Looking for a new car is often challenging enough, but what if you’re a keen golfer?
The need to haul a full set of clubs with you can restrict your options, and that’s before you factor the need for a prestige look that many aim for at the links.
No panic though — we’ve done the hard work for you, finding handsome, desirable cars with enough space for a set of clubs…
Volvo V90
Let’s start with something particularly practical. To be honest, pretty much any estate would work here — but you want something elegant and stylish.. You could go for a typical German options from Audi, Mercedes-Benz or BMW, but really, you want to show you don’t just follow the crowd.
That’s where Volvo comes in with the V90. It’s handsome on the outside, light, airy and a little bit quirky on the inside, and has a massive boot. The fact it’s incredibly safe and good to drive just adds to the appeal.
Ferrari GTC4 Lusso
You might be surprised to see a Ferrari on this list, what with it better-known for making impractical supercars you can barely fit your exquisite leather briefcase in, let alone a set of clubs.
However, that’s exactly why the Prancing Horse introduced a ‘shooting brake’ to its range. Estate-like in shape but swoopy in appearance, the GTC4Lusso offers high performance motoring with added practicality.
In fact, to prove how fit-for-purpose this car is, Ferrari even offered it with a bespoke golf club bag that could be tailored to the buyer’s specification.
Mini Clubman
To many traditionalists, the expansion of the Mini brand under German parent firm BMW is sacrilege. The standard car is bigger than ever and there are now SUV-like versions too. However, the Clubman gets away with some of the ire because it’s the revival of a body type offered on the original Mini.
It’s essentially an estate, with two doors that open like a van at the rear, making access easy. So not only do you get easy access and lots of space, it still has Mini’s premium reputation and high-quality interiors.
Porsche 911
If ever there was a sports car that could fit in perfectly at a golf club, it’s a 911. It has that reputation for quality that so many others would kill for.
However, you might be surprised to learn that despite being a relatively small sports car, you can definitely fit a set of clubs in the back. It appears most owners recommend laying them across the back seats. It’s not the most elegant solution, but it works.
McLaren GT
As with the Porsche, you might be surprised to learn there’s a practical McLaren, but there is, in the form of the upcoming GT.
It’s designed to be more of an everyday McLaren, with comfort over long distances preferred to race track performance — it’ll still do 0-60mph in about three seconds, though, so it’s no slouch.
It gets a new rear boot space, and to prove its practicality, McLaren shared photos of a set of golf clubs on-board. Practicality, crazy performance and spaceship styling in one package.
Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo
When the Porsche Panamera was first revealed, it was rather the ugly duckling of the German firm’s range. However, the latest version looks svelte and muscular, and perhaps at its most appealing in Sport Turismo form, with estate-meets-coupe style.
Here you have Porsche brand appeal, mile-munching comfort, and space for your clubs and countless other stuff while you’re at it.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe
Mercedes has various good-looking and practical estates in its range, but if you really want to turn heads at the golf club, look no further than the S-Class Coupe. It has all the luxury inside that’s to be expected from the firm’s flagship non-sports car, while retaining a decent amount of boot space even in coupe form.
It’s something of an understated, underrated gem, particularly in S 63 AMG form, where it packs 612bhp.
Bentley Continental GT
If you like your luxury motors British, looking now further than the Bentley Continental GT. It was completely revitalised recently with a new look, exquisite interior and a gorgeous 12-cylinder engine.
Given the opulence of every surface inside, though, it might be difficult to bring yourself to throw your clubs in the boot after a rainy session…