Early within the COVID-19 lockdowns, Ron Shaw was in his workplace in Carlsbad, Calif., when he observed two guys ready outdoors.
Every golf retailer was closed, so that they got here to Vessel’s headquarters with a dire want.
“They explained, ‘our club is open, we can’t use a cart and we can only play by ourselves,’” Shaw recalled. “They needed a lightweight bag.”
The Vessel CEO took care of them (later getting invites to the fellows’ non-public golf equipment) in what was an early signal of the oncoming increase within the sport and his golf bag enterprise. Plenty of individuals rediscovered golf or took it up for the primary time throughout the pandemic and, for some time, they have been all strolling.
And the impact for a corporation promoting high-quality golf baggage hasn’t slowed since.
“We are grateful,” Shaw says. “I think that year we grew 100 percent, then another 100 percent … and the momentum is still strong.”
Vessel is continuous to enhance its choices, too, with the latest debut of the Players IV stand bag. It had a troublesome act to observe–the Players III.
I carried a Players III as my main bag for 2 years, so when Vessel supplied a test-drive (test-walk?) of the IV I warned them that I’d be skeptical. How a lot can actually be modified in a single mannequin’s household?
As it seems, sufficient small modifications to make a distinction. Slightly greater water bottle holders with magnetic closures, positioned on the backside of the bag on both facet of the magnetic ball pocket. And in that magnetic ball pocket, a mesh divider. (I can’t advocate stashing tees or divot restore instruments in a mesh divider, however my obligatory granola bars appear pleased there.)
Above the ball pocket is one other magnetic compartment excellent for rangefinders, and the IV provides a divider inside that. It’s deep sufficient to suit a yardage ebook, in the event you’re so inclined.
The most important change could also be a hidden one: the bottom of the bag now has grooves on the underside to maintain grips from sliding and making membership alternative and elimination simpler.
If there’s any room for grievance it’s in total weight, as a six-plus pound carry bag isn’t the lightest within the class. As Shaw says, making an attempt to avoid wasting an excessive amount of weight would imply “taking out features that make a Vessel, and we don’t want to do that.”
The premium artificial leather-based means a rain hood weighing eight-tenths of a pound, further weight that may add up over 18 holes. I’m making an attempt to go away that within the automotive when a sunny spherical is assured, and I’m additionally serving to myself this 12 months by forsaking in all probability a half-pound of steel divot instruments and further tees within the trunk.
Courtesy Vessel
Regardless of whether or not you’re chopping weight or packing like a Sherpa, the patented Equilibrium 2.0 double strap on all Vessel’s stand baggage distributes the load completely with an eight-point swivel mechanism. The strap may be transformed to a single too, although why anybody would actually wish to is as baffling to me as a 60-yard bunker shot.
The Players IV is accessible in 6-way and 14-way tops and retails for $395. A DXR mannequin has lighter ripstop material. “Pro” fashions in each common and DXR materials retail for $435 and have a one-inch wider prime with microfiber plus an extra magnetic pocket subsequent to one of many ball pockets (good for scorecards on a stroll). Those are premium worth factors for stand baggage, however “sold out” indicators steadily seen on Vessel’s web site say all of it.
Colors for all fashions are usually easy–black, white, blue, grey, with occasional limited-edition fashions that add a splash of shade.
“People see cool colors then they buy a black bag,” Shaw says, laughing. “Black, white and gray will always look good.”
Source: www.si.com
