Stewart Golf, the golf company best known for their range of ultra expensive electric golf trolley entered the carry bag golf market last year with the above bag. I bought this bag mainly due to the often inclement weather found playing golf in the West of Scotland. A waterproof golf bag seems like a good idea but the reality is very different.

The bag seemed quite well laid out with a variety of pockets, but alarm bells should have probably rung when one the pockets was specifically for sunglasses but no defined pocket for tees, tools and markers etc. All the zips in the bag are very stiff, possibly due making them waterproof but in reality makes them very difficult to use. This is especially prevalent when trying to get another ball if you need to play 3 of the tee.

Using the bag on the course highlights further problems, the stand mechanism fails often with you having manually pull the bag legs out when putting the bag down and getting your own leg getting caught in the bag legs when picking it up.

The waterproof element of the bag is more of a concept than reality especially the waterproof part that keeps the clubs dry. The hood at the top has the same stiff zips used elsewhere making it a pain to use. Also, it sits very tightly on the bag making it very difficult to get the clubs at either end out. Also, the way the hood sits when open allows the rainwater to gather and then drop down and soak the clubs. In my experience it is no better than non waterproof stand bags for keeping clubs dry.

My other point of concern is the quality of the materials used within the dividers, there are already big signs of wear and tear consistent with a bag owned for many years rather than the few months I have used it.

In summing up, it looks like Stewart Golf have rushed a bag into market without spending some time testing the bag out. Their normal market is possibly for well heeled customers who play golf when they can find some time and are fond of the latest gadgets. Stand bags are normally used by people who play a lot and will get a lot of use. This bag just doesnt cut it in that field. They might sell a few for a back up for said well heeled customers but customer looking for a long term bag should look elsewhere.