E9golf

Sun Mountain launches new Carry System aimed to ease back strain when Carrying Clubs

I've been tracking this product launch for a while and am happy to announce that it's finally ready to roll.  Sun Mountain claims that the system transfers 60% of the bag and clubs weight to the hips, creating less fatigue because you walk when carrying the bag due to better posture.

HUG Technology works in conjunction with dual bag straps allowing the bag to be shouldered as usual and then for the HUG Carry System to be simply positioned around the waist. Using the HUG Carry System transfers the majority of the weight off of the shoulders which results in reduced upper body fatigue and more upright posture.

Research by backpack safety expert, Ralph Kester, showed that golfers carrying bags with HUG Technology walk with their heads forward 4% from vertical, while those carrying without HUG Technology walked with heads forward 25%. The further forward the head tilts, the more weight the neck and shoulder muscles have to support. The closer the neck is to straight vertical, the better the weight is dispersed throughout the entire body.

As soon as we get a few in stock we'll do a full product review and add it to JustGolfBags.com, but for now we can at least offer up the press release:

Take Off Pounds in Seconds

Nicklaus and Player announce President Cup Selections

Ok, so Daly and Bubba didn't make the squad.  But, I like the picks, particularly since both have a great shot at making next years Ryder Cup. 

The Weir pick was a little surprising, although it makes sense since he's known for being the Pride of Canadian golf and the event is in Montreal.  Stephen Ames probably would like that moniker and had a nice argument for being selected after a great PGA.  I wonder if his 76 yesterday cost him the Captain's Pick...

That being said, on paper the Americans have their hands full this year...

Player and Nicklaus announce captain's selections from PGATOUR.com

Note to Captain Jack-My President's Cup Picks

Dear Captain Nicklaus,

No doubt you've got things under control when you make your wildcard selections for the Presidents Cup tomorrow, but I have some unsolicited advice that I would like to offer up for your consideration.

Please, please pick a few players that will inject some excitement into the Presidents Cup.

Personally, I enjoy the Presidents Cup very much.  It seems to embody the Spirit of competition and golf decorum more than the Ryder Cup.  Maybe it's because a vast majority of the players on the International team regularly play on the PGA TOUR versus the Ryder Cup team, so the participants are more comfortable with each other and act a little more civilized (let's face it, the Ryder Cup can get a little over the top, almost like a re-enactment of the American Revolutionary War). 

So here are my picks:

John Daly and Bubba Watson

Yes, I just said it...  Let the long ball rule the Presidents Cup.  The pairing opportunities are limitless.

Bubba and Tiger, Daly and Furyk, heck, Bubba and Daly in the Four Ball competition. 

Sure, there are going to be some foul balls resulting in the occasional "ball in hand, get in the cart, I'll see you on the next tee" moments.  But, there will also be the Driver over the corner of the dogleg, hit short wedge from the rough to two feet, pick it up because you just made birdie moments as well.  And let's face it, winning match play events is all about making Birdies.  And both Bubba and Long John make their fair share...

Most of all Captain Nicklaus, it will be fun to watch. 

Tiger to design a golf course in America

I would love to know what it costs to get Tiger to lend his design eye to a stateside development, but my guess is that $10 million wouldn't even get the conversation rolling.  However, he did decide to part ways with American Express so maybe he has a bit of time on his hands...

Tiger to design his first US course by Golf.com

PGA TOUR Players grow weary of tough courses

The rough is up this year, pins are tucked and as a result, birdies are down.  While I don't like to see every week set up like the Hope, I do think there's a happy medium and it seems that PGA TOUR players would like to see some diversity in course setup.

Golf: In a year of tough majors, players have had plenty of experience

Monday After the Open

The tough setup got me thinking, what Major golf tournament course would be the most fun playing on the Monday after the event?

Would I enjoy playing Oakmont on the Monday after the Open? Heck no. I’m a respectable player, having competed in College and on various mini-tours for a few years just after college. I couldn’t break 90 there right now. Before they put the USGA stamp of approval on Oakmont I might have been able to scrape out something in the 70’s.

Give me Augusta the day after the Masters. Give me Sawgrass after the Players. Or maybe Southern Hills post PGA. Oakmont? I’ll wait for the membership to widen back the fairways, soften up the greens a hair (I said soften not slow), and take an inch or two off the top. Then, and only then might I be able to enjoy this masterpiece. So, any Oakmont Member out there who reads this, get out the Triplex mower and give me a call!

