag, both available in two colours, that are lightweight and made with top-quality nylon. Vice Golf’s stand bag is completely waterproof too. No matter which golf bag you choose, you’re getting a high-performance golf bag when you go with Vice Golf.
Wilson
11/16
Price: From $120
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Wilson Staff is the golf division of Wilson Sporting Goods and was founded a year after the company went public in 1913. The 20th century saw the brand create the equipment that would be the first choice of some of the best players on tour, including Arnold Palmer, Walter Hagen, and Sam Snead. This dominant legacy has continued today and their equipment is now among the first choice of all golfers.
Wilson’s golf bags make carrying your clubs and other golf necessities easy, thanks to high-quality durable material used for the exterior and interior, and multiple versatile organisational pockets; with a Wilson golf bag you can solely focus on your game.
Vessel
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Price: From $305
Origin: Carlsbad, California
A custom bag brand that is known for its functional yet elegant designs, Vessel was founded in 2012 when they noticed a demand for custom golf bags. They wanted to give customers the option of being in charge of the look of their golf bag, to create a product that is unique and special to them.
Vessel’s range of golf bags are crafted from the finest materials for a luxurious and sturdy finish, as well as durability, abrasion-resistance, and easy-to-cleanability. Vessel’s golf bags are also spacious enough for every golf essential you might need on the course.
Nike
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Price: From $200
Origin: Beaverton, Oregon
Entering the golf industry in 1984, Nike stayed true to its roots and first began developing golf shoes but didn’t transition into equipment until 14 years later. So technically, their golf-specific division has not been around for very long, but thanks to their reputation and standing as one of the premier sports brands of all time, they have achieved a technical quality like no other.
Nike makes some of the best golf bags on the market, with models featuring water-resistant, fleece-lined pockets to protect your valuables and which are crafted from high-quality fabrics for durability and sturdiness. Lightweight, and complete with ergonomic straps, Nike offers well-made golf bags at the more affordable end of the golf bag price range, so if you’re looking for a cheaper golf bag that won’t fall apart, Nike is the brand for you.
Linksoul
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Price: From $225
Origin: Oceanside, California
Founder John Ashworth was involved in men’s lifestyle apparel brands for decades before he created Linksoul in 2005. He sought to separate the brand from the rest and develop golf products that fit more within their personal philosophy and lifestyle of simply enjoying the game first. They even have their own mantra, ‘Tempus Fugit’, which in Latin translates to ‘time flies’.
Linksoul’s range of golf bags includes legless carry bags and conventional stand bags, that all make transporting your golf essentials a breeze. Made with durable fabrics, Linksoul’s bags are multifunctional and have a minimalist aesthetic that’ll keep you looking cool on the green.
Cobra
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Price: From $129
Origin: Carlsbad, California
Founded by club designer and former amateur champion Thomas Crow in 1973, Cobra began as a small company but with a history of developing golf clubs that were used by some of the best professionals on tour, they were acquired by sportswear giant Puma in 2010. This dedication to innovation has followed into their apparel and equipment, including their golf bags.
Cobra’s range of golf bags have been designed to cover every base so you’re never distracted from your game whilst carrying it. The valuables pockets are all fleece-lined for ultimate protection and have EasyFlex ground bases for maximum ground contact.
PXG
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Price: From $295
Origin: Scottsdale, Arizona
Established by billionaire and GoDaddy founder, Bob Parsons in 2014, PXG has access to some of the very best materials and technologies. Standing for ‘Parsons Xtreme Golf’, the brand began with the goal of designing golf clubs and the technology they developed earned them a spot as one of the fastest-growing brands in the U.S. by Inc Magazine in 2019.
PXG only offer stand and carry bags, so if you’re a golfer who rides across the course, PXG might not be the golf bag brand for you, however the bags they do have are very high-performance. PXG’s golf bags are extremely versatile, feature multiple pockets for organisation, 4-point carry straps with quick disconnects, padded back panels, and custom moulded bases; function meets style is the best way to describe PXG golf bags.