We're very jealous of professional golfers.
Not only can they hit the ball a million miles off the tee, they rarely hit wild and whacky offline shots like us amateurs do. They can get up-and-down from the worst of positions and make pretty much every putt they look at.
They also have access to all the gear and equipment us amateurs could only dream of, from the best golf drivers down to the best putters. From gloves to clothes, professionals can take their pick. They also have very unique golf bags, too.
Almost all tour professionals use staff bags, larger sized golf bags with a manufacturer or their number one sponsor splashed on the side. Like many of the best golf bags, tour bags come with a variety of very handy features. They are are larger than most stand bags and deliver ultimate levels of storage for everything from waterproof clothes to snacks. They also work for professional golfers to provide an elite level of protection to their very expensive tour-spec golf clubs, which if damaged, could cost a lot of money to repair.
They're a little harder for the caddy to carry because of their size, but they look great and give off a vibe that the player knows what they are doing when they walk onto that first tee box. They're also great for travel, keeping clubs and other delicate items in the bag safe during transport.
So what are the best staff bags available today? And how can we go about getting one? Good thing we've made this buying guide to answer those to questions then, isn't it? We've selected our favorites and added them to the list below to help you plan and manage your golf game just as the professionals would. If a tour bag is not for you then take a look at our guides on the best golf stand bags, best golf trolley bags or the best golf pencil bags.
The Quick List
A model used by TaylorMade staff players, the Tour Staff bag looks fantastic and has pockets aplenty for all your golf gear.
Titleist produce quality golf clubs, but they rarely look flashy. This specific staff bag design is a real branch out from the ordinary for the brand and we think it looks awesome.
Most notably used by Rickie Fowler, the Aerojet staff bag from Cobra is a nice-looking, durable bag that ensures a slick look for a long period of time of the course.
An all-round excellent golf bag from Callaway, this is packed with features, such as the Comfort Strap and velour wrapped top.
An absolute classic of the staff bag genre, the Ping staff bag has barely changed from it's classic look for many years. The simple black and white with the logo on the side means this is a classy looking bag - and it's practical too
This Srixon Staff Bag works well for both caddies and carts which is a nice feature. It also ticks a lot of boxes as it is robust, stable and has lots of storage.
Best Tour Golf Bags - Best Staff Golf Bags
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Used by Rory
Taylormade's top tour bag has used the same color scheme used on the excellent Qi10 driver. 12 pockets are included on the bag with a 6-way divider to seperate your clubs which is lined with velour for extra protection.
Having the Qi10 logo on the top of the bag adds to the quality this bag delivers. As we have seen in our best drivers and best irons guides, the Qi10 range is a class above many other clubs on the market for performance and quality. While this logo will eventually date the bag when the next line is released, we still loved the combination of silver and blue this bag delivers.
The belly pouch is also removable meaning you can get something embroidered on the panel for a personalized touch to your bag - why not get your name, the badge of your local club or even the badge of your favourite sports team like Billy Horschel?
If you currently use TaylorMade clubs too, they will look even smarter sat in this bag, but if you're after a slightly smaller TaylorMade bag, check out our best TaylorMade golf bags guide.
Best looking
I mean... just look at it!
If looks could kill, consider us dead. What makes this eye-catching tour bag even better is that Titleist normally stay pretty chilled out when it comes to the design of their clubs and bags - less is often more in their eyes. So when we saw the camo design on their Midsize Tour Bag we fell in love instantly.
The bag weighs around 4kg and is perfect to add to the best best golf carts too. The strap oozes comfort, meaning it can be carried if the player prefers the old fashioned style of carrying your clubs on your back.
There is loads of storage room too, with a wealth of pockets to store your belongings and a slick magnetic pocket to keep your valuables extra safe. Like the Taylormade staff bag, the belly panel can be removed from the bag meaning you cadd add some customization to it by getting it embroidered with your name of club logo. Zippers are both chunky and durable, plus with a rain hood on, this bag rivals some of the best waterproof golf bags on the market. It also comes in at great value.
Used by Fowler
The clean and crisp visuals on the Cobra Aerojet Tour Staff bag make it an instant winner in our view. Akin to the stunning AeroJet drivers, the blue, white and black colorway on this bag gives it a very premium look that'll help you look like a professional player on the course.
It comes with all the features you'd expect from a tour bag - loads of storage in the 11 spacious pockets as well as a fleece lined valuables pocket, a six way divider to keep your clubs separated and a firm, easy to carry handle to help you transport the bag about or help you lift it onto your golf trolley or onto the back of a cart.
The bag is made from 100% polyurethane material which feels like premium quality and holds up with solid durability. It's a nice finish to a good-looking golf bag, but it's worth noting this bag weighs a little more than other options on the market - so keep this in mind if you still carry your bag on the course (or take a regular caddy who does!).
Used by Rahm
What's cool about this golf bag is that it's design is similar to that of the Ai Smoke driver, produced by the same brand. It's a stylish, bright design packed with useful features. The smoky black, blue and white colorway means this bag stands out from the crowd but isn't too flashy and the Paradym Ai Smoke detailing adds extra pop to the looks.
The 6-way velour-wrapped dividers at the top of the bag help keep your clubs organised and ordered, preventing them rattled and hitting off each other as you walk the course.
