There's no denying that golf is an expensive sport at all levels. The best golf clubs, best golf balls, or even the best golf shoes don't come cheap. That's why storing and protecting your golf gear is critical to ensuring longevity, making a solid golf bag an essential investment for any golfer.
Golf bags are arguably one of the most important pieces of equipment a golfer can have and they're not cheap either. Many of the best golf stand bags or best golf cart bags will usually set you back over $100, while some of the best electric golf trolleys will cost you close to $1000. This reality isn't ideal for players on a budget. So with that in mind, Golf Monthly has tried, tested and reviewed the best golf bags for under $100.
Just because these bags are under $100 doesn't mean they quality and technology is compromised. In fact, the the majority of the bags on this list offer performance levels to compete with products that are almost triple the cost.
We're always on the look out for products that will help the golfer on a budget so when you've finished this guide you should also check out our guide to the best golf shoes under $100, which features popular brands including New Balance, Nike and adidas!
The Quick List
If you're looking to travel light without a complete set then this bag is an ideal choice. The Quiver is a pencil-style bag that’s supremely lightweight and takes up very little room in the trunk of a car or in a locker.
The Titleist Premium carry bag is feature rich, lightweight and spacious. We think this is well worth considering as a second bag when you consider the relatively modest price it carries.
This pencil bag from Callaway is impressively lightweight and features a handy 3-way top with full-length dividers to keep your clubs separate. It also has three useful pockets and is water resistant—great for playing in summer showers.
Featuring sturdy padding and secure retaining straps, the MacGregor VIP II will certainly stand up to the rigors of airport abuse. Put simply: it's easy to transport and offers exceptional value at its price.
The Bag Boy T-660 ticks all the right boxes for the frequent golf traveller. It's lightweight, maneuvers effortlessly, it's easy to use and has plenty of storage,
Offering ample storage space and robust protection for your golf clubs, the RAM FX travel cover is a well-thought-out and user-friendly golf travel cover that's easy to transport.
Best Golf Bags Under $100
Top pencil bag
TaylorMade are one of the leading manufacturers of golf bags and the company's Quiver Pencil Bag offers plenty of storage space despite being quite slim. It features six pockets and also has a smart Self Adjusting Strap System that promotes a comfortable and stable carry. Another useful feature is the extended grab handle which makes it easy to grab and go and also to lift in and out of the car, while the mini retractable legs will keep the bag off the ground and help to protect your clubs from clanking together when you place the bag down.
Another useful aspect of the Quiver is that the top and base are also designed for accessibility on golf carts, making this one of the more versatile pencil bags on the market. This is certainly at the cheaper end of the scale when it comes to the best Taylormade golf bags and if you are looking to spend a bit more on a lightweight golf bag, then you should also check out the best sunday golf bags and best golf pencil bags.
Best premium
We think the Titelist Premium Carry Bag offers incredible value for the quality it has to offer. It's replete with useful features and—overall—it's a perfect bag for a new golfer who doesn't want to break the bank and perhaps doesn't have a full set of clubs yet.
Like all of the best Titleist bags, the Premium Carry Bag offers a stunning aesthetic
with its sleek, black material contrasted contrasted by the classic Titleist logo that adds a premium feel to a bag that does not carry a premium price tag. Weighing in at just over a kilo, this might be the lightest bag on the list too. It's worth noting that this is a pencil bag and it doesn't come with a kick stand, so this means you will be bending down to pick it up from the floor when you stop to play your shot. For most that won't be a problem due to how light it is, but if you are a senior player who suffers from back trouble you should check out our best golf bags for seniors.
We think this is a fantastic lightweight bag for summer golf—perfect for when you fancy a quick nine holes with just a few clubs as there's plenty of storage space in it's four, easy access pockets.
- Read our full Titleist Premium Carry Bag Review
Best lightweight
There's no doubt Callaway are one of the top names in golf as they produce some of the best golf clubs and best golf balls on the market. When it comes to golf bags, the brand is one of the best around and manufactures golf bags to suit the needs and budget of every golfer.
