15 important things you should always have in your golf bag

Apart from the obvious golf gear required to play on the course, there are some other items that matter on the golf course and they should always be in your golf bag since you may need to use the items from time to time.

The list helps you to ensure you have everything you will need in your carrier to avoid a situation where you are in dire need and you don’t have them. Make sure you carry these items with you every time.

I have divided this list into two, play gear and other gear.

Essential Play Gear You Need in Your Golf Bag When Playing

Putter:

A putter is a club used in the sport of golf to make relatively short (<50 yd or 46 m) and low-speed strokes to move the ball towards the hole. There are different types of putters available in the market and you should select one which is comfortable for you to use. You can also take help of a professional to select a putter. You only need to carry one putter in a bag and weighs 350 grams (12 ounces)

Driver:

A driver is a wooden club used to hit the ball over long distances. It has the longest shaft and largest club head of all the clubs, and is used for tee shots (starting the hole). The number of drivers to put in a golf bag is usually one, but you can carry two if you want. They weigh about 430 grams (15 ounces).

Irons:

An iron is a club used in the sport of golf to propel the ball towards the hole. Irons typically have shorter shafts and smaller clubheads than woods, and the clubhead is almost always made of solid iron or steel. The face of the club is nearly horizontal, and the sole is slightly concave. The most common irons are numbered from 3 to 9 and have progressively increasing loft as they increase in number. In descending order, the most common iron used is the 9-iron, followed by the 8-iron, 7-iron, 6-iron, and so on. You can carry as many irons as you want but the average number is six to eight and they weigh about 400 grams each (14 ounces).

Wedges:

A wedge is a subset of the iron family of golf clubs designed for specialized shots where more loft, and less distance and trajectory, is desired. Wedges are commonly subdivided into four categories: pitching wedges, gap wedges, sand wedges, and lob wedges. The number of wedges to carry in a bag is usually three or four and they weigh about 400 grams each (14 ounces).

Woods:

A wood is a type of golf club that is used to hit the ball over long distances. The most common woods are the driver, 3-wood, and 5-wood. Woods are also commonly referred to as “metal woods” because they have a metalhead. You can carry as many woods as you want

Golf Balls:

Golf balls are small, hard balls used to play the game of golf and they have a diameter of 1.680 inches (42.67 mm). This size is specified in the Golf Rules (Rule #4). The ball is hit with a club to make it travel as far as possible down the fairway and into the hole. You can carry as many balls as you want but the average number is three and they weigh about 45 grams each (1.6 ounces). If there are no strong winds, you may do the whole game with just one ball but the average recommended amount to carry is 9.

Tees:

A tee is a small peg made of wood, plastic, or metal used to support a golf ball when hitting it with a club. Tees are usually used for the first shot of each hole (the tee shot), but they can also be used for any shot where the ground is too hard to push the ball into the ground.

In order to make that fantastic shot, always make sure to have enough tees to place your ball on it. Your ball will be stable and positioned stationery, thus, making you take a clear shot.

The number of tees to carry in a bag is usually three or four and they weigh about 5 grams each (0.2 ounces).

Gloves:

A glove is a piece of clothing that covers the whole hand and is typically made of leather. They are usually worn to protect the hands from the cold or to improve grip. Gloves are not required but are recommended when playing in cold weather. The number of gloves to carry in a bag is usually one or two and they weigh about 50 grams each (1.8 ounces).

Ball Retriever:

A ball retriever is a long-handled device used to retrieve a ball from water hazards. It is usually telescopic so that it can be collapsed and stored in the golf bag when not needed.

Golf clubs:

Golf clubs are the tools you use to hit the golf ball. They come in different shapes and sizes, and each type of club is designed for a specific purpose. The most common types of golf clubs are drivers, woods, irons, wedges, and putters.

How many golf clubs you need in your bag depends on the type of game you are playing. For example, if you are playing a round of 18 holes, you will need at least 9 clubs (a driver, a 3-wood, a 5-wood, a 3-iron, a 5-iron, a 7-iron, a 9-iron, a pitching wedge, and a putter). The average number of clubs in a golf bag is 14.

