The Best Golf Bags for Playing in Style - Buy Side from WSJ - Weifang Golf Accessories Group Co.,Ltd

Before you hit the links again, consult these expert-approved picks

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Written by

Contributor, Buy Side from WSJ

Rachel Simon is a contributor to Buy Side from WSJ.

Updated October 21, 2024, 3:34 PM EDT

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One of the most essential items for any golfer, no matter your skill level, is a spacious, functional (and, ideally, stylish) bag. You rely on it to hold all your clubs, golf gear and accessories without issue. In addition to easy access, a top-quality golf bag should be comfortable to carry and durable enough to withstand plenty of regular use in all different weather conditions. To help you figure out which bag is right for you, we’ve asked six golf experts — a mix of pros, influencers and instructors — to give us their recommendations of the best golf bags.

$250 at Amazon

$335 save $85

$295 at Worldwide Golf Shops

This sleek bag is a favorite of Patrick Corley, Los Angeles-based golf coach and founder of TellMeMoreGolf.com. He praises its waterproof body and seam-sealed zippers that allow him to play in all weather conditions, including hail and rain, which he’s experienced while playing with this bag in Florida. “I’ve never been so thankful that my bag was fully waterproof, as my golfing partner was not so lucky,” Corley recalls. He also loves the bag’s comfortable double-shoulder straps and four dividers that “keep your golf clubs organized and easy to access.” Charlaine Hirst, a former professional golfer who now teaches in Pinehurst, N.C., also swears by this Titleist bag, especially for travel. “It is easy to pack up, fits into travel cases easily and allows room to secure the entire bag in the travel case,” she explains.

$260 at Worldwide Golf Shops

$300 save $40

Corley appreciates this bag for its storage capacity. With five zippered exterior pockets, it offers “plenty of room for all golf equipment, including jackets, towels, accessories, balls and tees,” he says. The bag’s waterproof nylon exterior makes it a solid choice for playing in inclement weather, while the convertible, padded strap system allows you to carry it across your back, as well as with push carts and golf carts. Another plus: It’s available in five colors, giving players options to make a stylish statement on the course.

$275 at PGA TOUR Superstore

Several of the golf experts we spoke to cited this bag from Ping as their go-to on the course. Corley particularly appreciates that the padded straps ease the “burden on your body and shoulders,” when compared to heavier bags (this one is 5.5 pounds) and versions with a single strap. He adds that the convertible strap channel keeps the club compartments and zippered pockets “easily accessible, making your gear organization simple.” Alex Romo, a Los Angeles-based professional golfer, adds that Ping bags like this one, with its six color options and well-placed pockets, are “unmatched in comfort, functionality and style.”

$220 at Carl's Golf Land

$240 save $20

$245 at Dick's Sporting Goods

Is your priority a bag that’s super easy to carry? The Lite version of the Ping Hoofer is half a pounder lighter than the original. Romo has used it for the past 10 years for golf tournaments, and raves about its many perks. “It is by far the best looking bag on the market with the coolest color combinations,” he says (options include a tan-navy-orange combo and a multi-colored tropical print). He adds: “It is also the most durable and long lasting” bag that he’s used, thanks to a tough polyester exterior and an included rain hood.

$130 at Amazon

$130 at Sunday Golf

$145 save $15

If both price and style are at the top of your list when it comes to shopping for a golf bag, consider the Loma Bag from Sunday. It’s an ultra-light two-pound bag (the lightest option on this list) and it sits at a lower price point than the other options our experts mentioned. “This bag is perfect for par 3 courses, where you only need a handful of clubs,” says Alissa Kacar, the San Diego-based host of Golf Life TV. She calls out its petite size (it can hold up to six clubs) and handy features like an insulated drink pouch and an easy-grab handle, as well as the bag’s color range (there are 10 options available) and solid quality for the price.

$99 at Bespoke Post

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Stockholm-based golfer and golf course photographer Jacob Sjöman recommends the bags made by Jones, including this lightweight vegan leather pick known as the Original. If you’re looking for a simple model that’s comfortable to carry when walking a course, he suggests this one. It features a cool, retro-looking single strap, a three-way divided top, three pockets and a soft body that makes it comfortable to carry around the course.

$755 at MacKenzie Golf Bags

When he carries this bag, Sjöman says he often gets stopped by random golfers while out on the course asking, “Where did you buy your golf bag?” The waxed canvas bag trimmed in mahogany and buckskin leather, is undeniably gorgeous. Sjöman is a fan of Mackenzie’s golf bags, noting that a bag from the brand is always “extremely well-designed, durable and looks like a piece of art.” This option sports two large pockets, a thick single carrying strap and optional trestle sticks to prop the bag up on the grass.

$355 at Vessel

Cailyn Henderson, an Indiana-based professional golfer, uses this luxe-looking bag for both casual and tournament play. She particularly likes its durable (and fashionable) synthetic leather exterior, which is “easy to clean and wipe off” should you run into any mud or grass stains while playing. She also praises its antibacterial lining, magnetic rangefinder pocket and lightweight build (it’s only 4.8 pounds). For even more convenience in all types of weather, it comes with a rain hood that keeps her clubs drier than others she’s tried.

$213 at Amazon

$270 at PGA TOUR Superstore

If you tend to take your golf bag with you when you travel, it’s a smart idea to pick up a hard case that won’t get hurt during flights, like this great option from Samsonite. “I’ve had this for years now; it’s very durable, and I’ve never had any issues with my clubs getting damaged,” says Kacar. The fact that it has wheels, she adds, makes transporting it through the airport a breeze. Get it in one of six colors, including Midnight Black, Navy or Titanium.

$340 at Amazon

$340 at Dick's Sporting Goods

When she’s traveling with her clubs, Kacar always relies on Sun Mountain’s nylon bag, due to how “easy it is to wheel around.” In addition to two large wheels at the bag’s base, there’s also a leg mechanism with extra pivoting wheels that you can pop out or retract quickly. This piece not only helps support the weight of your bag, but makes maneuvering it even easier. “I can’t recommend this one enough,” says Kacar.

$40 at FootJoy

Traveling with some high-quality golf shoes you don’t want to get dirty? Pick up this shoe bag from FootJoy, which is specifically designed to protect golf shoes. “It’s simple, well-made and has dividers for each shoe and a small mesh pocket” for accessories, says Hirst. It comes in two colors, and even has a padded carry handle for comfortable transportation along with your main golf bag.

$38 at Amazon

When you’re spending the day out on the course, you’ll likely want to have some cold beverages at the ready — which is why buying a golf cart cooler bag can be a smart idea. Kacar likes Back9Products durable insulated bag for its size, noting that not only does it “easily fit into the golf cart basket behind the seating,” it also “fits a lot but isn’t so big that it’s hard to carry.” The bag can hold 12 cans or six bottles (or plenty of food, if you prefer), and it also comes with a bottle opener, small pockets for storing items like sunglasses, keys and other valuables, as well as a magnetic lid that easily opens so you don’t have to waste time unzipping the top every time you want a drink.

Rachel Simon is a contributor to Buy Side from WSJ.

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