Top rated golf bags

Golf bags come in a variety of shapes and sizes. From cart bags, stand and carry bags and tour bags for on course. So, which can be said are the best bags?

Looking at the tour bags to begin with. The Nike SQ Sumo Tour Staff bag is worth a look, and will provide you with a top quality, top performance bag that gives value to boot. As the name suggests, the bag is linked to the Sumo line of Nike products. The bag accommodates all club sizes, and weighs in at 12.2 Ibs. It has 5 zippered pockets, 2 mesh water bottle packets and versatile cabinet door storage.

Alternatively, Callaway 10.5 inch PGA Championship Tour Staff Bag will give you another top quality choice. It offers supreme durability and a lot of storage space. A new power handle improves functionality and reduces weight to 10 Ibs only, which is 2.2 Ibs less than the Nike Sumo.

When we talk about stand bags, you cannot do better than the Wilson Feather Series 3LB Stand Bag for performance and value. It is an extremely light bag that weights in at 3Ibs, with a new stand that is integrated to the top to keep weight minimal. It also has a lightweight Swivelmax double strap, along with water-resistant fabric that will keep your clubs dry.

Kart bags are carried on golf trolleys and come in larger sizes. The PowaKaddy 7 Way Sport Cart Bag is a top quality bag in sports design, with both lightness and strength. This has been designed for carts and buggies. It has substantial rain-hood, a scuff protector and 4 grab handles. The PowaKaddy gets 5 star reviews, particularly for performance and value.

Or, you could take a look at the Ram Fxi Golf Cart bag. This gives you an 18 inch and 14 way divider top. It's a lightweight back that provides stability on a golf car and is certainly well worth considering.

So certainly, the Nike Sumo tour bag, Callaway Championship Tour Staff Bag, Wilson Feather Series, PowaKaddy and Ram Fxi are amongst the best on course bags available in their various forms. Used by professional tour staff, they seem the best choice. They all score highly for quality, performance and value and have positive customer reviews. They are indeed, top rated golf bags.

Guide to stroke-play and match-play golf

In the game of golf today, stroke-play and match-play are two golf scoring systems. They are used in the professional championships, and more team based golf. Overall, they are not entirely similar.

To begin with stroke-play, which is the best established golf scoring. Stroke play relates to how many shots, or strokes are taken per each hole. So one stroke is one shot. A shot can be any putt, tee shot, fairway or bunker play. Even if no contact with the ball is made or the ball hardly moves, that is recorded as a shot. In addition to this, penalty strokes can also be added if the player needs to move the ball, drop ball or retake a shot.
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As such, stroke-play records how many shots for a golfer to finish a hole and then the golf course. For each hole, a par score is listed which can be par 3, 4 or 5 strokes. This relates to the hole's distance, with shorter holes par 3 and longer par 5. Overall, the par scores are good scores for any hole and scoring is measured with that.

(above) A golf scorecard

For example, a golfer can finish above or below par on any given hole. There are actually terms for a few scores above or below par. If a golfer finishes one over par, then that is a bogey. If the score is two over it is a double bogey and if three over par, then that is a triple bogey. However, one under the par score is a birdie, if two under then possibly an eagle on par 4 holes. A hole-in-one is when the hole is finished in one shot!


The overall par score for a golf course is the par sum of all the holes. It could be, for example, 31 or 35 over nine and 62 or 70 for an 18-hole golf course. A player may finish any number of strokes above par, or perhaps even a few under. Alternatively, to make par will finish exactly even.

To keep scores, players can note scores on the score card after each hole. Then these scores can be tallied for an overall total.

Golf stroke-play is universal in the game and is used for all the major championships such as US Open, The Masters, PGA Championship or UK Open. The players with the lowest scores for the golf round will win the championship.

However, match-play is used for the more team based Ryder Cup. In match-play, players can win, lose or tie a hole. Here, the players' scores for a hole are compared and the lowest score wins the hole, or alternatively if tied then half a hole is given to both players. For example, if nine holes were drawn then that would be 4.5 holes each. In addition, a further 5 holes won by a player would give a total score of 9.5-8.5. The player or team that wins the most holes wins the round.


So match-play is not won by the overall lowest scores, but for the more specific scores on holes. It is possible for a player to have more strokes overall, but still win a round with match-play.

Overall, either stroke-play or match-play can be used between players. Generally, stroke-play is better suited for non-team golf, while match-play is better for team events and can make for closer games overall.

