Reducing the number of clubs allowed?

[USER1999]

Now I carry 14 clubs, like most other golfers, and would probably carry more if the rules allowed. However, I was reading a while ago about a scheme to limit the number of clubs allowed to make entry into the game cheaper, and try to reverse the current trend of reduced numbers entering the sport.

While playing last night, I started using my 5 iron for as many shots as I could (trying to groove a repeatable swing before being custom fit on Friday). What I have noticed, is that I middle this club way more often than my 4 iron, and so, in general, the ball will not only go a more consistent distance, but probably further than an average strike with the 4i. I expect this is true with my 3 and 5 woods too, and probably my 6 and 7 iron (favouring the 7i).
With my 5i, I hit all 4 par 5s in three (something I often struggle to do using a driver), even accepting that at least one of the 3 shots was no where near the middle of the bat.

So, if new rules came in limiting the number of clubs, I think I could play with the following list, with no impact on my handicap what so ever.

Driver
5 wood
5 iron
7 iron
9 iron
Pw
56° sandwedge
Putter.

Ie: 8 clubs.

Depending on the number allowed, I would ditch the 56 and carry a 54 and 58 for more versatility around the greens, and maybe add a hybrid, which would bring the number up to 10. This would seem reasonable. It would probably make me hit the ball more consistently, as I would almost never be left with that nagging doubt that I had the wrong stick in my hand (a recipe for disaster).

So would reducing the number of sticks allowed in the bag be a disaster?

 

[Jonny_Stevenson]

Very interesting post. Can I ask what your handicap is now?

I think that too many clubs for the average high handicapper is just a confusion and that if they were to really get to know a smaller set it would, as you say, make very little difference to scoring and in certain cases possibly improve it. The classic example is the lob wedge - this is a really hard club to hit unless you have a properly sound short game and it seems to appear in a lot of bags where it really shouldn't be.

I think 10 is a happy medium. Quite often I play with a half set just to keep some creativity and flexibility in my game.

 

[USER1999]

I play off 12. Have done for years. Every year I promise myself that this will be the year I get down to single figures, but every year it doesn't happen. Shot 80, 80, 84 this weekend. No comps but off the back tees. Next weekend will be medal and I will be lucky to break 100.

I used to carry 4 wedges, but the confusion factor has lead me to drop one, and go with 3.

To be honest, off the back tees, most holes are so long, I could drop the 8,7,6,and 5 irons which don't get used, as I am either hitting driver 5w and then chipping on, or 5w on the par 3s and chipping on. Even the par 5s are driver, 5w wedge.

 

[forefortheday]

Never carried a full set.

I don't even have a driver or 3 wood in my bag at present, never really used a driver but had a 3 wood. Far too wild with it and it was costing me shots round after round dropped it for a Cobra DWS 4 iron replacement. 20 yards shorter but.....

No trouble hitting long par 3's, tee shots stay on the fairway and for long par 4's I either accept a lay up or get the hybrid out and give it a go.

Found it's really helped my game and highlighted that my real improvement needs to come in chipping and putting for me to cut my scores.

I currently use;

Cobra DWS
5 i
7 i
8 i
9 i
pw
sw
lw
Putter

So there is space for 5 more clubs in my bag no Woosie's for me!

 

[brendy]

reducing the number of clubs wouldnt reduce the costs of starting golf, starting with a half set for any learner.
Noone twists their arms to buy rescue woods, util wedges etc.

 

[RGuk]

Like Murph, I play off 12 and tend to play between 10-20.
I would actually LIKE to carry less clubs, but it would cost me the odd shot. Why? because my whole game is built on "playing to the distances". As unlikely as it sounds, on a good round, I either a) hit the green b) miss the green but "green high" or c) on 2 or 3 holes can't reach, like uphill 430-450 yarders! I use all of D/3w/5w/3h/4i off the tees to leave specific distances. If I dropped any long clubs, I'd be in a mess with my strategy and if I dropped an iron or two, sure as likely, I'd get to my normal 7i par 3 and discover the pin is way back or into the wind, with no 6 in the bag!!
However, I am confident that I could probably get close to my normal game (since I make mostly bogeys) with about 5 or 6 clubs. I'd choose 3w 4/6/8/pw/sw? putter. Unlike Murph, I'd rather not hit 3 irons to a par 5 because the shot that counts, the 3rd (I try to leave about 100 yards) could be as much as another 150-170, and at that distance I'd be way less confident about hitting the green. (par 5s are my best holes).
Certainly a novice would be fine with a wood or two and 7 irons. Ages ago we played a game limited to 2 "proper" irons, for fun. I carried 3/5/9 woods an 8 iron and PW. I used the 9 wood (4/5 iron type distance) all over the place.

