When is it time to get rid of the College bag?

[ResearchMike]

I’d keep, if for nothing more than a conversation piece, good memories and an heirloom. It’s the same way I feel about my varsity jacket. Worked hard to get it and it was a staple for me in those days. Once I graduated, it got hung up in the closet, but I’m glad I still have it.

[LeoLeo99]

1 hour ago, ResearchMike said:

I’d keep, if for nothing more than a conversation piece, good memories and an heirloom. It’s the same way I feel about my varsity jacket. Worked hard to get it and it was a staple for me in those days. Once I graduated, it got hung up in the closet, but I’m glad I still have it.

Exactly why I said to never get rid of it.  It took years of hard work in high school or before to get good enough at golf to make your college team. The bag is a trophy to that accomplishment and was probably a big part of your life at the time.  

[SBH9458]

Recommend strongly keeping it. As Cardy says:

 

“It’s not bragging if you’ve done it”

[deadsolid...shank]

Keep it!  If you get rid of it, you’ll regret it at some point down the road. 

[cardoustie]

Great conversation items in a man cave / bar area

 

I do drag mine out once in a while when one of my teammates and i play in provincial 2 man events (it was his idea)

 

Funny story a few years back one of the kids in our group also had a Guelph bag and honestly asked me what year I played on the football team.  20 year olds !!  

 

It was fun to humble brag the kid and his Dad to death for the rest of the round.

 

My buddy Mark and I crushed him and his pal and won the qualifier FWIW.   Only in golf can you be 25+ years out of school and still compete against the current kids.

[BobbyFray]

Absolutely gotta keep.  Still have my high school and college Ping Hoofers.  

[theboypinoy]

You should definitely keep them. Use a different bag out on the course, but it's nice to have in the house in the golf section area.

 

I keep mine in the hitting bay/simulator area, and is a nice memory of the hard work put in and accomplishments you've achieved.

 

[TheMoneyShot]

I still have my old college bag and use it to store old clubs.  I’d clean it up and keep it somewhere for the good memories. 

 

[rikwall]

Keep it.  Bring it out and game it during March Madness, Bowl Games, Etc.  That way the attention is on the school and doesn't look like you're trying to relive your past.  Good on you for even discussing!  Better yet for making the team!

[golfortennis]

You played on the team.  Maybe you don't use it, but keep it around.  While I agree about school is over move on, for the most part, you did do something most people didn't do.  

 

Fully admitting I was one of them once, it's the people who didn't even go to a particular school but have their bag/headcovers/towel that really get me.  One item could be a one-off, won at a tourney, whatever, but the whole kit is deliberate.    

 

And as for cardy's question, my guess is the the guy furthest left.  Oh, crap, that isn't a present photo...  /ducks.  🤪

[phizzy30]

I still have mine but it's in the closet.  I played for Cal State Northridge a long time ago.  The bag is faded and has holes.  You should get a new bag immediately.  It's been what 16 years for you?  Yeah, it's time. 

Edited May 15, 2021 by phizzy30

[j.b.newton]

sounds like a nice office corner putter holder to me....a good conversation starter.  I did not play college golf, but my college baseball cap is sitting on a shelf... I wouldnt/cant wear it - but its a nice moment.

[Bonneville85308]

I would keep it to store extra clubs in my "golf room" but I wouldn't take it out and use it for a round anymore.

[WestCoastSeminole]

I graduated in 2019. I bought a new PING Hoofer bag a couple of months after graduating and switched everything over into that bag while putting my college bag (also a Hoofer) with my name on it in my office at work. In retrospect, I'm glad that I retired the college bag before it got really faded so it will stay nice as long as I live. I don't plan on gaming it again except perhaps for an alumni tournament or team reunion golf trip, which I imagine will be few and far between.

 

All of that being said, I still game the team-issued driver headcover and hybrid headcover from my school days, that way I still get to rep where I played, but in a more subtle way. Once those are thoroughly worn, I'll retire those and game something else.

[mookio]

Gotta hang onto it

[GolfCsty]

On 4/30/2021 at 8:59 AM, Abh159 said:

 

I played DI golf for a top program back in the late 2000s and we were fortunate to get a brand new bag with a new design each year. I quit using them as my actual golf bag as soon as I graduated because one of my biggest pet peeves has always been people using school bags when they either don't play for the team or are no longer playing for the team. However, my parents still have all 4 sitting in their garage.

 

My dad said he was saving them because he thought I'd want them one day (at the time I thought that was silly and told him to just throw them away), but as I get older I am happy he decided to keep them. I'm sure one day not too far down the road (when I have a proper place to store them) I'll collect all of them from him.

 

 

I don’t have a pet peeve about others but a personal one for myself. Don’t use team bag unless I’m current member. Keeping them as “trophies” for the man cave/golf den in the future. 

[marmot8]

Those who played keep it somewhere tucked away.  Those who made the practice squad/non-10 man roster ( or want to say they did) keep it for as long as they can.

 

I played in a us open qualifier with a guy who had a bag a couple weeks ago.  When I learned he graduated 5 years ago, I didn’t feel the need to ask about his college career.

[Phabs]

I have two that I’ll never get rid of.  Proof I used to be good....

[wkndhckr]

I played college sports (not golf) so I completely understand. It's a rare experience that is worth hanging onto in a "healthy" way. To me, if it's about you and how you were then, it's time to move on. If it's about your experiences and college pride go for it. Hopefully you aren't wearing your old uniform that's too small or going overboard like you are still on the team, creeping around campus etc. I think a bag is a nice nod but bags have come a long way and you were walking rounds in college. I Iive out my college pride via head covers or golf shirts

[RSinSG]

I cannot understand why anyone would suggest you toss it. To me thats like throwing away other important memorabilia that is important to you. I'm a geezer and I still have lots of things from my childhood that my mom saved - kindergarten art,  junior high yearbooks, wrestling medals from high school etc. I didn't play any high school or college golf, but I do have my college team jacket from when I was on the track team. All of it is in boxes out of sight or in the back of the closet. Its not like I have them on a hero wall or wear the jacket to the market. 

 

I still have stuff that were important to my parents and even some things from grandparents. My children have already said there are things they want when I'm gone. I doubt the OP is like Uncle Rico reliving his glory days, but instead was proud of what he accomplished and the bag is a reminder of a good time in his life. I suspect his children would love to have it handed down to them one day.