An Eight Club Golf Bag

[boska]

I used to play with 7 clubs, for over a year, but recently added 3H for lay up drives. Now playing

 

Driver 10.5*

3H 19*

25* iron

32*

40*

48*

56* SW

Putter

 

Playing of 12.5 index usually at 133 slope/73.9 home course.

[Need2golfalot]

I find myself 'between clubs' often when playing a full set. In addition to keeping the ball in play and making putts, hitting your iron shots close to the hole is the way to score low. So I see both sides...More clubs (full set) gives you the best chance to be accurate. While carrying less clubs is easier (lighter) and gives you a chance to work on different length shots from the same club. I think it is more challenging scoring low with less clubs. A challenge can be fun.

[Andrew Bond of Glencoe]

Fun fact: Chick Evans won the 1916 US Open with 7 clubs in his bag. The norm back then was around 20.

 

15 years later someone asked Bobby Jones what he thought about Evans winning the US Open with only 7 clubs in his bag. Jones’ quote is one of my all time favorites.

 

“It’s better to be a master of 7 clubs than vaguely familiar with 14.”

[Sean2]

I play 9 clubs because I like to carry.

 

Driver GBB 12.5*

BB OS hybrid 22*

BB OS irons 4, 7, 9, AW

Mack Daddy PM grind 56* and 64*

Ping putter

 

That is my reason for wanting to go with a minimalist bag.

[Sean2]

I have been using 5 for the last 5 years and have no plans to change.

 

What five clubs have you chosen?

 

I will have to experiment a bit to see what works best:

 

Dr, 7-wood, 6, 8, PW, SW, LW, P, or,

 

Dr, 3-wood, 5 hybrid, 7, 9, AW, LW, P

 

Heck, 5 clubs would be grand! Might even try that.

I like having 2 longish clubs and 2 short plus a putter. Right now I go 3h,4I,8I,aw,putter.

 

That is some precision golf right there.

[Sean2]

No ones mentioned it but how many of you would use the driver off the deck ala Fowler style when doing the minimalist bag?

I've done it once but not something I'd plan on doing regularly with my newish big fat driver head..

Some of the older Callaway GBB drivers would be perfect for that role... ;)

 

I wouldn't use the driver off the deck, but yes with older models you could as they were about the size of today's 3-woods. lol

[Sean2]

Fun fact: Chick Evans won the 1916 US Open with 7 clubs in his bag. The norm back then was around 20.

 

15 years later someone asked Bobby Jones what he thought about Evans winning the US Open with only 7 clubs in his bag. Jones' quote is one of my all time favorites.

 

"It's better to be a master of 7 clubs than vaguely familiar with 14."

 

Lol! Great quote. :-)

[Skhacker]

No ones mentioned it but how many of you would use the driver off the deck ala Fowler style when doing the minimalist bag?

I've done it once but not something I'd plan on doing regularly with my newish big fat driver head..

Some of the older Callaway GBB drivers would be perfect for that role... ;)

Yes. 16° SLDR Mini at 43" is my longest club currently.

[Ivyguy]

It’s a weird deal. You need to have clubs that are versatile, BUT I found that driver was the most important club in my bag when I was playing 8 clubs (I am moving back in that direction in 2018).

 

The reason being that I stacked more clubs in the bottom half and left the 175 plu yard range as a “use one of two clubs to figure it out; 6 and 4 irons).

 

But, by driving the ball well, I would want all but the longest of par fours to have a sub 150 approach shot.

[gvogel]

Fun fact: Chick Evans won the 1916 US Open with 7 clubs in his bag. The norm back then was around 20.

 

15 years later someone asked Bobby Jones what he thought about Evans winning the US Open with only 7 clubs in his bag. Jones' quote is one of my all time favorites.

 

"It's better to be a master of 7 clubs than vaguely familiar with 14."

 

Great quote.

 

but I don't know about 20 clubs in 1916. Vardon was still playing with about 9. In 1916 Jones played in his first US Amateur at the age of 14; he later had a bag of 16 clubs, but at that point I doubt that he had that many.

 

It was in the 30's after steel came out that Lawson Little was using 33 clubs or so. I can't imagine carrying a bag with that many. Heck, I can't imagine carrying a bag with 16 hickories - they're darn heavy!

[rcfs1834]

Not to hijack the thread, but what are people using for bags for their "minimalist" clubs?

 

I use nine clubs and I currently have a TM Supreme Hybrid bag which is overkill for just 9 clubs. It's a bag that is supposed to fit in between the cart and carry crowd but I find it a little bulky for carry. Also the golf courses in New England don't dry out until the end of June and Fall can be wet so I need a stand.

[Skhacker]

Sun Mountain 2.5

[sdandrea]

No ones mentioned it but how many of you would use the driver off the deck ala Fowler style when doing the minimalist bag?

I've done it once but not something I'd plan on doing regularly with my newish big fat driver head..

Some of the older Callaway GBB drivers would be perfect for that role... ;)

 

Great shot for hitting 150 yard worm burners under a tree branch and back up the fairway. Comes in handy here in the Oak tree lined Florida fairways!

