When it comes to golf bags, there are many different types of golf bags available, each designed for a specific function. Choosing the right golf bag ensures you have a functional bag that fits your needs and improves your golf game.
This article will examine the most common types of golf bags, key differences, and what to consider when picking the right golf bag for you.
Overview of the Different Types of Golf Bags
Golf bags come in all shapes and sizes and serve different purposes. The main types include cart bags, stand bags, carry bags, travel bags and tour staff bags. Determining how you use your golf bag and what features you need will guide you in selecting the ideal golf bag.
This comprehensive guide covers all the popular golf bag styles and how to decide which is best for your golf gear and preferences.
Why Does the Type of Golf Bag Matter?
Having the right type of golf bag for your needs enhances your overall golf experience. Golf bags are designed to organize your clubs, keep golf accessories handy, and make carrying or transporting your bag easy.
Choosing a bag not suited for how you golf can make your rounds less enjoyable. Using a overweight cart bag when walking 18 holes would quickly fatigue your back and shoulders.
Conversely, using a minimalist carry bag on a golf cart might lead to your clubs rattling around or you not having the right equipment to finish the round.
The right golf bag keeps your clubs secure and accessible, while matching your personal golfing style and habits. Investing in a high-quality, functional golf bag tailored to you improves your game and makes golf more fun overall.
An Overview of Golf Bag Types
Before diving into specifics on each type of bag, here’s a quick overview of the 5 main categories of golf bags:
Cart Bags
Designed to attach to a golf push cart or ride on the back of a motorized golf cart. Cart bags are the biggest and heaviest type of golf bag.
Stand Bags
Medium-sized bags with retractable legs that allow the bag to stand upright for accessibility when taking shots. Great for walking the course.
Carry Bags
The smallest and lightest golf bags designed specifically for carrying during your round.
Hybrid Bags
A combination of a Cart Bag & Stand bag. Used primarily with a cart (pull or power) with the option to walk and carry.
Travel Bags
Used to protect clubs when traveling and for safely checking your bag at the airport. Come in soft and hard case designs.
Tour Bags (aka Staff Bags)
Heavy duty, premium cart bags used by professional golf caddies and tour staff.
Sunday Bags
Minimalist golf bags with no stand, 1 pocket, and no bag support at all. Used for par 3 courses or when you want no extra items at all.
Now let’s look at each of these golf bag types in more detail. We’ll cover how they work, their distinct features, and the benefits of each style of bag.
Cart Golf Bags
Cart bags are specifically designed to attach to the back of a golf push cart or motorized golf cart. They are the largest and heaviest type of golf bag.
Cart bags utilize a sturdy base and specialized strapping system to secure the bag in place on a cart. The rigid base prevents sagging while a cart strap wraps around the cart housing to anchor it down.
Since you don’t physically carry cart bags, they emphasize maximum storage and lots of pockets rather than light weight. Cart bags can hold a full set of 14 clubs in individual slots to keep them organized. Additional storage pockets allow you to carry plenty of golfing accessories.
Key Features of Cart Bags:
- Firm base with cart strap to attach onto push/motorized carts
- 14 full-length club dividers organize your entire club set Â
- Lots of exterior storage pockets for golf gear and accessories
- Cooler or insulated pocket for beverages
- Heavier and more durable construction
- Padded strap for comfort if needed to carry short distances
Cart bags work best for golfers who ride in a cart rather than carrying their bag around the course. If you predominantly use a golf push cart or ride in a motorized cart, a cart bag offers lots of storage and secures firmly onto the cart.
Stand Golf Bags
Stand bags, also known as carry bags, are lighter weight golf bags designed for walking the course and carrying your own clubs. They come equipped with retractable fold-out legs that allow the bag to stand upright when at rest.
The legs provide a wide, stable base so the bag doesn’t fall over on the course. Stand bags have an angled base that works in conjunction with the deploying stand mechanism. This enables the bag to reliably stand upright rather than slouching or tipping over.
Stand bags are smaller than cart bags and more manageable for manual carrying. Dual shoulder straps help distribute the weight for comfort while walking 18 holes. Stand bags still offer plenty of interior club dividers and exterior pockets for essentials, while saving weight.
