What a divider actually is
The top of a golf bagis split into slots that keep the clubs separated, and "4-way" or "14-way" simply counts them. A 4-way top has roughly four sections and several clubs share each one; a 14-way top gives all fourteen clubs a slot of their own. That's the whole distinction - everything else follows from it.
Fewer dividers: lighter, for walkers
A bag with fewer dividers is lighter and less bulky, which is exactly what someone who carries their bag around the course wants. Clubs sharing a slot can clatter together and the grips get a bit more mingled, but for a walker that's a fair trade for weight saved on every step. This is why stand and carry bags - the ones with fold-out legs - usually have fewer dividers.
14-way: organized, for riders
A full 14-way top keeps every club in its own place, so nothing tangles, grips don't wear against each other, and pulling a club is quick and clean. The cost is weight and bulk, which doesn't matter if the bag rides on a cart all day. That's why cart bags - flat-based, no legs, built to strap onto a cart or trolley - tend to have the full divider set.
Match it to how they get around
The mistake is thinking more dividers is simply better. It isn't - it's better only if the extra weight is a non-issue, which is true for a rider and false for a walker. So the single fact that decides this is whether they walk or ride, and there's an easy tell: look at their current bag. Fold-out legs mean they walk (go lighter, fewer dividers); a flat base and no legs mean they ride (a 14-way is fine). Buying the wrong type is buying something worse than what they have.
Which to buy as a gift
If they walk, a lighter bag with fewer dividers is the thoughtful choice; if they ride, a 14-way cart bag gives them the organization without a weight penalty they'd ever feel. Either way, a bag is a substantial gift that lasts for years, so confirm they're actually after a new one first - like a rangefinder, it's a category where duplication stings. Our full how to choose a golf bag guide covers the rest of the decision.