Clubs and the Right Number
It might sound obvious, but think through which clubs you carry. You can hold up to fourteen, but I do not think you always need every slot filled. Some players spread their set too thin, thinking they might need every possible loft or specialty wedge. In reality, most of us get comfortable with a core set. My usual setup is: driver, three-wood, a hybrid, 4 through 9 irons, pitching wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge, and putter. That is twelve. Sometimes I swap the lob wedge for a 5-wood, depending on the course.
If you always tote every club, ask yourself if you use them. Maybe carry an extra wedge if the greens are tight or fast. Or leave out the longest iron if you hate it. There is no shame in that.
Golf Balls and the Right Amount
This sounds silly, but too many golfers misjudge how many balls they need. I have played rounds with people who brought two, lost both, and had to borrow. Others bring twenty, which is a strange choice unless you are prone to water balls.
I usually start with six. That seems reasonable unless you know there is trouble on every hole. Some golfers love to try new balls during the round. If you are one of those, maybe add three more. But carrying a sack full is just clutter.
“There is a strange anxiety about running out of balls, but I have never really seen it happen with anyone who brought at least six.”
Tees: Short and Long
Not every tee works for every shot. Wooden ones break quickly, plastic ones sometimes bend and get lost. Most players want at least ten in the bag. I like to have a mix:
- 3¼ inch or 3½ inch for the driver
- 2½ inch for fairway woods
- Short ones for par threes or iron shots
I sometimes reuse tees until they look like splinters.
Markers and Divot Tools
I keep at least three ball markers. Those thin ones you get for free work, but I often lose them. A coin works too. Divot tools are another. I prefer the thick ones, metal if possible.
It seems trivial, but have you ever needed a marker, realized you lost it, and then reached for a coin, only to find you used all your change paying for a hot dog? I have. Maybe that sounds careless, but it happens.
“A good divot tool lasts years, sometimes longer than any club in your bag.”
Gloves: More Than One
You may not notice until it rains or if your glove rips, but carrying more than one glove helps. I keep two, one new, one broken in. Some carry a third if their hands sweat or they know the weather could turn.
Some days the glove stays in your pocket more than your hand. Sometimes you never use your backup. Still, it is a small thing that prevents a big headache when you need it.
Towels and Cleaning Gear
A towel is not just for looks. I find that a damp towel works best for cleaning balls and grooves between holes. Some players bring a second towel in case the first one gets soaked, or if it is a hot day and you need to wipe your face.
“Wiping mud or sand off the clubface every hole is a detail that keeps your shots consistent. You might not notice, but it helps.”
Brushes with wire and plastic bristles are good too. Fingernail brushes from a drugstore sometimes work better and are cheaper.
Rangefinders and Yardage Tools
If you play alone, a rangefinder can speed up your game. Some club players complain they slow down play, but I think it depends on how you use it. If you stand behind someone waiting for a reading, yeah, that takes time. But with a quick scan, you know your number and move on.
Some prefer GPS watches or use their phones. I have tried all three and always come back to a basic laser. Sometimes GPS lags, or the course is not mapped.
Do you need one? Maybe. If you play mostly casual rounds or on courses with clear markings, you might skip it. But it is helpful on new courses or if you are working to improve.
Scorecard, Pencil, and Sharpie
A forgotten pencil slows the round for everyone. I always pack two, even though there is supposed to be one on the cart. They never work, or they get lost.
A Sharpie or permanent marker works for labeling your ball. I mark mine with a blue dot. Some people write initials or draw a happy face, but basic works.
Snacks and Drinks
Hunger can ruin your focus after nine holes. I tend to bring an energy bar, small bag of nuts, or a banana if I remember. Some carry more, but then their bag gets heavy. Water is obvious, but I also bring a small bottle of sports drink for hot days.
How much you bring depends on your metabolism, and how long the round is. If you tucker out fast, bring extra. A good snack helps after a stretch of rough holes.
