How many clubs are in a golf bag?
GOLFERS have a wide range of clubs they use in order to navigate their way round a particular course.
There are however restrictions in terms of how many clubs you can play with. This is what we know.
How many clubs are in a golf bag?
You can have any amount of clubs in your bag up to 14.
There is no minimum amount of clubs you need to have for a round, but it is advisable you take at least
Can you have more than 14 clubs in a golf bag?
You are not allowed to have more than 14 clubs in your bag, as this is a violation of the rules that can have dire consequences for your round.
If it’s found that you have more than 14 clubs, you can face a penalty. The penalties carried out depend on the type of game you are playing.
There are two penalty options:
MATCH PLAY
If you use an extra club during match play, the result will be a deduction for that particular hole.
STROKE PLAY
Stroke play comes with more severe penalties. If you use an extra club, two strokes are enforced for however many holes on which you use the club. The maximum number of strokes in four.
A famous incident involving a players’ bag exceeding the maximum amount of clubs came during the Final round of the 2001 Open Championship at Royal Lytham.
1991 Masters Champion Ian Woosnam was in a tie for the lead heading into the final round, but a mistake from his caddie saw him pack 15 clubs instead of 14.
Woosnam received a two-stroke penalty and finished in a tie for third, four shots off of the winner, David Duval.
What clubs are included in a golf bag?
There is no set rule for what clubs you can have in your bag, but usually a player would have something like this:
- putter
- 3 types of wood (for example, a driver, 5 wood and 7 wood)
- 8 irons
- 2 additional clubs of your choice
The rule is written into the regulations of all the major golfing authorities. The R&A regulations state in their rules, for example, that:
A player must not:
- Start a round with more than 14 clubs, or
- Have more than 14 clubs during the round.
If the player starts a round with fewer than 14 clubs, he or she may add clubs during the round up to the 14-club limit.