Welcome to another edition of Inside the Bag.

Today we feature Barry from Palm Beach, Florida (@ibaz66 ) who has been playing for 30 years and currently plays 3 to 4 times a month with an 11.3 handicap. Barry took a 6-year break after a car accident and had an artificial disk implanted in his neck which allowed him to play again.

Do you want to share your golf bag? Reply to this email and introduce yourself.

Play well,

James.

Inside The Bag ⛳

Clubs

• Putter - Odyssey White Hot OG 7 Nano Stroke Lab

I had always played with Ping or Scotty Cameron in the past, but when I updated my bag this year, I tried it out in the pro shop, and the feel of the ball coming off the face is really nice, soft.

• Driver - Titleist TSI3, 9 degrees

I had never used a Titleist driver before, but had to use rental clubs on a trip, and they were all Titleist, and I hit the driver really well. Trying to fine tune it now, but I love the feel of the ball off the club face.

• Fairway - Titleist TSI2 3 Wood, 15 degrees

The newest club in my bag, replacing an old Ping 3 wood. So far I’ve been able to hit it long and straight.

• Hybrid - Titleist TSI2 Hybrid, 21 degrees

Not super sold on this one yet, I may switch it out for a TSR 5 wood when they come out next month. I have moments where I hit it really well, but I don’t have great confidence in it.

• Irons - Taylor Made M4, 5i - AW

In my initial fittings, I was focused on deciding between Ping and Titleist, but the pro pulled these out for me, and I hit them incredibly well, all the way through the set, and they were a lot less expensive than either the Ping or the Titleist irons.

• Wedges - Vokey SM8, 52/10 and 56/12

It can be difficult to find clubs as a left handed golfer, and seemed especially so when I was looking to update my wedges. I wanted a set, and was looking at SM9 and Taylor Made wedges, but it was hard to find the lofts I was looking for. The SM8 are last years (2021) models, and I was lucky to find the set online.

Everything Else

• Shoes - Puma Proadapt Alphacat Disc

Tried them on in the shop, and they were incredibly comfortable. The disc lacing system helps get a good fit too.

• Glove - Titleist Players glove

• Ball - Titleist Pro V1 custom number (57)

I had switched to AVX when they came out, but I prefer a softer feel on and around the green, and the AVX are a touch firmer.

• Bag - Titleist Premium stand bag

• Watch - Apple Watch Series 7, graphite stainless steel, and 18Birdies app

The 19th Hole 🍻

What’s your favourite club at the moment? What's working well?

My Vokey SM8 wedges, have not hit a bad wedge since I put them in the bag.

What are you working on?

Putting. Before my hiatus I was a pretty decent putter, but after coming back, I have no feel on the greens. I recently had a practice area built in my back yard, and I hope it helps (pic below).

What is your favourite golf memory?

The first guys trip I went on to Las Vegas and playing Southern Highlands. It was easily the most beautiful and prestigious course I had ever played at the time, and looking at the names on the locker plaques in the locker room, it was a veritable who’s who of the PGA, MLB, and other sports.

What does golf mean to you?

My dad was always a huge golf nut, and I remember as a kid picking up the latest issue of Golf Digest when he was done with it. Getting to spend time with him on the course was always great.

If you could play a round with any player, past or present, who would it be? Any reason why?

Phil Mickelson, yeah, I know, but my mom was on a flight with his grandmother before he won the US Amateur (my mom was a martial for a local LPGA tournament) and she couldn’t wait to tell me about him because he was a left like me, and at the time, there were practically no lefty players (and clubs were even harder to get).

What is your bucket list course? Why?

St Andrews, because it’s the home of golf, and I love the UK.

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Welcome to another edition of Inside the Bag.

Today we feature Arnaud Sérié from Paris, who has been playing for 14 years and currently plays once a week with a 2.2 handicap.

Through his passion for golf, Arnaud helps grow the game via his social media accounts and is one of the world’s leading trick-shot artists. If you’re on Instagram (@arnaudseriegolf) or Twitter (@arnaudseriegolf) you’ve more than likely seen his content before. If you haven’t, then check it out!

Do you want to share your golf bag? Reply to this email and introduce yourself.

Play well,

James.

Inside The Bag ⛳

Clubs

• Putter - Scotty Cameron Special Select Newport 2

This is my favourite club, I use it a lot around the green instead of chipping.

• Driver - Titleist TSi3, 9.0° with a stiff shaft Tour AD GP-6s

• Fairway - Titleist TSi2, 15° with a stiff shaft Tour AD DI-7s

• Hybrid - N/A

• Irons - Combo Titleist T100s 5-PW and T200 3 & 4 irons with a KBS Tour-V 100g stiff shaft

Love to play the utility irons, iron 3 and 4 are my second favourite clubs in the bag.

• Wedges - Titleist Vokey SM8 (52, 56, 60) with a KBS Tour-V 100g stiff shaft

Everything else

• Shoes - FootJoy Flex or ProSL

• Glove - Footjoy

• Ball - Titleist Pro V1

• Bag - Titleist Tour Bag

• GPS - Garmin z82

The 19th Hole 🍻

What are your bucket list courses?

