Most casual golfers and even some dedicated ones sometimes forget that your clubs are not the only important pieces of equipment to make sure you have in your bag before round. I have a list that I use to make sure that I am prepared for my upcoming round and do a bag check the night before to make sure that I’m not missing anything. Everyone’s list will be different but some items I think are universal and no one should be without.

The Essentials

1. Water/Energy Drink – This the number one pirece of scoring equipment in my bag. No one can perform their best while dehydrated. I have a Callaway bag with a cooler pocket with drainage holes where I can put two big bottles and some ice. Never Leave Home Without It!!
2. Fruit/Snack – Almost as important is a little snack like a piece of fruit. This little push at the turn can keep your mind focused and your stomach happy.
3. Enough Balls & Tees – Notice I said enough. I can’t tell you how many times I spent the day bumming tees off of a buddy. It get annoying for both parties. Even more annoying is having to ask for a ball or rummaging through the woods trying to keep your day from ending early. Not fun.
4. Golf Glove – If you use one and forget it can cause problems. Since your hand(s) are not used to swinging a club without one you can get blisters that will end your fun quickly.
5. Rain Gear/Umbrella – If there is even the slightest chance of rain make sure they are in your bag. I was caught out last year on the hole farthest from the club house and it was no fun riding back in my polo shirt and khakis. That also reminds me – you also may want to bring a change of clothes and leave them in the car also.

With the essentials out of the way there are still some items that I would prefer to not live without. They just make a day on the course a lot more comfortable and enjoyable.

Helpful Afterthoughts

1. Golf Towel – I hate standing over the ball with a dirty club head. It distracts me and all I think about it how will the dirt affect the shot I am about to hit. The answer is probably not as much as my crappy swing but nevertheless I still don’t want to think about it. I keep the distraction to a minimum by cleaning my clubs after each shot before they go back in the bag with the towel clipped to it.
2. Ball Markers – Even if it is some loose change, having something to mark the ball with is important. Especially if you are playing with some people that you haven’t met before because you are never sure how serious they are.
3. Divot Tool – I think one of the most disrespectful things is not repairing any damage you might do to the green. While you can just use a tee it is so much easier to use a nice metal divot tool.  My favorite one is from Odyssey and it includes a magnetic ball marker taking care of item #2 at the same time.

Final Thoughts

If you use a GPS that would also be very important and if you are like me and don’t wear your spikes to the course make sure those make it into the car. I have played more than one round without my golf shoes and really don’t like it. Sunglasses are also a major part of a players equipment that should be accounted for if necessary. The list of possibilities could go on forever, the moral of the story is just make sure you have everything because you never know when the need will arrise.

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