HOMEGROWN GOLF: LEATHER BAG TAG

Products can be developed in a variety of different ways. Some are the result of study and design, carefully planned from beginning to end. Others are a happy accident, stemming from a series of events that resulted in a product that consumers love to use.

Leather Bag Tags is one of the latter, developing thanks to a delivery that never should have been made.

Late in 2020, just days before Christmas, a package was delivered by UPS to the home of Robert Reed. Inside the package was a small laser engraver, mistakenly dropped at the wrong address with no return contact. When UPS refused to come back for it, Reed decided to set it up and give it a try.

“It was a simple engraver with horrible software, but it worked as advertised and I tried it on everything I could,” said Reed. “Then I started working with materials I thought would be good for golf bag tags. I love golf.”

After making tags for family friends, Reed was asked to make tags for the 2021 Vegas World Amateur tournament. Those first tags were simple wooden plaques which turned out well. After that, Reed started working with leather.

“The leather is great because I’ve been able to cut it into any shape, dye it a variety of colors, and make really nice designs for tournaments and courses. Players at the events we’ve worked with have all remarked about how much they like them as opposed to cheap, plastic bag tags.”

After a second run with the Vegas World Amateur, Reed decided to open his tags up to the public. Available for purchase at www.leatherbagtag.com, individuals can create their own tags or choose from one of the stock tags being made on a regular basis. The site has also been a place where courses are ordering tags for their customers and members.

“The response has been amazing. I quickly learned that the small engraver was never going to keep up with orders, so we’ve upgraded significantly. We’re set-up to keep growing with demand.”

Reed said he’s been working on some new designs that could be used for bag tags or applied to hats. “The hat designs have been great and I’m really excited to start offering those later this year.”

To see more examples, or to order your bag tag, visit www.leatherbagtag.com.