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Jonathan Taylor brings you the low down on the Ben Hogan Signature synthetic leather stand bag.
Ben Hogan Golf was founded back in 1953, the same year that Hogan, a peerless ball striker, won the Masters, the US Open and The Open (at Carnoustie). The brand has always had a strong reputation for innovative and quality design. However the company has fallen on hard times since the 1990s, although in 2003, Jim Furyk used Ben Hogan irons, wedge and putter to win his lone Major, the US Open at Olympia Fields.
It was feared that the Hogan Company had closed for the last time when the major shareholder filed for bankruptcy. However it was saved when Simon Millington, owner of Golf Brands Inc, was able to strike a licensing deal, so now we have an upto date range of quality clubs and equipment, including no less than six different bag styles.
Today’s review introduces the rather stylish Ben Hogan Signature synthetic leather stand bag…..
Ben Hogan Signature synthetic leather stand bag review NCG Summary
NCG Summary
This is a really handsome, comfortable carry bag which is well-designed, practical and comes in at a tremendous price point.
Recent golf bag developments have seen the rise of the ‘retro’ compact, lightweight carry bags from, amongst others, TaylorMade. And we also have the leather-look stand bags from the likes of Vessel and Titleist Links Legend. And I have to say I love their look but definitely do not love their price.
Enter the Ben Hogan Signature synthetic leather stand bag. There is no doubt that it offers a classy and premium look and feel. As with its competitors, it is constructed from water resistant synthetic leather which not only looks the part but is also practical and functional.
Features include;
Quilted side panels
7 thoughtfully designed pockets, of which 3 are magnetic.
Waterproof zips.
8 inch diameter top with 5-way full-length dividers.
Comfortable, adjustable carry straps.
A matching durable rain hood.
Measured weight (inc. rain hood) of just under 6.5 lb.
I must emphasize that this is a particularly good-looking golf bag. It currently comes just in black, which looks smart, and the quilted side panels add a note of visual interest.
Let’s do a tour of the pockets. There is the usual full length apparel pocket and adjacent velour-lined valuables pocket which is pretty standard on all carry bags. The apparel pocket was roomy enough to hold a waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, an extra layer and that all-important snack. This pocket also contains the rain hood which, unlike some hoods, is made of the same robust fabric as the bag . However there is a trade off in that the hood weighs 330gms (over half a pound) and does occupy valuable pocket space. I don’t understand why bag manufacturers don’t follow Ping’s example in stowing the hood in a separate pocket beneath the hip pad.
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The central ball pocket is large and easily accessible thanks to two zips which I think is a really important design feature but often ignored. There is a lovely magnetic closure accessories pocket just above the ball pocket where I tend to keep ball markers, marker pen and pencils. It has such a wide opening and is such a good size that I have found myself storing tees, lots of tees, in this pocket.
I keep ‘used’ balls and gloves in the final pocket on the other side from the full length apparel pocket. Again, this is well sized and accessible when on the move but the opening is quite stiff which means I find myself feeling for that provisional ball rather than being able to visualize it. On either side of the central ball pocket are two magnetic ‘flap’ pockets and they’re actually quite useful. On one side I can securely fit a decent sized drinks bottle, and on the other a rangefinder. Most bags nowadays offer a pen holder/sleeve. This bag lacks that but does offer a decent-sized carabiner clip from which to hang a towel and a rangefinder if required.
It also feels very robust. I have to say that my golf bags do get a fair amount of hammer, being chucked in and hauled out of car boots, and after a dozen rounds, some in miserable weather, this bag has remained looking brand new.
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So how did it perform on the course?
On the course
The 5-way top allows good separation of all 14 clubs with straightforward access. Personally I feel that a 4-way divider is the best for a carry bag but that’s a minor point.
Although this bag is a little heavier than I would prefer, the strap system is easily adjustable so that a balanced carry, with good weight distribution, is obtained with a minimum of fuss. The straps are not the most padded but are comfortable enough and, like the rest of the bag, look to be built to last.
All the lower pockets are easily accessible when on the move. This is a feature that I think all bags should have but plenty don’t. It’s made easier by the presence of two zippers on the main ball pocket. As an aside, all zips and zipper pulls feel to be very well put together and are (there’s a theme here) built to last.
The legs fold away tightly with no flopping around when marching down the middle of the fairway.
Now this is not badged as a waterproof bag, and I haven’t yet tested it in heavy rain, but I reckon the whole fabric and construction mean that you will have to be playing in pretty filthy weather for the contents of this bag to get wet.
In summary, I think this is a first-class carry bag that has just about everything you need and expect from a premium manufacturer. It’s extremely good looking and performs well on the course. The only downside is that it is a little on the heavy side but when you consider that it comes in at £100 (or more) cheaper than similarly constructed bags from competitors, then I think it’s an absolute winner.
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