Golf shoes:

Golf shoes are special shoes designed to provide traction and stability when swinging a golf club. They usually have metal or plastic spikes on the bottom to grip the ground.

Golf shoes are not required but are recommended for safety and improved performance. The number of golf shoes to carry in a bag is usually one or two and they weigh about 2 pounds each (0.91 kg).

Other Gear You Need in Your Golf Bag

Golf bag:

Of course, you need the golf bag itself to store all your essential and non-essential golfing. A golf bag is a bag used to carry all the other golf equipment. Golf bags have either one or two straps and are made of nylon, canvas, or leather. You only need to carry one bag. When empty they weigh about 5 pounds (2.3 kg).

Golf bags are made from different materials including leather and nylon and our top picks are waterproof and have cool features such as in-built cooler, magnetic pockets, in-built speakers, and more. You can find a good quality golf bag for under $200 but you may be lucky to find these golf bags under $100.

Towel:

Having a clean towel during the summer or rainy season is a necessity. During summer, your hands will sweat a lot which may make it hard to take a short but having a clean towel helps to see that you wipe your hands, face and the clubs to be dry. When rainy, you will experience a lot of mud and you can use it to wipe club heads, or balls in order to enjoy the game. Ensure that your towel is clean all the time.

Water bottle: A water bottle is a container used to hold water. Water bottles are used to stay hydrated during the game. The number of water bottles to carry in a bag is usually one or two and they weigh about 1 pound each (0.45 kg).

Snacks and energy bars:

Being energized when on the course makes you be sharp throughout. These are important to always have so that when you are hungry you will have something to eat while playing. Energy bars are often easy to eat, clean and quick to avoid wasting much time eating.

Sunscreen and/or Sun hat

It is important to have especially during summer to avoid having sunburns since you will be spending almost the whole day outside. Even during rainy season, just have it so that in case it becomes sunny you will avoid the embarrassment of having to borrow from others.

A sun hat, also called a gimme cap or bucket hat, is a headwear that is typically used to protect the head from the sun. It has a wide, circular brim that shades the face and neck. Sun hats are often made of straw, cloth, or felt. They are important to have so as to avoid heatstrokes.

Water

Apart from carrying beer in the beverage pocket, carry water with you because there is a higher chance of dehydration when sunny and it is always good to drink from your own bottle. It is light so you don’t have to worry about weight.

Extra socks

These are essential so that in case your feet become wet you can change the socks and continue with the game comfortably. This also prevents ending up having cold feet. Bring extra ones with you since they do not consume space.

Extra shirts

This is necessary because you will sweat and there is no way you will wear the same shirt home. Always have about two extra shirts in your bag. Also, consider having extra spikes.

Medical kit

This is a must have since you may be injured or have a headache during the game and you won’t like any interruption or discomfort at all. When you need first aid this will help to make sure to always have it with you.

Golfer’s tape

These are essential when it is too hot and you can’t put on gloves. They are light and easy to wear. This will protect your fingers from getting blisters.

Bluetooth speaker

In case you love listening to music while playing, then this will be good to have. With a portable Bluetooth, you can listen to music you love by playing it from the phone.

Umbrella

Make sure to have an umbrella so that in case of the weather changes, you will be ready for it. This ensures that all your equipment will be safe.

Bug spray

It may be surprising but because you will be playing in the field with grass, the probability of bugs being there is high. You can use it if a bug starts to climb your body to avoid messing your shot.

Business cards

If you are a businessman or woman, carry as many cards as you can since you can make friends and get business deals or even clients when on the course.

Divot Fixer

It is used to repair pitch marks or ball marks in putting green. They are left if the ball plops onto a green therefore leaving a depression.

Drink Cooler:

This is a small bag which is insulated to help in keeping drinks cold for long periods of time. It can hold about 6 cans plus ice. This is good to have especially during hot weather conditions or days.

Final Remarks

There may be other items that you need in your golf bag under 200 so that you can enjoy your game. However, the above items are the most important things you should always have in your golf bag. They will help you stay hydrated, energized, comfortable and protected while playing. Always have them with you to avoid any inconvenience. Enjoy your game!