Four OEMs released limited edition staff packages this week.
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One of the cool things that really make high gear over the past few seasons is that OEM is offering employees major weeks with limited edition bags and principals.
There is also a little competition among OEMs every year, not only can you best capture the role of the event, but also the role of the event.
The U.S. Open this week in Oakmont is no different from Callaway, Cobra, Srixon and Taylormade, all highlighting the theme’s accessories collection with employee bags.
Therefore, we decided to continue ranking this year’s U.S. Open limited edition staff package.
These golf bag rankings are totally subjective, based on personal taste, some jerky, which I just bought at Boston Airport and felt a slight obsession with the principal. If your favorite doesn’t win, blame my eyes, not their design team. If that doesn’t work, blame Johnny Wunder.
No. 1: Caraway
You can tilt hard with the championship or the field, and Callaway performs beautifully with the latter.
I admit that when the U.S. Open Staff Pack isn’t red, white and blue, it’s a little offensive (like the other three on that list), but I like this package because it uses the church bench profile. Not only does it perform to Oakmont’s signature feature, manifesting on the sides of the bag, but it also nods to the top of the zipper, lining and pusher head. I also really like how the textures change to depict adjacent third and 4th fairways.
The extra touch is that the principal can be arranged to create Oakmont’s iconic green and white club, one of the most famous clubs in golf.
It’s a collection of bags and accessories, and Callaway’s professionals should be proud of their use throughout the week and may be highly sought after if any week goes into retail or secondary markets.
No. 1 (b): Taylormade
What does the golf club company from California have to do with the city of Pittsburgh? Taylormade’s first driver, the original driver, was eventually known as the “Pittsburgh Persimmon”, and was the first Metalwood in 1979.
While I think Callaway pays tribute to Oakmont, I think Taylormade respects his history, nodding his use of “City of Steel” and the use of red, white and blue, makes this series too good to rank second.
The Vintage Taylormade logo is also placed on a limited edition box for TP5 and TP5X golf balls, which helps take this backward collection to the next level.
No. 3: Cobra
Cobra does a great job here, making Pittsburgh’s blue-collar legacy in the steel industry very clean and subtle.
It sure looks like the bag is wearing a pair of denim work clothes and even a small chest pocket, the outline of Roberto Clemente in downtown Pittsburgh. After all, the “Iron City” is also a “City of Bridges”, with 446 bridges, including two bridges next to Oakmont on the Allegheny River.
Another nice touch is the design hoods so they look like riveted steel plates.
No. 4: Srixon
Srixon’s all-US employee package.
Srixon
Srixon’s “All America” employee bag is very clean and simply uses stars and stripes.
It’s hard to really dislike any bags in red, white and blue, but this will only find itself at the bottom of the list because it’s missing Oakmont or any Easter eggs from Pittsburgh, like the other three.
Still, it’s a new sight for colors and styles, and the matching principal looks great too.
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Jack Hirsh is the assistant device editor for Golf. Jack is a Pennsylvania native and a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning his degree in broadcast journalism and political science. He is the captain of the high school golf team and recently returned to the program as head coach. Jack is still* trying to stay competitive among local amateurs. Before joining golf, Jack worked for two years at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a multimedia journalist/reporter, but also produced, anchored and even presented the weather. He can be contacted at jack.hirsh@golf.com.
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