How Many Clubs? (continued)

[Thomas Dai]

When carrying not having an umbrella and only having a handful of golf balls nicely lightens the load as it also does if you play graphite shafted rather than steel shafted irons.
Atb

[John Kavanaugh]

I wonder if those who regularly play with a short set and establish a handicap continue to use the same number of clubs in competitions.  If you truly believe that it doesn't make a difference in scoring, then you wouldn't be adding clubs, right?  Could this be a form of cheating?


When I carry, I take between 9-11 clubs.  When I am pushing a cart, all 14.  I play better with a full set, though I can't say I have more fun.  My handicap play is insignificant and never for more than a few drinks and laughs.

Last night I shot 43 with one club from a set of tees where I am a 1 handicap with a full set. Posting that score would be cheating a lot. Posting a score using 10 clubs is cheating a little.

[Ira Fishman]

Virtually any person who can push a trolley with 7 clubs can push a trolley with 14 clubs.  If your jam is carrying fewer clubs, great.  If you're competing, you probably have 14 clubs.

Bernie,


I am almost 63 and carry unless it is too humid. Putting less clubs in the bag occasionally makes the walk easier. I do not play competitive golf so "competing" with myself to have to be more creative is indeed fun for me.


Ira

[Sean_A]

I wonder if those who regularly play with a short set and establish a handicap continue to use the same number of clubs in competitions.  If you truly believe that it doesn't make a difference in scoring, then you wouldn't be adding clubs, right?  Could this be a form of cheating?

When I carry, I take between 9-11 clubs.  When I am pushing a cart, all 14.  I play better with a full set, though I can't say I have more fun.  My handicap play is insignificant and never for more than a few drinks and laughs.

Last night I shot 43 with one club from a set of tees where I am a 1 handicap with a full set. Posting that score would be cheating a lot. Posting a score using 10 clubs is cheating a little.

 

Ciao

[Bernie Bell]

Virtually any person who can push a trolley with 7 clubs can push a trolley with 14 clubs.  If your jam is carrying fewer clubs, great.  If you're competing, you probably have 14 clubs.

Bernie,

I am almost 63 and carry unless it is too humid. Putting less clubs in the bag occasionally makes the walk easier. I do not play competitive golf so "competing" with myself to have to be more creative is indeed fun for me.

Ira

Ira - I think everyone should have fun playing golf as they most enjoy playing it.  If people prefer to walk, as we both do, and weight is the issue, my point is only that a trolley solves it, which is why they are so popular where they're allowed.  And folks who are playing their 5-5-10 Nassau will generally carry 14, because they think, correctly or incorrectly, that they will win more holes that way.  For me, the challenge of the "right" club is more than enough, for now. 

[Marty Bonnar]

Way I figure it is, if I only carry seven clubs I’ll only be half as crap as I am with fourteen. Seems to be largely proving true.
F.

[Brett Wiesley]

I dropped a few clubs out of the bag 5 years ago and never looked back.  After back surgery I found the p790s which were 5 degrees and fit the bag from there.


I don't keep a handicap, but I'll play you straight up any day.  I look to play from appropriate tees, enjoy the walk and the round, and I relish beating my competition....especially with 4 fewer clubs!!

[A.G._Crockett]

I carry 14 clubs, but only because that's the most the Rules allow.  If the Rules let me, I'd carry at least 16.  I'm playing in a tournament Thursday and again next Monday, and EVERY player will be carrying 14 clubs.  I play in a regular Friday group of a couple of foursomes that includes three LPGA pros, and all three of them carry 14 clubs.  I can only assume that all of us are trying our best to shoot our best scores, and somehow think more options will help us.
And since this is another Grumpy Old Men thread, here's mine.  Quit saying or writing "3 metal" or "5 metal" and then talking about your "irons".  Your irons aren't made of iron, so it's okay to refer to the big-headed clubs as woods.  "Metal" sounds pretentious, not accurate.

[Kalen Braley]

I carry 14 clubs, but only because that's the most the Rules allow.  If the Rules let me, I'd carry at least 16.  I'm playing in a tournament Thursday and again next Monday, and EVERY player will be carrying 14 clubs.  I play in a regular Friday group of a couple of foursomes that includes three LPGA pros, and all three of them carry 14 clubs.  I can only assume that all of us are trying our best to shoot our best scores, and somehow think more options will help us.
And since this is another Grumpy Old Men thread, here's mine.  Quit saying or writing "3 metal" or "5 metal" and then talking about your "irons".  Your irons aren't made of iron, so it's okay to refer to the big-headed clubs as woods.  "Metal" sounds pretentious, not accurate.

AG,

I'm confused.  Metal actually is a more accurate description because my big headed clubs are a type of metal and sure as shit ain't made out of wood.

P.S.  Yes irons aren't made of iron, so what should we call them instead?

