The 14 club rule

[JamesWA]

The Holy Grail for equipment manufacturers would be the ending of the 14 club rule. Would that necessarily be a bad thing ? We all know that if you're no good with 14 clubs, you'll still be no good with 18, but can you be blamed for trying, if that's how you choose to spend your money ? 

 

Maybe the rules for pros and amateurs should be different.

 

Below is an extract from a web article about the history of the 14 club rule. I can understand why a caddy would struggle with more than 14 clubs, but what difference would it make in a cart ?

 

"Professional golfers however were going in the opposite direction. With no limits on club quantities, they were filling in sets with half irons, extra wedges and as many woods as their golf bags would hold. Lawson Little, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, who won the 1936 Canadian Open and the 1940 U.S. Open, would regularly have as many as 26 clubs in his bag including seven wedges. Pity his poor caddie!

In 1938, the USGA and the R&A decided to take pity on caddies and enacted the 14 club rule. There’s still no hard evidence that there was anything particular about the number 14 but it did correspond to the typical set carried by most players. And ever since, all players have abided by that number."

 

[MelloYello]

GolfWRX would explode. 

 

We'd have guys with a blade 7-iron for the fairway and a CB 7-iron for the rough. 

 

We'd have guys with 4 or 5 drivers for different trajectories, shot shapes, distances and wind conditions, LOL. 

[miamistomp]

 I will sometimes carry more clubs on courses I have never played before

 Pros have the luxury of practice rounds to check conditions

 Then again , I am not playing tourneys so it does not matter to me

[nitram]

11 minutes ago, MelloYello said:

GolfWRX would explode. 

 

We'd have guys with a blade 7-iron for the fairway and a CB 7-iron for the rough. 

 

We'd have guys with 4 or 5 drivers for different trajectories, shot shapes, distances and wind conditions, LOL. 

Can you imagine the size of the bags if this was allowed?

 

I can see it now: "Bag For sale, Great White Shark with 24 club dividers".

 

There was an old gentleman at our club a few years ago who'd taken an old 30-gal. "oil drum" and strapped it to his golf cart. It was filled with clubs to where it didn't appear to be able to hold another. He also had a 5-gallon bucket of balls that was always filled at least half-way that was kept in a modified basket behind him. When he passed away, I helped a couple of guys clean out his cart from the barn. There were 48 clubs, including 6 drivers and 8 putters, and over 12-dozen balls.

 

Edited February 23, 2022 by nitram

[Billfitz]

If you can't get the job done with 14 clubs you won't get it done with 41 clubs.

[amace04]

Why does it matter for the average person?

If you're not playing competitive rounds, go take out 15 clubs.  Who cares?  I've taken more than 14 on occasion when I want to test out a new club.  One of my playing partners will say "that's not an official round", but then I see him kick his ball out of the bush.  It's a recreational fun round.  No need to get worked up over something trivial like that.

 

14 clubs for competitive golf puts reasonable limits on what you can carry and forces you to strategize your equipment selections.   Nobody needs specialized clubs for every shot in the bag.  Learn to hit the same clubs different ways.  Not only would you see guys with multiple types of irons like mentioned above, but I bet you'll see pros carrying a draw biased driver and a fade one.    A 3w configured to keep the ball low and roll out, and a 3w to launch high and hold a green.    It would get ridiculous.

[Socrates]

I likely have 40 extra clubs in the basement and that is small potatoes to many on WRX who likely can count into 4 digits.  The argument that it would be a boon to OEM's doesn't hold water.  No reason to get rid of the 14 club Rule.  I'd bet more than 50% of golfers don't even know that's a Rule.  Back in the day ('90's), a guy showed up for the club championship at a local course with 2 complete sets of clubs in his bag.  1 LH and 1 RH set plus a few others.  You know, just in case.  

 

I've played extended periods of time with 15-16 clubs in my bag.  I've also played extended periods with 12-13 and even with just 14.  I rarely play anything competitive so, who cares? If anyone asks what my handicap is, I sound like an anatomy prof.

[bnperrone]

I would hate to see more than 14 allowed. With all the technology and variety there is really nothing equipment-wise that isn't out there. At 14 you still have to think about what's most important. Even going to 15 gives everybody the option to do 4 wedges, plus tight iron spacing, plus multiple options for engineered shot shaping/trajectory in the top of the bag. I've got nothing against Phil doing a 2-driver setup, but he still had to drop a club that might potentially be of value and it forces a decision.  

[lefthack]

My bag has 15 slots, so sue me. 🤣

 

<edit> I have both a hybrid and a driving iron.

Edited February 23, 2022 by lefthack

[bnperrone]

15 minutes ago, lefthack said:

My bag has 15 slots, so sue me. 🤣

 

<edit> I have both a hybrid and a driving iron.

