There is another active discussion on this site about the possibility of the USGA limiting the loft of wedges. I have appreciated the recent comments by some in golf (including Seve), that there is too much loft in some of the wedges being used by today's pros and that there should be a limit on the legally allowed loft. However, after reading some of the postings about this possibility it made me realize the logistical difficulty of creating, legislating and enforcing this type of rule.
PROBLEM:
Too many wedges in bag being used as “specialty clubs” and viewed by some as reducing shotmaking.
HISTORY:
In 1938 USGA created 14 club limit because pros had too many clubs in their bags, and some perceived this as reducing shotmaking.
SOLUTION:
Same as 1938. In 1938 20+ clubs was seen as too many for a competitive round of golf. The 14 club limit was enacted to correct this problem. Now the 14 club limit may be too high. Something less than 14 clubs may be needed. Thus 10 club limit is proposed.
DISCUSSION:
One of the reasons (among others) for limiting the allowed clubs to 14 was so that golfers did not just have a club created for every imaginable shot, but instead would have to use some clubs for a variety of different shots. This removed the benefit of carrying spare left-handed clubs by right-handed golfers for example.
With today's pros having as many as four or five wedges, each for a variety of specialized situations for shots around the green, it appears there may again be an "over specialization" of clubs in the pro's golf bag.
It would seem that the USGA could use this theory to change the rule limiting golf clubs from 14 down to 10. They could state that they are using the same theory they used when the 14 club limit was enacted, and in an effort to preserve the purpose and spirit of the 14 club limit, that they must now reduce the number to 10.
The good thing is that weekend golf can easily comply with this rule. No clubs in current existence need to be declared illegal. Most occasional golfers can not properly use the high-lofted wedges. As evidenced by prior comments in this discussion most have seen very little change in their scores. Yet those that have played with smaller sets, have found it easier to walk rather than ride (good for ones own health and for the environment) and have enjoyed the challenges presented with not having the "ideal" club at hand for a particular shot.
How would this affect the pro's bag? I would expect that they would start with 4 automatics: driver, putter, PW & SW (the driver may be close to a 2wood for occasional 2nd shots off the deck). The next 3 may be the 7, 8 & 9. The 8th club will be a choice between a fairway wood, hybrid or long iron (e.g. 2iron). The last two club may be between a long iron or mid iron (e.g. 4 & 6 irons?), or maybe just a 5iron, with than a 3rd wedge thrown (depending upon the course). However, I would be shocked to anything more than 3 wedges in a bag, and I would expect only 2 wedges would more common.