Why 14 clubs??

[Nikonut]

Lol! After talking to a few other good players, I’m advised to now leave the driver at home and work on the 3 wood off the tee. They did assure me my scores will go way high for a while haha

 

[PaPaD]

There are TONS of threads about Minimalist golf and "why not 14+?". Theories and justifications abound. A lot depends on your skill level and ability to hit the same club different distances. In my case, I hit my driver pretty consistently down the fairway (but 200 yds or less). I play from tees that are typically 5500 yards, so on par 5s, I can reach in regulation and most par4s are reach-able. That being said, at a 13 handicap, I'm not the best ball striker (high-functioning hacker) so I miss a lot of greens and need to chip for up-and-down par attempts. That boils down to me needing a driver, 5w, 6h, 8i, 9i, W, GW, SW, putter. so I typically carry 8 to 9 clubs.

 

[Louie_T07]

There are TONS of threads about Minimalist golf and "why not 14+?". Theories and justifications abound. A lot depends on your skill level and ability to hit the same club different distances. In my case, I hit my driver pretty consistently down the fairway (but 200 yds or less). I play from tees that are typically 5500 yards, so on par 5s, I can reach in regulation and most par4s are reach-able. That being said, at a 13 handicap, I'm not the best ball striker (high-functioning hacker) so I miss a lot of greens and need to chip for up-and-down par attempts. That boils down to me needing a driver, 5w, 6h, 8i, 9i, W, GW, SW, putter. so I typically carry 8 to 9 clubs.

That’s a set that suits your on course needs, and quite well too, I’d say. If it isn’t broke, why fix it?? This is also my goal with the retro half set I’ve got going. I’m not planning on setting any course records with it, although guess I could?!?! It’s more geared towards my enjoyment and just maybe, extending my season a tad.

For me, the idea of minimalist golf, or set. I go as far back as to where this crazy game originated. There weren’t numbers on clubs, they had names. Like Brassie, Niblick and Spoon. I can only assume these clubs served a variety of uses on course during your round. A player could like take 3 or 4 in hand and go play. And the shafts were wood!!

 

[Libre]

Every now and then when I've been playing badly, I transfer 7 or 8 essential clubs from my full regalia - which includes 13-14 clubs in a full bag on a motorized cart; as well as all the gimmicks and gadgets you can think of, gps distance finder, water bottle, emergency kit of band aids, adhesive tape, sun block, some money just in case, old balls, new balls, bags of tees, old gloves, new gloves, a windbreaker, an umbrella, ball washer, brushes - and I'm just getting started. I leave that all home. I take this super light bag and the essential clubs - a small towel, a bottle of water, 7 or 8 balls and a handful of tees. All in a light carry bag. It's amazingly light - goes in the back of my car with such ease. I seldom really need anything I've left behind, and I feel like playing this way captures the true essence of the game.

 

[Louie_T07]

I take this super light bag and the essential clubs - a small towel, a bottle of water, 7 or 8 balls and a handful of tees. All in a light carry bag. It's amazingly light - goes in the back of my car with such ease. I seldom really need anything I've left behind, and I feel like playing this way captures the true essence of the game.

This was 100% my experience, I didn’t miss a single thing that was left behind. Well perhaps the missing umbrella when thunder began to rumble on the 8th...

 

[jhmeg2]

Yeah, we don't need 14 clubs. I played 9 holes and shot 41 with a 6 iron. but for 18 holes and a 70, I prefer to have a full bag of 14.

 

[Louie_T07]

Yeah, we don't need 14 clubs. I played 9 holes and shot 41 with a 6 iron. but for 18 holes and a 70, I prefer to have a full bag of 14.

I’ve played in several “one club” staff tournaments while working on course maintenance over the years. Always a good time and by the time you are on the second tee, you have four clubs because teammates start interchanging clubs.

Libre said it best, “playing with just the essential clubs.” IMO anyway, but just how many clubs would you consider essential to your round?? Even I have to think about that for a second.

 

[Old Chuckie T]

Fewer than 14 clubs?
How do you get down to 14?

 

[limpalong]

Fewer than 14 clubs?
How do you get down to 14?

View attachment 32393

My cart bag has 15 holes. If the manufacturer didn't mean for them all to have a club in them, it wouldn't have been made that way. So... if we look at the Rules of Golf... Rule No. VIII.b.4.C.xii.8345 in Appendix 9... I believe we get an exemption for carrying 15!!!!! :>)

 

[Louie_T07]

My cart bag has 15 holes. If the manufacturer didn't mean for them all to have a club in them, it wouldn't have been made that way. So... if we look at the Rules of Golf... Rule No. VIII.b.4.C.xii.8345 in Appendix 9... I believe we get an exemption for carrying 15!!!!! :>)

Noticed a lot of cart bags have that extra 15th spot. I’d always thought that’s where the club you are demo’ing went???

 

[limpalong]

Noticed a lot of cart bags have that extra 15th spot. I’d always thought that’s where the club you are demo’ing went???

An extra club easily fits in the umbrella slot, too. I'm really thinking that makes a total of 16 perfectly legal.

 

[Louie_T07]

An extra club easily fits in the umbrella slot, too. I'm really thinking that makes a total of 16 perfectly legal.

Only 16??? Haha. Speaking of umbrellas though and the alignment sticks, orange whips and all the other gizmos we see in our bags... Do they, or do they not also count as ‘clubs’ under the wonderfully confusing rules of golf?!?! Just saying... seems like some people are walking around with 20+ clubs.

 

[azgreg]

I've come to the conclusion that I much prefer 10 clubs over 14.

 

[Old Chuckie T]

Modern lofts make it hard to configure a classic set composition in only fourteen clubs.

If the 9-iron is stronger than 42º, it's hard to go with only three wedges.

 

[azgreg]

My current bag goes as follows:
Driver
2h
4h
5i (28°)
7i (34°)
8i (40°)
pw (46°)
gw (51°)
sw (56°)
putter