The maximum number of clubs in your set of golf clubs you are allowed to carry is 14. This doesn’t mean that every golfer needs to have 14 golf clubs in the same golf bag. If you are a beginner or have a slower swing speed, it is likely that some golf clubs produce the same carry distance result. If you are a lower-handicap player, additional clubs in a golf bag can help you improve your game even further.
What are the rules? How many Golf Clubs are you allowed to carry?
Rule 4 – The Player’s Equipment states that a maximum of 14 club are allowed at the beginning and during the round.
Limit of 14 Clubs; Sharing, Adding or Replacing Clubs During Round
Rules and Interpretations (usga.org, United States Golf Association)
“You must not start a round with more than 14 clubs or have more than 14 clubs during the round. If you start a round with fewer than 14 clubs, you may add more clubs during the round up to the 14-club limit.
When you become aware that you are in breach of this Rule by having more than 14 clubs, you must immediately take the excess club or clubs out of play, using the procedure in Rule 4.1c.”
Are there any penalties for having too many golf clubs in your bag?
Referring to the same rule in The Player’s Equipment section, the penalty for carrying too many clubs is two penalty strokes. The good news, only a maximum of four penalty stroke will be awarded for the entire round.
“Penalty in Stroke Play – Two Penalty Strokes, Maximum of Four Strokes: You get the general penalty (two penalty strokes) for each hole where a breach happened, with a maximum of four penalty strokes in the round (adding two penalty strokes at each of the first two holes where a breach happened).”
In 2001, Woody Austin was playing in The Open Championship when he was penalized two strokes for having too many clubs in his golf bag. This penalty cost him the chance to win the tournament.
The incident happened on the 12th hole of the final round. Austin had a one-stroke lead at that point, but because of the penalty, he finished in a tie for second place.
Here is the video of the incident!
Why 14 golf clubs?
Before the US Open 1936, the USGA met to discuss possible restrictions on club size limits. This was in part due to one player coming to the tournament with 32 clubs, which would make caddying much more difficult. There was also debate about whether or not current golfers lack skill.
Most standard professional golfers’ bags contain 3 woods, 8 irons and a putter. The new rule would limit players to twelve clubs total, with only two additional club options allowed. In the end, it was decided that limiting players to fourteen clubs would present the best challenge and be most fair to all golfers.
Why did they only allow two extra clubs in a golf bag?
The goal of the rule change was to make the game more challenging, while still being fair to all golfers. Allowing only two extra club options ensured that players would have to make strategic decisions about which clubs to which golf equipment to bring and use during a round.
If 14 clubs are the maximum, is there a minimum of golf clubs I need to carry during a round of golf?
No, there is no minimum number of how many clubs a player must have in their bag. However, most golfers choose to carry 14 as minimum number of clubs anyway, as this provides the best balance of versatility and portability.
Why not just have one club?
Fewer clubs or just one club would make the game much too hard and provide a major challenge in most courses. Players need a variety of clubs in order to be able to navigate the different types of terrain and shot situations they will encounter on the golf course. Experienced golfers could still perform with one or two clubs in a golf bag, but many amateur golfers would not enjoy the game of golf anymore.
What happens if I accidentally break one of my golf clubs during the round?
You have the opportunity to get your new club repaired or replaced without having to pay. There are some limitations regarding how the damage was caused, but you can usually find a workaround. For example, if a golf club is destroyed by external forces such as wind, you have the option of replacing it.
However, if someone breaks the clubs or bends them beyond repair, then they cannot be fixed and you will not be refunded. Additionally, using damaged clubs during a game often leads to disqualification.
Rule 4 – The Player’s Equipment (usga.org)
“If a club in your bag is damaged during the round, you may repair it or replace it with any other club from your bag, provided that doing so does not violate Rule 4.1c.”
Note: if you damage your club on purpose, you will receive a two-stroke penalty.
What if I need to borrow a golf club during my round?
The rule in golf is that you can’t use a club of your playing partner’s golf clubs, to hit your strokes during the game, which count towards your final score. If you want to try out a new club or borrow one from a friend, you have to be clear about whose clubs belong to whom. This rule doesn’t apply if you’re carrying fourteen clubs into your bag and have your caddy carry the additional ones.
Rule 4 – The Player’s Equipment (usga.org)
“If you do not have a club required to play a hole and it is impractical to obtain one, you may borrow one from your partner, your caddie or the professional shop. You may not take a club from another player who is playing on the course at the time. You must not give a club to anyone during your round.”
What if I accidentally leave my golf bag on the course?
If you leave your golf bag on the course and it is not attended, you may be penalised.
Rule 6 – Caddies
“If while you are playing a hole your caddie or any of your clubs is between you and the hole, he or she is deemed to be attending the bag. If your caddie or any of your clubs is not between you and the hole, they are deemed to be unattended.
If your bag is attended and you make a stroke from a point nearer the hole than the bag, the caddie has broken no rule. If, however, your bag is unattended and you make a stroke from a point nearer the hole than the bag, you get the general penalty (two penalty strokes).”
Which golf clubs should I have in my bag?
Every golfer is unique and has different needs. Some golfers have only just started the game and a complete off-the-shelf set is sufficient. The best way to figure out what clubs you need in your bag is by practicing with them!
Head to the driving range and hit some golf balls with each club. You’ll quickly develop a feel for what clubs you use most often and which ones you can do without.
Check out our Complete Guide – Which Clubs do you need in your Golf Bag?
Can you carry two of the same club?
While there is a maximum number of clubs allowed on the golf course, there are no restrictions on size and shape. So, if you want to carry around 14 irons, go for it! You may never understand why some people would want to do this, but when pro golfers carry multiple clubs, they do it because they want to stand out from the crowd.
When your friend carries two clubs, they might have a good reason for doing so, but it probably isn’t as great as the one provided by a professional. For example, Phil Mickelson carried several drivers at different times throughout the 2006 season and achieved huge success – including victory on both the BellSouth Classic and Masters.
How many golf clubs do professional players carry in a tournament?
The number of how many golf clubs that professional players carry in a tournament varies depending on the player, the course, and the conditions. However, most professionals generally carry between 10 and 14 clubs during a golf tournament round.
