Equipment
The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company, in it for the love of the game
At the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show, GolfWRX took note of some impressive gear seemingly appropriate for its gear heads, which will be featured over the next few weeks. For this second feature, we are highlighting the MacKenzie Golf Bag Company based in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
The story of the MacKenzie Golf Bag Company is, to date, 30 years in the making and certainly worth a little bit of your time. That remains true, even if you never find yourself considering the purchase of a MacKenzie golf bag, because in your heart you’re a golfer playing for the love of the game. Originally, a product of a trip to St. Andrews, Scotland and the Old Course in 1985 by Peter Jacobsen, the Original MacKenzie Walker is timeless in its style and singular in its craftsmanship.
MacKenzie’s booth at the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show.
Designed to keep things simple and honor the journey of playing golf, rather than the destination, the Original MacKenzie Walker has changed very little since 1985, i.e., two pockets and a single strap. What else would you use to carry your old Acushnet Bullseye Flange or even better Spalding Chicopee?
This Miura bag is an Original MacKenzie Walker (mahogany, trimmed in bittersweet). It has an 8-inch diameter at the top and two pockets. It can be ordered from Miura, any of their affiliated custom fitters, or MacKenzie.
On the other hand, the company has experienced its ups-and-downs, changes in ownership, and struggles that all small business endure in trying to keep the doors open. In 2006, the MacKenzie Golf Company was merely hanging on, however, when Todd Lohrer (who favors both the Bullseye and Chicopee in his golf bag) stepped in and took over day-to-day operations. Over the past 10 years, Todd and his employees have not only saved MacKenzie, but also turned its golf bags into one of the most recognizable symbols in the game of golf today.
The University of Oregon is the first NCAA school with which Mackenzie has developed a licensed relationship.
That success is the result of a combination of factors, but none more important than the valuable employees (10-15 these days) that build MacKenzie golf bags in Portland, Oregon by hand from scratch. The company mantra being, again, simple enough: do everything humanly possible to craft the best all-leather golf bags in the known world. As part of that process, MacKenzie sources high-quality leather (typically, Austrian or Swiss in origin) and takes to heart every detail that goes into every bag. It’s not a marketing tagline, as these bags are made by hand with that basic purpose driving every decision, both big and small.
A Sunday MacKenzie Walker (7-inch diameter opening, single pocket) made of sage waxed canvas and trimmed in mahogany leather. The material is waterproof, durable, and its finish is said to “get better with age.”
In discussing MacKenzie with Todd, it became apparent that the love of the game is also what drives the company at its very core. The enthusiasm for MacKenzie and the products it produces is evident, and with addition of a new managing partner last year, there is only more good stuff to come from MacKenzie. Many of those golfers (not necessarily just the so-called “golf purists”) that feel an intensely personal connection to the game tend find their way to MacKenzie in order to purchase their dream bag. With custom options and unparalleled quality, whether it be leather or waxed canvas, a MacKenzie golf bag tends to become a statement about the golfer and his or her love of a simple game meant to be enjoyed with family and friends. Quality over quantity has been and will continue to be the norm for MacKenzie. To boot, MacKenzie is a strong supporter of the Evans Scholars Foundation, and caddies in general.
In some cases, these golf bags are purchased as a symbol of an important accomplishment, memorable experience, or special occasion and are treated as an heirloom to be passed onto new a new generation of golfers. MacKenzie golf bags, in that respect, are more than a symbolic golf bag, but rather woven into the fabric of family and golf for some. With that comes a certain amount of responsibility that MacKenzie wholeheartedly accepts as well as desires creating, in part, the deep sense of pride with which every golf bag is made.
While the future is always an unknown, it’s a good bet for the MacKenzie Golf Company that continued growth and exposure are on the horizon. On a practical level, MacKenzie is steadily moving toward reduced turnaround times for golf bags with a goal of approximately two weeks in its crosshairs and an updated website that is likely to do justice to the products made by the company.
Presently, you can keep an eye on MacKenzie by checking out its website or signing up for its newsletter. For additional pictures of MacKenzie golf bags, I recommend the MacKenzie Walker Galleries.
