Sunday Golf is a relatively new company, that, until recently, specialized in smaller golf bags (hence, the name). After gaining a lot of traction, it was only a matter of time until they released a full-sized model, which is where the Ryder comes into play.
Before this, I had experience with their slightly smaller model, the El Camino. Since then, I’ve had the chance to look at their smallest bag, the Loma, and also their cart bag, the Big Rig.
I’ve spent a lot of time with Sunday Golf products, so I have a pretty good idea of what to expect and look for. We’re going to be going over the good, the bad, and who it could be right for.
Note. I’ve used the Ryder for somewhere around 23 rounds of golf. I think that’s a pretty good amount of time to get a feel for what it has to offer. That said, I’ll continue to use it and report what I find.
In This Review
Product Details | Intro | Features | Quality | Performance | Ryder vs El Camino | Downsides | Should You Buy? | Discount Code
Sunday Golf Ryder Product Details
| MSRP | $229.99 |
| Bag Type | Carry |
| Clubs | 14 |
| Bag Weight | 4.9 LBS |
| Material | Nylon |
| Dividers | 5-Way |
| Putter Slot | No |
| Pockets | 7 |
| Cooler | Yes |
| Colors | Navy, Black, Green, Almond, Gray, Coral |
| Company Website | Sunday Golf |
The Intro
Is this your ordinary Sunday bag?
When most people think of a Sunday bag they probably think about a small bag you’d see on a pitch and putt course or something a kid might carry around. While the brand Sunday Golf does have smaller bags, their Ryder model is full-sized.
It really depends on what type of courses you’ll be playing and how many clubs you have. If you only have five or six clubs then there’s really no point in having a large bag.
I normally carry 10 clubs. Sunday Golf has two bags that I’d classify as a true Sunday bag, so they weren’t for me.
I was able to try out the El Camino (up to 10 clubs) and the Ryder (up to 14 clubs). Since then, I’ve also gotten my hands on their premium carry bag, the Ranger.
So, if you’re wondering whether or not this has enough space for all your stuff, I’d say you should be good. I don’t know what else you’d bring to the course other than your clubs, balls, rangefinder, food, and a jacket.
The Features
Dual strap: Pretty much all full-sized carry bags will come with dual straps. If they don’t, you probably don’t want it. I had a cart bag previously and it was a bit of a hassle when I had to walk par 3 courses with my friends just getting started with golf.
5-way top: The El Camino bag I had before the Ryder came with a 4-way top (all full-length), which was pretty decent. The Ryder bag has a 5 way top that seems to be a bit better for my setup. It just adds an additional compartment that separates clubs to make it easier to take them out and put them in.
Accessory pocket: This is the pocket I use to store all of my stuff. Whether that’s my spare glove, ball marker, divot tool, or a couple of other things. It’s a pretty good size and could easily fit a bunch more (I don’t carry much on the course).
Mesh pocket: I don’t exactly know what this long and narrow compartment is for but I just use it to store my water bottle. I don’t know what else you could use it for, but I’m sure you could find something to put in it.
Ball & tee pocket: The front pocket is where I store my balls and tees. The El Camino bag had a mesh pocket inside that kept the tees and balls separate, but this doesn’t have that feature. I prefer to keep them separate since it makes it easier to get the tees out.
Insulated drink pocket: If you like to have a few beverages when you’re out on the course, an insulated pocket is a must-have. The Ryder comes with a pocket that can fit three normal-size cans.
Smell-proof pocket: This is another long and narrow compartment you could use for something. Again, I don’t know what it was designed for specifically (cigars?), but it’s there if you need it.
Valuables pocket: This pocket is lined with velour and is used to store your phone, wallet, and keys. It’s pretty small so you wouldn’t be able to fit much more in it.
Jacket pocket: This is the biggest pocket on the bag and is where I store my jacket and driver head cover. Rather than having to take the cover off and put it back on, I just keep it in there and there’s plenty of room.
Rangefinder pocket: This pocket is designed for your rangefinder but can also be used for other things. It doesn’t have zippers so it’s an easy-access pocket.
Velcro glove holder: Rather than taking your glove off and tossing it in your pocket, there’s a Velcro holder you can use. I like it because it lets my glove dry a bit when it’s wet out or I’m sweating a bit.
Towel loop: Everyone should have a towel with them to keep their clubs clean and hands dry. I don’t want to see you walking around the course with mud caked onto your clubs. Wipe them down after you hit them.
Umbrella holder: I don’t use an umbrella myself, but you might.
Pass-through cart strap: I use a push cart during most of my rounds. The El Camino bag didn’t come with this and it occasionally would twist on the cart. I can now put the strap directly through the bag, which keeps it in place much better.
The Quality
I already had experience with the El Camino by Sunday Golf as well as a newer Cobra bag, so I had something to compare to. My previous bag had a few minor issues that I was able to fix myself, but the Ryder bag seems to be better.
The quality of the material seems to be pretty decent, but it really depends on what you’re comparing it to. It’s made from a nylon material that feels better than some of the cheaper bags I’ve seen, but if you’re used to a premium bag, it will be a step down.