[A.G._Crockett]

I carry 14 clubs, but only because that's the most the Rules allow.  If the Rules let me, I'd carry at least 16.  I'm playing in a tournament Thursday and again next Monday, and EVERY player will be carrying 14 clubs.  I play in a regular Friday group of a couple of foursomes that includes three LPGA pros, and all three of them carry 14 clubs.  I can only assume that all of us are trying our best to shoot our best scores, and somehow think more options will help us.
And since this is another Grumpy Old Men thread, here's mine.  Quit saying or writing "3 metal" or "5 metal" and then talking about your "irons".  Your irons aren't made of iron, so it's okay to refer to the big-headed clubs as woods.  "Metal" sounds pretentious, not accurate.

AG,

I'm confused.  Metal actually is a more accurate description because my big headed clubs are a type of metal and sure as shit ain't made out of wood.

P.S.  Yes irons aren't made of iron, so what should we call them instead?

Kalen,
I'm confused as to why you are confused.  If you feel compelled for some strange reason to call the big headed clubs metals, then call the other ones metals also.  If you are interested in being accurate, you could go a step farther and call the little ones "steels", or even "steel alloys".  I'm sure if you dig enough, you could even find specific percentages of the alloys used, and REALLY impress your playing partners with your grasp of what's changed in golf clubs over the years.
And we won't even get into the issue of drivers, which are now multi-material composites; titanium bodies, graphite crowns, tungsten weighting, and foam fillings.  I'll let you come up for an accurate name for that club.

Or you could just hit woods and irons and not worry about it.  Just please don't tell me you hit your 3 metal, and then your 9 iron; it sounds dopey, even for golf.

See?  Simple; nothing to be confused about. 

[Adam Clayman]

My takeaway from C.B's quote is about how differently he thought about the sport, then most all others who have followed.


With tonight's zoom meeting on the history of Chicago golf, my hope is the discussion at least touches on the road that calls out all those that thought they had great ideas to improve a sport, they knew nothing about.


 

[John Crowley]

For the last 10+ years have carried 8 or fewer clubs.
Started after playing with my 78 year young St. Andrews friend who shot 72 on TOC.For the last two years have played with 6 clubs.Driver 9.5*26* hybrid8 iron (6 iron length)Pitching wedge (6 iron length)58* wedgePutterI play in state Senior Amateur and other completions with only those six. Will add a 4wood/hybrid if the course I’m playing requires several 180-200 yard shots from the fairway. With longer iron club lengths my distance range with the 8 and PW is expanded.Generally play at 6,000 yards.Typical round on my summer home course I use:Driver 14-16 times depending on wind on two longer par 3’s; 26* hybrid 12-16 times (By adjusting grip, stance, ball position hit it from 140 to 180 yards) 8 iron 6-9 timesPitching wedge 5-7 times58* wedge 5-10 times (use for virtually all pitches and chips)Putter (we all have good days and not so good days)Typical scoring range is from 78 to 82. Shoot age occasionally. Will get 1 stroke easier today (birthday).In the last two years I cannot remember wishing I had another club in the bag.

Creating shots for the circumstance is more fun!

[John Kavanaugh]

Is it against the rules for the half bag crowd to declare which club they hit after a shot? I don't want to be standing on the tee of a 130yd par 3 and have to hear about their feathered 5 iron.

[Kalen Braley]

I carry 14 clubs, but only because that's the most the Rules allow.  If the Rules let me, I'd carry at least 16.  I'm playing in a tournament Thursday and again next Monday, and EVERY player will be carrying 14 clubs.  I play in a regular Friday group of a couple of foursomes that includes three LPGA pros, and all three of them carry 14 clubs.  I can only assume that all of us are trying our best to shoot our best scores, and somehow think more options will help us.
And since this is another Grumpy Old Men thread, here's mine.  Quit saying or writing "3 metal" or "5 metal" and then talking about your "irons".  Your irons aren't made of iron, so it's okay to refer to the big-headed clubs as woods.  "Metal" sounds pretentious, not accurate.

AG,

I'm confused.  Metal actually is a more accurate description because my big headed clubs are a type of metal and sure as shit ain't made out of wood.

P.S.  Yes irons aren't made of iron, so what should we call them instead?

Kalen,
I'm confused as to why you are confused.  If you feel compelled for some strange reason to call the big headed clubs metals, then call the other ones metals also.  If you are interested in being accurate, you could go a step farther and call the little ones "steels", or even "steel alloys".  I'm sure if you dig enough, you could even find specific percentages of the alloys used, and REALLY impress your playing partners with your grasp of what's changed in golf clubs over the years.
And we won't even get into the issue of drivers, which are now multi-material composites; titanium bodies, graphite crowns, tungsten weighting, and foam fillings.  I'll let you come up for an accurate name for that club.

Or you could just hit woods and irons and not worry about it.  Just please don't tell me you hit your 3 metal, and then your 9 iron; it sounds dopey, even for golf.

See?  Simple; nothing to be confused about.

AG,

Terrific response, that gave me a good chuckle! 

