Jul 11, 2022

Essential Golf Bag Items

beginner golfers gift ideas golf tips and tricks holiday on the course

We love golf—obviously. We love playing it, learning new skills, always improving, and the community of other women golfers. But there’s another part to golf we also love: shopping for accessories and all the necessary golf bag items!

The perfect day of golfing can only happen when you are fully equipped with everything you’ll need out on the course. So, the team emptied out our golf bags and discussed all the essential golf bag items you need to include. From donkey headcovers to koozies to ibuprofen—we’ve got you covered.

Here’s everything a new golfer needs to know about picking the best golf bag and what to pack for a day on the green.

 

What to Look for in a Golf Bag

Before talking about the golf bag items going in the bag, let’s talk about the bag itself. Choosing the right bag is a huge part of a successful day of golf. If you choose the wrong one, it might be too heavy or awkward for you and really drag you down. Plus, you’ve got to choose a cute bag that suits your personality!

We highly recommend that beginner golfers choose their own bag instead of using the one that comes with a starter set. The starter set of clubs is a great idea, but you can do way better for a bag.

When you start looking for a bag, there are three brand names that are reliable and popular: Titlelist, Sun Mountain, and Ping. All three are lightweight and last a long time.

Other things to look for in your bag:

  • Color and/or design that you like. If you choose white, just make sure you can wipe it down easily to clean!
  • Quality stitching and fabric. It’s an investment, and you want it to last! Choose something high-quality that looks good, feels good, and lasts a long time.
  • This will depend on if it’s a cart bag or a stand bag. The latter is lighter and has legs to prop the bag up vs. heavier cart bags designed to be carried in a cart only.
  • Slots for your clubs. We think somewhere around 5-7 slots is perfect—if you have one for each club, it makes the bag too big. But if there are only 1-2, it’s hard to keep them organized.

A golf bag is an investment because they’re usually not cheap! So, take your time looking for one that fits your skill and your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask around and get advice on it, too.

The last thing we need to address with the bag itself, is how to put it on. Putting on a golf bag incorrectly can really show you to be a beginner. So, if you want to look like a pro, follow these directions:

  • Stand to the left of your bag.
  • Grab the top strap, lift it up, and put it on your right shoulder. Make sure you’re holding your clubs while doing this, so they don’t move around too much.
  • Swing the bag up like a backpack and put the other strap on your left arm. It should feel just like putting on a backpack.

Pro tip: when you’re getting a new golf bag, get someone to help you adjust the straps once it’s already on your back. Then it will be perfectly fitted to your body so you’re ready to go next time.

Golf Bag Basics: Different Types of Golf Clubs

We’re going to talk about all the essential golf bag items, but let’s start with the most important: your clubs.

You’re allowed to have 14 clubs, and it’s recommended to have that many so you have what you need to play your best game! This was a big point of conversation on episode 54 of the podcast, though, because Sarah only has 11 clubs! Tori’s working on convincing her to add a few more to her bag. Here’s a list of what you might consider having:

  • Woods
  • Hybrids
  • Irons
  • Wedges
  • Putters

The exact type of each club will depend on your skill level, so make sure you’re continuing to practice and upgrade you clubs as you get better!

Along with your clubs, you might have some headcovers to protect them. Sarah and Tori both have some fun headcovers, like Pebbles from the Flintstones and donkey headcovers! You can really show your personality and have some fun with this in your golf bag.

Essential Golf Bag Items: Your Master Packing List

Okay, you ready for the fun stuff? All of these golf bag items have been curated over many years of playing… learn from our experience! Here’s our master list of all the essential golf bag items you need to start packing in your bag.

  1. Fun stuff:
    • A koozie to keep your drink cold.
    • A speaker to play music.
    • A phone caddy to attach your phone to the side of the golf cart (i.e., to play music and quick access for photos).
    • A fake snake… or maybe this is just on Sarah’s list—she uses it for pranks!
    • Selfie stick or tripod.
    • Deck of cards to play golf games.
  2. Golf stuff:
    • Golf balls.
    • Ball markers.
    • Repair tools.
    • Driver wrench.
    • Golf gloves.
    • Range finder and charger.
  3. Essential stuff (put it all in a little zipped bag):
    • Lip chap or lip gloss.
    • Business cards.
    • Sunscreen and bug spray.
    • Ibuprofen, Advil, tums, Benadryl.
    • Nail file and clippers.
    • Medical tape or Band-Aids for blisters.
  4. Weather stuff:
    • Hand warmers.
    • Rain gloves.
    • Rain gear.
    • Cart cover.
  5. Other stuff:
    • Money for tips.
    • Phone charger.
    • Toilet paper and wet wipes.
    • Snacks!

We’ll probably keep adding to and perfecting this list of golf bag items. It’s all in the name of improving our game and being a continuous learner.

Big shoutout to our Instagram community for sharing some of these must-have golf bag items. Do you think we missed anything? What’s one thing that you can’t live without when you hit the golf course? What are your essential golf bag items to recommend to beginner golfers?

We covered so much more in this episode than this list—make sure to check out the full thing.

 


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