Weighing in at just under one kilogram, the Golf Carry Double Strap Bag is lightweight and easy to carry. It's also water-resistant so you can use the bag during light summer showers with no fear of your clubs and accessories getting wet. Storage-wise, there are three zipped pockets for storing apparel and tees. There's even a velour-lined valuables pocket which is handy for securing valuables such as your phone, car keys and wallet.
As with all the best Callaway golf bags you know you are getting a top quality product. With the money you save on this bag you could even think about pairing this up with a new set of some of the best Callaway irons.
Top travel bag
Travelling with clubs can be nerve-wracking. We've all heard cautionary tales of drivers being snapped, irons being bent or heads falling off putters during transit.
Fortunately, our top choice for travel bags under $100 is this VIP II Premium bag from MacGregor offers excellent protection and is packed with useful features added peace of mind.
In terms of protection, the MacGregor VIP II has an additional layer of padding around the top of the cover, alongside an a internal support strap to keep your clubs snug and secure during transit. While these may seem like small details, we can't reiterate just how much of a life-saver these design considerations make. The best golf clubs cost a lot of money so inevitably you'll want a bag that offers a lot of protection to secure you're investment. You really get the best of both worlds with the VIP II, it doesn't break the bank and it makes it difficult for a clumsy baggage handler to destroy your clubs.
Of course, protection also means security too. There are three heavy duty external straps which provide a fail safe seal on the cover, while the lockable dual zips give you extra security to keep would be thieves from pilfering your clubs or accessories. As with the best golf travel bags, there is also additional space for clothes, footwear or accessories as well. The price is at the value end of the market but this is a premium product, so in our view this model is outstanding.
- Read our full MacGregor VIP II Travel Cover Review
Best for airlines
The BagBoy T-660 Travel Cover resting on grass
The Bag Boy T-660 blew us away in testing. This travel bag offers impressive technology, performance while remaining straightforward and use-friendly. The wrap-around zipper makes putting your clubs in your bag a walk in the park. We think this bag has a lot to offer...
The T-660 is packed with features, including reinforced corners, skid bars, a skid plate, and a spacious front pocket at the bottom, perfect for extra apparel or shoes.
Crucially, the skate wheels are smooth, maneuverable and lightweight to move around easily. Folded down, the Bag Boy will fit nicely into a small space behind the seat of your rental car, a corner of the trunk or a closet for when you're not travelling.
In testing, the bag felt sturdy, strong and robust enough for being handled by even the most heavy-handed airport staff—an ideal choice for golfers looking to take their clubs abroad. This bag is popular amongst travelling golfers, so we'd recommend adding a colorful ribbon or something to the handle to distinguish it from others in baggage claim.
- Read our full Bag Boy T-660 Travel Cover Review
Best budget
Ram Fx golf travel cover review resting on the floor of an airport.
Our final travel bag pick for under $100 is the Ram FX Golf Travel Cover bag. We think this is an excellent choice for golfers on a budget who doesn't want to spend too much on a bag they won't use all the time.
In testing, we did notice that this bag is a tad heavier than the other travel bags on this list but not to the point where hindered usability. The FX is thoughtfully designed with a durable ripstop fabric thats robust enough to handle the rigours of airport travel. We particularly enjoyed how user-friendly the bag was in addition to the extra padding spread across key areas where the golf clubs are stored. The main compartment is spacious and has a strap to secure your clubs during transportation.
There's plenty of storage with four pockets that can house everything from shoes to clothing as well as other useful golf accessories like belts or socks, which you can throw in here to save space in your main travel case. Aesthetically, we really enjoyed the blue accents on the side of the bag. This might seem like a detail but we found it incredibly handy when it came to identifying our bag among the deluge of golf travel bags on the baggage section in the airport.