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As promised, we’re checking out all the digital booths at the 2021 Virtual PGA Show for items of intrigue and note, and we’ve found no shortage of interesting items.
Here are a few of our favorites from our first day of browsing.
(More on the 2021 Virtual PGA Show here)
Altaz rangefinder
That’s not a flip screen video camera—it’s an alternative to playing pirate with a telescope to acquire distances.
Product description: Our rangefinder adds an external 3″ LCD screen which makes it much easier to search the target. No more twitching eye, sunglass in the way, or shakey hand, our rangefinder eliminates all the problems that many golfers experience. It is simple as using similar to digital camcorders, just point, and press. Golf will get the right distance to help them select the right club to improve their scores.
Website: www.altaz.golf
Sik Component Bag
We like this presentation of the buffet of options for Sik putters both for the fitting capabilities and the minimal use of shop square footage for retailers…and of course, if you’re a real gearhead, you just buy the thing for personal use.
Product description: Become a SIK Golf retailer with SIK Golf’s Component Bag, a complete matrix of interchangeable heads, hosels, and gripped shafts that are ready to assemble into every possible SIK putter combination. The Component Bag also includes multiple standard shaft lengths and Armlock setups for your customers to test drive. Displayed and stored in a classic SIK Golf Staff Bag, featuring organized and compartmentalized drawers.
Website: www.sikgolf.com
Custom Golf Bag Hoods
We’ve seen specialty bag hoods before, but nothing on the level that Custom Golf Bag Hoods is doing.
Company info: Custom Golf Bag Hoods was created so that golfers around the world could dress their bag up from the ugly black rain hood you get when you buy the golf bag which eventually you’ll end up losing or miss placing it. CGBH are made of water-resistant nylon fabric with a 24-inch zipper and vinyl leather piping to keep the hood upright and sturdy, velcro straps to secure it to the bag, and DIY button snaps to make your own buttons in the position of your existing snaps on your bag.
Website: customgolfbaghoods.com
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Areso Golf: RW Design Wedge
While we can’t speak to the feel or performance, the materials story is compelling and the aesthetics would definitely earn these wedges a test at a traditional PGA Show Demo Day!
Product info: RW Design Wedges are made from forging carbon steel and milled face for maximum spin around the greens. Grooves and face are machined for spin and face variable thickness controlled for performance.
Ecco: Biom H4 shoe
An enhanced, improved, and even more stylish version of one of the most popular designs on the market. What’s not to love?
Product description: The ECCO BIOM H4 is made in durable ECCO leather with a slick, micro-perforated embossing and GORE-TEX waterproof technology to keep your feet dry even in wet conditions. The new ECCO MTN GRIP outsole features our signature FLUIDFORM™ Technology, as well as an eye-catching PU midsole with TPU inserts on either side that securely hug your foot and offer added stability and support while you’re on the green.
Website: www.us.ecco.com
Puttist Putting Meter 
We may be biased, as our James Chang covered the Puttist back in November, but this is one of the most unique training aids on the market.
Product description: Puttist Inc. was established in 2009 for “PUTTIST”, the first putting meter in the world. Don’t practice, just have fun with distance-metering game up to 50ft. Your score will go up so naturally and no more suffering from 3-putt. That is why people call “PUTTIST” 3-putt Killer! Rechargeable and Plug-in model available for meter and feet. Just Putt & Win!
Website: www.puttist.com
PuttView: The Book
There are plenty of green book vendors, but Puttview’s stylish presentation of the maximum amount of information allowed under USGA rules definitely caught our eye.
Product description: PuttView’s “The Book” is the component that brings your indoor and outdoor experience together. Every detail of “The Book” was designed to help you save a shot under the most critical tournament situations. PuttView’s technology and attention to detail results in the most accurate book allowable under the Rules of Golf.
Website: www.puttview.com
Stay tuned tomorrow for more products from the 2021 Virtual PGA Merchandise Show!
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Driver: Titleist TSI3 (8 degrees @7.25, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
5-wood: Titleist TSi2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 X
Irons: Titleist T100 (4) Titleist 620 MB (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 WedgeWorks (48-10F, 54-M, 60-04L), Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (64 degrees)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Scotty Cameron GSS Newport 2 Custom
Ball: ’21 Titleist Pro V1x
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Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of The American Express.