 

[Parmo]

If they did change them, I would use: -

Driver
3 wood
21 Degree Hybrid
5, 7, 8, 9, PW & SW
Putter

that took me about 10 minutes lol

 

[TonyN]

You never know what situaion you are going to end up in, Having as many clubs as you can carry/afford/be bothered with in my eyes is great.

For instance one day I might be at the 150 yard marker with the pin at the front. I could take an 8, Next day i could be in the same place with the pin at the back and need a 6. 7 would be too short for attacking and 5 would see me through the green.

Why see your self off, is carrying 12-14 clubs really that difficult?

 

[USER1999]

I am not saying it is difficult to carry 14 clubs, and as the first line in my top post states, I would carry more if I could. It comes from reading articles in the golfing press regarding limiting the number of clubs, either to make golf cheaper (although you could still fill your bag with 10 very expensive clubs so this is not thought through), or to rein in the pros, who seem to carry 50 wedges each, thus eliminating the need to fabricate shots (and also confusing the casual observer, who wonders why the need for so many bats that essentially do the same).

If they change this for the pros, we will follow fairly soon after.

 

[Ken_A]

When I carry I play with -

3W
3I rescue
5I
7I
9I
50 gap
58lob
Putter

I some times move to Driver and 5W, all depends on the weather.
I only find that I need to fabricate shots with the wedges - hence I use the specalist ones.

 

[viscount17]

recently played with 4 clubs including the putter and didn't do too badly.
the next round I played with my full bag (certainly didn't use all of them) and played better. last round (full bag) got rained off after 9 but doing better than usual again. - can't do it in a medal though!

I have just found out that the club do a '2 clubs and putter' match just before Christmas

 

[Cernunnos]

Carrying a reduced number can help shot making inginuity. But at the end of the day I'm another who works on distances per club & knowing how far a club will rol out knowing how far I hit full.. 3/4 1/2 & 1/4 swing with what rollout.

Limiting club numbers in a bag might or might not be cheaper, but does it help the game? If the rules allowed I'd much rather be carrying 15 or 16 clubs, meaning I don't need to make choices when I am getting the clubs out of the boot at a course I'm not familliar with. I'd much prefer to have the proper club for the right shot in my bag for all curcumstances whether or not I actually get that club out &use it.

Thing is I still own a lot of clubs & regardless of how many I'd be allowed to carry at any one time I'd still own them so how is that cheaper? its not! it just makes things inconvinient. Being limited to 14 clubs is limiting enough as it is.

Okay, there has to be some limit as how many pro's would be tempted to carry 2 drivers, 2 putters, long & short, wedges of same loft with different bounce depending on conditions being played, or carrying both say a 3 iron & also the hybrid of the same loft & carry. Infact some will carry those choices but because of the 14 club rule end up removing something else in order to get say 2 driver in a'la Mickleson as opposed to a'la Woosie.

If I want to carry less than 14 clubs I do, especially if in winter am out for a knock with lighened up bag & if the rules allowed during the rest of the year would I carry more? yes of course!

Its silly to think that reducing the amount we're allowed to carry would make the game cheaper, as we'd still own & want to own those clubs to be able to put in the bag in place of something else depending on course & conditions.

 

[USER1999]

Yes, as hardened golf nuts, we would still have a wardrobe full of stuff, but for a beginner, it would be cheaper (and these are what we need in the sport, and what is being potentially put off by the cost) as they would only need to buy 10 clubs (maybe less). It is less intimidating for them in terms of buying cost, and choice of what to use and when. Yes, they could buy a half set (I don't remember the last time I saw one for sale and has any one ever gone to AG and been offered a half set?).

