For the one you love on the golf course: His and hers Nike cart bags

Nike's Brassie Cart II bag for women is sturdy and pretty without being cutesy or gaudy. (Courtesy of Nike Golf)


Traditionally, many players view the golf course as a refuge from their significant others -— a place where boys can be boys, or where girls can be girls.

More and more, though, golf represents a shared interest and activity for couples and families. Some of the happiest people I know love to play golf with the one they love.

If you happen to appreciate the virtues of a mixed twosome, Nike's newest generation of his and hers cart bags are perfect for this holiday season -- and the rest of the year, too.

Both the Nike Sport Cart bag for men ($150) and the Nike Brassie Cart II for women ($250) are specifically designed for use on a motorized or pull cart.

The single strap on these bags, when perched on either cart, snugly tucks away behind the bag. But, should you or a caddie wish to carry, the straps are well padded and the bags well-balanced. The men's Sport Cart bag is considerably lighter than the Brassie and more amenable to carrying.

Both bags include numerous pockets, some of which are specialized -- like the insulated drink pocket on the front of the men's bag and on the side of the women's bag -- and some of which are multi-purpose.

The bells and whistles endear, too. On the men's bag, there's an elastic tee pouch, a pencil slot and an external Velcro patch for attaching a glove. On the women's bag, there's a tee holder, a detachable pouch for valuables and extra-cushy padding beneath the front handle.

Yet it's the basic engineering that ensures the durability of these bags. Both feature full-length club dividers. The men's bag has 14 individual slots, ensuring that your clubs don't bounce out of position or clang together even when wheeling over rough ground. The women's bag includes an external putter silo and 10 top slots, all of which are plushly padded to protect club shafts. Several of these slots are wide enough to accommodate multiple clubs.

Finally, the design of both bags is understated yet eye catching. The men's bag comes in three color combinations, looking sporty and dignified. I especially like the rubberized zipper-pulls, a lot easier to grasp than the usual metal tabs. The women's bag pairs black with white pinpoint polka-dots and peach accents, including peach lining inside the many pockets. It's frankly the prettiest women's bag I've ever reviewed, without being girly or gaudy.

I don't know whether the couple that plays together is more likely to stay together, but I can almost guarantee that any player who pairs up with either of these new Nike bags will use it for many, many years to come.