I don't care what anybody does on casual rounds, but you wouldn't have 15 in a match against me and you certainly shouldn't in a club event. Not that it matters to me, but if you post scores for handicap purposes you're just reverse sandbagging, so I'm totally down with that when you have to take that vanity handicap to an event. 

[NJBigFish22]

I’m fine with 14, I have never played a round where I actually used all 14.  If someone wants to carry 18 in a casual round who cares. 

[vandyfan]

I think many people would be better served playing with 10-12 clubs. As someone who plays with a 1/2 set from time to time (7 clubs), I typically shoot about the same score with the half set as I do with 14 clubs. 

 

I think professional golf would be a bit more compelling if they reduced the club limit to 12 rather than increasing the number of clubs. Plus, for the majority of par 4s it is driver + wedge or driver + 9i anyway. Pretty rare to see 4i or 5i used on tour, in my experience. Can you imagine how many clubs Bryson would carry? He would probably have like 3 putters. 

[lefthack]

12 minutes ago, bnperrone said:

I don't care what anybody does on casual rounds, but you wouldn't have 15 in a match against me and you certainly shouldn't in a club event. Not that it matters to me, but if you post scores for handicap purposes you're just reverse sandbagging, so I'm totally down with that when you have to take that vanity handicap to an event. 

 

I don't keep score, so I have nothing to post. If I were to play in an event, I would have to make a choice for sure. But my bag came with 15 slots and I have about 20 clubs I can put in it. 

 

 

 

7 CB's, 7 MB's and a putter. What more could I need?

Edited February 23, 2022 by lefthack

[bnperrone]

3 minutes ago, lefthack said:

I don't keep score, so I have nothing to post. If I were to play in an event, I would have to make a choice for sure. But my bag came with 15 slots and I have about 20 clubs I can put in it.

No arguments there. Cheers. 

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

6 minutes ago, blackbdmillsaps said:

I think professional golf would be a bit more compelling if they reduced the club limit to 12 rather than increasing the number of clubs.

 

What about making Sundays a true "Sunday" round and set that limit to 7 clubs in a pencil bag?  Would finally make these top pros actually work a little bit for their money!

[lefthack]

3 minutes ago, bnperrone said:

No arguments there. Cheers. 

 

I would not look to cheat anyone and when I play a tournament I play without a cap because I don't have nor want one. 

 

If I can't make par or better, that's on me. I'm not looking to be given strokes so I can fake make par. 🤣

[Itsjustagame]

Seems like every day we have a new thread either about turning back the clock to save golf or re-inventing it by changing the rules. 

In both instances for 99% of golfers 99% of the time golf seems fine as it is?

[eric61]

1 hour ago, bnperrone said:

At 14 you still have to think about what's most important. Even going to 15 gives everybody the option to do 4 wedges, plus tight iron spacing, plus multiple options for engineered shot shaping/trajectory in the top of the bag. I've got nothing against Phil doing a 2-driver setup, but he still had to drop a club that might potentially be of value and it forces a decision.  

 

I think this is well-put. It's a slippery slope, for sure, but I actually do believe that specifically going from 14 to 15 would be a big change. All those "driving iron or fourth wedge?" debates would end. 

 

Honestly I can see either 14 or 15 being fine. Lower than 14 and you're changing the nature of the game for good golfers -- making it more about who can compromise and play creatively in certain situations. Maybe that's the goal -- and it would probably be fun to watch from time to time! But it's a different game. Higher than 15, on the other hand, and you start to really remove any consideration about what equipment is best for the golfer. As in: "Low bounce or high bounce for my swing/this course? Screw it, I'll bag both." 

 

But 14 works well, and it seems that there's an argument for 15 if you want to remove choices like what @bnperrone mentioned -- Phil having to drop something to carry a second driver, for example. At 15 everybody gets room for a unique-to-them sort of club like a second driver, or a driving iron, or being able to carry both their driving iron and their hybrid/5 wood/7 wood or whatever, without having to sacrifice anywhere else in the bag. Whether you believe they should have to sacrifice something or not is something that reasonable people can debate, but either way, it lands at 14 or 15, and it's really hard for me to see any argument to even consider going any higher.

Edited February 23, 2022 by eric61

[greenwavegolfer]

I think it would be fun as a one-off event. My club has a 4-club tourney every year which is neat but why not also have an unlimited-club tournament as well? Carry a 46"/7° driver and a 44"/10° driver. Carry a high bounce 60° and a low bounce 60°. Throw a driving iron and a 5w in there. I think choice overload probably sets in really quickly for most people, and obviously those with higher swing speeds benefit more from being able to put more clubs in the bag, so maybe landing on 15-16 would be an interesting limit. I think being able to play an event that let you do whatever you want with amount of clubs would be fun to try. 

