Why it Might be Time to Stop Carrying Your Golf Bag

Article by Sports Writer Derek Clements

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Last year, we surveyed thousands of golfers, understanding their habits and relationship with the game. Among the most striking findings was that 85% of them owned a trolley. Unsurprisingly, this progressed through the age groups, with only 54% of those under 30 owning a trolley, compared with 80% aged between 40-50 and 92% for golfers over 60, Motocaddy and Powakaddy being the dominant brands of choice.

If you're one of the apparent minority of golfers without a trolley, Derek Clements asks why?

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Are you one of those strange people who carry your golf bag? Why would you do that? I am not embarrassed to admit that I no longer do so. It took a long time but eventually I had to face up to the fact that it was becoming hard work. If I want a workout I will go to the gym - the truth, however, is that the last thing I want is a workout in a gym, so I certainly don’t want one on the golf course. There was something rather unseemly about crawling off the 18th green on my knees on a hot summer’s day, so exhausted that I could barely drag myself to the 19th hole or make conversation with my playing partners as I tried to catch my breath.

And there are lots of reasons why maybe you should be thinking of doing the same thing. Bear with me while I share them with you…

Many golfers have back problems. With that in mind, why would you want to lug a bag containing 14 golf clubs and heaven knows what else around on your shoulder for four hours - or longer?

If you play golf then you have done so in the rain. Is there anything worse than putting a golf bag down on wet grass, picking it back up and feeling the water running down your trouser leg? And is it just me, but does your golf bag seem to get heavier as it gets wetter?

Who knows - we may have another glorious summer, with temperatures in the 80s, blue skies, the sun beating down on us. Now try and convince me - and yourself - that there is any pleasure in carrying a full golf bag while sweating from every orifice.

There is a reason that tour professionals employ somebody to carry their bags. You can convince yourself that it is because caddies help with club selection and yardages; but have you ever felt the weight of a tour pro’s bag? Come to think of it, many club golfers also have tour bags that they insist on carrying. Are they all stark raving bonkers?

If you decide that you no longer want to carry your golf bag you can head off to a golf store and buy a trolley for next to nothing. It won’t look very classy and it may not last terribly long, but it will save your poor back - not to mention your energy.

You could make your playing partners green with envy by going out and buying an electric trolley. They come in all shapes and sizes, and many of them almost have a mind of their own. If you feel able to withstand the mickey-taking you will be subjected to, you could treat yourself to one of those remote-controlled devices where you don’t even have to steer it. Just accept that, every once in a while, it may finish up in the nearest pond or bunker.

If you have a trolley all you have to do at the end of 18 holes is clean the wheels. Yippee! No mucky golf bag to deal with so no wet grass being deposited in the boot of your car so no more nagging from your other half the next time he or she opens the boot.

If you use a trolley you can put as much rubbish into your golf bag as you like. There is no need to worry about how heavy it is. If you are carrying your bag and you put too much into it the chances are that you are going to do yourself a serious mischief.

If you use a trolley your friends will no longer be looking at you and asking each other: “Why on earth does he put himself through that every time he plays golf?

Put your bag on a trolley in the rain and it is easier to pull up the hood on your bag to keep everything dry - and your towel won’t end up on the ground and become totally useless because it is sopping wet.

Golf bags that are constantly being lifted on and off somebody’s shoulder do not last as long as one that spends its life sitting proudly on a trolley.

You can attach your rangefinder to your trolley.

Buy a state-of-the-art trolley and you will be able to say smugly to yourself: “Mine’s bigger than yours”.

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