3 clubs

[Frank Kim]

I recently played Sharp Park with a fellow who played with only 3 clubs.  If you could only use 3 clubs what 3 would you use and why?

[Tom_Doak]

It might depend on the course and how the greens are defended in front, but in most situations I would go with 4-wood, 7-iron and putter. 


or the 100-hole hike I carried those plus a driver, 5-iron and wedge, but we were playing at St. Andrews and the wedge was only because of the sod wall bunkers.  I found I didn't need the 5-iron often.

[Thomas Dai]

Frank,


Not 3 but here's a thread on a not dissimilar subject -


http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,56069.0.html


Atb

[BHoover]

Maybe this makes me a bad person (but I don't think so), but if someone shows up on the first tee with only 3 clubs, I'm asking the pro shop to pair me with someone else.

[Tim Gavrich]

5 wood, 8 iron, putter

[Frank Kim]

This player played with a 4 hybrid, 7 iron & putter.  He does it most Fridays at Sharp Park.  Got around pretty well.

[jeffwarne]

Maybe this makes me a bad person (but I don't think so), but if someone shows up on the first tee with only 3 clubs, I'm asking the pro shop to pair me with someone else.

perhaps it wasn't a coincidence....


5 wood 6 iron pw(50 degrees)

[Jim Franklin]

3 wood, 7 iron, sand wedge. I putt pretty sporty with the SW.

[Brett Wiesley]

3 hybrid, 7 iron, putter and this combo is often used for evening whisky loops.


I actually only carry 10 clubs in my bag.  I've done this now for the past 2 years and really don't miss them.  I dropped my 3-wood, 5-iron, 52 degree wedge and 60 degree wedge.  I still play to a mid single digit handicap and haven't lost a step. 


Ideally I'd like to loose a few more.  I hope to meet with a club maker/fitter who could help space out my irons 4-5 degrees and get down to 8-9 clubs.  Makes the bag nice and light, and leaves a lot more creativity and touch up to the player.

[Brett Wiesley]

I just re-read the old post on this topic.  Many noted why would you do this to yourself, and put yourself at a disadvantage.


My response:  It's pretty satisfying to play better than many others with near half as many clubs!!

[John Kavanaugh]

I play approximately 20 rounds a year with just a 17 deg hybrid. Played the Jubilee last year with the single club. Limits the most difficult move in golf.  Bending over.


Three clubs make little sense when one does just fine.

[MClutterbuck]

Depends on the course obviously, but:


Driver (250 yds+ off tee, 200-210 yds off fairway, putts well)
7-iron (150-160 yds)
56 degree (100-110yds, chips and bunker shots, can putt as well)

[Matt MacIver]

My group plays a 2-club tourney in Pinehurst each August as one of our three rounds. This year we play #5. I'll use 19 degree rescue and 52 degree wedge. Much fun.

[Mark Chaplin]

Maybe this makes me a bad person (but I don't think so), but if someone shows up on the first tee with only 3 clubs, I'm asking the pro shop to pair me with someone else.

Had it been Seve you'd have missed out on an education.

[Ken Moum]

3 hybrid, 7 iron, putter and this combo is often used for evening whisky loops.


I actually only carry 10 clubs in my bag.  I've done this now for the past 2 years and really don't miss them.  I dropped my 3-wood, 5-iron, 52 degree wedge and 60 degree wedge.  I still play to a mid single digit handicap and haven't lost a step. 


Ideally I'd like to loose a few more.  I hope to meet with a club maker/fitter who could help space out my irons 4-5 degrees and get down to 8-9 clubs.  Makes the bag nice and light, and leaves a lot more creativity and touch up to the player.

FWIW, Ping's old G2 EZ irons (and G2 L) were set in 5-degree gaps from a 30* 7 iron to a 60* wedge.  There were also some WIDE soled long irons starting with a 25* 5 iron.


People never figured them out and they were dropped after a couple of years.  My wife has a set of the G2 L irons and the gaps work fine for her. When she finally decides she's can't live without a new set, I may keep the heads and reshaft them for me...


Even now, irons from TM and Ping have 4-5 degree gaps until you get to about the five or six irons.


The with the Ping I200, weaken the five by 1* and the six by .5* and you have 4-degree gaps from a 25* five iron to a 45* PW, with a 50* gap wedge.  Any repair shop could do that for you.

[Jay Mickle]

Play occasionally with 3 hickories. Driver (that I can also hit off the deck), 24 degree muscle back approach cleek (putting left handed I can use the flat back of the club as a putter) and 52 degree niblick.

[John Crowley]

Depends on the course.


I currently play with six - D, 25*hybrid, 7i, 9i, 56*, P


Shot my age with 7 clubs a couple months ago.


If could use only one club it would be 25* hybrid.


If three clubs, again course dependent, D, 9, P.

[Ian Mackenzie]

I read a very cool book many years ago called "5 Iron" about a guy who learned to play golf in a prison yard with only one club and competed on some sort of Tour where you could only use one club. Fun read.


I just looked for it and can't find it in my small "golf library". Now I recall lending it to someone and never getting it back.