 

[viscount17]

I'm not sure that there is the saving to be had, especially if half-sets have to be produced just for this purpose. Never seen one myself and I can't see AG/DG and the like splitting sets.
Drivers, woods, hybrids, wedges, putters - no saving there.
Still need a bag.
And still need/want the range of clubs to meet all contingencies.

 

[Ken_A]

Yes, as hardened golf nuts, we would still have a wardrobe full of stuff, but for a beginner, it would be cheaper (and these are what we need in the sport, and what is being potentially put off by the cost) as they would only need to buy 10 clubs (maybe less). It is less intimidating for them in terms of buying cost, and choice of what to use and when. Yes, they could buy a half set (I don't remember the last time I saw one for sale and has any one ever gone to AG and been offered a half set?).

I think club manufacturers would just make their own versions of the I-Mix These would be clubs with a choice of 4/3 iron heads etc. I think it would turn into a farce.

 

[USER1999]

Quite possibly, but I have seen articles published where the bods at the R and A are talking to equipment manufacturers (I think it was Callaway) canvassing opinions as to how it could be done to reduce the number of bats in a set without upsetting the industry as a whole, so I wouldn't just write this off, it may yet happen.

 

[vig]

The only thing that is reducing the number of new golfers is club membership fees or joining fees to be precise. Why should someone pay £1200 joining fee for a club, then M/ship on a yearly basis just for the privelege of joining a club when others have waived it?
Personally I wouldn't have joined my club if they hadn't dropped the joining fee.
I know some clubs that have a "name" have the joining fee to keep out ordinary Joe but they will be the ones to suffer when the old guard "pass".

Anyone can pick up a cheap set of used clubs if they look around and shoes are relatively inexpensive if they don't go for top end makes.

If the game is to survive and thrive, clubs need to review their prices.
I have a mate that will not pay close to £700 in one go just to play. Some people cannot afford that sort of outlay.
Some now advertise easy pay plans and variations of membership. This is a sign that members are dwindling.

BTW on thread again, I would use 3W,4i,7i,pw,52*,56*,60*, putter

 

[DCB]

As to the number of clubs allowed, how many times have you gone out with a reduced set for a wee practice and played a blinder ? How many of us have had he balls to go out for the next comp with that selection, not many I would imaging. I often play a lofted wood a 21° rescue club and 6,8,PW & Sw. That selection suits my course setup for par 3s and for aproaching par 4s. Why on earth do I carry the whole set in a comp ?

Must get enough courage to try it sometime in a competition.

 

[TonyN]

The only thing that is reducing the number of new golfers is club membership fees or joining fees to be precise. Why should someone pay £1200 joining fee for a club, then M/ship on a yearly basis just for the privelege of joining a club when others have waived it?
Personally I wouldn't have joined my club if they hadn't dropped the joining fee.
I know some clubs that have a "name" have the joining fee to keep out ordinary Joe but they will be the ones to suffer when the old guard "pass".

Anyone can pick up a cheap set of used clubs if they look around and shoes are relatively inexpensive if they don't go for top end makes.

If the game is to survive and thrive, clubs need to review their prices.
I have a mate that will not pay close to £700 in one go just to play. Some people cannot afford that sort of outlay.
Some now advertise easy pay plans and variations of membership. This is a sign that members are dwindling.

I echo this completely. If a new comer wants to get into the game, You can buy a full set and everything you need to play including all the tat you dont need from sports world for less than £200

What about all the existing golfers who like it the way it is? Who may decide golf would be a different game with more restrictions imposed. Golf is hard enough as it. I dont think it would be much fun making it even harder!

 

[vig]

I have an old school pal that currently lives in NZ and is over visiting for a few months, There is some sort of affiliation over there whereby if you're a member (can't remember what it was called) of somewhere you get to play other courses at reduced rates.
That, in my opinion would get more people into the game. I used to play all over the place but since I started back last year have only played 3 different courses (4th this week)