First Aid and Medicine
A small first aid kit seems excessive until you need it. I have band-aids and a tiny tube of sunscreen stuck in a pocket. Blisters show up, or you scrape your hand retrieving a ball in the weeds. Maybe a pill or two for a headache is all you need most days.
Some carry more, especially if you need allergy meds or have specific health concerns. But a packed kit rarely gets used. For most, a few band-aids suffice.
| Item | Purpose | Why Carry It? |
|---|---|---|
| Band-aids | Minor cuts, blisters | Usually needed once a season, but never when expected |
| Sunscreen | Skin protection | Forgotten easily, missed badly on sunny days |
| Painkiller | Headache, muscle ache | Rounds can last five hours. Sometimes pain comes out of nowhere |
| Bug spray wipe | Mosquitos, ticks | Certain courses, woods, dusk rounds |
Weather Protection
Checking the forecast helps, but weather changes anyway. A folded rain cover for your bag protects your clubs. Packable rain jackets matter, but so does a second hat if the first gets wet.
An umbrella is helpful, or maybe not. They are bulky and often left behind. I am unsure if umbrellas are useful in wind, they always seem to turn inside-out when you need them most.
Sun protection is as much concern as rain. A small stick of sunscreen takes up no space. Sunglasses are a personal choice…sometimes they help, sometimes I play worse. Hard to say why.
Golf Accessories You Think You Need, But Don’t
There are gadgets everywhere. Ball retrievers for the water. Weighted training clubs. Line marking aids. Some people swear by gadgets, but they tend to clutter your pockets. For an average round, most accessories stay unused.
Still, once in a while you find a small accessory that justifies its spot. For a while I carried a tiny club rest to keep my grip dry. I lost it, never replaced it, and do not miss it.
Yardage Book or Course Map
Some courses hand out a simple map. Hardcore players make their own yardage books, but most never look at them. New courses, travel rounds, or tournaments can make yardage books useful. Otherwise, you probably go by memory and feel.
Spare Shoe Laces and Extras
An extra pair of laces make sense if your shoes are old. Most rounds, you will not think about it, but if you play all day, things break. A cheap poncho, dry socks, or a change of shirt fits the same category. Small, easy to forget, saves a day if you need them.
“Soggy socks can ruin a round before a missed putt ever will.”
Shoe Care
If you walk, clean shoes matter. Those wire brushes that clip to your bag help remove mud. I used to ignore this. After slipping three times in one day, I realized that a quick brush keeps you more grounded than new spikes ever could.
Pocket Money and Paying for the Round
Most golfers use cards now, but a few bills come in handy for tipping, split wagers, or halfway house stops. Tournaments often ask for cash for drinks or food.
“Nothing derails a post-round drink like bumming cash from friends.”
How much you carry is personal. I take about twenty, stuck in a plastic bag to keep it dry.
A Small Notebook for Swing Notes (Maybe)
Some players jot down ideas or track stats. I tried this for a season, wrote a few swing keys, then stopped. It seemed valuable for a few weeks, then not at all. Only you can answer if you will actually write in it.
| Item | How Often I Use It |
|---|---|
| Golf ball stencil | Rarely |
| Alignment stick | Sometimes, if practicing |
| Spare shirt or socks | Rarely, but very welcome if drenched |
| Rule book | Almost never |
| Pocket coin (lucky) | If superstitious, often |
| Pocket knife (for fruit, rope, or odd jobs) | Sometimes |
Personal Routine: What Really Matters Over Time
Everyone collects their own system. Your bag will say something about your habits, for better or worse. There is no perfect recipe. I tried copying a pro’s list once and ended up with a heavier bag and no better scores. After years on the course, I think you will find you whittle down the gear list to what you use round after round, and your own small oddities become part of your routine. One day you might carry a spare glove, forget to use it, and realize there was comfort knowing it was there. That is how most golf bags evolve: not by following a perfect checklist, but by small needs, memories, and habits collected from years of play.