The course I play vs the clubs I fell I need

[andycook]

My golf bag wants and vision for it don't match the game I play.  I play a 9 hole par 3 course 99% (70 rounds a year) of the time and big-boy golf or scrambles (5 times a year) about 1%.  Why do I feel the need to have a driver, two fairway woods, two hybrids, irons, 4 wedges, and a putter in my bag?  Just how far into the wilds do I go and how precise is my game from the edge?  Roughing it in the motel 6 version of my golf bag I could play with 8 clubs and maybe even only 5 or 6 clubs.  It isn't a matter of weight as I use a pull cart.  I found my bag wanting for an adjustable driver and another Mashie hybird.

[Grumpter]

I used to occasionally play a local 9 hole course with 4 clubs (4i, 7i, wedge and putter). Why not just try it sometime for nothing more than satisfying your curiosity?

[The Tin Man]

Subliminal Mass Marketing Hypnosis?  Nightmares of showing up at the tee with a naked bag?

Living a mile from a 9 holer all I really need is a bicycle and 4 clubs in a light bag. Instead I drive and roll around 5 irons,  4 wedges and two putters in lieu of the driver, woods, hybrids, and long irons that stay home.

[andycook]

I saw a golfer on a bicycle pulling a golf bag on wheels.  It was mounted kind of like a childs' bike can be attached to a parents.  Pretty cool.

Originally Posted by The Tin Man

Subliminal Mass Marketing Hypnosis?  Nightmares of showing up at the tee with a naked bag?

Living a mile from a 9 holer all I really need is a bicycle and 4 clubs in a light bag. Instead I drive and roll around 5 irons,  4 wedges and two putters in lieu of the driver, woods, hybrids, and long irons that stay home.

[andycook]

Basically I like gear.  I am exaggerating...but not much :)

While I am at it I could probably bag about 17-20 clubs

putter

lob wedge

sand wedge

gap wedge

pitching wedge

3-9 irons

two hybrids

two fairway woods

driver

what about a different kind of sand wedge

what about a different kind of putter?

Throw in a 7 wood too to be safe.

[johnclayton1982]

Maybe, I'm the minority but I don't see the point of a lob wedge.  My 55* sand does everything I need, and its really easy to open the club up and add loft.  I do miss having a wedge with low bounce, but that 55* sand is really strong for me around the green.  I've been short gaming with nothing but that club for about 3 months and its amazing how much better your short game can get if you always use the same club.  To replace it, I use a 6 iron from my iron set (31*) and a 6 hybrid (28*).  With my length off the tee I'm usually 140-160 out and having those two options is really nice.

[mdl]

@OP,

I'm with Grumpter.  Just try it once.  I recently played a 9 hole executive course (par 32) with a buddy of mine with only a 7i.  No putter.  Just 7i.  Was super fun actually.  Forces you to take some creative shots.  On the green it wasn't too bad either.  I just hit smooth chips on the long putts (I didn't dig out any grass from any of the greens, just kept it smooth and brushed the ground!), and bladed it from <15 feet or so.

@johnclayton1982,

If the 55˚ works for you as your most lofted club, great.  I used to play just with my 48˚ PW (old set) and my 54˚ CG15.  I started playing some courses with faster greens and feeling like I could use a little softer landing and more spin on down hill green side chips and pitches, even when I didn't have the space under the club to open it up much without risking blading it.  I got a 60˚ and I would never ever go back now.  I dominate with that club and feel much more in control on touchy feel shots than I ever did with the 54˚.

[The Tin Man]

Thanks for the tip!

Originally Posted by andycook

I saw a golfer on a bicycle pulling a golf bag on wheels.  It was mounted kind of like a childs' bike can be attached to a parents.  Pretty cool.

[The Tin Man]

My neighbor used to play our 9 holer, below par with a 7i, SW, putter. For the grand finale he dropped dead of a heart attack (no warning) while playing. A total class act.

Originally Posted by mdl

@OP,

I'm with Grumpter.  Just try it once.  I recently played a 9 hole executive course (par 32) with a buddy of mine with only a 7i.  No putter.  Just 7i.  Was super fun actually.  Forces you to take some creative shots.  On the green it wasn't too bad either.  I just hit smooth chips on the long putts (I didn't dig out any grass from any of the greens, just kept it smooth and brushed the ground!), and bladed it from <15 feet or so.

@johnclayton1982,

If the 55˚ works for you as your most lofted club, great.  I used to play just with my 48˚ PW (old set) and my 54˚ CG15.  I started playing some courses with faster greens and feeling like I could use a little softer landing and more spin on down hill green side chips and pitches, even when I didn't have the space under the club to open it up much without risking blading it.  I got a 60˚ and I would never ever go back now.  I dominate with that club and feel much more in control on touchy feel shots than I ever did with the 54˚.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Here's a radical way to fill your bag. Play with a 7-iron and putter. When you get home, add the one (1) club you missed the most, and play with that three-club set. Afterwards again, put in the one club you missed the most. Keep doing this. At some point you will be playing well and not adding clubs, and find that there are less than 14 in your bag. Maybe less than 10. It's just a different way to look at golf.

I did this this summer and ended up with:

Driver

24* hybrid

7-iron (or swaps out to a 6-iron, depending on the course)

PW

56* wedge

Putter.

I shoot the same scores as I did with a bag of 14. No kidding.