The 14-Club Rule and a Golfer's Equipment

Playing by the rules also means using the right equipment. Alain Rathery, an international referee, presents—on behalf of the French Golf Federation—the different types of clubs, the accessories to pack in your bag, and two rules you should know: the maximum number of clubs and the role of the longest club.

What the lesson shows

The clubs are divided into four families. The wood, including the driver, are mainly used at the start of a hole to hit the ball a long way, often from a tee. The irons, generally from 3 to 9, allow you to hit different distances with the same swing, thanks to the club's length and the angle of the clubface. The wedges (pitching, sand) are very open and short: they are used for shots under 110 yards and for short game play around the green. The putter Finish the hole. As for accessories: a glove (two if it’s raining), enough playing balls—not balls from the driving range—a personal mark on each ball, tees, a pitch fork, a ball marker (a coin will do), a towel, a scorecard and a pencil, possibly a course notebook, the rule book, and water.

There are two rules that directly apply to the bag. First, A maximum of 14 clubs. Next, the the longest club in the bag, usually the driver, serves as a reference for measuring distances in difficult situations. To get started, you don’t need 14 clubs: two woods, a few irons (every other one, for example), a sand wedge, and a putter—that is, seven or eight clubs in a small bag—are enough to play well while following the rules.

The Exercise, Step by Step

1. Count your clubs: never carry more than 14 in your bag.
2. Find your longest club: that's the one you'll use to measure your clearances.
3. Mark each of your balls with a pen or a sticker.
4. Put some tees, a pitch lift, and a ball marker in a pocket of the bag.
5. Include the scorecard, a pencil, and, if possible, the rulebook.
6. Don't forget to bring a towel, a second glove in case of rain, and some water.
7. To start, limit yourself to seven or eight clubs in a small bag.

Key Takeaways

Mistakes to Avoid

• Beat 14 clubs in the bag.
• Playing on the course with driving range balls.
• Don't mark your ball, or you might mix it up with someone else's.
• Forget about the pitch counter and the ball marker.
• Starting the game with too few balls to finish it.

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