I see a lot of posts that talk about all the "stuff" they carry in their golf bags, and I don't understand it. I keep balls, tees, band aids, a club brush, and my rain hood in my bag all the time. Other than those items (and my clubs), I can't find a need for anything else to stay in my bag. But some of you guys could live out of your golf bag for a week!

Average round takes 4 hours, and generally you're never more than 15 minutes from the clubhouse or your car. Weather channel gives the local forecast every 10 minutes. So, why do you need sweaters, rain suits, wind breakers, shoe spikes, spike tools, and whatever else extra you have in there?

I do understand that you might add an umbrella or necessary clothing for a specific round, but do they have to stay in the bag year round?

Not meaning to be rude to anybody, I just don't understand. I've been playing for 30 years and have just never had the need, even on golf trips.

Thanks for any input!

MCDavis, do you walk most of your rounds? If so, then it is easy to see why you don't have much "stuff" in your bag. If you don't walk and you ride for most of your rounds, then why wouldn't you carry all of that stuff? I carry a bunch of items in my bag all of the time................like, a pill bottle that has multiple aspirin, motrin, tylenol, etc.... band-aides, rain gloves, rain hood, sunscreen, coins for ball markers, divot tool, 6-10 golf balls, tees, I have even been carrying a bottle of OFF because of the mosqitos.

When I walk, I simply empty out the stuff I don't think that I will need for that day. It is easier to take it out then it is to remember to put it in. I have actually been caught out in the rain without any gear because I forgot to put it.

THe only extra stuff I carry aside from you spoke of is "the holy roll" in case of an emergency and extra socks and extra glove...

I've had people laugh at me about the holy roll..till we're way in the back of the course with no portapot around and someone's breakfast is creaping up! LOL...Then I went from being a Tool to Being the Savior!

SiD

Actually, I just started back walking/carrying. I'm looking for a push cart now so that this season I can do all 3 (walk, push, and ride) depending on course and conditions. But, even when I've gone on golf trips and we've ridden all trip, I never carry much.

Your list isn't much different from mine. I'm really referring to carrying changes of clothing, extra sweaters, rain suits, wind suits, 3-4 dozen extra balls, etc. in the bag all the time. That's the kind of stuff that makes me go "Why?".


ripsid, I've seen others carry the "holy roll", and I've seen it come in handy!

Good Topic! Funny...I never thought much about what was in my golf bag until last year when my brother and I were taking a trip to Bandon Dunes. They say..."Golf as it was meant to be"...and I figured I should be carrying my bag rather than pulling it on a cart...you know...makes a better picture at sunset than me pulling...so I went manic on "lightness." Again...I had never thought of it before...lazy I guess. Well..when I first "emptied" my regular golf bag...I realized I had about 100 tees, 25 balls (most of which I would never play...ones found on the course)...5 pounds of change...a dozen pencils, 3 tubes of sunscreen, etc...

After that, I bought a superlight bag (Sun Mountain 2.5 lb) and decided I would never again carry more than 6 balls, about 10 tees, etc. What a joy it is now to walk, rather than pull (although I do have a speed cart that I use in the winter which is great for when I carry the rain / cold / layers / etc...).

Of course...I bet if I looked at my bag today...it probably has more than 6 balls, 10 tees, etc..... :-)..time for a cleaning tonight!

I carry very minimal stuff. Tees, balls, divot tool and two towels. One for my glasses and one for my clubs. That is it for me.

I just have to make sure and bring extra stuff when the weather looks iffy.

I carry balls, divot repair. tees, bag cover, range finder, usually beef jerky and that's about it.

i try to carry the bare minimum but with britains rather random climate waterproofs are a must.

In my bag I have:

6-8 balls
30ish tees
divot repair tool
a few ball markers
a towel
some change
my cell phone
water

I take the cell phone and water out when I'm done golfing. I really try to keep my bag as light as I can with still have the stuff I want/need in there.It just depends on the day. I don't carry rain gear because I don't have any but would only bring it on days when it's raining. I can't stand a heavy bag. I have a couple friends who carry around like 40 balls and I have no idea why. They might lose 1 a round. I haven't thought about extra socks...but that's a good idea.

It all depends on the day but here is what is normally in my bag:

2-3 dozen balls
tees
Shorts
Shirts
Spare Shoes
Socks
Rain Gear
Extra Gloves
Couple of Beers
Band aids
Asprin
Sunblock
Towell
Cell Phone
Water
Car Keys
And then snack food.

Needless to say...I don't walk

-CHRI-

beers haha

what is a band aid ?

