Suncream, a sun visor and the remains of your summer rounds: your bag may need a seasonal changeover. Before your next tee time, make room for dry gloves, useful layers and the kit that keeps winter golf manageable.
The temperature has dropped, the fairways are softer and you are reaching for another layer. But has anything changed inside your golf bag?
After a summer of packing for the heat, it is easy to head into autumn with the same collection of suncream, spare visors and warm-weather odds and ends. You only discover what is missing when your glove is soaked and the towel you need for your grips is already covered in mud.
Give your bag its winter check before the first properly wet round. Here is what to take out, check and put back.
Empty it before you add anything
Start with every pocket. Throw away empty packaging and broken tees, remove old scorecards and take out clothing that has been sitting there since July.
Wash dirty towels and check any forgotten gloves. Keep sun protection available for bright days, but make space for the things you will now reach for most often.
Open the rain hood and check its fastenings. Inspect pocket zips and find out which compartments are actually waterproof. Your phone and spare gloves deserve a dry pouch, rather than a pocket you hope will keep the rain out.
One glove may not be enough
A spare glove earns its place as soon as the first one gets wet. For a wet forecast, pack more than one dry spare, or a pair of rain gloves designed for those conditions.
Keep replacements in a separate waterproof pouch. Putting a dry glove beside a damp towel defeats the point.
Once a glove becomes slippery or uncomfortable, change it rather than struggling through the remaining holes. After the round, empty the pouch and let damp gloves dry before repacking.
Choose layers you can swing in
Think about what you might need halfway round, not just how warm you feel leaving the clubhouse.
A thin mid-layer or gilet, a wind-resistant outer layer and a packable waterproof give you options as conditions change. Try your golf swing wearing the combination: a jacket that feels comfortable standing still may pull across your shoulders at the top of the backswing.
Keep a warm hat and any spare layer dry and easy to reach. Spare socks are useful too, although they can stay in the car or locker for afterwards.
Give cleaning kit its own space
One muddy towel cannot do every job. Carry one for clubheads and balls, and keep a second towel protected for drying grips and hands.
Add a soft club brush, checking that it is suitable for your clubs. Clean grooves before dirt dries into them, and wipe grips rather than letting mud build up.
A small ball-cleaning pouch or portable ball washer can be handy when course washers are unavailable. Check it before leaving home and keep it away from your dry kit. Clean balls between holes; during a hole, only lift and clean when the Rules allow. Winter weather does not automatically give permission.
Check the small things before they become annoying
Restock playable balls, markers and tees, including shorter tees for iron shots. Check the batteries or charge on your distance device, and give your phone a dry home.
Pack water and something to eat for the time you will be outside. If you use a trolley, check the club’s winter restrictions before setting off.
Finally, put regularly used items in the same pockets each time. Gloves, waterproofs and towels should be accessible without emptying the bag beside the green.
Make the changeover once, then do a quick reset after each round: wet kit out, cleaning kit refreshed, dry spares back in. That is far more useful than discovering your bag is still ready for August when you are playing in November.
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