50 Words or Less
The MacKenzie Walker golf bag is an ideal choice for the walking golfer who wants a bag that’s totally unique to them. Extremely high quality. Ample storage despite its minimalist design.
Introduction
The majority of golf companies launch new products annually that tout upgrades and new features. Then there’s MacKenzie, a company that has been making essentially the same golf bag for over 30 years. But if you’d designed what’s arguably the perfect walking golf bag, would you change it?
Style
No company that I know offers more customization options than MacKenzie. From the materials to the colors to details like trim and embroidery, nothing is set in stone, and you’re only limited by your imagination. MacKenzie has a custom bag builder (click HERE) where you can see many of the options, but if you have something in your mind’s eye, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
MacKenzie offers bags in three different materials: ballistic nylon, waxed canvas, and leather. The price of the bag varies significantly based on that choice, with nylon being the least expensive and leather the most. My bag is waxed canvas.
Features
One of the trademarks of a MacKenzie golf bag is the small leather loop at the bottom (see above). It’s not for holding an umbrella, it’s for easing the burden on your shoulder when you’re carrying your bag. While it’s far from necessary – the bag is light and the strap well-padded – it’s one of the small touches that lets you know the bag was designed by and for the walking golfer.
When it comes to storage, there are two different options. My bag is the Original Walker, which is slightly larger than the Sunday Walker. The Original Walker has two pockets to the Sunday Walker’s one.
Despite being a slim bags, the pockets are sizable. I can easily store a dozen balls, handfuls of tees, my rangefinder, and a jacket with room to spare. The pockets are also surprisingly accessible while walking.
Performance
The opening of the Original Walker is 8″ with a single divider. MacKenzie’s smaller version, the Sunday Walker, has a 7″ opening. While these minimalist bags work best with smaller sets, the Original Walker is more than capable of holding fourteen clubs. The single divider is surprisingly stout and does a good job organizing your sticks.
Something that makes the MacKenzie Walker unique among walking bags is the amount of structure. There’s a carbon fiber batten that creates a “spine” for the bag, and the top is similarly supported so it never flattens out. These features allow clubs to slide in and out easily, and they also make the MacKenzie a better-than-expected cart bag.
Finally, the strap on the MacKenzie deserves special notice. First, it’s adjustable so the bag will accommodate your size and carrying style. It’s also wonderfully padded so that it doesn’t dig into your shoulder no matter how much you load up the bag. Like most of the things that make the MacKenzie great, the well-designed strap seems obvious but the devil is in the details, and MacKenzie nails each one.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the most economical way to carry your golf clubs, this isn’t it. However, if you want to tote your clubs in something that’s handmade with overwhelming pride and attention to detail, you should seriously consider a MacKenzie. This is a beautifully made golf bag that I look forward to owning for decades to come. There aren’t many other golf bags you can say that about.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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Where could I purchase one in the UK?
David,
You can order one through their website, which is linked in the review above.
Best,
Matt
I usually don’t comment but your post is really good,
Thank you for sharing this review. This is a great resource for people like us who are just thinking to buy a golf bag.
How are you? Do you use this for a full set or do you only carry half set regularly? You don’t find it bulky with two pockets versus the single one? Thanks so much for your excellent review. What other carry bags do you use regularly?
Seth,
I can use the MacKenzie for half or full sets. I don’t find the two pockets bulky, but I also don’t load them heavily. If you were to pack them to capacity, the bag would be unwieldy as the pockets are quite large.
The other carry bags I use regularly are the Seamus Fescue Project and CRU Legacy.
Best,
Matt
Just a quick question did you have to pay customs and handling for importing that To the uk? If so that will be a deal breaker regards the budget!
Kim,
That’s a good question, but unfortunately one that I don’t know the answer to. I’m sure MacKenzie could answer that question more knowledgeably.
Best,
Matt