Comments on: Relax your game with an uncluttered golf bag

By: EKIM7103

EKIM7103 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:00:56 +0000

The most fun I have on the course is our annual 7 iron challenge. 7 iron and putter, that is it. The better golfers are still scoring in the mid 80’s without all the other clubs. Ultimately it is the amount of practice a person puts into the game. For most of us, the differences in equipment doesn’t add up to a major difference in your score.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:37:42 +0000

I have to disagree about removing half the clubs from your bag. I’m by no means an exceptional golfer (probably about a 16 handicap) but I definitely hit each of my irons a different length and removing any of them from my bag would leave a gap. For instance, I hit 7 iron 140-150 yards, 8 iron 130-140 yards, and 9 iron 120-130 yards. If I ditched my 8 iron to save weight, I’d be in trouble on a 134 yard par 3.

Where people can make a big difference though is all the extra crap they fill the pockets of their golf bags with. No one needs 2 dozen balls, a weighted warmup club, 1000 wooden tees, 6 ball markers, 20 old scorecards, 4 green repair tools, a roll of lead tape, 4 Sharpies in various colors, a pack of golf shoe cleats with cleat wrench, and 3 extra gloves to play a round of golf but plenty of people carry all that and more around in their golf bags at all times.

The only things I keep in my golf bag at all times are my clubs, a green repair tool with built-in magnetic ball marker, a bottle of Alleve, a club cleaning brush, and a single glove. Before I play a round I put in ~10 tees and a half dozen marked balls. If rain is threatening, I’ll put in an umbrella; if exceptionally sunny, I’ll put in a small travel bottle of sunscreen. Clip a clean golf towel to the bag, grab my shoe bag, and out the door.

For golfers who frequently walk instead of ride, a lightweight bag with two backpack-style shoulder straps is a much better solution than leaving half of your clubs at home.

By: Brock

Brock — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:51:48 +0000

Brian, I 100% agree. I get comments all the time regarding how few clubs that I carry. I simply explain that if I never use the clubs – why bother to carry them all?

My bag: Driver, 7-wood, hybrid, 7, 8, 9, PW, putter.

…and my game has improved!

By: RJ

RJ — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:00:41 +0000

I always take a full golf bag, mostly for the exercise.

Don’t rip on the 2 iron, I had a wonderful shot from the rough, with my 2I hybrid, landed 10 feet from the green.

Long time reader, first time comment. Great blag!

By: Pete

Pete — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 10:46:53 +0000

I am not a fan of 18 holes. @scott – I do love the pitch & putts. But when you have to play 18 holes, even if you have a cart, by the time I reach the back 9 I have usually given up any hope of being good.

Oh well, at least my bag will be better organized!

http://yinvsyang.com/

By: Michael G

Michael G — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:56:33 +0000

I don’t have to worry about this one. Tried the game, and it just wasn’t a good fit for me. So I never got beyond the boyhood set of clubs that my grandfather got for me.

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:01:02 +0000

I’m very new to the game, and I’ve decided to stick to the pitch-n-putt and par 3 courses exclusively, in order to keep it simple. At most, I’m toting four clubs (All gifts from golf enthusiast friends who have way more equipment than they need).

By: Devan

Devan — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:54:22 +0000

Brian, I can certainly attest to this. When I first sought to purchase a ‘real’ golf set many years ago, I was not all that flush with funds, so the golf pro suggested I buy one or two club every couple of months and slowly build up my bag. I ended up playing for years with almost exactly the same clubs as you mentioned above and having a ball.

Eventually, when I _did_ build up my kit to the full complement, I found exactly the same problem you described – there were just too many choices for each shot and my game enjoyment took a dive. Time to simplify again.

Still, one of my good friends and golfing buddies regularly walks around the course with no bag – just a five iron and a putter over his shoulder!