How to turn your golf bag from a caddie killer to feather light

Question: I recently went to Pinehurst and was embarrassed when the caddie basically said my bag was too heavy. I don’t want to make that mistake again. What are the best ways to lighten the load while still making sure I have what I need?

Answer: Well, the guess here is the No. 1 thing wrong with your golf bag is probably, um, your golf bag. Our rule of thumb, if fully empty, is that if your bag weighs more than a newborn child you’re doing yourself a disservice. Even if you always ride. Even if your bag never leaves the cart, as in you drive your cart to the golf course, a weighty bag is an unnecessary incumbrance. Like checked luggage at the airport. A bigger bag just encourages you to stuff more in there than you will ever need.

You can find dozens of golf bags with plenty of storage that weigh less than six pounds in their natural state. Also, beware: Always ask if the stated weight is with the strap or without. Some ocmpanies do it one way and some do it the other and obviously it makes a difference. A smaller bag also allows your travel bag to let you store more laundry or perhaps the extra souvenir sweaters you bring back from trip of a lifetime, where the caddies will no doubt greatly thank you for your bag choice as you have already found out.

Then there’s what you put in it. Here are some tips when playing with a caddie. First, ditch the rangefinder. They have one or know the yardages. Keep to a minimum the number of tees. You shouldn't have any more tees in your bag than you will need for your next round. You're not a rabid squirrel storing nuts for the winter. Ball markers, too (two tops—one flat plastic one with a peg you put in the ground and none of the poker-chip variety). Also get rid of the umbrella and rain gear if it is clearly a good-weather day. You don’t need a towel—your caddie has one to wipe your clubs. In short, if you're not likely to use it that round, take it out and all of a sudden that steamer trunk you had will seem incredibly lightweight. And the odds your caddie will give you a bad yardage will go down dramatically

As for bag tags, you get to have one, maybe two. If you’re lucky enough to be a member of a private club, proudly display the one from your home course and maybe one other—provided it’s from Pebble Beach, Bandon or some similar high-octane course that you have actually played (having your buddy bring you one is beyond weak). If you have a bag tag from the local scholarship association’s annual scramble event, rip it off immediately. A bouquet of bag tags is just obnoxious.

Finally, a word about golf balls. We appreciate that we’re all worried about running out of ammo. But unless you’re playing TPC Sawgrass, six should be more than enough. Plus, if you have a rough front nine you can always grab another sleeve at the turn. Also, while you didn’t ask, a little public service announcement: If you have more than one kind of ball in your bag, you're breeding inconsistency in your game. They're not M&Ms. They don't all taste the same. If you haven't at least tested another model of ball in the last year, you're doing your score a disservice. The golf ball is the single piece of equipment you use on every shot. Now that’s obvious, but it bears repeating because most players don’t treat it that way.

Bottom line: Virtually every golfer would play better with a multilayer, urethane-cover golf ball. Of course, I see you rolling your eyes that we’re just trying to jack you into a higher price point. Not at all. Just understand what you’re giving up and decide what your own cost-benefit analysis is. But for an extra six bucks or so over the ball you’re playing you can at least do yourself the favor to try a sleeve and see the difference. There’s a reason no non-urethane balls earned Gold on this year’s Golf Digest Golf Ball Hot List. If that sleeve is gone by the fifth hole, you’re probably OK with the less-expensive ball until you straighten that out. But if you noticed iron shots and pitch shots reacting better with the same distance (if not more) off the driver, at least you have the information you need. After that, the choice is yours.