It's kinda like I pack for vacations. I would hate to be there and wished I had brought something...so I just take it. The usual garbage...balls, tees, ballmarker/divot fixer, keys/cel phone, sunblock lotion. I also like to have raingear (you just never know around here), extra shoes sometimes (depends on where I'm going afterward), maybe a change of clothes, soft cooler with beer, travel humidor with cigars/lighter/cutter, maybe even a bottle of wine or two. I like a big bag with lots of sh!t...love to see the bag guys face when he goes to load it .


hadn't really thought about the "holy roll" but it ain't a bad idea either...kinda like the weather...you just never know .

Heck Yeah Beers. At the price some courses charge and the selection they have it is almost neccessary to bring some of your own

-CHRIS-

I carry alot when i am not playing but after watching the Weather report i will remove things not needed.

6 balls
50 tees
Water bottle
Divot tool
3 markers and line drawing tool
asprin, bandaids, sunscreen
Water proof jacket
Water Proof pants
Rain hood
Range finder
hanging watch
towel

Now if it isnt going to rain i will take out the rain hood, jacket and pants. Leave them in the truck. In the summer unless it is a tournament i will take out the Pants. I wear shorts to play and i am more worried about my upper body then lower.

Speaking of push carts, has anyone seen the addon seats they have now for the motorized push carts? I think I saw them in Golf Digest. Im not sure what I think of that....

I carry an umbrella and windshirt in my bag because it is easier to just keep it there than find a place to store the stuff. I also have typical stuff like ball marks and divot tools of various kiinds in the bag.

If I walked I'd travel lighter, but in Orlando you aren't going to easily find a place to walk....

i walk always so my bags pretty light
6 about 6 golf balls
tees
cell phone
granola bars
rain gear if chance of rain

and thats about it

I walk all the time and I have a ton of odd stuff in my bag... I error on the side have rather than have not.

Actually, I do both. I have two bags. Ping Hoofer II for carrying and a Ping Discover for push cart and riding. If I have any concerns about the weather, I know to use the cart bag because anything I need is inside.

Carry Bag - Enough balls for the round, tees, divot tool, ball market, mosquito wipes (lighter then a bottle of spray), bottle of motrin.

Cart/Pushcart Bag: Same as above plus: raingloves, rainsuit, in the fall/early spring I keep a fleece top and winter gloves, extra dozen balls, bottle of mosquito spray, motrin, socks, extra glove, yardage books from my regular courses, rulebook.

Thanks for the wipes idea, bulldogs...hadn't thought of using those instead of spray.

I almost always walk, and I tend to have what I conside the necessities:
6-10 balls (I'm cutting it down since I now might only lose 1 a round)
small tube of sunscreen
some advil and aleve
couple extra gloves
tees, ballmark tools, and a couple ball markers
umbrella, rain cover, and windjacket if the weather is supposed to be bad

that's about it

Well, here's my pile of junk and why I carry them, irregardless of if I walk or ride.

Athletic Tape (for blisters) - I'll be a DEAD man if I wear new shoes without carrying tape.
Ballmarkers (2) - Hey, these don't weigh much, and it's nice to have an extra in case a playing partner needs one.
Balls (10-12) - I’m a hack, sometimes lose balls. I've dropped my quantity to 8-10 though.
Bug Spray - Here in Texas, some mosquitos will eat you alive. A must have in the summer.
Business Card with Emergency contact info - Just in case of emergency
Cleaning Brush - Sorry, I gotta keep the clubs clean. I only use this at the driving range or in VERY muddy conditions.
Cleats (2 spares) - Don't weight much, and it's nice to have a spare.
Chap-Stick - A must have IMO.
Crackers (for a light snack) - I always carry snacks in the bag, but ONLY enough to last for 1 round.
Electrolyte/Protein Drink (Endurox R4 or Cytomax)
Energy Gel (Gu) - I always carry snacks in the bag, but ONLY enough to last for 1 round.
Gloves (2-3) - Gotta rotate gloves in the hot sticky summer!
Pen and spare Pencil - What else do you write your score with?
Pitch mark Repair tool - You fix the greens, right!
Rain Hood for bag - Sometimes it rains on you.
Raisins - I always carry snacks in the bag, but ONLY enough to last for 1 round.
Rules of Golf - I don't always carry the rules when walking, but my cart bag has a rulebook.
Scorecard - My brain is too small to remember everything. I gotta write down my score!
Sunblock - A must-have in sunny Texas
Tees (both long and "regular") - How else would you tee your ball?
Towel - Another must have to keep the clubs and hands dry & clean.
Tylenol (or Advil) - My lower back will act up occasionally, I need this to calm my back down.
Utility Tool (knife, cleat remover, etc.) - Hey it's small, and occasionally useful.
Watch - To ensure I make my tee time on time.