- Read our full Ram FX Golf Travel Cover Review
How we test golf bags
Our testing process for all golf gear, let alone golf bags, is rigorous and comprehensive. We take pride in our testing and as far as our testing methodology goes, whenever we say we have reviewed a product you can be sure that we have used it out on the golf course and put it through its paces in different conditions. When it comes to golf bags, we will test all of the key features on the bag to ensure the product is as advertised.
So for example, if the manufacturer claims that it is the best waterproof golf bag then we play in the rain when possible and if not then we will pour water on it to find out. You can rest assured that manufacturers cannot pay for a good review from us because we always tell it how we see it. The Golf Monthly testing team consists of a mixture of ages and handicaps, and most are members at golf clubs so regularly put golf gear to the test in fun rounds as well as competitions.
How to choose a golf bag
There are several key factors to consider when thinking about buying a golf bag. That can make it sometimes quite an overwhelming decision. But don't fret, because below we've outlined some of the key points you should consider when purchasing your next golf bag.
1. Bag Type
What kind of bag do you need? Do you walk the course and carry your bag, or do you push a cart? Maybe you're fortunate enough to ride when you play? How you navigate your way around the golf course determines the type of bag you will need, which generally fall into three main categories; stand bags, cart bags and pencil bags. All three have positives and negatives to them and you should think about what is important to you here as a way of choosing accordingly. For example stand bags are designed to be lightweight and comfortable to carry. Waterproofing and durability are important too. Because they are designed for travelling light they don't have as much storage when compared to cart bags. Pencil bags are an extreme version of a stand bag and are even lighter and offer less storage.
Cart bags are for those who want to use golf carts on the golf course. If this is you, then you'll likely want a stable model that is not only easy to lift and move around, but also one that sits firmly on your cart. Cart bags usually offer a lot of storage as well, but this does mean they are bulkier and heavier. There are also hybrid bags available which can either be carried or used effectively on a cart. Check out our guides on the best golf cart bags, best golf stand bags and best golf Sunday bags for more of the best options available right now.
2. Storage
Have a think about how much gear you like to play with. If you like to take a lot, then a cart bag could be the way to go as you can store stuff away, and not have to carry it either. Stand bags often have good storage too but you will obviously have to carry and finally if you don't like to take that much gear onto the course then a pencil bag is ideal.
3. Waterproofing
If you live or golf somewhere that gets a lot of rain then this is a no-brainer really, get a bag that offers protection from the rain. Whereas if you don't, then this factor won't be as important. We should acknowledge that some models above are better than others in this regard because they have been designed as such.
4. Weight
Weight is important, particularly when carrying. Stand bags and pencil bags obviously have to be lightweight because players will be carrying them on their backs and shoulders all day, whilst cart bags should also have a degree of lightness too so they are easy to maneuver on the golf course, as well as from the car to the cart itself. Thankfully most brands these days make lightweight models because not many players want to use a heavy bag.
5. Looks
How do you want your golf bag to look? Whether it be a stand or cart model, brands try their best to create design aesthetics that stand out, or blend in on the golf course. Therefore have a think about which models you like the look of, or if some bags have different color schemes.
For more excellent golf bag offerings, why not check out our guides on the best lightweight golf bags, best budget golf bags and best golf bags for seniors.
FAQs
Should I buy a stand bag or a cart bag?
That depends on your preferences. Cart bags are typically heavier than stand bags and if you like to walk the course as you play, I'd recommend opting for a stand bag as they are lighter and easier to carry. Cart bags meanwhile, are better for players who use golf buggies and carts regularly.
What is a golf pencil bag used for?
Pencil bags are perhaps one of the smallest and most lightweight golf bags you can purchase. They are designed for players who don't want to take a full bag of clubs out on the course with them, but instead want a lightweight bag of around six to seven clubs that'll get them round nine holes or a quick evening 18.
What bag should a senior golfer buy?
Depending on your experience level and how many clubs you use during your round, senior players should look to use golf bags that are both lightweight and come with plenty of support in the straps and at the lumbar. Perhaps look for a lightweight stand bag that also comes with plenty of handles and pockets.
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