Accessory Review: Golf Telebag, by Jeffrey Reed

When collapsed, the Golf Telebag – named Best New Product at the 2005 PGA Merchandise Show – could be mistaken for a shop vac. Heck, R2D2 might fall in love with this collapsible hard case golf travel bag. And if you’re a golfer who travels with your clubs, you’ll love the Golf Telebag, too.

Airline acceptable, and expandable to hold a driver up to 48 inches (don’t worry, you’re safe unless you’re a hard-core long drive contestant), the Golf Telebag is a great hard case bag for the golfer on the go. It will hold most carry and cart bags, but doesn’t accommodate staff or tour bags. Made of lightweight, high-density polyethylene, the Golf Telebag is surprisingly light. Its top handle and bottom wheels make it a no-brainer for golfing on the go, and there’s even room for shoes, balls and rain gear inside this golf gear armour.

When collapsed, the Golf Telebag is only two feet high, so it easily stores out of way in the closet, or in the trunk of your car. I found it easy to use, too. Simply separate the base while in the collapsed position, slide the collapsible portion over your bag and clubs, lay the unit on its side, and reattach the rolling base. Once you customize the straps during the first use, you shouldn’t need to readjust them. Stand up the Golf Telebag, and you’re ready to roll.

Recent studies by industry insiders have concluded, a quality soft-cover golf travel case will protect your clubs just as well as a hard case. However, I’ve yet to see a case that stores as easily as the Golf Telebag. The price is right, too, advertised as $119.95 US plus shipping on the product website, www.telebag.com. 

Heading to the Old Course, and need a travel case? Leave your staff bag for the range, and put your carry bag in the Golf Telebag. It won’t vacuum the shop, but it will protect your valuable clubs.