Depending on the Weather: - I'll only carry this stuff if the weather is threatening.
Jacket/Vest/Pullover
Polartec headgear (which can be used as a hat, headband, or neckwarmer)
Umbrella
Wet Weather Gloves

Wow! I don't know what's more impressive -- the list itself, or the fact that it's in alphabetical order! LOL

/< / /2 /<

PS -- (Grammar Police:) Irregardless isn't a word.

i'm a minamalist, too, when it comes to stuff in my bag.

off the top of my head i've got:
tees, short and long
balls, around 5 or 6
towel
groove brush
tape
sharpie
ball mark repair tool

just essentials to me.

Walking or riding the stuff in my bag doesn't change. Although recently I have decided to start bringing my own lunch to the course, saves a good $5-10 per round.. so heres the list:

Tees (bag of around 30)
Balls (1 sleeve for the round and about 10 that I find around the course and keep in the bag for the putting greens)
3 gloves (2 new, 1 old just to mix things up sometimes)
Marker (I use random change so a few coins in the bag)
Towel (clean the babys when they get dirty)
Cameron Repair tool (duh)
Sunblock (I don't want cancer)
Chapstick w/sunblock (keeps the lips in good condition)
2 bottles of water (brought from home and refilled at the jugs around the course)

And the things that change:
Raincoat (if I look outside before leaving and it looks like rain it goes in the bag)
iPod (not to be trendy but if I end up playing alone I like to rock out on the course)

I always walk...either with or without a push cart, dependent on the heat/humidity. A push cart really helps when it is 90 degrees and 70% humidity.

In my bag:
Pocket 1: 6-12 balls and also varying numbrs of tees (I start with a bag of 100 and work my way down)
Pocket 2: Divot tool / ball marker, pencils pens, Sharpie, small (2x3?) pad of paper, and an extra glove.
Pocket 3: This holds my wallet, keys and cell phone during the round, if I don't pocket them in my pants / shorts.
Pocket 4: Small sandwich bag with band aids, alcohol swabs, aspirin and such, it folds flat. Tube of suntan lotion.
Pocket 5: The long pocket has a change of socks (my feet sweat a lot), an extra towel (one hangs from my bag with a brush hooked to it) my rain gear if needed (I usually carry it) and the rain cover for my clubs.

The whole shebang weights 15-17#...I have graphite shafts in my 5-PW so this probably helps.

I can't think of a single item above that I don't use once every round or two, with exception of the band aids, which are nice to have if you develop a blister or something.

i simply carry 8-10 clubs, 9-12 balls, tees, divot repair tool & ball marker, water & sometimes a snack bar

and i walk

Davey,
For band aid read elastoplast .

Cheers
Jim

Is there any space left over for your clubs. 2-3 dozen balls is an amazing amount to have in the bag.

"Stuff" in my bag:

clubs
gloves
balls (i could have 2 dozen at a time)
tees, ball markers, divot repair tools
masking tape (put it on the face of my clubs at the range)
some Nature Valley Oats and Honey bars
A bottled beverage (soda, water, gatorade)
toilet paper to go

This thread is ironic, I carry lots of crap I don't need in my bag too. When somebody asks me about it I reply with, "It's my bag, worry about other things."

i either ride or use my push cart.

off the top of my head i've got:

tees, short and long
balls, around 40
towel one small attached one other big beach towel for rain
groove brush-double sided, wire/ plastic bristles
medical tape-for my fingers
band aids
cloth tape for my clubs,
sharpie, about 10 colors...i like blue and brown and green the best
4 or 5 ball markers
7 repair tools
umbrella
club swing weight for warm ups
yardstick for putting warmup
i have about 5-6 gloves, all footjoy, the ones worn out but still semi usuable i use for practice the nice ones i play with
sun screen, tanning lotion
sunglasses
extra cap and visor
2 extra pair of socks
1 rain short sleeve windbreaker
1 full entire pants and jacket rain suit
a bag cover for rain
a snapon cart rain winshield for the golf carts
money i leave a $100 in my bag at all times.
spare change...
cell
2 64 ounce gatorades...i buy these on the way to the track
2 tins of skoal straight longcut. i love dippin when i play
bunch of pencils
a note pad to take notes when i play alone on how holes set up...
the little red book by harvey penick- i can read this over and over...
apples
granola bars
water
sometimes i bring my ipod for practise only
head band
wrist band
bag watch clock


in my car i leave...


3 pair of footjoy classics, white on black, red,white,blue, brown on white and all black.
i mostly wear my nike golf shoes however,,i match my shoes with my outfit.
i have 3 extra towels, 2 umbrellas
about 4 extra wedges, a driver, 3 or 4 putters


im not kidding either.

WOW i am..............speechless that is crazy 2 64 oz Gaterades i would have nowhere to put my clubs hahaha. That is crazy if u seriously leave $100 in your bag thats nuts. But if that is all a joke then i guess i look like a dumb a$$. haha