Golf Today Magazine’s Annual Golf Bag Review

by Terry VanderHeiden

Once again Golf Today is offering up the Annual Golf Bag Review. This is our sixteenth year of showing you what’s new in golf bags and this year has some great selections for you to choose from.

All the carry bags in this year’s review come with pop-out legs to stand the bag up while you are hitting your shot. All of these carry bags have with dual shoulder straps to balance the weight of the club over the shoulder. There is one manufacturer that takes this backpack style golf bag to a new level this season, it really is quite clever what they have done and it makes a huge difference in the weight distribution. Read on to find out more.

Sun Mountain

Sun Mountain (www.sunmountain.com) has three bags in this year’s round up. First is their cart bag the S-135. The S-135 is designed for a power cart. However, we found it to work fantastically on a pushcart as well. The S-135 starts with a 10.5” top that has a seven-way divider for your clubs. There is plenty of space for all your clubs, ball retrievers etc. The top is staggered in order for you to put your short clubs in front and your long clubs in back, so nothing gets blocked.

The molded non-slip rubber feet of the bag help it stay where you put it on the cart. The S-135 has the same rubberized material on the three hoisting handles on the top of the bag, which makes it easy to grip the golf bag when you need to take it out of your trunk. There is an additional handle on the bottom of the bag to make moving it even easier.

The S-135 has nine pouches, all with heavy-duty zippers. Two of the pouches are velour lined for your valuables and they are large enough for items such as a rangefinder. There is a generous insulated pouch (with a venting hole) to go along with the two full-length zippered pouches. All of the zippered compartments are facing forward so while it is on a cart, everything can be accessed. There is even a zippered pouch for the shoulder strap when it’s not in use. The S-135 comes in all black, green or tri-color (red, black and white.)

Next up from Sun Mountain is the Four-5 Carry Bag. This is kind of a cross over between a super light carry bag and full-featured cart bag.

The 10.5 “ top has 14 club compartments. So you have a space for each one of your golf clubs. With this kind of club organization you always know where each club is. It also makes for an easy system to see if a golf club is missing.

In the past, 14-way dividers only came on heavy cart bags – but Sun Mountain has engineered this bag to be only five pounds, which makes it great for carrying around the course.

The Four-5 has the contoured E-Z fit Dual Strap System to make golf with your clubs a comfortable walk.

There are eight pouches in all on the bag. One is a mesh pouch inside a side pocket and one is a beverage pocket. The rest are all zippered pockets, including a full-length pocket and a velour-lined valuables pocket.

There is a handy penholder conveniently positioned on the spine of the bag so it’s out of the way unless you need it.

The Sun Mountain Four-5 also has a nice integrated, rubberized handle built into the top of the bag for assistance in getting the bag out your trunk.

If you do decide to put this bag on a cart, you can as the bag can lock the legs in place and the base is cart-friendly. If you are looking for a carry bag with supreme organization check out the Sun Mountain Four-5.

Lastly from Sun Mountain is the Swift ZG. This is the bag that is different than the rest of the carry bags. While most carry bags get their inspiration from the backpacking world and incorporate two straps – Sun Mountain has taken it to the next step and the Swift ZG comes with a hip belt. This unique belt takes the weight off your shoulders and distributes it to your hips. It also helps keep the bag from moving around as it is secured at three points. All this technology does one main thing, reduces the fatigue associated with carrying your golf clubs. The hip belt is adjustable to fit waistlines from 28”to 48”. If you do have a 48” waist and start carrying your golf bag and start walking the course, you’ll be adjusting that hip belt down in no time.

The Swift ZG has two compartments to separate your golf clubs from each other and a built-in lift assist handle. There are five pockets, including a velour lined valuables pocket, a water bottle pouch and full-length garment pocket.

If you would like a little more space than a lightweight carry bag, but would like the comfortable stability of a three-point support system, check out the Swift ZG.

adidas

adidas golf (www.adidasgolf.com) is showing off the University Stand Bag this season. The University is an ultra-light model with a very stable pop-out leg system. Weighing in at 3.9 pounds, the University is very easy to carry a full set of golf clubs. There are four compartments for the golf clubs with two full-length dividers. Each of the five zippered compartments are very easy to access and the zippers work very well. The University also comes with a water bottle pocket that is built into one of the pockets and it is positioned for easy access while the comfortable double straps are on your shoulders.