Key Features of Stand Bags:
- Built-in retractable legs to stand the bag upright
- Angled base works with the stand legsÂ
- Dual shoulder straps make carrying comfortable
- Lighter weight than a cart bag
- Multiple pockets for storage while walking
- Strap channel can be used to secure to a cart
- Integrated grab handles for lifting in and out of car trunks
Stand bags are perfect for golfers who like to walk the course but also want the versatility to occasionally ride in a cart. The fold-out stand brings convenience on the greens or tee boxes while keeping clubs securely organized.
Carry Golf Bags
Carry bags represent an ultra-lightweight version of a stand bag designed strictly for walking 18 holes. They have an extremely minimalist design to pare down weight as much as possible.
These bags weigh less than 5 pounds and feature a single shoulder strap for easy carrying. Storage is very limited, with just enough room for a standard set of clubs and a pocket for balls and tees. Advanced carry bags may have an insulated water bottle holder.
The lightweight construction distributes weight effectively to avoid back and shoulder strain. Carry bags provide maximum comfort and freedom of movement for walking the full course.
Key Features of Carry Bags:
- Ultra-lightweight design at around just 3-4 lbs.
- Single padded shoulder strap evenly distributes weight
- Limited storage with essential pockets only
- Full-length dividers to separate and organize clubs
- Durable, water-resistant materials handle the elements
- Weighs significantly less than stand or cart bagsÂ
- Optimized for easy carrying comfort over 18 holes
For golfers seeking extreme light weight in their golf bag, a carry bag is the top choice. It pares down weight while providing just enough storage for essentials to get you through a round.
Hybrid Golf Bags
The definition of a hybrid golf bag is one that can be used on a push or riding cart and that you can also carry. They are bigger than a carry bag and come with stand legs.Â
In addition, they are designed to sit flat on push/riding carts, and many have a cart strap pass-through pocket so you can easily use this on carts when you don’t want to carry.
Key Features of Hybrid Bags:
- Slightly heavier than a stand bag
- Can be used to carry or on a cart
- Premium stand legs
- Ample pockets
- 2-way carry straps
- Ample storage
Travel Golf Bags
As the name suggests, travel golf bags are designed specifically for travel and protecting your clubs in transit. They come in two main forms – soft travel bags and hard travel cases.
Soft travel bags provide minimal padding and protection to clubs. They have an outer pocket for storing gear and typically feature in-line skate wheels plus a tow handle for easy airport transport.
Hard plastic travel cases offer the most protection for clubs and belongings. They enclose clubs in a hard-shell plastic case and feature more padding. Latches and lockable zippers secure contents and prevent the case from opening accidentally.
Both types of golf travel cases come in models sized precisely for a full set of clubs. Look for features like TSA-approved locks, ID tags and compression straps when selecting a travel bag.
Key Features of Travel Bags:
- Protects clubs during travel to destinations Â
- Come in soft padded or hard case designs
- Hard cases offer maximum club protection
- Smoother wheels for easy navigation through airports
- Zippered pockets store golf balls, shoes, accessories
- TSA recognized locks secure contentsÂ
- Available in sizes for whole club sets
For any golfer who frequently travels with their clubs, investing in a quality travel bag is a must. They protect your precious (and expensive!) clubs wherever your golfing adventures take you.
Tour Staff Golf Bags
Tour staff bags, also known as tour bags, are premium cart bags used by professional golfers, caddies and tour staff. They have a high-end, expensive construction reserved for serious golfers.
These pro-level cart bags come loaded with features tailored for professional tournament play. That includes premium forged hardware, lush durable fabrics, 14 full-length club dividers, and clever accessory pockets. Custom tour staff bags are also available.
While staff bags are amazing, they are overkill for amateur and recreational golfers. Beginner and intermediate players are better served by an affordable, featured-packed cart bag in the $150-$250 range. But tour staff bags remain a status symbol at country clubs.
Key Features of Tour Staff Bags:
Used by professional golfers and caddies
Premium materials like leather and forged metal
Custom embroidery and branding options
14 individual full length dividers
Made by major brands like Titleist, Ping, Callaway
Sophisticated pocket designs tailored for pros
Unless you’re a touring professional, a staff bag is excessive and expensive overkill. But it’s still nice to drool over their craftsmanship and gorgeous aesthetics.
Sunday Golf Bags
Sunday golf bags are the most minimal bags available and are used for the sole purpose of taking your clubs to the range and back. Mackenzie Golf also makes some genuine leather Sunday bags that are well-regarded.