We were big fns of the OptiFit Comfort Strap which shapes itself around the characteristics of your shoulder - it feels great while walking the course and means it doesn't feel like you're hauling about a big tour bag. It doesn't break down over time either, and like the rest of the bag is very durable. An umbrella sleeve is integrated into the bag whilst a rain hood matching the color scheme is included. This is a tour bag that can be compared to many of the best waterproof golf bags.
Used by Hovland
Often when it comes to looks, less is more. That is the case with the Ping Tour Staff Bag.
A design that has barely changed in the last few decades, this bag is functional, stylish and durable. Ping are responsible for a wide range of bags that we rank up there with some of the best on the market so it's easy to see why tour stars including Tony Finau and Tyrrell Hatton have used this bag throughout their careers.
Like most tour bags, a smart 6-way top divider gives your clubs enough space for organization when sitting in the bag and means they won't bang together as you walk, ride or push on a trolley. Storage comes in nine roomy pockets with two full-size apparel pockets delivering enough space for you to take half your wardrobe out on course. It’s stable on its base but it will sit nicely on a cart too. If carrying, the single padded strap offers a good level of comfort while the integrated grab handles make the bag pretty easy to shift around.
Used by Brooks
Used by the likes of five-time major winner Brooks Koepka and 2019 Open Championship winner Shane Lowry, Srixon's tour bag has been designed with both caddies and golf carts in mind. It's a very comfortable bag to carry to it's also been designed to fit neatly on one of the best electric golf trolleys on the market as well as the best golf carts.
The 5-way 9.5” top offers plenty of room for clubs to sit uncluttered while seven pockets deliver good storage and accessibility to kit. There’s a waterproof valuables pocket and insulated water pocket.
There are also a bunch of hook points that you can add additional items to your golf bags like a case for your range finder, bag tags from different clubs or a towel. When it comes to tour golf bags, this one ticks the boxes – sturdy, plenty of storage and robust. A nice offering from Srixon. Why not pair this bag up with a box of balls from our best Srixon golf balls guide.
How we test
When it comes to our process of testing tour golf bags, we take it very seriously. Whether we are sent a product or buy it ourselves, we put each bag to the test out on the golf course to ensure we can provide thorough and reliable advice. Most importantly though, manufacturers cannot pay for a good review because we tell it how we see it. Every member of the Golf Monthly team is an avid golfer and as such, knows what does and doesn't make for a good stand bag.
As far as our methodology goes, if we say we have reviewed a product, that means we have done so properly. We endeavour to use all the features on the bag. That means, for example, if the valuables pocket claims to be waterproof, we will pour water on it to find out. If a strap claims it is comfy, we'll carry that bag over multiple rounds.
We pride ourselves in our reviews because it's a methodology that has been honed over many years of us testing a range of different golf equipment offerings, from drivers and putters to bags and golf carts.
Our reviews are also done by avid golfers - so we know what to look for in different equipment areas. We do our reviews because we want you, the reader, to make the best informed decision when making a golfing purchase - we know most of them aren't cheap. We remain impartial at all times - no brand gets preferential treatment from us, nor can any manufacturer 'buy' a good review from us - we simply call it how we see it!
How to choose a golf bag
So, you might be wondering which tour golf bag is best for you. Well, when picking a tour golf bag there are several things you need to consider to ensure you get the right bag for your needs.
1. Weight
Tour bags are generally heavier than some of the best stand bags and pencil bags on the market. They are bulkier, more padded and have a lot more features that are designed to cater for the needs of professional golfers. Ultimately, no one wants to get a sore back or feel fatigued from carrying around a heavy bag of clubs.
2. A good strap
Your comfort levels with a golf bag rely almost entirely on the quality of the straps. A good golf bag can suddenly become a bad one if they have cut corners with the strapping - our advice would be to go to your local golf store or pro shop and try as many of them on your shoulders to get a good feel for them - you'd be surprised with the range of quality.
3. Plenty of pockets
Pockets are important in everyday life and the same goes for on the golf course. Keep your valuables safe and your extra jumper dry with quality pockets - and make sure there is enough storage for what you want to bring out on the course.
4. Waterproofing and club protection
Golf clubs don't come cheap and the best way to look after them is to store them correctly. For that reason you should buy a bag that both provides you with waterproofing protection but also protects your clubs at all times. Look for bags that are made of water resistant materials, come with a waterproof club hood and also have waterproof pockets to keep your valuables dry.
5. Pick a bag with a solid base
As the weather can change at any moment, you need to ensure that you are well prepared for any such changes, which means you need to have a tour bag with a solid, waterproof base that will not leak or get damaged when you stand your bag up on wet or muddy ground. While tour bags are some of the best club holders in the game, take a look at our guides on the best Sun Mountain golf bags, the best Ping golf bags, or the best Callaway golf bags.
FAQs
What is a golf tour staff bag?
A tour staff bag is most commonly used by professional golfers who are lucky enough to have someone caddying for them. Tour staff golf bags tend to be pretty large in size, have many pockets and can cater for a lot of clubs. That is because top-level players need a lot of equipment and tend to need more pockets and more club compartments because of that.
How should you arrange your clubs in your tour bag?
The best way to arrange your clubs in your tour bag is by putting your longer clubs at the top of the bag and your shorter clubs and putter at the bottom. That helps to protect your driver and fairway wood clubheads from knocking against each other and getting damaged.
Can a tour bag go on a trolley?
Yes, tour bags can go on trolleys, and you can get some tour bags that will also designed to specifically be placed on the back of a golf buggy.
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