Driver: Callaway Epic Speed LS (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZURDUS Smoke Green 65 6.5 TX
3-wood: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZURDUS Smoke Green 75 6.5 TX
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT Proto (3), Callaway Apex MB ’21 (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS TG Hybrid Proto 105 X (3), KBS $-Taper Black 125 S+ (4-PW)
Wedges: Callaway MD5 Jaws Raw (50-S, 54-S, 60-C)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125S+
Putter: Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Armlock 7
Grips: Iomic Sticky 2.3 Black
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X
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Hugh Leonard
Feb 25, 2016 at 7:49 pm
I have used a ballistic Walker for 3 or 4 years. It can carry a full set, balls, tees, and a jacket. I put on a cart and walk with it (when I walk I usually carry 12 clubs). Great bag but sometimes I wish it had a double strap.
Joe
Feb 25, 2016 at 5:34 pm
A taste of old world quality, fantastic bag. But, it is a niche product. For the greatest number of golfers it does not hold enough, and the greatest number of golfer use push cart or ride. Made for the in shape person who walks, and does not carry a lot of equipment.
Fahgdat
Feb 25, 2016 at 3:39 am
Why? Cumbersome, not enough pockets, too small, uncomfortable to carry and gets really heavy when wet in the rain and starts to get crusty in the dry weather if you don’t keep it oiled. Totally worthless. Waste of money for usefulness, only good for decoration on the wall. But I guess if it’s used for that and people can afford to buy it, more power to them.
Michael
Feb 24, 2016 at 8:54 pm
Quality in these bags is Un matched. Makes other “high quality” bags like sun mountain and ping seem like junk.
They will last forever, and are truly unique and can be one of a kind.
The Ballistic walkers can be had for $300 and will easily last twice as long as the $150 stand bag.
Milo
Feb 24, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Definitely a niche product, I wonder what the profit margins are on these bags, I’m assuming it’s expensive to get leather from Austria and Switzerland.
Nick Green
Feb 24, 2016 at 12:50 pm
You’ll have this bag in 30 years and be able to pass it on to the next golfer in the family. Where will your nylon bag be then?! The best made, hand crafted bag in golf.
joro
Feb 24, 2016 at 12:32 pm
Hey come on now, it is just the thing to put you overpriced PXG Woods and Irons in, along with you overpriced Forged Vokey Wedges and your vastly 500 Dollar Cameron Sucker 4 Putter. Good God, you will be the talk of the course. Now all you need is a few 5,000 Dollar an hour lessons from Paul Azinger and off you go. Wonderful
ROB HARRIS
Apr 15, 2018 at 5:14 pm
IT HAS BEEN PROVEN OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
YOU CAN NOT BUY A GOLF GAME!!!
Chris
Feb 24, 2016 at 12:28 pm
They used to offer a ballistic nylon option called the Ballistic Walker. It has leather trim and retains a very high end feel but was much more affordable. I have one and it’s a great bag! I use it and a half set of clubs and have never been happier walking a golf course. Love my Mackenzie.
JMytro
Feb 24, 2016 at 12:18 pm
These bags start at $695 and go up to $2000 per bag…More expensive than most full sets of clubs…No thanks, ill stick with my stand bag that was $129…
Matthew Bacon
Feb 23, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Just buy a Jones bag for a fraction of the cost.
Chuck
Feb 23, 2016 at 10:24 pm
100% agree. I love my Jones bag.
Kevin
Feb 23, 2016 at 7:39 pm
These are nice looking bags, was interested in maybe picking one up later, then I saw they cost the same, if not more than a full set of irons. Ill pass, but they sure do look nice.
golfraven
Feb 23, 2016 at 4:40 pm
Mice idea and certainly great craftmanship, however prices are very steep. good luck to them.
Joey5Picks
Feb 23, 2016 at 3:41 pm
That green and yellow bag has a toilet seat on it!
Chopper
Feb 23, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Next time I am in the market for a thousand dollar golf bag, I will know where to go.
MP-4
Feb 23, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Such a nice bag. 🙂