No doubt there are plentiful misnomers for club names and you can add wedges to that list.  But given the lack of logical basis, I'd submit that's why I can call them just about anything up to and including metals and still be "right".

But its not limited to just golf, for the life of me I can't figure out why we drive on parkways, and park on driveways, or why Chicago is considered the "Midwest".  Perhaps Ulysses Everett McGill had it right when he proclaimed "Its a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart"

[Bernie Bell]

"I've been playing golf for more than fifty years, and I don't believe there ever was a round in which I used more than six clubs.

Today, there's a stick in the sack for every shot.  If it's a long shot, the stick is there.  If it's a short shot, the stick is there, and if it's an in-between shot, it's there.

In the old days, the player had to make a number of shots with the same club, half-shots, three-quarter shots, and so forth.  I doubt there are a half dozen players today who can bring off fractional shots with any degree of confidence.  I don't say this in criticism.  It hasn't been necessary for them to develop these shots.  They've had clubs which are designed to make the shots for them.   

Golfers used to made on the golf courses.  Now they are made in the machine shops."

D. Ross, Golf Has Never Failed Me ("One Rule That is Necessary").

[Ira Fishman]

Reminds me of the supposedly true story of the tour pro who questioned his caddie on why he always gave the yardage to the nearest 5 yards when his playing partner's caddie was using the exact yardage. Without missing a beat, the caddie replied "Because you are not that good."


Ira

[Bernie Bell]

Reminds me of the supposedly true story of the tour pro who questioned his caddie on why he always gave the yardage to the nearest 5 yards when his playing partner's caddie was using the exact yardage. Without missing a beat, the caddie replied "Because you are not that good."

Ira

Why I don't carry a range-finder.

[David Ober]

I dropped a few clubs out of the bag 5 years ago and never looked back.  After back surgery I found the p790s which were 5 degrees and fit the bag from there.


I don't keep a handicap, but I'll play you straight up any day.  I look to play from appropriate tees, enjoy the walk and the round, and I relish beating my competition....especially with 4 fewer clubs!!

Oh! We have a challenge!!!


But ... Just who are you challenging?

[Mike Tanner]

I carry 14 clubs when I'm playing with my usual crew and there's money on the line. Sometimes I'll go out for a solo round with a Sunday bag and seven clubs: driver, fairway wood, hybrid, 6- and 8-irons, pitching wedge and putter.


My scores are in the same range whether I deploy the full complement of clubs or the "half-in-the-bag" array.

[Mark Mammel]

I wonder if those who regularly play with a short set and establish a handicap continue to use the same number of clubs in competitions.  If you truly believe that it doesn't make a difference in scoring, then you wouldn't be adding clubs, right?  Could this be a form of cheating?


When I carry, I take between 9-11 clubs.  When I am pushing a cart, all 14.  I play better with a full set, though I can't say I have more fun.  My handicap play is insignificant and never for more than a few drinks and laughs.

Last night I shot 43 with one club from a set of tees where I am a 1 handicap with a full set. Posting that score would be cheating a lot. Posting a score using 10 clubs is cheating a little.

I suspect you are a better player than many of us out there. I play with 9 clubs and change them up. I do play in club matches, and also in the $5-10 games with my buddies. If I have to ride, I may throw the other clubs in, but I have seen no evidence that this makes my admittedly modest skills any better! But it's an interesting idea and I wonder if good players (say <5?) would see a noticable difference?

[John Kavanaugh]

I am exactly 13 strokes better with 14 clubs as opposed to one. To put it simply...Each club I add to my bag improves my score by one stroke. In a non-lineal kind of way. 

[Pete_Pittock]

With greens 25-30 yards in depth you could certainly play with a half set if you are a decent putter and not affect your score too much.  Yesterday I joined up with two golfers who had 8 clubs each, they couldn't play worth sh....... and hadn't figured out you should watch the ball 'til it stopped, resulting in multiple searches in high glass where they narrowed it down to a 25 yard square area.

[Gib_Papazian]

Tom,


If you will recall, when we went around Old Mac with Uncle George, you played with exactly one club . . . . a Ping 1-iron. That might be taking it a bit too far.

[Garland Bayley]

For as much money as clubs cost I use all 14.

If you only bought 6, you could save a lot of money and still use every club in the bag.

[Garland Bayley]

I carry 14 clubs, but only because that's the most the Rules allow.  If the Rules let me, I'd carry at least 16.  I'm playing in a tournament Thursday and again next Monday, and EVERY player will be carrying 14 clubs.  I play in a regular Friday group of a couple of foursomes that includes three LPGA pros, and all three of them carry 14 clubs.  I can only assume that all of us are trying our best to shoot our best scores, and somehow think more options will help us.
And since this is another Grumpy Old Men thread, here's mine.  Quit saying or writing "3 metal" or "5 metal" and then talking about your "irons".  Your irons aren't made of iron, so it's okay to refer to the big-headed clubs as woods.  "Metal" sounds pretentious, not accurate.

Hey Mr. Pretentious, irons are made of iron.