Going minimalist

[Klimski]

Minimalist to my thinking is 5 or 6 clubs at most.
9 clubs isn't minimalist. When it's carry only, I go down to 6 clubs max and when trolleys allowed back up to 14.

I agree that 9 is a bit much for true minimalist. I am looking at ways to bring it back to 8 but do enjoy my current setup. And what is pretty minimalist is owning only 10 clubs in total!

 

[Orikoru]

I just feel like you're hampering yourself. The aim is to make the best score you can, and you're allowed up to 14 tools to do that, so you might as well use them all. Going out with 8 clubs is like playing snooker one-handed or running a marathon in Crocs. It doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Burnsey]

I just feel like you're hampering yourself. The aim is to make the best score you can, and you're allowed up to 14 tools to do that, so you might as well use them all. Going out with 8 clubs is like playing snooker one-handed or running a marathon in Crocs. It doesn't make sense to me.

I must admit, I find it odd, unless it was for fun, but that wouldn't be fun for me.

I play my game to my average shot distance for all clubs and the only times I play the same club differently is from 80 yards in and for that I use one of two wedges.

Yes, I can back foot an iron for an under the tree shot, draw and fade etc., but I've spent too much time getting consistent distances to play half swings etc.

 

[Klimski]

I must admit, I find it odd, unless it was for fun, but that wouldn't be fun for me.

I play my game to my average shot distance for all clubs and the only times I play the same club differently is from 80 yards in and for that I use one of two wedges.

Yes, I can back foot an iron for an under the tree shot, draw and fade etc., but I've spent too much time getting consistent distances to play half swings etc.

I understand. But, firstly I am not very good at golf. 18 handicap, hoping to get to 15. And I have found that when I am having a good day it's pretty easy to take distance off towards a number. I have played field hockey all my life and had very accurate passing as my main strength. And, at my ability level my front to back dispersion means that my gapping is fine. Finally, my bag is set up so that each club has two or three functions. In the 'olden days' they would play with 7-9 clubs and that did them just fine.

I really don't see myself ever playing 14 clubs again.

 

[Burnsey]

I understand. But, firstly I am not very good at golf. 18 handicap, hoping to get to 15. And I have found that when I am having a good day it's pretty easy to take distance off towards a number. I have played field hockey all my life and had very accurate passing as my main strength. And, at my ability level my front to back dispersion means that my gapping is fine. Finally, my bag is set up so that each club has two or three functions. In the 'olden days' they would play with 7-9 clubs and that did them just fine.

I really don't see myself ever playing 14 clubs again.

Your hobby and absolutely your choice, however, don't see the number of clubs you carry can be described as minimalist, just fewer than permitted.

Matt Fryer put a video out yesterday with 3 plus putter. A short course with 4, 7 and PW. None holes and he came in one over.

I would have gone 5w, 6i, PW on that course.

For a challenge, I fully enrol. Looking to go 18 down to 15, I'm filling my bag.

 

[Crow]

I understand. But, firstly I am not very good at golf. 18 handicap, hoping to get to 15. And I have found that when I am having a good day it's pretty easy to take distance off towards a number. I have played field hockey all my life and had very accurate passing as my main strength. And, at my ability level my front to back dispersion means that my gapping is fine. Finally, my bag is set up so that each club has two or three functions. In the 'olden days' they would play with 7-9 clubs and that did them just fine.

I really don't see myself ever playing 14 clubs again.

Many years ago there was a push for professionals to play with less clubs, a competition was even held with a reduced number of clubs.

Some really liked it, but they were different days and professionalism wasn't as dominant as it is now.

And I can imagine the manufacturers making a huge fuss if it were even suggested today!

 

[IanM]

I just feel like you're hampering yourself. The aim is to make the best score you can, and you're allowed up to 14 tools to do that, so you might as well use them all. Going out with 8 clubs is like playing snooker one-handed or running a marathon in Crocs. It doesn't make sense to me.

Apologies for repeating an oft reported post...

I ran a Society in the 90s/2000s, usually 36 hole days.

We often did a "3 clubs and a putter" comp in the morning. The number of players who scored better with fewer clubs always amazed me.

 

[Orikoru]

Apologies for repeating an oft reported post...

I ran a Society in the 90s/2000s, usually 36 hole days.

We often did a "3 clubs and a putter" comp in the morning. The number of players who scored better with fewer clubs always amazed me.

Those will be the guys with shocking course management, and/or no idea how far they hit each club anyway.

 

[IanM]

Those will be the guys with shocking course management, and/or no idea how far they hit each club anyway.

And (as evidenced on here) it removes too much choice and over thinking!

 

[Imurg]

We had a 2 clubs and a putter comp at the weekend....it was won with 39 points......ridiculous.

If we go to Carry only then it's 1 wood, 1 hybrid, 3 irons, 1 wedge and a putter.
3 years ago I shot a 2 under 69 carrying a similar setup......would have been about 45 points....ridiculous.....

 

[RichA]

I went with carrying just 4 clubs this morning.
Any shortcomings were down to me rather than what wasn’t in the bag.
I played badly and still beat my playing partner who was carrying a full set.
Never really trusted driver off the deck before but it was working ok today on the par 5s.

 

[Oddsocks]

So, for some years I have been tinkering with my set. I played with 7 clubs for a while until I put driver back in. And then added one more wedge. One of my goals has always been to have a golf set that is fully functional, yet can simply live hanging on a coat peg.

Also, I wanted to be rid of any clubs that I am not using. I am almost there. Besides the 9 clubs in my bag, I now own two extra clubs: a 'Perfect Club' 5 wood, that I have tried to sell used without success, and a persimmon 3 wood that I will never sell. I built it from Goldsmith components with my late granddad who taught me the game. So once the 'Perfect Club' has been sent to the local charity shop I am done.

I have kept track of all the golf clubs I have owned over the years, and it's around the 90 mark.

Who else is a minimalist and why?

If I’d built a “ perfect club “ with my grandad, it would be hung on the wall in the office as a memory… never to be sold, EVER!

 

[Klimski]

If I’d built a “ perfect club “ with my grandad, it would be hung on the wall in the office as a memory… never to be sold, EVER!

Yeah, that's the persimmon one. It's a keeper! (The 'Perfect Club' was a brand in the late 90's that sold a ton of fairway/hybrid clubs at the time)