Before you start reading, I must warn you that I’m about to enter down a very niche and rather weird golf equipment rabbit hole, but its Open week and I’m here for it. During a brief escapade on the course during today’s practice round, the mad dashes of colour bobbing down the fairways of Royal Liverpool were offering up a stark, but welcome contrast to the menacing clouds drawing in overhead. The Open staff bags have arrived. Am I really writing this?

Yes. We march on. Here at Cookie Jar Golf, we love stash, and it is a central cosmetic part of any major week. So, we have decided to critique and rank the staff bags produced for this year’s 151^st Open at Hoylake. Don’t worry, this is all being done rigorously and scientifically, so there will be no questioning whatsoever of which bag earns the prestigious title of The Champion Bag of the Year… As with any good competition, the most improved will also earn a lucrative prize and the last-placed participant will be consoled with the coveted ‘Thanks for Coming Vase’.

The Criteria (/10)

• Original Reference to The Open
• Creative Reference to Host Venue
• Colour
• Accompanying Accessories
• Overall Aesthetic

Callaway

This Beatles-inspired Pollockian take on the limited edition staff bag is a real statement of intent from the team at Callaway. Not one that will be easily missed during the week, it is a bold start to proceedings, and they are out of the blocks fast.

If you like Scouse rock bands and golf, then I think this might just be the one for you. John, Paul, Ringo and George are all present (despite being without eyes) to accompany the Callaway staffers down the fairways at Hoylake, perhaps encouraging them to ‘Let it Be’ when they hit a poor one. It’s a clear nod to the local area and its vibrant musical and cultural history, but I’m pretty sure the Beatles couldn’t give a scooby about golf.

With Hoylake’s traditional pineapples a feature on the lining, it ticks a box for a solid reference to the host venue, yet the headcovers featuring the ‘Liver Bird’: the symbol of the nearby city, just look a bit Kop to me. I’m not sure there’ll be many Everton or Tranmere fans snapping this one up.

In sum, this is a loud statement-piece from Callaway, just like a Beatles concert. Its mad colour won’t be to all tastes, and I am personally not a fan of the ‘paint-splatter’ look. Did a Year 3 go mad with the paint brush in DT? It’s original and fun, if not classy, but ticks a lot of boxes. You’ll Never Walk (the fairways at Hoylake) Alone…

• Original Reference to The Open: 7/10
• Creative Reference to Host Venue: 7/10
• Colour: 8/10
• Accompanying Accessories: 5/10
• Overall Aesthetic: 6/10

Cobra

First impression: smart. This is a classy piece with a number of subtle nods to the host venue and the local area. First off, the box around the Cobra logo is a clear, yet clean reference to Liverpool’s notorious Penny Lane. Coupled with the red and white stripes, which represent Penny Lane’s famous barber shop, it’s a satisfying, yet not overbearing allusion of Liverpool.

The lining of the pockets features a ‘repeating clock pattern’, a reference to the clock on the Hoylake clubhouse. This just doesn’t quite do it for me sadly. It’s not visible and pretty much every Open venue has a rather nice clock.

The headcovers, however, are very very smart. They are effectively clubhead-shaped replicas of the Beatles’ iconic Sergeant Pepper outfits and that is just class. Once again, the point that the Beatles have likely never heard the term ‘internal out of bounds’ is salient, but this nod is subtle enough to let it slide.

In conclusion, it’s a proper bag. The nods to The Open and Liverpool are classy, yet not in your face. Whilst the bag itself is lacking a little colour, the headcovers are just cool.

• Original Reference to The Open: 6/10
• Creative Reference to Host Venue: 8/10
• Colour: 5/10
• Accompanying Accessories: 9/10
• Overall Aesthetic: 8/10

Srixon

Well, at least its aesthetically pleasing. I can’t help feeling Srixon have played it safe here, but nonetheless it is a nice looking bag. The sea-blue is an elegant nod to the area’s maritime history, and I suppose well represents The Open but I can’t help feeling it is just a bit naff.

The bag features waves, in Srixon’s words, ‘to embrace the waves of the ocean’, but name me an Open venue that isn’t on the coast. That covers it for creative references to the championship and to the venue and it just feels a little bland.

That being said, if there was one staff bag I had to turn up to a weekly club stableford with, it would probably be this one. Though that is only because it is likely to turn the least heads.

It’s bright but a little plain and perhaps just a little too much Manchester City for this part of the world.

• Original Reference to The Open: 5/10
• Creative Reference to Host Venue: 5/10
• Colour: 8/10
• Accompanying Accessories: 5/10
• Overall Aesthetic: 7/10

Taylormade

After last year’s glum looking sesquicentennial bag for the 150^th, Taylormade have come roaring back with a knockout bag. Going from mud-brown to vivid-yellow, this year’s rendition is not short of colour. Nor is it short of elegance, either.

Whilst I am not perfectly convinced its wholly original, the yellow and blue of the iconic Open scoreboard just stands head and shoulders above the rest. The popping yellow coupled with the rippling waves arriving at the beach, just unmistakably bellows out ‘We’re At The Open’.

It graciously signals the history of the championship at Hoylake, with Rory and Tiger’s totals of 271 and 270 respectively delicately embellished on the sides. Hoylake’s equine history is noted with ‘LHC’ (Liverpool Hunt Club) and 1869, the year of the Club’s foundation also features. Nice touches.

However, I think most importantly, Taylormade have neatly tackled a crucial cultural aspect of this part of the world: footballing rivalry. Quietly, the bag features both the font of Everton and the font of Liverpool, appeasing both sets of loyal supporters. Although, there is sadly no mention of Tranmere Rovers, and the terrific work Micky Mellon is putting in there. The ‘Merseyside Derby’ above the horse on the front of the bag is just very clever. Well played.

As for critiques, the headcovers in isolation are pure class, however, coupled with the bag, one might think this year’s championship is being played in Rio de Janeiro. If I am being picky, whilst it is a sweet touch to celebrate both Cranleigh and Charterhouse Schools for providing the scoreboard volunteers, it does seem a little strange to have the names of two Surrey public schools featuring so loud and proud.

Nevertheless, Taylormade have risen like a phoenix from the flames this year and this is a stunner.

• Original Reference to The Open: 9/10
• Creative Reference to Host Venue: 8/10
• Colour: 9/10
• Accompanying Accessories: 7/10
• Overall Aesthetic: 9/10

Honourable Mentions

Whilst not a special edition for The Open, Adam Scott’s UNIQLO bag is just cool, and I would really like one.

Yet to be verified, but if Billy Horschel decides to rock his West Ham bag this week in this part of the world, he might just be the bravest golfer to ever live.

Dishonourable Mentions

Sadly, as far as limited edition staff bags go, Ping and Titleist are basically the sort of pal that would rather stay at home and have a cup of tea than come out for a couple of jars on their birthday. Pulled up before the race even started. N/R.

Results

And so, we have our winner of the inaugural Champion Bag of the Year: Taylormade. It simply had to be. Top work. On top of that, Taylormade are also the victors in the ‘most improved’ category, not just because this year’s was so good, but because last year’s was just… well… brown.

A big congratulations must also go to Srixon for winning the ‘Thanks for Coming Vase’, an award not to be sniffed at. Although bottom of the pile, it must be said it was up against some talented opposition.

I hope this has given you some light entertainment before the action kicks off and as I type, Here Comes The Sun. Get involved and have your say by voting on Twitter here