Key Features of Sunday Bags:
- 1 or no pockets
- No stand
- Limited club space
- No base on the bag (you lay it on the ground)
- Super light
- Minimal materials
Now that we’ve covered the major types of golf bags, how do you assess your needs and choose the right golf bag for your golfing lifestyle? Here are some important factors to consider:
Key Factors When Choosing a Golf Bag
- How will you transport your bag? (cart, carry, push cart, etc)
- What amenities and features do you need? (storage, dividers, etc)
- Are weight and mobility important? (stand vs carry bags) Â
- How much club storage is essential? (full set or subset of clubs)
- Does your club or course mandate cart bags?
- Do you plan to travel with your bag? (travel case)
- What is your budget for a golf bag? ($100 – $300+)
Answering these questions will guide you to pick the ideal golf bag.
Golf Bags Resource
If you still need help, check out our page on golf bags. This is your ultimate golf bag resource to find the best products and brands. Learn what features to look for, benefits, & get help choosing the best bag.
Golf Bag Recommendations By Type
Here are some top golf bags in each category to consider:
Cart Bags
The Ghost Golf ANYDAY OREO is a premium hybrid golf bag. It offers luxurious features such as waterproof velvet-lined personals pockets, a magnetic velvet-lined rangefinder pocket, and a rotator stand system. Featuring a nylon webbed backrest pad.
The SL Cart was inspired by 70’s throwback staff bags and is the largest bag STITCH offers. If you want maximum storage, this is the bag for you! There is room for everything and the SL Cart is made from the best quality materials available.
Stand Bags
This super light bag weighs just over 4 lbs. and combines styles and functionality. The SL2 takes the best features from the SL1 and builds upon it. There is a slight increase in weight, but you gain a hip pad, insulated water bottle pocket, pencil pocket, and wider stand feet.
Carry Bags
The STITCH MIY SL1 golf bag is built to last, with a tough shell that can stand up to the elements & only weighs 57 oz. It is customizable so you can pick the saddle pockets and strap colors to make it unique.
The Lightweight Carry Bag is only 3.95 lbs. and is built to handle any conditions. It has plenty of pockets and storage space, as well as their X-strap system for easy transport. It is made of Ripstop nylon which reduces the weight and adds durability.
Hybrid Bags
The Ghost Golf ANYDAY MAVERICK is a premium hybrid golf bag. It offers luxurious features such as waterproof velvet-lined personals pockets, a magnetic velvet-lined rangefinder pocket, and a rotator stand system. Featuring a leather backrest pad.
Sunday Bags
A perfect bag for taking a few clubs to the range or doing a 5 club challenge on your course. Or even heading to a par 3 for some short game practice. You may not always want to lug a full-size bag around.
Travel Bags
The Sun Mountain ClubGlider Pro Travel Bag, is built to carry a staff bag or two mid-sized stand bags and is constructed with ballistic-quality nylon. Features a patented leg mechanism that supports 100% of the weight of the travel cover when the legs are extended. Arguably, the best travel golf bag.
Single piece burst proof construction made with InvistaTM Cordura 1000 D water resistant nylon & over the top zipper for easy loading. Accommodates a golf club 47" in length and comes with free Stiff Arm - a fully adjustable, 3-piece telescoping club protector to protect clubs.
Features ultra-durable, Ballistic Nylon Construction with military-grade hardware and rivet reinforcements. 2 Layer Foam/EVA padding is also provided to protect your golf clubs from any external damage. 2 large external lockable side pockets are also along with all-season wheels.
Tour Bags
Carried by Pros on Tour. The SL Cart is a bag strictly focused on cart golf with room for everything in this bag. It even includes a zip-down front pocket for access to a massive storage pocket.
Finding the Right Golf Bag – Key Takeaways
Golf bags come in cart, stand, carry, travel and staff bag designs. Select a bag tailored to how you transport clubs (cart, carry, etc) & consider your budget, storage needs and carrying preferences.
- Cart and stand bags work well for most amateur golfers
- Carry bags provide ultimate light weight for walking 18 holes
- Travel bags protect clubs when flying to destinations
- Staff tour bags offer premium features reserved for pros
Conclusion
Matching your golf bag to your personal golfing style makes the game more enjoyable
Finding the right golf bag comes down to a few key factors – how you transport clubs, desired features, and your budget. By selecting a golf bag suited for your needs, you ensure maximum function and enjoyment out of your purchase.
Use this guide to choose the ideal type of golf bag for your golfing habits and requirements.