Golf tips for Tee shots

The golf tee shot is the one that will likely cover most distance. For a par three, four or five hole it can make some difference. An ideal tee shot will go far and land on the fairway or green.

A suitable golf club for tee shots can be from a nine iron right to the longest clubs in the bag. This of course, relates to the holes' yardage and distance. However, it should be noted that shorter clubs can be more accurate. So consider using a slightly shorter club for the hole if there are trees, long rough etc.

Also consider a shorter tee shot, if it will be clear of the bunkers, rough etc. A longer tee shot that could fall in a bunker or rough may well do. You will need to aim away from such terrain.

For any hole, take note of the overall yardage. For this, a scorecard or even a course yardage book is good for reference. Yardage books can give more detailed guides, but at any rate the scorecard will list hole yardage from variable tees, and possibly some other details.

To tee up, there may be variable tee positions for the golf hole. To begin with, tee markers like red, yellow and white may be on the golf course. Red tees are the shortest distance tees and are most suitable for players who do not hit so far. White tees are longer markers, and are better for players that feel that a little more distance is suitable. You will likely do best with a red marker, but at any rate, tee up from a suitable tee marker.

Also worth noting is the tee position. You can tee off from the left or right side. Overall, if you tend to hit the ball more to the right then teeing from the left may be best. If the opposite, more leftward, then you can consider the right side. If one side of the hole seems better, then tee up from there.

The two types of tee are the wooden and plastic tees. These can be larger or smaller tees. Really, smaller tees are better for the more lofted clubs such as shorter irons, and then the longer tees are more suitable for less lofted clubs such as the woods. The longer clubs, the more tee is needed. While wooden tees are less durable than plastic tees, some favor them.

Overall, you will find that these tips could make some difference. So now it is time to tee off!

Golf Vacations

If you are interested in a golf vacation, then there are a few resort and courses that you may consider. Here are a few worth noting:

PGA Catalunya

Mediterranean golf vacation resorts can be popular. The Spanish PGA Catalunya is certainly a vacation resort that golfers should consider. The resort has two golf courses. The first is the Tour, which has broader fairways, and the Stadium course, which is more of a championship course.

Overall, the resort has additional amenities, and currently a 2-tee and 3 PGA package. The 2-tee package is shorter, while the 3 PGA is a longer package with three golf courses included.

Marbella Club Golf resort

Golf resorts of the Costa del Sol include the Marbella Club Golf & Spa Resort. This resort has an 18-hole course and a shorter 9-hole golf course. The 18-hole par 73 is on a 1000-acre estate. The resort also has various amenities.

Marbella has a 'Golf Unlimited' package. This includes green fees for both its longer and shorter golf courses as well as accommodation.

Pinehurst Country Club

This US golf resort includes some excellent courses. Championship calibre courses such as the par 72, Pinehurst Country Club's 2nd course is recommended. Other courses like the 7th also have some excellent holes and higher ratings.

Pebble Beach

Located on the Pacific coast-line of California the courses of Pebble Beach Resort make an excellent golf vacation. Pebble Beach is a great golf course, and includes some excellent holes like the 18th hole. Neighbouring Spy Glass Hill golf course is a sloped course, and has some good holes. Overall, two great golf courses for a vacation.


Parque Da Floresta resort

In the Western Algarve the resort of Parque Da Floresta is well placed, and includes a par 71 golf course layout amongst hilly terrain. In addition, it also includes other amenities such as spa and gym. Surrounding sandy beaches and villages are also nearby. Overall, with various packages and offers Parque Da Floresta is a good resort.

So overall, for golf vacations these are good resorts. They feature some great courses, packages, and amenities for golf vacations.

Recommended Golf Courses

Great golf courses, can be public venues or private. At any rate, there are some fine public courses as well as private for players to attempt. Here are a few golf courses, which are recommended:

Pebble Beach:

The golf course of Pebble Beach, in California, is well regarded. Located by the Pacific Ocean, this course has plenty to offer and some excellent holes. Consider the 18th golf hole, which curves around Monetary Bay. It has staged some big golfing events, and is a course of championship calibre. However, Pebble Beach is not strictly private, and the public can play it.


Bethpage State Golf Course:

Bethpage is a public golf course, which has also staged the US Open of 2002. As such, as one might gather, it has a higher course rating and is a tricky course to play at up to 7,000 yards. The golf course features some great holes, like the 13th-hole par 5.

Pinon Hills Golf Course:

Pinon Hills golf course, in New Mexico, is open to the public and is good value. With a more desert setting and good design; the golf course is considered a must-play.

