How Many Golf Clubs Should There Be in Your Bag?

There is a debate that has long raged among golf players. How many clubs should you have in your bag? If you compare any two golf bags, you might see a difference in the number, especially if you’re talking about at the amateur level.

If you are talking about how to organize a golf bag with someone who is passionate about the sport, the number of clubs and their location in the bag might quickly become a hotly contested issue. This does not necessarily mean that one person is right and another is wrong. Often, it comes down to personal preference.

Generally, though, there is at least some degree of consensus about the approximate number of clubs you should have in your bag, give or take one or two. We’ll discuss that in more detail in the following article.

The Official USGA Rule Limit

Let’s start by mentioning that the USGA, the governing body of professional golf in the United States, will only let you carry a maximum of 14 clubs in your bag. This applies if you’re playing professionally, though, so if you’re not a part of the PGA Tour, it’s not as though you have to adhere to this rule.

Some individuals who don’t play professionally still follow this edict. Whether you will need to keep the number of clubs in your bag to 14 or fewer depends on whether you’re playing in a casual group with friends or whether you’re playing a round with semi-pros who are a lot more serious about the game.

Beginners and Average Golfers

Beginning golfers likely won’t want to carry a full set of 14 clubs in their bag. A full set of 14 will probably feature one driver, one or two fairway woods, one to three hybrids, five to seven irons, two to four wedges, and one putter. A beginning golfer might carry as few as 10 clubs, though, which simplifies the game and makes the bag lighter. The ones you’ll exclude will probably include some irons, wedges, or hybrids.

An average golfer with a bit more experience might have 12 clubs in their bag. The ones missing from the full set of 14 may include a wedge and a hybrid.

More Advanced Players

More advanced players, not on the tour but who consider themselves fairly competitive, will likely go to the full 14-club system. This way, they have maximum ability to play the ball wherever it lies under any conditions. Of course, if you ever get to this point, it will make your bag somewhat heavier.

If you’re walking the course, and you don’t have strong shoulders, you can always employ a caddy. Just about any course, whether public or private, should have them on staff. You can also get a cart and stow your clubs there if you’d prefer not to use a caddy.

Generally speaking, you want as many clubs in your bag as you feel you need. Otherwise, you’re needlessly burdening yourself or whoever’s shouldering the weight.

Photo by Justine Sterling on Unsplash