There is a lot to keep track of when first getting into golf. You’re learning about the game’s rules and which clubs you need. One thing you may neglect to consider is the bag that is keeping your shiny new clubs safe.
You may not consider your bag choice important, but it’s one of the essential accessories since it holds your drivers, tees, balls, irons, and more. If you’re beginning the golf hobby, you may not want to invest a ton into a bag yet, so here are the best golf bags for beginners under $100.
Read Next: Best Golf Drivers For Beginners Under $500
Quick Look
Best Overall: PowerBilt TPS 5400 Cart Golf Bag (Shop Amazon)
Best Value: Orlimar Pitch and Putt Lightweight Stand/Carry Golf Bag (Shop Amazon)
Best Stand Bag: Tangkula Golf Stand Bag with 8-Way Divider (Shop Amazon)
Stand Bags
Tangkula Golf Stand Bag with 8-Way Divider
Coming in at right under $100 is the Tangkula Golf Stand Bag. This bag has several features that make it feel like a more premium bag than a value bag. It has a sturdy construction, plenty of pockets for all your clubs, and an excellent single-strap design to make porting this bag a breeze.
If you’re willing to spend a little bit extra, you get a ton of value from this bag and may not want a bag with a more premium price for a while.
Pros:
- 8-way bag with full dividers to prevent clubs from hitting each other
- Includes an attached cap
- Water-resistant construction
- 7 zipper pockets to store your other accessories
Cons:
- Reasonably heavy at 5 pounds
Orlimar Pitch and Putt Lightweight Stand/Carry Golf Bag
If the driving range or a par three course is where you’re at, this value bag may be the perfect thing to get you started. Priced at around $50, you’ll get a light bag with a single shoulder strap and handle to lug around your clubs.
It’s a big enough bag to get you started and is perfect for casual golfing, but if you want to play competitive courses, it may be worth looking at one of the other bags on this list.
Pros:
- It comes in 17 different colors
- Light at just under 2 pounds
- Affordably priced
Cons:
- Dual compartment top
- A comparatively small volume of about six clubs
- Only a single accessory compartment
Powerbilt TPS Dunes 14-Way
If you’re looking for a dual-strap bag, then the Powerbilt TPS Dunes may be just the bag for you.
The Powerbilt TPS Dunes is Priced at $95, comes in 4 different color combinations, and has five zippered compartments. Overall, this bag is a solid choice if a lightweight bag with two straps matters to you.
Pros:
- Dual carry straps for a “backpack-like” experience
- Light at 1.25 pounds
Cons:
- The 14-way top can be a con for some people
- It has average durability
- Some compartments may not take clubs with larger handles
CHAMPKEY Lightweight Golf Stand Bag
Another budget bag is the Champkey bag. This bag is priced at about $65 and has an adjustable single-shoulder strap.
It also features a front pocket, bottle holder, and better durability than expected at this price point.
This bag may be ideal for you if having a lot of storage at a value price is something you value.
Pros:
- 5 zippered pockets for storing all your accessories
- Includes a cup or water bottle holder
Cons:
- Currently only comes in black
- Only two compartments with one divider
- Heavier than other bags at 3.4 pounds
- No top cover
- Only can reasonably hold six clubs
Cart Bags
Precise MX14 Deluxe Cart
Precise has created a cart bag full of storage and some excellent bonus features. The Precise MX14 cart bag is priced at $94; as such, this bag is a more premium offering that can stand up to the wear and tear of travel.
One feature that makes this bag stand out is the inclusion of a cooler pocket. The cooler pocket means you’ll be able to keep your drink nice and cold while on the golf course.
It also has padded shoulder straps to help more evenly distribute the weight.
Precise’s golf bag may be for you if you’re looking for a lot of storage, a bonus cooler pocket, and a rain hood for a reasonable price.
Pros:
- Includes a rain hood
- 14 pockets for plenty of storage
- Cooler pocket
Cons:
- The 14-way top can be a con for some people
- Lack of full dividers
- It comes in only two colors
PowerBilt TPS 5400 Cart Golf Bag
(Shop Amazon)
Featured yet again, PowerBilt has another strong showing with the TPS 5400. This bag has a single shoulder strap and nylon construction for more outstanding durability. Additionally, it has double padding to help keep your clubs in prime condition.
The Powerbilt TPS 5400 is priced at $80, and this bag feels more like a premium golf bag and less like a budget bag. It is ideal for someone who prefers the upgraded storage of a cart bag but doesn’t want to break the bank.
Pros:
- Includes 3 full-length dividers
- 6 zippered pockets and an insulated water bottle compartment
Cons:
- It only comes in two colors
- 14-way top can be a con to some people
- Heavier at 8 pounds
Hot-Z Golf HTZ Sport Plus Ultra Lite Cart Bag
Hot-Z has developed a cart bag worthy of your consideration. This bag is priced at $80 and has many features that will make your golf experience more enjoyable.