The Links at Spanish Bay:

This golf course near to Pebble Beach is a Trent Jones course. Another exciting ocean course on the Monterey coast, it is a recommended golf course that some may consider playing on. Open to the public, it has some great holes such as the 14th which has well-placed bunkers.


The Ocean Course:

The Ocean Course is another resort golf course. This golf course is a coastal course, alongside the Atlantic. It is a links style golf course, with prevalent winds presenting a test. With some particularly good holes, such as the second, it is another recommended golf course.

So overall, these golf courses are open to play and are great courses. From Pebble Beach, to Bethpage, Pinon Hills, Spanish Bay and the Ocean Course are all recommended golf courses. Others like the Ocean Course can also be good vacation spots.

Guide to the Iron clubs

The iron golf clubs make up much of a standard set of clubs. They can range from a two iron up to nine irons. Overall, the iron clubs can be suitable for either short play or long play.

The iron clubs are numbered with the higher number clubs having the most loft and least distance overall. Lower numbered iron clubs have progressively less loft and more distance. Generally, the shorter clubs can also be more accurate than longer irons.

To begin with the nine and eight iron golf clubs. These are the short irons, and as such have the least distance. They are more suitable for shorter fairway shots to the green. For tee shots, they are only really suitable for the shortest golf holes, with average distances ranging from 100 to 150 yards. These iron clubs are also better for longer grass, with their higher loft.

The seven and six iron golf clubs are more mid-distance clubs for perhaps one-hundred-twenty-five yards to one-hundred-seventy-five or possibly higher still. They are flexible iron clubs, and can be used for tee shots of up to and over hundred-fifty yards on par three golf holes. On par four and five golf holes, the clubs are good for the fairway. The clubs can also be used for chip shots and shorter play.

The longer iron clubs, from here are more like the five, four and three iron. These iron clubs can cover up to a possible two-hundred yards and are best for longer par three holes or possible par four. They are best for tee shots, and also longer fairway shots. Overall, they have little loft, and are not ideal for shorter play.

In relation to short play, the iron clubs can also be used for chip shots around the green. The shorter irons such as nine and eight, or even the wedges, will chip the ball with a little more loft and less roll on the green. Iron clubs such as the seven or even six will chip the ball with less loft and more roll on the green, up to perhaps fifty yards. So if further from the hole they are more suitable for chipping. Longer iron clubs do not really have enough loft for chipping.

So overall the iron clubs can be suitable for longer or shorter play on a golf hole, either off the tee, or around the green. With a variable selection of iron clubs, it is advised that at least the nine, seven and five irons be taken onto the golf course.

Golf Books

Golf has a good range of books covering the sport. Here are some recommended titles:

1001 Golf Holes: Jeff Barr (£20)

This golf book by Jeff Barr, and with input from others, provides an excellent collection of some of golf's best holes. Listed in order of play, from hole 1 to hole 18, the collection is carefully selected and includes such classic holes as those featured at St Andrews, Augusta and Pebble Beach amongst others.

The book gives about a half, or up to a full page of coverage for each hole. The hole par, length, course and designer are all listed for the holes included. Overall, the book weighs in at up to 950 pages.

In addition, some background is given to the golf courses as well as their holes mentioned. Overall, you will find golf courses like Pebble Beach and Augusta have a few of their holes covered in the book. However, the book keeps the emphasis on the holes.

KISS Guide to Golf: Steve Duno (DK publication, $20)

The KISS Guide to Golf, by Steve Duno, is a general guide to the game. From the golf clubs, to all aspects of the game, including short and long game and course strategy.

The book has a foreword, and is supported by PGA tour player, Colin Montgomerie. So, one would assume provided expertise for a good deal of the book's content.

Aside from playing guide, the book provides additional extras such as golf vacation tips, and golf course suggestions and listings. In addition to this, additional listings for other golf books, golf magazines and golf schools are also included.

The book also includes some extras, such as golfing trivia. Then likewise, additional hints and tips and summaries.

Overall, at 400 pages in total, the book is a reasonably comprehensive guide for the sport. So it is recommended.

Aside from these two golf books there is a few other golf books, which might be considered. Golf books like The Physics of Golf, cover a scientific basis for the sport. Alternatively Ultimate golf techniques is another golf book worth considering.

So overall, these golf books are recommended. 1001 Golf Holes, is an excellent compilation of golf holes. And the KISS Guide to Golf is a good golfing guide. In addition, you may also want to consider such books as The Physics of Golf and Ultimate golf techniques, which are good books.