Bag/Club advice for Scotland trip

[johnsomp]

I leave this Wednesday for my first Scotland trip.  After postponing in 2020 and 2021, I am beyond excited.  Here is my issues.

 

I bought a golf bag back in 2019 for the first dates we secured for our trip.  It is a Titleist Stadry 4, which I find works remarkably well in light rain.  It's 4 pounds 10 ounces.  When the trip got postponed, I ended up using the bag full time, and it is now a little old and tired.  Therefore, I bought a new bag at the end of last year, a new Titleist Players 4.  It's 3 pounds 9 ounces.  I've been using it recently, and I can tell the different in weight when fully loaded (roughly one club lighter). Because of this, I was planning on bringing the new Titleist Players 4 to make it easier to carry and push on the trolley.  However, the problem is that yesterday, I was playing, and it started pouring.  It rained about .4 inches in about 30 minutes.  By the end of the rain, the Titleist Players 4 had a measurable amount of water just sitting in the bottom of the large apparel pocket on the side.  I actually had to turn the bag on its side to get the water to drain out.  That has never happened with my Stadry.

 

My dilemma is what bag to bring?  Do I sacrifice the additional weight for a little bit of rain protection?  I'm not naive that if it rains like it did yesterday, stuff is going to get wet.  I am more concerned with a steady drizzle or light rain, or having the bag able to dry out to play the following day (or a quick 9 later that day).

 

On a similar note, the bags would have the same carry weight the same if I take out a club.  I hit my driver about 250, my 3 wood about 230, and my hybrid about 210.  I also carry a 54 wedge with a lot of bounce and a 58 with only a little bounce.  With the courses I am playing, do you think I could get away with leaving the 3 wood in the rental car and saving that weight, or the 58 degree wedge?  We are playing Old Course, New Course, Jubilee, Eden, Ellie, Panmure, Crail, Dornoch, Brora, Golspie, Fortrose.  I'm not playing for score, but I also don't want to get into a position where I am out of position on a course and don't get the "full experience."  For example, I don't want to have to hit it either 250 or 210 off the tee if that puts me in the rough through a fairway or short in a burn.  I've also heard that low bounce is generally better on links courses.

 

Thanks for any advice you can give.  I'm terrible at making relatively unimportant decisions like this.

[Stetson]

By the time you pack rain gear, balls, etc the difference will be closer to 15 pounds vs 16 pounds, so don’t worry so much. My issue is my StaDry 4 is so damn small. I actually had to buy Ping Zero Gravity rain gear just to fit waterproof in my bag. 

[DLiver]

Take the StayDry and your full set of clubs. You are overthinking this.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, johnsomp said:

I leave this Wednesday for my first Scotland trip.  After postponing in 2020 and 2021, I am beyond excited.  Here is my issues.

 

I bought a golf bag back in 2019 for the first dates we secured for our trip.  It is a Titleist Stadry 4, which I find works remarkably well in light rain.  It's 4 pounds 10 ounces.  When the trip got postponed, I ended up using the bag full time, and it is now a little old and tired.  Therefore, I bought a new bag at the end of last year, a new Titleist Players 4.  It's 3 pounds 9 ounces.  I've been using it recently, and I can tell the different in weight when fully loaded (roughly one club lighter). Because of this, I was planning on bringing the new Titleist Players 4 to make it easier to carry and push on the trolley.  However, the problem is that yesterday, I was playing, and it started pouring.  It rained about .4 inches in about 30 minutes.  By the end of the rain, the Titleist Players 4 had a measurable amount of water just sitting in the bottom of the large apparel pocket on the side.  I actually had to turn the bag on its side to get the water to drain out.  That has never happened with my Stadry.

 

My dilemma is what bag to bring?  Do I sacrifice the additional weight for a little bit of rain protection?  I'm not naive that if it rains like it did yesterday, stuff is going to get wet.  I am more concerned with a steady drizzle or light rain, or having the bag able to dry out to play the following day (or a quick 9 later that day).

 

On a similar note, the bags would have the same carry weight the same if I take out a club.  I hit my driver about 250, my 3 wood about 230, and my hybrid about 210.  I also carry a 54 wedge with a lot of bounce and a 58 with only a little bounce.  With the courses I am playing, do you think I could get away with leaving the 3 wood in the rental car and saving that weight, or the 58 degree wedge?  We are playing Old Course, New Course, Jubilee, Eden, Ellie, Panmure, Crail, Dornoch, Brora, Golspie, Fortrose.  I'm not playing for score, but I also don't want to get into a position where I am out of position on a course and don't get the "full experience."  For example, I don't want to have to hit it either 250 or 210 off the tee if that puts me in the rough through a fairway or short in a burn.  I've also heard that low bounce is generally better on links courses.

 

Thanks for any advice you can give.  I'm terrible at making relatively unimportant decisions like this.

Bring the waterproof bag. At some point the odds are you’re going to get rained on. Better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it. You’re overthinking it. Take all of your golf clubs and enjoy the trip. A pound here or there is nothing. You have I high bounce 54 which will be great for the bunkers, and a low bounce 58 for pitch/chip shots. Take all your clubs, and enjoy the trip. The weight of one golf club is going to make ZERO difference on the trip. Just relax, stop thinking, and have a great time. 

[sabram]

10 hours ago, hammergolf said:

The weight of one golf club is going to make ZERO difference on the trip. Just relax, stop thinking, and have a great time. 

+1

[johnsomp]

Thanks for the responses.  I have come to agree with everyone.