A golf exercise.....if you dare

[Sante TwoGloves]

I just finished our regular golf season, I came in second. Over the next few weeks we are moving our golf outings to a different format. Match play, two man scrambles, etc. On October 11th we conclude our league with an 18 hole 8 clubs or less challenge from the tips of one of the longest and difficult tracks in our area, slope 139. Rated by Golf Digest as third best in the area behind Oakmont and Laurel Valley. Here is the course http://www.totteridgegolfcourse.com/ I have made my Final club selections and plan to play the rest of the season with the bag in my signature. Here is your challenge should you decide to give it a try. Look over each hole, map out how you would navigate around this fine layout, and which clubs would you take?

[shooter]

I'll take a stab at it. Unless my reading comprehension is off. I'm seeing a very long hard course. I would want a driver, hybrid, 7I and lob wedge. Driver to get off the tee on 13 holes. Hybrid for one tee shot and several approach shots on the longer par 4s including the couple long par 3s, and lag putts outside of 30 feet. 7 iron for anything I want to control into the green from 140 to 175 max. Lob wedge for everything 100 yards and in, including short putts. Hopefully you are able to put a good move on the ball or it'll be a long day.

[Sante TwoGloves]

I'll take a stab at it. Unless my reading comprehension is off. I'm seeing a very long hard course. I would want a driver, hybrid, 7I and lob wedge. Driver to get off the tee on 13 holes. Hybrid for one tee shot and several approach shots on the longer par 4s including the couple long par 3s, and lag putts outside of 30 feet. 7 iron for anything I want to control into the green from 140 to 175 max. Lob wedge for everything 100 yards and in, including short putts. Hopefully you are able to put a good move on the ball or it'll be a long day.

1. LPGA Square Two Melody driver 
2. Callaway Steelhead Plus 5 W
3. Adamsgolf Idea 4i hybrid 
4. Answer 6 iron 
5. Answer 8 iron 
6. LH Golfsmith Tour Model IV PW
7. AdamsGolf GTxtreme LW
8. LH Ping Zing Magnesium Bronze

[newtogolf]

Eight clubs I'd go with

Driver

4 Wood

4 hybrid

6i

8i

PW

LW

Putter

[Sante TwoGloves]

Eight clubs I'd go with Driver 4 Wood 4 hybrid 6i 8i PW LW Putter

Nice. I'm not taking my driver because that is where I seem to lose strokes the most. Inconsistent. I do have a 4 wood. Any particular reason a 4 over a 3? Closes the gap on your distances or a safer club to hit off the tee and deck? I am real comfortable with my 3. Just want to make sure I'm not missing some strategy in the clubs I take.

[David in FL]

8 clubs? Not that big of a "challenge". I don't even care what the course is. Driver 3H 5, 7, 9, GW, SW Putter Tell 'em next year to do it with 3 clubs. ;-)

[newtogolf]

Nice. I'm not taking my driver because that is where I seem to lose strokes the most. Inconsistent. I do have a 4 wood. Any particular reason a 4 over a 3? Closes the gap on your distances or a safer club to hit off the tee and deck? I am real comfortable with my 3. Just want to make sure I'm not missing some strategy in the clubs I take.

I'm not as consistent as I'd like to be with driver but given how long the course is, it would be worth the risk for me.

I was trying to close the gaps on my distances, keeping a 2 club gap in between the ones I selected.   I can on average hit my 4w 200 - 210 yards and my 4h 180 yards, 6i 160 yards, and left 20 yard increments down, I also hit my 4h great off the tee.  I opted to build the bag starting with the LW in case some of the bunkers were steep and I was close to the edge to use a PW.

I noticed you only listed six clubs so you might want to consider adding a LW or another wood to your bag since I'd think you have a pretty big yardage gap between your 3w and 4h.

[Big C]

8 clubs? Not that big of a "challenge". I don't even care what the course is Driver 3H 5, 7, 9, GW, SW Putter Tell 'em next year to do it with 3 clubs. ;-)

Exactly my sentiments. My bag would look identical to yours, for what it's worth. It would probably take A 5 clubs (or fewer) tourney before I strartrd taking the course layout into consideration.

