Will it Golf? Yeti Roadie 15 Hard Cooler

Did you happen to notice that it’s hot out there?

Seriously, July has lost its mind here in NorCal where triple-digit daily temperatures are the norm. Odds are good that this summer is a spicy one for you as well.

It’s almost too hot to even play golf!

OK, that is taking things a little too far. Naturally, we are still going to play golf when it is hot. However, playing in the heat does mean we need to actively plan how we can survive when the sun is blasting.

Staying hydrated is the main concern. Some courses make maintaining hydration easy, providing water at numerous locations. Other courses seem unfamiliar with the concept of having water available. They either think golfers don’t need water or they assume that players will pack enough water from home.

It’s the latter situation that I want to address. If I’m going to need to pack enough water and other beverages to survive four to five hours in the sun, I’m going to need a cooler. Ideally, a cooler that will keep things cold and also fit in the odd-sized basket behind the seats in the riding cart.

As you know, finding a cooler that fits inside that basket is challenging. When Yeti released their new Roadie 15 hard cooler a few weeks back, its specs seemed basket-conforming and I knew I needed to see if it was golf friendly.

Yeti coolers are expensive and amazing

I’ve reviewed numerous Yeti products in the MyGolfSpy Forum. To a product, two things are true. First, Yeti products, be it bottles, coolers or tumblers, keep things cold for a long time. Even the soft-sided coolers will keep ice frozen for days rather than mere hours.

At the extreme end, my Yeti Roadie 60 Wheeled Cooler will still have ice in it after four days of summer camping.

People typically don’t argue much about the functionality of Yeti coolers. Instead, they save the arguing for the second truth about Yeti products: They are expensive.

Yeti performance comes at a price. Many consumers save money by choosing a Yeti knock-off at a cheaper price. I’ve experimented in that direction as well.

Every time, the cheaper version of the Yeti was definitely a cheaper version of the Yeti in terms of price and quality. Having used both, the quality improves with the price.

As a kid of the ’80s who took foam ice chests to the river, it seems impossible that a cooler costing hundreds of dollars even exists. It also would seem impossible to my younger self that a cooler could hold ice for days at a time.

Pre-Yeti cooler camping trips required treks for more ice after a couple of days. Now we have ice in the Yeti coolers when we get home.

Even those of you who favor a non-Yeti brand can’t really argue that Yeti changed the cooler industry.

But will the Roadie 15 golf?

Let’s turn our attention testing the cooler at hand. The Yeti Roadie 15 is one of the smallest hard-sided coolers Yeti has ever produced. I own a few Yeti hard coolers and never once did I think that one would work for golf. They are too big and heavy.

A few of the Yeti soft coolers are golf-friendly. The Hopper Flip 8 fits easily in the cart basket or can hang below the console on a push cart. The Hopper Flip 12 can work in a pinch but it is just a bit too big for the cart basket.

Like I said comparing the dimensions of the Roadie 15 to the dimensions of the cart basket, it looked like it would actually fit.

And …

It fits! Never have I felt so satisfied after such a simple test. The Yeti Roadie 15 fits in the cart basket like it was its destiny.

Maybe someone at Yeti read my other reviews complaining about basket fit and built this one specifically for golfers. It could happen, right?

Regardless, it is an easy fit. You can snug the cooler all the way to the bottom of the basket or you can prop it up at a slight angle so you can access the latches.

The strap on the cooler is adjustable, allowing you to use it like a shoulder strap or a top handle. With the strap fully extended, you can tuck it under or behind the Roadie 15 to get it out of the way.

Capacity is perfect for golf or other short outings. You’ll easily fit a 12-pack of cans and ice or a couple of wine bottles on their sides if that is your preference. If you are a Yeti ice user (and you should be), go with the Yeti Thin Ice styles to keep more space available for cans.

No coolers allowed

At many courses, outside coolers are not allowed on the course. Obviously, the course wants you to buy their $10 cans of Modelo instead of having you bring them from home.

Thrifty golfers already know that there are a multitude of beer-sneaking coolers already out there. Most cart bags now come with insulated pockets. Stealthy golfers will win the beer-smuggling battle every time.

As such, golf courses should embrace the cooler.

I’m not suggesting a free-for-all cooler situation. Instead, the course could work out a cooler usage plan that builds a partnership with its players.

For example, let’s say that a club works with Yeti to get custom Roadie 15 coolers with the course logo. A player who buys one of these coolers and brings it to the course to be filled then gets some kind of discount on beverages. A dollar or two off each or something like that. After a season or two, the player would pay off the cooler price.

Of course, the course still makes money on the deal.  They make a profit from the initial cooler sale and the beverage mark-up can take a $1 hit and still turn a profit.

Additionally, if previously sneaky golfers now buy beverages on site rather than sneaking them in, that is even more money fore the course. Those sales would not have happened without the cooler incentive program.

The Yeti Roadie 15 will golf

The bottom line is that the Yeti Roadie 15 is a great cooler for the riding golfer. It will keep things cold through 18, 36 or even 54 holes. The fit in the basket is perfect and Yeti’s ridiculously high build quality means that this $200 cooler will probably last longer than your $500 driver.

If you are more interested in soft coolers, Yeti has new M15 Tote and M12 Backpack cooler options that seem like they could be golf-appropriate as well. Those two are the next on my “must try for golf” list.

Stay hydrated out there. Be sure to occasionally mix in a water or two.

Find out more about Yeti coolers and other products at Yeti.com