The adidas University Stand Bag also is equipped with FAS-TEK or Fast Action Snap Technology.

This technology is integrated into select adidas golf bags where a special locking clip knob is added on different parts of the golf bag. It is on this knob that your accessories can go and be handy at a moments notice. As part of the Fast Action Snap Technology, you can get a soft case that holds what you need. The idea is to have the items you use often; handy and ready when you need them, not buried deep in the bag somewhere.

For example; lets say you use a GPS device on the golf course. Well adidas thought of you and put one of their clip knobs right on the shoulder of one of the straps. Now your GPS unit can sit right next to you (also in the best position to pick up the tracking satellites) for use when you need it. With just a glance you can have your distance be ready when it’s your turn.

The accessory cases come in lots of sizes to fit things like your smart phone, cell phone and there is even a cigar holder.

TaylorMade Golf

TaylorMade Golf (www.taylormadegolf.com) has two bags to take a look at, first up is their cart bag called the Catalina 2.0 Cart Bag. This is a lightweight cart bag weighing in at only 5.9 pounds but yet it is full of features the organized golfer will be looking for. The top has a 14-way fused nylon club holding system and each has a full-length divider – thus eliminating the eventual troublesome “grip tangle” at the bottom of a golf bag. (You know, where you pull out your six-iron and the nine and seven irons come out with it…)

The Catalina 2.0 Cart Bag has nine pockets that are accessible from the front of the bag while it’s strapped on to a cart. There is rubberized port on top of the putter well that is integrated into the bag. This rubber top doesn’t allow the putter to bounce around and rattle while you are moving. On the other garment pocket on the other side of the bag is an integrated sleeve for your umbrella, giving the bag a very clean look even when it is loaded down.

The front of the bag has a very large insulated cooler pocket that is certainly big enough to carry water and your lunch. Best of all, this pouch has drainage ports so mold or anything nasty can’t grow there over the winter months. Higher up on the bag is a velour lined valuables pouch (one of three on the bag) that also has a mesh pouch sewn inside. Inside this pouch is a clip that you can attach your keys to, to assure that they don’t end up on a cart path somewhere. There is the FAS-TEK technology on this bag as well. With three locking buttons located in strategic spots on the bag.

The Catalina 2.0 Cart bag also has two nifty handles built into the side of the bag that makes this a breeze to lift and position on a golf cart.

Next, there is the Pure-Lite 2.0 Stand Bag. Here is a carry bag that has a lot to offer. Starting at the top of the bag, it is divided into six club compartments with three full-length dividers. This allows the golfer to separate his or her long irons, woods, scoring clubs – but not having to place a club in only one designated spot. Also at the top of the bag is an integrated handle that makes moving the bag to and from the trunk of your car very easy.

The Pure-Lite 2.0 has, of course, has the TaylorMade dual strap system. However these straps are different. These carry straps on the Pure-Lite 2.0 are ventilated so that you don’t end up with moisture collecting on the straps during round in warm weather. This is a very nice feature.

This carry bag has six zippered pockets. Inside some of these pockets are nice mesh pouches sewn on to the inside of the bag. One mesh pocket is zippered while the other has elastic edges. This allows the golfer to organize even more. The zippered mesh pocket is built into the perfect place on a golf bag. In the long garment pouch that runs down the side of the bag, this pouch is sewn in mid-way on the side. As you know, if you have ever used this large garment pocket, everything tends to settle at the bottom of the bag. This space is normally wasted space! TaylorMade has made good use of the space by sewing in this handy mesh pocket.

The Pure-Lite 2.0 is a great carry bag and is also good for placing on a power cart when needed. This bag features the FAS-TEK technology to keep you even more organized so you can concentrate on the game and not where your golf stuff is.

Terry VanderHeiden can be reached for comments, questions or suggestions via e-mail: terryvh@gmail.com.