US Open 07-Golf History Not in the Making

I’m about to say something blasphemous, so please grant me a temporary pardon until you at least hear me out. I generally don’t enjoy watching the US Open. This year was no exception. There, I said it. It’s comforting to get that out in the open…

I can give you all of the typical reasons. The golf course setups are too hard, borderline disastrous in many cases (think Sunday at Shinnecock a few years back). I also hate the concept of turning a par 5 into a par 4 just for the sake of making par that much more unattainable. Or maybe it’s just the borderline absurdity of Johnny Miller attempting to convince me that he has any clue about the modern game.

Granted, the Open was won by a very solid playing Argentine (what a good week for Argentina with Cabrera and then the Spurs victory and two key players coming from his native country). Ultimately the competitor who played the best won this week and I am certain that’s the goal of the USGA.

However, great sports theater to me is all about great rallies from behind to catch the leader at the finish line. And having a course setup that allows a few birdies down the stretch to me offers just that type of theater.

Tiger hit a wonderful tee shot on 17 and had literally no chance from the bunker. Birdie on 18? Forget about it, wasn’t going to happen. And thus, the USGA missed a chance to write a chapter in golf history because the course was set up just too hard. Instead, we got another career grinder who won because he was able to keep his hands on the steering wheel just long enough to limp it across the finish line. Don’t get me wrong, I’m truly happy for Cabrera. And no, I wasn’t necessarily rooting for Tiger to win it all (I was actually pulling for Baddeley).

I’m more interested though in tournaments, finishes and story lines that help grow the game of golf. 18 holes of playoff golf on a Monday would have been good for the game. It’s a shame it had no chance of happening…

Cool tool helps Build local golf course maps

We ran across this tool the other day and have loaded all the local golf courses in a map.  Very cool...

San Antonio Golf Courses

Cargo Golf Pro 900 Video Review

We are beginning to experiment with a new method to bring you information regarding products via the wonders of YouTube and our new camera.  Let us know what you think...

What is the Best Golf Travel Bag?

What is the best golf travel bag? 

Well, it's definitely a common question for us at JustGolfBags.com and the best way we can answer this question is to usually reply with "how much do you travel?". 

The reason we ask this is that we want to determine the best bag for the client to provide years of use while offering a suggestion that will protect their equipment sufficiently in the process.  But first, let's address a few myths.

Myth #1-I need a hard-sided bag.

Trust me, you don't.  They are a pain in the rear to travel with, are incredibly space consuming, and typically won't fit in the truck of a standard sized vehicle.  If they offered so much extra protection, wouldn't Tour Players use one?  Well, most tour players use a fully soft sided bag, the Club Glove Last Bag XXL.

Myth #2-The more I spend on a bag, the better the Protection.

While it's true that more expensive bags often offer better grades of nylon on the bag, it won't necessarily offer that much more protection.  A higher grade nylon will, however, offer enhanced durability.  The protection is in the foam protection in the top half of the bag and just make sure whatever bag you choose has a decent amount of padding.

Myth #3-Without a hard-sided bag the airlines will make me sign a waiver for my clubs. 

In my 20 plus years of golf related travel (with a soft sided bag no less), I have yet been required to sign a waiver for my clubs and have had only one incident of damage.  A driver head was sheared off where the shaft met the clubhead and I needed to get the club reshafted.  This likely would have been prevented had I used a Club Glove Stiff Arm to protect from a top impact on the travel cover.

Myth #4-Club Glove makes the best golf travel bags.

While it's true that Club Glove makes a great travel bag, the reason so many use one is because they spend great sums of money giving them away to any golf professional that requests one.  Brilliant marketing indeed.  However, matched up in head to head comparison we actually prefer the far less expensive Armor Gear Big Kahuna II.  Funny name, unbelievable protection for the dollar.

Ultimately, you don't need to spend over $200 to get a great quality travel bag, particularly if you are only taking a few trips per year.  Here's a list of our favorites in three different price points:

1. The Armor Gear Big Kahuna II  $179
2. The Burton Galaxy $139
3. The Bag Boy T-6 $79
4. The Sun Mountain Atlas $189

With a few quick questions we can narrow in on the best travel bag for you.  Just give us a call at 877-524-6755.