The 14 club rule

[purple drank]

Id like to add a 60 degree wedge to my bag but that means I would be at 15. Does any other recreational golfer with an established hdcp deviate from this rule and what do your playing partners think about it???

[purple drank]

Just wondering which club to drop since I use every stick on a normal 18 hole round....hmmmm

[JKolya]

I would say that if you are keeping an official handicap then you should stick to 14 clubs. Its no different than following/violating any other rule. If you have to choose, why not base it off of the course you are playing? Some courses you may bring the 60* and drop a long iron or wood, others you may need the longer clubs, but can lose one of your wedges. I personally carry D, 3W, 3H, 4H, 5-PW, 50*, 55*, 60* and putter. I could see myself eventually dropping one of the wedges for something to cover the gap between the 3W and 3H, but it would really be dependent upon the course I am playing.

[dternst]

Perhaps not the best method to determine which clubs to leave at home but it worked for me.  I have 16 clubs: D, 3W, 5W, 23H, 3I-PW, UW, 56, 60 and Putter.  Each time I play, I ONLY take 14 clubs.  Each of the clubs have a cover.  The first time I use the club during the round, I remove the cover and throw it in either my bag or in the basket in the cart.  If during the round, I needed a club that I didn't have in my bag, I indicate it on the scorecard.  At the end of the round, I write down on the scroecard the clubs that weren't used during that round.  This gives me an indication what to bring inmy bag the next round I play at that specific course and which clubs are a must have while playing.

It works for me...

[Rulesman]

  purple drank said:

Id like to add a 60 degree wedge to my bag but that means I would be at 15. Does any other recreational golfer with an established hdcp deviate from this rule and what do your playing partners think about it???

If you take 15 clubs every hole you play will be breaching the Rules so your score will not count under the handicap system. But why feel the need to cheat?

[purple drank]

  JKolya said:

I would say that if you are keeping an official handicap then you should stick to 14 clubs. Its no different then following/violating any other rule. If you have to choose, why not base it off of the course you are playing? Some courses you may bring the 60* and drop a long iron or wood, others you may need the longer clubs, but can lose one of your wedges. I personally carry D, 3W, 3H, 4H, 5-PW, 50*, 55*, 60* and putter. I could see myself eventually dropping one of the wedges for something to cover the gap between the 3W and 3H, but it would really be dependent upon the course I am playing.

Nice....I have the exact same setup only I carry the 4 iron instead of the 60 degree but recently bought a vokey 60/12 that I love around the greens. At the same time I love the 4 iron as well...heck I love all of my sticks as Ive had each custom fit. I can see losing the Wilson D 100 4h though if it came down to it.

[purple drank]

I wouldnt turn my card in if I used all 15 so it wouldnt be cheating and I would let my playing partners know in advance. Again....this would not be in a tourny but maybe a weekend 4some ....strictly recreational.

[Fourputt]

  purple drank said:

Id like to add a 60 degree wedge to my bag but that means I would be at 15. Does any other recreational golfer with an established hdcp deviate from this rule and what do your playing partners think about it???

You won't have an "established" handicap if you don't play by the rules.  You may have an average score, but that's about as close as you will get.

[purple drank]

  Fourputt said:

You won't have an "established" handicap if you don't play by the rules.  You may have an average score, but that's about as close as you will get.

Thanks for the advice and I apoligize for asking but I really need to drop a stick .... I  really dig the new vokey and the way I can get it  to check so I think Ill ditch the 4h. Problem solved...The single didgit hdcp was established about 10 years ago and my game hasnt regressed at all in fact Im probably closer to a punch 2.

[David in FL]

  purple drank said:

I wouldn't turn my card in if I used all 15 so it wouldnt be cheating and I would let my playing partners know in advance. Again....this would not be in a tourny but maybe a weekend 4some ....strictly recreational.

The rules don't care how many clubs you use , they dictate how many you can carry.

It would be VERY unusual to use ever club in your bag in a single round....let alone every round.  Regardless, 14 clubs is what it is.  If you carry more than that you're in breach of the rules......

What's in your bag now?

[purple drank]

  David in FL said:

The rules don't care how many clubs you use, they dictate how many you can carry.

It would be VERY unusual to use ever club in your bag in a single round....let alone every round.  Regardless, 14 clubs is what it is.  If you carry more than that you're in breach of the rules......

What's in your bag now?

Currently D-3W-3H-4H-4 Thru GW-SW and putter which is 14. Trust me...every club gets used on an 18 hole round ...it isnt that unusual given the yardage and layout of my local track...(Indian Canyon) in Spokane WA. Ill use every iron within the front 9 alone given the long par 3s.

[purple drank]

I am new to the forum and appreciate all of your input. Thanks guys.

[David in FL]

  purple drank said:

Currently D-3W-3H-4H-4 Thru GW-SW and putter which is 14. Trust me...every club gets used on an 18 hole round ...it isnt that unusual given the yardage and layout of my local track...(Indian Canyon) in Spokane WA. Ill use every iron within the front 9 alone given the long par 3s.

In that case I'd likely drop either the 4-iron or 4h......that appears to be where yo have some overlap.

[purple drank]

  David in FL said:

In that case I'd likely drop either the 4-iron or 4h......that appears to be where yo have some overlap.

yeah...definitely keeping the 4 iron in the bag. The 4h is a solid stick but having the 60 degree vokey outweighs the benefits of the 232 degree hybrid. F unny thing is I often chip with the 4h around the fringe and rough all the time.

[johnno]

  purple drank said:

I wouldnt turn my card in if I used all 15 so it wouldnt be cheating and I would let my playing partners know in advance. Again....this would not be in a tourny but maybe a weekend 4some ....strictly recreational.

Simple answer: Whether you use the 15th or not, if you carry it and are putting in a card for hcp or for competition, then you would be cheating. What you and your mates do on a 'recreational round', be it Mulligans, gimmies, free drops etc etc or an extra club is your own business.

[mvmac]

  David in FL said:

In that case I'd likely drop either the 4-iron or 4h......that appears to be where yo have some overlap.

Yeah would agree with that, drop the 4 hybrid or the 4 iron

[johnno]

  purple drank said:

yeah...definitely keeping the 4 iron in the bag. The 4h is a solid stick but having the 60 degree vokey outweighs the benefits of the 232 degree hybrid . F unny thing is I often chip with the 4h around the fringe and rough all the time.

Now a 232 degree hybrid would be a very interesting club !!!:~(. Can't quite picture it :-)

[Ignorant]

  purple drank said:

Currently D-3W-3H-4H-4 Thru GW-SW and putter which is 14. Trust me...every club gets used on an 18 hole round ...it isnt that unusual given the yardage and layout of my local track...(Indian Canyon) in Spokane WA. Ill use every iron within the front 9 alone given the long par 3s.

You might want to learn how to make different yardages with one single club. That would improve your game in all respects and allow you play lower scores with only 8 clubs than with those 15.