[Red4282]

To be honest it would HURT 99% of players not help. The only thing I could see for my own game would be a driving Iron and hybrid at same loft. Driving Iron for tee shots and hybrid for approaches. That being said if your not playing in any serious tournaments, whats stopping you?

[ChipNRun]

5 hours ago, JamesWA said:

The Holy Grail for equipment manufacturers would be the ending of the 14 club rule. Would that necessarily be a bad thing ?

JWA: Even before the snow melts, you are already in the running for the Worst GolfWRX Idea of 2022.😉

 

More than 14 is problematic from the standpoints of both from a spirit of the game and speed of play.

 

I've read up on the history of the 14 club rule. Part of the spirit of the rule was that richer golfers shouldn't able to "buy shots" with clubs average golfers couldn't afford. Somewhere along the way, golfers are expected to exhibit a bit of skill and creativity in their shots.

 

Second, this would worsen slow play. The indecisive amongst us, if given a fifteenth or sixteenth club to muddle over before finally making a shot, would be even more intolerable than they already are.

 

Further, this would empower one occasional playing partner in Senior league to start leaving two wedges behind back at the last green, rather than just one. (Revisiting greens-past feeds slow play)

 

I suggest to people a middle ground: Find your Sweet 16. These are 16 clubs that are on the short list to go in the bag for a given round. Some players might have two sand wedges - a high-bounce for powdery sand and a lower-bounce for heavier river sand. Also, a 4H and a 4i. 4H for more open courses with elevated greens, the 4i for tight courses where a missed fairway on a short par 4 can mean a double-bogie. Idea: you choose the day's 14 pre-round, and then go out and play golf!

 

Another option: Identify a magic club that can do multiple things. It might be a 7W, a 2H or a driving iron, or a softstepped 4i from your regular set. Often this club bridges the long-range and short-range shots, and you can vary the trajectory on it with a little practice. Plus, this is your get our of h--- card when things are going wrong.

[Net_5]

It’s clear when USGA rules apply in tournaments, club events, leagues, etc., the 14 club rule must be followed.  How do you feel about it playing skins or other games with your buddies?

 

 I’m fine with a club or two extra.  Non-sanctioned play is a time to experiment.  Same with changing weight locations or shafts on drivers mid-round.

 

If it were me and there was cash involved, I’d say that I’ve got an extra club in my bag, does anyone care?

Edited February 23, 2022 by Net_5

[nitram]

1 hour ago, Poor Mans Ty Webb said:

 

What about making Sundays a true "Sunday" round and set that limit to 7 clubs in a pencil bag?  Would finally make these top pros actually work a little bit for their money!

DELETE PLEASE

Edited February 23, 2022 by nitram

[nitram]

1 hour ago, Poor Mans Ty Webb said:

 

What about making Sundays a true "Sunday" round and set that limit to 7 clubs in a pencil bag?  Would finally make these top pros actually work a little bit for their money!

And a 1-minute shot clock once they reach their ball.

 

Human nature tells me that if 15 clubs were legalized by the SB's, the ink wouldn't be dry on the paperwork before some were wailing for 16 . . .

[Strategery]

What a strange topic to even be discussing. If it would make the GAME more fun, of course it should be allowed.

[iknowbagu]

Perspective is key.  The hyperbolic 26 clubs is just that, hyperbolic.  But I for one would love to see it go to 15.  Golf is barely the same game it was back in 1938.  Courses are longer, fairways tighter (both width and grass height), rough is longer, greens are faster, etc.

 

As for the pace of play piece, there should be a 90 second shot clock regardless of whether someone has 4 clubs or 40.  

[Bad9]

4 hours ago, MelloYello said:

GolfWRX would explode. 

 

We'd have guys with a blade 7-iron for the fairway and a CB 7-iron for the rough. 

 

We'd have guys with 4 or 5 drivers for different trajectories, shot shapes, distances and wind conditions, LOL. 

 

And their scores would remain exactly the same😁

[vandyfan]

3 minutes ago, iknowbagu said:

But I for one would love to see it go to 15

 

What do you feel like you are missing?

[PixlPutterman]

Ive always wanted to carry and draw putter AND a fade putter

[iknowbagu]

16 minutes ago, blackbdmillsaps said:

 

What do you feel like you are missing?

 

Not necessarily missing anything and if it never changes it's not like I'll shed a tear or anything.  Made it this far with 14, will make it the rest of the way with 14 too.  It would just be a nicety.  

 

But if we're talking my bag specifically, I have a slot that I flex in either a 2 iron, 2 hybrid or 5 wood based on the course.  Be nice to be able to get two of those in there instead of just one.  Or maybe explore the idea of going back to four wedges.

 

All that said, do I think 15 vs 14 would ultimately drop scores?  No, not really.  Still have to hit the shot regardless of what stick you pull.