[Sante TwoGloves]

Yeah, that's it about this one. You decide on how many clubs eight or less. One guy said he is taking one hybrid and a bag of balls

[newtogolf]

Yeah, that's it about this one. You decide on how many clubs eight or less. One guy said he is taking one hybrid and a bag of balls

Do you gain any benefit from using less than 8 clubs?

[Mac62]

8 clubs? Not that big of a "challenge". I don't even care what the course is.

Driver

3H

5, 7, 9, GW, SW

Putter

Tell 'em next year to do it with 3 clubs.

I'd be pretty close to that:

Driver

5W

5H

7, 9, PW, SW

Putter

7150 yds would be a long course for me - I'm not a long hitter and would probably use the 5W often to even have a sniff at GIRs.  I'd probably even need the 5W for a couple of those long par 3s!

[Sante TwoGloves]

I'm not as consistent as I'd like to be with driver but given how long the course is, it would be worth the risk for me. I was trying to close the gaps on my distances, keeping a 2 club gap in between the ones I selected.   I can on average hit my 4w 200 - 210 yards and my 4h 180 yards, 6i 160 yards, and left 20 yard increments down, I also hit my 4h great off the tee.  I opted to build the bag starting with the LW in case some of the bunkers were steep and I was close to the edge to use a PW. I noticed you only listed six clubs so you might want to consider adding a LW or another wood to your bag since I'd think you have a pretty big yardage gap between your 3w and 4h.

Great. Thanks for the advice. To be honest there isn't that much difference between my hybrid distance and my 3w.:-) I have a few weeks yet. Going to play with these 6 a few times and see what I need to Add most.

[shooter]

I'm surprised you wouldn't take a putter. Extremely fast greens. I have heard of people putting with their hybrids but not a lob wedge. I decided on a pitching wedge rather than a sand wedge because the bunkers are a little beat and the sand not as fluffy as maybe it could be. I thought I could get out of the many green side bunkers better than with a sand wedge. Will the lob wedge be the right club for you to escape the sand? I haven't had That much experience with sand and is probably my biggest concern for that day.

Im assuming you would be getting some strokes for not using all 8 clubs. Like -1 stroke for every club less then 8. It seams counter intuative to most, but my lob wedge is the only club I use inside 100 yard period. I'll make the adjustment that is required regardless of lie or yardage or pin etc etc. Putting with a wedge isn't very hard regardless of degree or bounce.

[Sante TwoGloves]

No, it's a macho thing only. How low can you go and still compete. It's all for fun and a $20 metal golfer sculpture. Big cookout after. Its more of a reunion of old friends you use to golf with 30 years ago.

[shooter]

That sounds like fun and I would bring 8 clubs along then. But beating my friends requires only showing up. Lol That course your playing would have most of my attention.

[Lihu]

Driver, 3H, 5i, 7i, 9i, PW, 60, putter It really wouldn't chane too much from what I'd take on my home course. Short tees, I would take 3W, 5i, 6i, 8i, PW, 54, 60, putter. Try playing only your 7i for everything. . .

[Mac62]

Driver, 3H, 5i, 7i, 9i, PW, 60, putter

It really wouldn't chane too much from what I'd take on my home course.

Short tees, I would take 3W, 5i, 6i, 8i, PW, 54, 60, putter.

Try playing only your 7i for everything. . .

One of our local courses does a "5i only" tournament every year - 5-iron only from tee to the cup.  I haven't played in it yet, but it would be interesting to try!

[Lihu]

[QUOTE name="Lihu" url="/t/84297/a-golf-exercise-if-you-dare#post_1196157"] Driver, 3H, 5i, 7i, 9i, PW, 60, putter It really wouldn't chane too much from what I'd take on my home course. Short tees, I would take 3W, 5i, 6i, 8i, PW, 54, 60, putter. Try playing only your 7i for everything. . .[/QUOTE] One of our local courses does a "5i only" tournament every year - 5-iron only from tee to the cup.  I haven't played in it yet, but it would be interesting to try!

We did that at Erie on an east coast outing. So, I was inspired to started playing rounds with just my 6i and now 7i. It's really fun. Pocket an extra ball and a couple short tees. Totally unfettered and free. It's like walking with a walking stick that plays golf. Really fun. . .