Golf Accessories Checklist for Golfers

When it comes to accessories, there's a whole golfing subculture out there. By accessories, I mean things like

Covers for your irons Plastic tubes that you put in your bag to keep your shafts from clanging together Tripod tees to use when the ground is hard Golf watches that keep your score Rubber suction cups that allow you to lift your ball from the hole without bending down

I've even seen a plastic clip that fits to the side of your bag so that you can "find" your putter quickly. You know the sort of things. Most accessories appear to be good ideas, but then you often use them only once.

The place to find all this sort of stuff is in the classified advertising sections of golf magazines. But take my advice: Don't bother. Real golfers — and you want to look and behave like one — don't go in for that stuff. Accessories are very uncool. The best golf bags are spartan affairs and contain only the bare essentials:

About six balls A few wooden tees A couple of gloves A rain suit A pitch-mark repair tool A few small coins (preferably foreign) for markers Two or three pencils A little bag (leather is cool) for your wallet, money clip, loose change, car keys, rings, and so on

Your bag should also have a towel (a real, full-size one) hanging from the strap. Use your towel to dry off and clean your clubheads. Keep a spare towel in your bag. If it rains, you can't have too many towels.

I mentioned headcovers. Keep them only on your woods or metal woods. Golfers have a wide range to choose from. You have your cuddly animal devotees. Other players like to be identified with a particular golf club, university, or sports team. Some players are content merely to advertise the manufacturer of the club they're using.

Bottom line? I recommend that you get headcovers with which you readily identify. Create your own persona. For example, tour player Craig "The Walrus" Stadler has walrus headcovers. Esteban Toledo, a former boxer, uses little boxing gloves. Australian Steve Elkington doesn't use headcovers.

As for your golf bag, you don't need a large tour-sized monstrosity with your name on the side. I've got one because I play professionally and someone pays me to use their equipment. But you should go the understated route. Especially if you're going to be carrying your bag, go small and get the kind with legs that fold down automatically to support the bag. First, you don't want to be loaded down on a hot day. And second, the last thing you want to do is draw attention to yourself. Blend in. Be one with the environment.