[tnord]

Sun Mountain 2.5

 

this

[minimal45]

Srixon stick pencil bag...

[Tommy56]

Jones original

[drn92]

Not to hijack the thread, but what are people using for bags for their "minimalist" clubs?

 

I use nine clubs and I currently have a TM Supreme Hybrid bag which is overkill for just 9 clubs. It's a bag that is supposed to fit in between the cart and carry crowd but I find it a little bulky for carry. Also the golf courses in New England don't dry out until the end of June and Fall can be wet so I need a stand.

 

I have a Adidas stand bag that I use most of the time. It is comparable to the SM 3.5 or a Ping Hoofer. I also have an old Izzo double strap bag with no stand. Super light. Usually travel with this bag.

 

drn92

[Ivyguy]

Sun Mountain Swift X

[Double Dutch]

Sun Mountain 2.5 as well. Great bag, and easily fits 14 clubs when you want to play a full set. Only drawback is it isn't waterproof, and I wish it had an extra pocket without zipper on the outside of the side pocket that you can reach when walking. But then again, i haven't seen that on any bag since the Izzo Delite.

[tnord]

my sun mountain is getting sun faded pretty quickly...i'll probably have to replace it again this year and will get a ping bag again. my previous 4 series lasted me 5 or 6 years, and the sun mountain isn't getting past 1.

[Skhacker]

Jones original

I really want to try one of these. Maybe one of their stand bags too. They look quite nice.

[Sean2]

Not to hijack the thread, but what are people using for bags for their "minimalist" clubs?

 

I use nine clubs and I currently have a TM Supreme Hybrid bag which is overkill for just 9 clubs. It's a bag that is supposed to fit in between the cart and carry crowd but I find it a little bulky for carry. Also the golf courses in New England don't dry out until the end of June and Fall can be wet so I need a stand.

Sun Mountain 2.5

 

I have the Sun Mountain 2.5+...and it has full length dividers. :-)

[Sean2]

my sun mountain is getting sun faded pretty quickly...i'll probably have to replace it again this year and will get a ping bag again. my previous 4 series lasted me 5 or 6 years, and the sun mountain isn't getting past 1.

 

Sorry to hear that. I have been fortunate with their bags.

[EvanScottKing]

Jones original

I really want to try one of these. Maybe one of their stand bags too. They look quite nice.

 

A friend of mine has one of each and loves them. Quality stuff too that seems to last regardless of how hard you beat them.

[p3ga]

Not to hijack the thread, but what are people using for bags for their "minimalist" clubs?

 

I use nine clubs and I currently have a TM Supreme Hybrid bag which is overkill for just 9 clubs. It's a bag that is supposed to fit in between the cart and carry crowd but I find it a little bulky for carry. Also the golf courses in New England don't dry out until the end of June and Fall can be wet so I need a stand.

 

Been toting 8 clubs around in a canvas & leather Mackenzie Sunday Walker for a couple of seasons now. No stand, but whatever they coat the material with does a good job of keeping the moisture out of the bag. Many good options out there, if you want to go custom with legs, give Elliott a look.

[aiyyer]

9 clubs in a SM Swift X bag for Winter golf.

Driver - Bridgestone JGR

4 Wood - TEE Ex 8

20 Hybrid - Ping I 20

5,7,9 - Bstone J40

52, 58 - BstoneJ15

Putter - Tad Moore, various

A motley crew but it works for me!

Could ditch the 4 wood but like keeping in touch with all clubs types from my regular bag.

 

[EvanScottKing]

Not to hijack the thread, but what are people using for bags for their "minimalist" clubs?

 

I use nine clubs and I currently have a TM Supreme Hybrid bag which is overkill for just 9 clubs. It's a bag that is supposed to fit in between the cart and carry crowd but I find it a little bulky for carry. Also the golf courses in New England don't dry out until the end of June and Fall can be wet so I need a stand.

 

Been toting 8 clubs around in a canvas & leather Mackenzie Sunday Walker for a couple of seasons now. No stand, but whatever they coat the material with does a good job of keeping the moisture out of the bag. Many good options out there, if you want to go custom with legs, give Elliott a look.

 

Would say for people looking for the vintage style, Mackenzie, Stauer & Jacoby and Belding are all awesome options. Love my little Belding American Heritage sunday bag and Seamus headcovers.

[Sean2]

9 clubs in a SM Swift X bag for Winter golf.

Driver - Bridgestone JGR

4 Wood - TEE Ex 8

20 Hybrid - Ping I 20

5,7,9 - Bstone J40

52, 58 - BstoneJ15

Putter - Tad Moore, various

A motley crew but it works for me!

Could ditch the 4 wood but like keeping in touch with all clubs types from my regular bag.

 

Looks like a good selection to me!

[Sean2]

Those MacKenzie bags look really nice.

[NC IA Hacker]

Jones original, with driver, 22 hybrid, 4, 6, 8, pw, 58, putter. Feels like it weighs next to nothing. I grew up with a golf coach that taught us to chip with a 7 iron, bump and run from about anywhere, and get creative. Love using this setup!