Get a leg up - the increasing popularity of golf bags, in particular the lighweight stand-up bags - Brief Article

The originalcanvas, stand-up bags set the stage for modern-day versions that have gone high tech

If you carried a stand-bag just 15 short years ago, it was usually assumed that you hada bad back, were too old to bend over, or were simply just downright lazy. Then a funny thing happened.

Ping founder Karsten Solheim sent a set of lightweight stand bags to Mike Holder, the men's golf coach at then No. 1-ranked Oklahoma State University. "The kids at OSU didn't want to carry one of those old man's bags," says John Solheim, Karsten's middle son and current president and CEO of Ping. "Finally, one player decided to try it, and when they played a tournament in the rain, he discovered that his clubs stayed dry and his teammates' clubs didn't. The next tournament they all tried the stand bags and liked the fact that the bags stood up and they didn't have to lean over to get their clubs."

After seeing the No. 1 team in the nation give stand bags its seal of approval, the other teams also began to use them. Then after everyone saw the college kids using them, the stand bag market really exploded.

The golf bag market is now a $300 million slice of the golf equipment business' $3 billion pie. Of that market, the stand-bag segment accounts for nearly 60 percent.

From sailcloth to ballistic nylon

Golf bags have not always been as integral a part of the game as they are now. Prior to the 1890s, a time when golf enjoyed its first real growth spurt, clubs were generally hand-carried by a willing caddie. But as more people began to play, they wanted a container that would allow them to conveniently carry their own clubs. The early golf bags were often manufactured by sailcloth makers, and the first golf-bag patent wasissued in 1890, about the same time that bags with retractable legs started to appear.

"We're simply producing a modern incorporation of some of the early stand bags in a modern way, using lightweight materials and much better mechanisms," says Solheim.

Golf bags began their high-tech transformation in the late 1970s, when lightweight nylon was incorporated into the designs. In the early 1980s, Sun Mountain helped revolutionize the golf-bag market when it introduced its Eclipse model, the first modern bag to use legs that extended automatically when you set the bag down. The stand-bag category grew 45 percent from 1996 to 1997, and retractable legs are now standard equipment. Another important innovation came in the early 1990s with the introduction of dual-strap and double-strap technology (see sidebar below).

Bag designers also continue toutilize new and improved materials in an attempt to provide the consumer with a lightweight, yet durable and fashionable golf bag. The lightest carry bags weigh in the 3.5-pound range. And while light nylon certainly served its purpose, more durable materials such as ballistic nylon, rich polyesters and woven twills are now being incorporated in more designs.

"Nylon had its run, but we are now seeing a trend toward the use of different fabrics," says Dennis Ryan, vice president for Datrek. "You'll also see a trend toward larger tops and better divider systems, with multiple dividers that make it easier to get the clubs in. There's also a huge crossover market where people want a stand bag but still play 90 percent of their golf from a cart. I think that's an interesting phenomenon that will become more prevalentin 1999."

Another approaching trend is a more narrow profile of the carry bag. "Wewantto move more ofthe bag's weight into the small of theback," says Joe Barrow, president of Izzo Systems. "That shifts the weight of the bagonto your legs and enables you to use the strongest part of your body to carry the load. Round bags are not that comfortable in the small of your back, so expect to see more oval shapes."

Try before you buy

Those in the market for a new stand- bag-most consumers buy a new bag every three to four years-should determine their needs before the purchase. Do you want full-length dividers? What kind of pocket configuration and access are you looking for? What is your price range? (Most stand bags run from $100 to $200.)

"I would take my clubs with me, put them in the bag and try the bag on at the store," says Barrow. "Make sure the bag hangs out of the way, and don't forget to test the stand while you're at it, because it's the most complex component on the bag by far and you want to make sure it will take plenty of wear and tear. Take a moment or two to fully investigate. Don't just go in and grab a bag off the rack."

If you want a lightweight bag but know most of your golf will be played in a cart, be sure the pockets face out for easy access.

Even with all the recent advances in materials and mechanisms, more golf-bag innovations are on the not-too-distant horizon. "I think bags are going to get lighter with more features," says John Solheim. "There's still a lot to come yet."

COPYRIGHT 1999 New York Times Company Magazine Group, Inc.
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