The zippers also seem to be good, they’re your standard string with a plastic tip. That said, I really tried to pull on them to see if there was any sign of wear and breakage. I haven’t had the bag for too long, but I’ve had no issues myself.
The final thing I wanted to look at was the legs of the bag. The legs must be wide enough to create a stable base and are built well enough to fold in and out with no issues. After using it for a while, it’d be nice if it were slightly more sturdy, but it was pretty good.
There were a few times when I hit my shot, I picked up the bag, and one of the legs didn’t fully close. It hit the back of my leg a few times, but I just used my hand to close it and it seemed to stay in place.
Overall, the quality is pretty good. Compared to a newer Coba bag I have, the material on the Ryder feels better, the zippers are pretty much the same, and the leg system isn’t quite as good. Again, we’ll update things if that changes.
The Performance
The features and quality of the bag are one thing, but what really matters is how it performs on the course. What I’m talking about is how comfortable the bag is to carry, how well the clubs went in and out, and if I noticed any small issues along the way.
In terms of comfort, I wouldn’t say the Ryder is as comfortable as the El Camino, simply because it’s bigger and heavier. Compared to other full-sized bags, it was essentially the same. I didn’t have to adjust anything, it just came out of the box and went on my back balanced.
I normally carry 10 clubs with midsized grips. The El Camino bag fits them all, no problem, but it wasn’t always the smoothest getting the clubs back in the bag. Since the Ryder is bigger, I didn’t find that this was much of an issue.
Overall, the bag performed pretty well. Compared to my Cobra bag, everything was very similar except for the amount of padding in the strap. The Ryder had a little bit more, which was a plus.
Ryder vs El Camino
The main difference is that the Ryder bag is full-sized and fits up to 14 clubs while the El Camino holds up to 10 clubs. Both have a good amount of storage and are comfortable enough to carry, while they both can be used on carts.
If you’re trying to decide between the two, ask yourself these questions:
- How many clubs do I have?
- How many clubs do I plan on having?
If you have 10 or fewer clubs, either bag could work for you. If you have more than 10 clubs, the Ryder bag will be a much better fit for you.
Also, you need to think about whether or not you’ll add clubs in the future. The El Camino might work for you now, but will you get more clubs in the future? If yes, you might want to consider the Ryder.
Even with the El Camino, I’ve heard from people who stuffed more than 10 clubs in it. I have midsized grips, so it wasn’t ideal to add more clubs. Either way, it’s something to consider.
What I Don’t Like About The Ryder Bag
I’ve been able to try several different bags over the years, some have been good and some have been just fine. The main thing comes down to whether or not the bag will last for years.
After testing things out for a number of rounds, I’ve been pretty happy with the quality and performance of the Ryder. That said, it doesn’t mean it’s the perfect bag because there are some improvements to make.
One thing right now is that there really isn’t a good place to put tees. The El Camino had a specific spot to store 8-10 tees, but the Ryder doesn’t have that feature.
If you use the accessory pocket for random stuff and the jacket pocket for clothing, you’ll have to have your balls and tees in the same pocket (unless you don’t use the cooler or smell-proof pocket).
I think the leg system could be a bit more sturdy as well. I didn’t find it to be a huge deal, but it did hit my leg a few times when walking with the bag.
Should You Buy The Ryder?
After everything we’ve talked about, you still might be wondering if the Ryder bag is right for you. I don’t think it’s right for everyone, but it’s one to consider.
If you currently play with more than 10 clubs (or you plan to in the future), you’ll need to have a full-sized bag. If you play with 10 or fewer clubs, you probably don’t need one this big.
If you need a bag this big, you’ll need to think about how much you want to spend. Our discount drops the price by 15%, which brings it to a pretty reasonable level.
A lot of people (myself included when I started) don’t want to spend a fortune on a bag. Sure, it’s not the most well-built bag and it’s not the most comfortable, but it’s solid for the price.
I like the fact that it comes in a range of different color options and it also has a synthetic-leather model. It’s been good enough for me over the past little bit and I think most people will enjoy it as well.
If you have questions or want to share your experience with the Ryder bag (or any of the other bags from Sunday Golf), be sure to leave a comment below.
15% OFF THE RYDER BAG
Click the link below and use code “OBG15” to save 15% on your order.
If you use our code, we’ll get a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t impact our review or recommendation in any way.
Other Bags To Consider
Even though the Ryder is a pretty good bag for the price, it’s not the best option for everyone. Some people will prefer something slightly smaller. Others will want something that feels a bit more sturdy.
If I were looking to buy this bag, I’d probably be inclined to spend a bit more and get something of higher quality. The Ranger from Sunday Golf is an example.
It’s quite a bit more expensive, but it’s a much better bag. You can also read our article HERE that talks about our favorite golf bags.
What To Do Next:
Enter Our Gear Giveaway: Like free golf stuff? A few times per year, we pick a few of our viewers and send them some gifts. Click here to learn more.
Deals & Discounts: We’ve worked with brands to offer discounts to our readers. See our deals and discounts page to see our current promotions.
Write For Us: Calling all hackers, whackers, and golf enthusiasts. Out Of Bounds Golf is looking for writers. If you’d like to get paid to write about golf, click here for more info.
