An Ode to the Carry Bag

Golf has changed a lot in the past few decades, and, indeed, even more over the past few years. There are thousands of new players, more rounds are being recorded than ever, and it seems like a new brand is popping up in my Instagram feed every single day. And yet, in spite of the deluge of newness in the golf space, many are looking for a bit of oldness. Nostalgia is rampant in the game of golf.

There are many reasons for this. Some folks think the game has gotten too big, that there are too many noobs taking up tee times, causing them to look back on a time where the fairways were wide open and the thought of a six-hour round got a laugh around the clubhouse. I don’t like waiting to hit every shot, either, but I don’t necessarily fall into that camp—golf is for everyone and we need to be more welcoming start-to-finish.

For me, golf nostalgia is finding vintage Greg Norman polos on eBay, playing a round with my dad’s putter from the 80s, or wandering around the fairway looking for a sprinkler head to tell me how far I am from the green. One of the most nostalgic things about my golfing life, though, has to be carrying all the gear I need on my back, even if it’s over 100 degrees out (shoutout to summers playing junior golf in Chico, California).

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There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a golf cart, I use them all the time. But nothing makes me feel closer to the game than walking the course. And it seems like I’m not alone. Scroll through golf-related social media and I can bet it won’t take long to come across a vibey photo shoot of guys playing golf with carry bags, analog style. You know the ones: minimal pockets, one strap, often found resting on the ground greenside, shaped like that dart you’re going to fire up on the next hole (smoking kills, kids).

Images via Will Porter | My home course is an executive course over in Glendale, CA, one that can easily be played with a 7-wood, a few irons, a few wedges, and a putter. It’s short, walkable, and the perfect place to take out a carry bag.

A carry bag is definitely out of place in today’s world of cart bags, coolers, and speakers, but, to me, there’s nothing better than traipsing down the fairway with a carry bag, plopping it down a foot from my ball, taking a hack and moving on. The bag’s pockets are full of balls, tees, trail mix, and maybe a cheeky Miller Lite or two. What else do you really need? If you can’t carry it, you don’t need it.

My Favorite Carry Bags

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Now, I’m not that old. Stand bags were a thing when I was a kid, and I always used one. But nothing connects you to the golf course like stripping back your kit and leaving the modern conveniences behind. It forces you to look up, take a peek at those treetops behind the green or spy on some deer hiding in the bushes. It also forces you to reckon with your lack of fitness, but that’s another story altogether. A carry bag is the essence of golf. If you must pack a rangefinder, at least use it to do some birding during your round.

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