1 - Augusta National, 2 - Pebble Beach, 3 - St Andrews

What are you working on?

Always working on trick shots!

What is your favourite golf memory?

The day I played 6 holes with Justin Thomas in Jupiter, FL.

What's the nicest course you've ever played?

Costa Navarino Resort in Greece.

Welcome to another edition of Inside the Bag.

Today we feature Craig from Australia, who has been playing for 40 years and currently plays twice a week with a 10 handicap.

Do you want to share your golf bag? Reply to this email and introduce yourself.

Play well,

James.

Inside The Bag ⛳

Clubs

• Putter - Odyssey White Hot Two Ball

I’ve had this putter since it came out and have tried a few different shafts over the years, I’ve currently got the straight neck and seem to get a better result.

• Driver - Titleist 913 D2 9.5°

• Fairway - Titleist 913 F 17°

• Hybrid - Titleist 913 H 19°

• Irons - TaylorMade Stealth 5i to PW

I got fitted for these a few months ago and am loving them so far. I’m getting a more consistent pattern and a few extra yards on average. I tried a bunch of irons and these were the stand out for me.

• Wedges - Vokey SM4 52°, 56°, 60°

Everything else

• Shoes - Footjoy FJ Originals

• Glove - Footjoy Black

• Ball - Titleist Pro V1 Yellow

• Bag - Titleist Stadry

• Cart - Stuart Golf Dream Machine

Love this bag and cart combination, would recommend it to anyone.

• Range finder - Bushnell Golf Tour V5

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The 19th Hole 🍻

What’s your most memorable golf moment?

I hit a ‘hole in one’ with my provisional ball a few years ago. I don’t want to talk about it 🙃

What’s the most unique course you’ve played?

In 2016 I played the world’s longest course, the Nullarbor Links, coming in at a total length of 1,365 kilometres (848 miles). We played over the course of a few days, driving from hole to hole. It certainly gives you plenty of time to reminisce on your performance from the last last hole. We had a blast.

What does golf mean to you?

I’ve been playing with the same group for nearly 30 years and have made some lifelong friendships. We play together at least once a week and have done so now for most of our lives. I’m very lucky.

Welcome to the first edition of Inside the Bag.

Today we feature Alex from Australia, who has been playing on and off his whole life and currently plays once a week with a 21 handicap.

Do you want to share your golf bag? Reply to this email and introduce yourself.

Play well,

James.

Inside the bag ⛳

Clubs

• Putter - Original Odyssey Two-Ball with a SuperStroke 3.0 grip

I’m only attached to this putter because I’ve been using it for a long time. I have a dream where one day I get a putter fitting and walk away with my soulmate.

• Driver - Ping Rapture (10.5°) regular shaft

• Fairway - Ping G5 3W (15°) and Ping G5 7W (21°) regular shaft

• Hybrid - N/A

• Irons - 5i to PW Titleist T100 AP1 712 with regular 0.5+ shaft

• Wedges - Ping Eye 2+ PW (48°), SW (54°) and LW (58°)

I love these wedges, I’ve been using them for ~20 years now. Every time I go to buy new wedges I have a round where these don’t let me down and I reconsider why I would ever want to change. There is something about the work I’ve put in to the feel of the sole that I just know what to do when I’m standing over the ball.

Everything else

• Shoes - FootJoy Contours

I wear both Nike and FootJoy and I’m equally happy with both. My old Nikes are the most comfortable shoe I own (golf or non-golf) but they’re coming to the end of their useful life.

• Glove - FootJoy WeatherSoft

• Ball - Callaway Supersoft Yellow

• Bag - Callaway Forester 19 Navy

• Cart - Clicgear 4.0

• Watch / GPS - Garmin Venu 2

More so than knowing the distances to the green or hazards, it’s helped me learn my yardages from real lies. It also helps me find my wayward balls off the tee - I know how far I hit each club so I just walk that distance and start looking, usually it’s very close.

• Range finder - Nikon Coolshot 40

• Alignment - Homemade wooden dowel

These cost me a couple of dollars to make and (I think) they look awesome.

The 19th hole 🍻

What’s your favourite club at the moment?

I’m loving my 54°. It’s nearly 40 years old and has seen more bad shots than I care to admit, but it’s paid off because it’s really working for me. When I have the chance I’ll attack the pin from 60 to 100 yards and if I make good contact I’m usually not far from the pin.

Other than scoring well, what makes a good round for you?

I’d say when everyone in the group is playing well. Also, it’s hard to go past good pace of play, not rushed but not too slow, just right.

What are you working on?

My lag putting has been letting me down recently. I’m often leaving my first putt short or wide of the hole, not giving myself any chance of a reasonable 2nd putt.

What is your bucket list course?

Other than the obvious majors, Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand looks unbelievable. I first read about it when Adam Scott mentioned it includes one of his favourite par 5’s. Doesn’t it look wild?