Walking is the best way to enjoy the game. That's the original and best way to experience a golf course. Carrying your bag is even better, if you're able. Purists may even eschew the modern harnessed stand bag for a classic legless single-strap number. While researching the makers of these gorgeous retro leather golf bags, I found three makers, all in the Portland area. I knew there must be a story, and there is:
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| Mackenzie golf bag |
The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company was started by Portland's own Peter Jacobson about twenty years ago and was later sold to Todd Rohrer. They have been selling these custom leather beauties for quite a while.
The McKennon Golf Bag Company was started by Mike McKennon, an ex-Nike employee, a couple of years ago. They offer a nearly-identical line of custom leather bags, headcovers, and drawstring pouches.
The Jones Sports Company was recently purchased by the Lemman family, giving them the rights to the original, iconic Jones golf bag designed and built in Portland starting in 1971 by founder George Jones. They exhibited at the 2012 PGA merchandise show and will begin production this spring.
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| Jones golf bags |
Needless to say, MacKenzie is not too happy about the situation with McKennon. There is even a website devoted to it (
here). That being said, McKennon has been very successful marketing their bags to PGA players, fashion labels like Travis Matthews, and even President Obama (
facebook link). Jones, on the other hand, legitimately purchased the rights to its heritage after some uneasy past relationship with McKennon. Interesting to note that McKennon's early facebook posts propose "bringing back the classic Jones golf bag".
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Look, me and the McDonald's people got this little mis-
understanding. See, they're McDonalds, I'm McDowell's.
They got the golden arches, mine is the golden arcs... . |
Reminds me of the classic McScoundrel: Remember the Eddie Murphy movie "Coming To America", wherein John Amos plays Cleo McDowell, a motivated businessman who owns a chain of fast food restaurants modeled very closely after McDonalds?
(clip)
All's fair in love and capitalism, I suppose. We'll see how this saga turns out in the long run. In the meantime, have a look at these devastatingly cool bags that are also tough as nails. They'll run you over $600, but you'll end up passing them down thru generations like an heirloom, rather than tossing them in the garbage like the ubiquitous disposable nylon-and-plastic standbags that dominate the market.
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| McKennon for Travis Matthews |
