Here we'll go through how many clubs you should have in a golf bag, what the most common combination is and what to do if you find you've got too many.
How many clubs can you have in your golf bag?
A player is allowed 14 clubs as stated by both the R&A and the USGA who are the governing bodies of golf.
The 14 clubs usually include:
1 Putter
2 Wedges
8 Irons (3-PW)
3 types of wood (Driver, 3 Wood, Hybrid)
A player must not start a round with more than 14 clubs or have more that 14 clubs at any point during their round.
What is the penalty for having too many clubs in your golf bag?
The penalty depends on the type of match you are playing. If you're playing matchplay, you'll lose the hole and any previous holes where you've had too many clubs.
If you're playing strokeplay then two strokes are added per hole in which you had the extra club(s).If you discover you have too many clubs you must tell your playing partner(s) of your mistake & turn the additional club(s) upside down.
Why can you only have 14 clubs in your golf bag?
Professional golfers used to carry as many as 25 clubs per round as it would ensure they were prepared for every situation they could find themselves in.
The rule of 14 was brought in back in 1939 much to the relief of caddies across the globe.
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