Most notably, this has two large side pockets and uses nylon for more durable construction. It also has several additional attachments for a towel, gloves, and a special pocket for your scorecard.
One minor gripe is that the bag does not have a separate pocket to store teas. An additional pocket would alleviate this concern and elevate the golf bag to another level.
Pros:
- Includes a rain hood cover
- Includes 4 full-length dividers
- 5 zippered pockets
- Towel ring and velcro glove attachment
Cons:
- 14-way top can be a con to some people
- It only has 1 color option
- It weighs approximately 10 pounds
Pencil Bags
Callaway Golf Carry+ Pencil Bag
Callaway is a top golf brand and usually doesn’t have items in this price range, so discovering this pencil bag is a treat.
The Callaway Carry+ Pencil bag is priced at about $80 and doubles as a light stand bag. It’s an ideal configuration for a beginning player with a 3- way separation – perfect for the driving range or a par 3 course.
While it is not guaranteed to improve your play, you’ll feel like a pro golfer with this quality golf club bag.
Pros:
- Dual Strap
- Built-in stand
- Light at 2 pounds
- 3 full pockets – including a water-resistant valuables pocket
- Includes rain hood cover
Cons:
- It only comes in two colors
- It only has one division
- A bit pricey for the amount of storage space
TaylorMade Quiver Pencil Bag
TaylorMade is another quality golf brand making a surprise appearance at this price point. Unlike their competitor, TaylorMade opted for a polyester construction for their bag.
Unfortunately, this bag doesn’t include a rain cover and only has one split side pocket. Considering this bag is priced the same as the Callaway competitor, it’s disappointing.
The one main advantage this bag has is the extra storage. While the Callaway bag can only comfortably hold about 6 golf clubs due to the single division, the TaylorMade bag can comfortably hold 12 clubs.
Pros:
- Dual strap
- Built-in stand
- Light at 2 pounds
- Can comfortably hold 12 clubs, snuggly 14
Cons:
- It comes in 2 colors
- A bit pricey for the amount of storage space
- Lack of rain hood cover
Sunday Golf 36-Inch Pencil Bag
Compared to the other two pencil bags, this is certainly more of a value bag than a premium bag.
The Sunday Golf 36-Inch Pencil Bag is reasonably priced at $50. The Sunday Golf bag has a single padded shoulder strap and foldable design that emphasizes simplicity and portability.
Due to the low price and minimal bonus features, this bag would be a perfect starter golf bag for a beginning golf player.
It would be a good choice whether someone who knows they’ll be playing pitch and putt, taking many trips to the driving range, or exploring the game of golf.
Pros:
- Lightweight at under 1 pound
- Two pockets
Cons:
- Lack of rain hood cover
- It comes in only one color
- Lack of dividers
What To Look For In a Golf Bag
Bag Type
Do you prefer to walk and golf or take a stroll in a golf cart?
While this question may seem simple enough, it can affect which type of golf bags you should consider.
A stand bag is your best friend if you want to walk and golf. Alternatively, a cart bag may be better if you want to get around on four wheels, as they offer more pockets and padding.
Lastly, it may be worth looking at a travel bag if you’re a business person who travels often. Companies usually design these bags to be compact when not in use, have extra padding, and have wheels for accessible transit.
It’s important to note. However, that travel bag usually holds one of the other types of golf bags inside and is not intended to hold your clubs like the different types of bags.
All these options have pros and cons, so understanding how you like to play and your needs is critical to figuring out which bag type you should consider.
Quality Materials
You will sacrifice some material quality for a value bag at this price point.
Despite that tradeoff, you should still look for bags that use quality padding, reinforce the bottom, and have durable zippers, as these are arguably the most used and abused bag portions.
Durability
Looking at the durability of the bags is another critical consideration. Your golf bag is an investment and one that you would not like to make more than necessary.
Generally, the lighter bags and pencil bags are going to have lower durability because they focus on minimizing weight.
Another area to look for durability is the handle and straps. You’ll be carrying your bag a lot, so you’ll want these parts of the bag to be strong, along with the bottom.
Storage Options
Golf inevitably has a lot of accessories that go along with it. When considering various bags, storage space is not something you want to skimp on.
You’ll want at least one large pocket to store your balls, range finder, and tees. Ideally, you would have five or more pockets to add in extras like your gloves, valuables, and water bottle.
While important, storage pockets aren’t the only thing to consider when looking at storage.
The number of dividers is also a point of contention and worthy of consideration. For beginners, it’s usually fine to have a bag with only a 3-way divider. As you grow in skill, you may want to consider a bag with five or more dividers to separate your clubs based on the length and the construction material.
Summing Up
Golf can be an expensive hobby, but getting your first bag doesn’t have to break the bank.
You may not be getting top-of-the-line golf bags from name brands at this price range, but you can get a sturdy golf bag that will last you a while, or at least until you decide to invest more into the game of golf.