Prior to playing a game of golf, you must pack your golf bag. A golf bag is very much a necessity for golfers, as it ensures you can carry almost everything you need whilst playing an 18-hole game on the course.

Before you get to the course and begin hitting golf balls on the green, it is wise to make a list of all the items that you wish to add into your bag to make sure nothing is left out. The last thing you need is to get halfway through your game to find you are missing your all-important golf putter, for example. And knowing exactly which clubs go where in your golf bag can be highly useful, to make it easier to switch clubs quickly and easily. Let’s be honest, no one likes a slow coach. Taking your time to find your golf clubs and take a shot can slow down a game considerably. To avoid this, read on to find out exactly how to pack your golf bag.

Pick out a golf bag

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Before you even begin thinking about packing your different types of golf club, you must have an appropriate golf bag – and no, that doesn’t mean one that you’ve been using for years and has seen better days. Today, golf technology is changing rapidly - particularly in golf bags. Old bags tend to be extremely heavy to lug around the golf course, however advances in material mean that they are now much lighter and durable, whilst also being stylish too.

Golf bags today come in a variety of different sizes, shapes, colours and price ranges, however the most important factor to consider is weight, as you want a bag that is easy to carry and use - and one that will fit all your different sizes of golf clubs of course!

What are the different variations of golf bags?

There are so many golf bags available from a wide variety of manufacturers, such as the likes of well-known and respectable golfing brands, Callaway and Titleist.

As mentioned previously, each bag differs, so it is worth bearing this in mind when it comes to purchasing a golf bag for your brand-spangling-new golf essentials. There are six main types of golf bag on offer, each with varying capabilities and weights.

They include the following:

• Golf trolley bags
• Golf stand bags
• Golf pencil bags
• Golf tour bags
• Golf waterproof bags
• Golf travel bags

If you are still unsure which bag is best for you, find out more about the different golf bags available here.

What is the best way to pack your golf bag?

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Most golf bags have two partitions while others have three, four, five or more, however more often than not, golf bags have four sections: a single at back, double in centre and single at front. Although, some modern golf bags have individual slots for every golf club, which can be highly convenient.

Some golf bags on the market are set up with 15 individual sections for 14 clubs and a ball retriever. If your bag is designed this way, then the ideal golf bag setup would be to start at the back with the longest club (such as your driver or 3-wood) and place the rest of your clubs in the remaining slots in descending order. Last but not least should be the placement of your putter, which should sit towards the front of your bag, in the bottom compartment, alongside your ball retriever (if you use one).

When you take out a golf club to take a swing, remember to put it back in the same position. It makes a big difference keeping you golf equipment organised – you know what they say, ‘a tidy space, a tidy mind’.

Most bags have side pockets, which can be helpful for carrying the odd bits and pieces during your round of golf. Think about using the top and front most-accessible side pockets to store your most used items, such as tees and spare balls, when you pack your golf bag. On the other hand, use the less-accessible pockets to store the non-golf essentials, such as a rule book, spare gloves and a first aid kit – which you will only use occasionally – and your phone, which is often not permitted on the course.

If you are playing in the UK it is probably a good idea to pack an umbrella too, as the weather can be dreadfully unpredictable. Most golf bags tend to have a sleeve on the side of the bag for one, which is open at top and bottom for easy access and drainage.