Official Luthiers Forum!

Ok, so I have found myself somehow ending up with 15 clubs in the bag. I don't play for money or in any USGA sanctioned events. Do I have to give up a club? Am I a raging cheater?

What would you do?

Here's what's in there now;

Ping G5 driver
Taylor Made V-steel 3-wood
Callaway 22 degree 7-wood
Nicklaus Q4 hybrid
Big Bertha 4-10 irons
Big Bertha pitching wedge
Callaway x-18 lob wedge
Cleveland sand wedge
Odyssey putter

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

I can't live without my lob wedge. It's my absolute favorite club. I holed out on two holes last weekend from the fringe with it.

I love the Odyssey. I have the White Steel Rossie. It's a mallet style. I like the two-ball, but I can't get comfortable with that much real estate behind the club face. Personal taste.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

I would say if you played a tournement or with someone who is absolutely nuts over rules, take the 4 iron out of the bag. I know with me (not that I can really play or anything) my shots with my hybrid club travel about the same as my 4 iron shots. Plus, I can hit the hybrid better than the long iron.

That or the 10 iron. I can hit my PW almost as far as my 9 iron.

You have a nice selection of clubs John. I would be remiss to give any of them up.

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Sorry John to the Letter of the law you have to loose one or none of your cards can be submitted for Handicap.

I know that the penalty for an extra club is the addition of 2 penalty strokes not sure if this is per hole, or per round.

I'd loose the 10 Iron.

What is the difference between the 10 iron and the PW? Usually, those two clubs are identical in loft, so one of those would be my pick to lose.

Kevin

John,

I really only started playing seriously this year, but I am already a stickler for the rules, so I say, dump the 4 iron. Your hybrid will do nicely for that duty, or even the 7 wood. Save the wedges! I would dump my driver before my wedges (you would agree if you saw me hit driver!)

Jeff

The only signifigant difference between the 10 iron and the PW is a slightly higher bounce on the sole. The loft is within 2 degrees of the same. I guess the 10 has to go.

The 7-wood has to stay because it has a 22 degree loft which is very handy for short-cutting the doglegs on coarses with mature trees.   

Thanks for the input.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Right you are, though the hybrid does a pretty good job of that, too.

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Pitch the 10.[/QUOTE]

No pun intended?   

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

A guess. All clubs that I know-public and private courses have a sign posted that on premises and course, conduct of golfer is governed by rules of the USGA. This, of course is really intended to prevent arguments re: out of bounds, honors, penalty strokes, etc. and a way to rid course of nasty people. Clubs covered by those rules so tech. a violation. But hey, have fun. It's a game! Carry 20 if you like. If anyone objects, you'll have to leave all over 14 at the car. So what! just know which ones your going to pitch so you are not in a straight-jacket 20 min. later. Sunshine, exercise,friends, you v. the course and the course always wins except for tourny am. pros, and edxtreem. small pool of players among us.
Be cool and carry the sticks that help your gameyour game.

I love/hate my lob wedge. If I get under the ball properly, I can drop it right on the green from 30-40 yards out. If it hit the ball even a little thin, pow! The ball is 80 yards past the hole (fore!). 60 of those yards are usually in the woods. I'm often afraid to use it and do a bump and run with the 5 iron.

I'd get rid of the 10 iron as well. I haven't had a driver in my bag for a few years. I find that 200 yards on the fairway is a whole lot better than 250 in the trees.

I could golf with 3 clubs. A 3 iron, a PW, and the putter.

and about 70 balls in my bag.

.. and I am set.   

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Lose the putter Bud! Those things never work!

I figure you need a few extra to throw in the water hazard anyway! Can I get a witness!
Show'a hands! Show'a hands!

Billy Dean Thomas

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Mike, it's all about ball compression, my friend. When you stop trying to get under it, you'll stop hitting it thin. Pound that sucker into the ground and it'll pop out the same every time and with a ton of backspin.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

So, John, are you going to give golf lessons at ASIA next summer? Sounds like you know what you're talking about.

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

John...I just caught this thread. I'm the guy at my club who is the keeper of the rules for our "gang of 20" events in which we participate each weekend. The first year I suggested that everyone was playing by "jungle rules" which seemed to be made up as was convenient. I told them it was embarrassing and an insult to the game that the rules were ignored.

Five years ago, I suggested that we play by strict USGA rules. That meant that there would no longer be the following:
...every ball is played as it lies...no bumping the ball to get a preferred lie.
...no "breakfast ball" (mulligan) off the first tee. If you want to find out what your swing is up to that morning, go to the range before the round.
...putt everything out...no more gimmies.
...execute proper drops from water and other hazards and not where you think the location best suits you.
...play out-of-bounds and lost ball shots as stroke and distance penalties.
...etc.

Well...several things happened. Most evident was that almost everyone's handicap went up at least 2 strokes. Another was that our group started doing much better in tournaments...strict USGA rules were always enforced in club tournaments. Everyone in our group became more aware of the rules and were able to police the field in tournaments. After 5 years, their handicaps are true and hold up much better in tournament play than the others who are looser with the rules.

Now, to the 14 club rule. Our group has several who carry up to 22 clubs. They will not abide by the 14 club rule and there is now a move to invite them to leave the Saturday and Sunday matches. Hopefully they will comply. BTW, in club tournaments, where the 14 club rule is enforced, they seem to fall apart because they are not used to tailoring their game to the reguired clubs.

As far as what to eliminate from your bag...it's a real personal thing. I have always carried only 14 but I exchange clubs from time-to-time depending on the conditions (wind particularly), my swing condition, as well as a feeling about what I need for that particular round. As far as the clubs that are on the bubble for me it seems to be my lob wedge, 5 wood and 3 or 4-iron. If the fairways are soft, I lose the lob wedge for the 3 or 4-iron or 5-wood to get more roll form a lower trajectory. Windy conditions require a lower ball trajectory and I use fewer lofted clubs. It's just what seems to work for me.

BTW...what loft is a 10-iron?...and how different is this from a pitching wedge. My wedge set is:
...PW = 48* = 100-120 yds
...Gap Wedge = 52* = 80-100 yds
...Sand Wedge = 56* = up to 80 yds
...Lob Wedge = 60* = up to 50 yds

I use a SW for almost everything around the green because I can control the spin and seem to feel confident with it. For long bump and run shots, I generally use a PW or 9-iron.

Finally, If I had to guess from your club armamentarium, I think the 10-iron might be redundant.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ, sounds like you've made some great progress there. We play pretty close to the rules, too. Penalties like hitting another guy's ball, pulling the stick when the shot is from the fringe, etc. are routingely doled out.

I draw the line when it comes to the personal safety of myself, my clubs, and to a lesser extent, bystanders.   

For example, I won't hit directly at a tree that's 10 feet in front of me. If I'm anywhere near a bee's nest, I give a healthy parallel kick. I won't hit off of ground that has rocks in it. I think this stuff is pretty universal amoung recreational players.

Joe, I'm not really a very good golfer, I just really love it and have studied a little. JJ, or one of the other guys would probably make a better candidate for a class.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Man, you guys are serious.

We play by those who lost the fewest balls wins.
If you are playing "serious" and you lose a ball that is penalty enough, no need to take the stroke
and you get to deduct 1 from your score on each hole for how many beers you have had.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

How bout getting a second bag for clubs and extra balls

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Bob Potter
Lenoir, North Carolina
U.S.A.

It's a cruel game!    

John...While I truly love and respect the game and its history I'm in no way qualified to conduct classes. I'm mired at a 12 handicap for 2 years now and I struggle like everyone else. See your local PGA pro for lessons.

I hope we can meet a lot of our OLF brethern at the ASIA conference and hopefully tee it up with those so inclined.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Yessir JJ... Down and dirty... that's the only way to go...

I'd lose the 3 iron or the 10...

Fore!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

John, sorry for chiming in late here -- just back from a camping trip (plenty of fodder from that trip to share over a round of golf )

I am of mixed minds as to whether you should drop a club or not. Practically speaking you could drop a less essential not often used club and not see an impact on your game.

JJ, I admire your respect for the game.

I think it all boils down to whether getting out and belting the ball and sharing some laughs turns your crank or being a true student of the game is what its all about for you.

Taking rules to the extreme is where I draw the line. Years ago I played a business round of golf with a fellow I will refer to as Mr. Rule Book. We were playing the TPC Stadium course near Jacksonville, Florida which abounds with gators sunning themselves near the plentiful water hazards. I hit a tee shot just off the fairway which came to rest about 6-10 ft from a rather large gator. Mr. Rule Book says to me I have to take a one stroke penalty and take a drop no closer to the hole. Ruined my day and memory of what should have been glorious day. Sadly it turns out his ruling was incorrect according to the club pro

John it sounds like your crew play a fairly serious game so best you lose a stick before someone points it out to you after you've shot your best ever round.

For years I carried only 12 clubs -- this year I added a 5 wood and a rescue club that was given to me. My score hasn't improved    My brother carries 10 clubs - a Driver, 4 through PW, SW and a putter and he plays to a 5 handicap. I asked him why he doesn't carry more clubs and his answer was -- "gotta keep room for the 6 pack on ice".

Hey JJ for us Canadians playing golf at the next ASIA conference -- do we have to abide by USGA rules?Anthony Z38962.1047916667

Anthony...Welcome back. Glad you made it home without becoming bear food!

BTW...your buddy was half right...no penalty stroke for dropping away from a gator.

USGA rules for Canadians? Ask Mike Weir what rules he plays by! Unless you're more comfortable playing with pads, helmets and skates

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com