How much Golf Gear is too much?

[Mainegrw]

Today I picked up my sixth or seventh iron set, and now I wonder if I’ve gone too far. I can’t be the only one who seems to collect gear, can I? Here’s what currently graces my collection: 

 

In my bag for everyday play (Taylormade RBZ Stage 2 bag): 

- Callaway Paradym Driver, 10.5 degrees, Regular Flex

- Callaway X2 Hot 3 Hybrid, 19 degrees, Regular Flex

- Callaway X Series 5 Hybrid, 23 degrees, Regular flex (I cannot recall the last time I swung it, just lives in the bag)

- Titleist 804 OS iron set, 3 thru P, NS970 Pro regular flex shafts

- Callaway Mack Daddy CB wedges, 52, 56, and 60 degree

- Scotty Cameron 2021 Special Select Newport Putter

 

In a second bag that lives in my car, and rarely gets touched, sometimes at the range (this one is almost a Tiffany Blue Ping Bag): 

- Ping Eye2+ BeCu Iron set, 3-SW, black dot, stiff flex

- Ping BeCu Scottsdale Anser Putter

 

In yet another bag in my car (mind you all of these so far are walking bags with legs, this one’s a Burton Bag, with Miller Lite branding): 

 

- Callaway XR16 OS iron set, 4 thru P and the Approach Wedge, Regular Flex

- Titleist 913H 4 hybrid, 21 degrees, stiff flex

- Titleist Vokey Wedges, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, and 60, most are older 2XX series, one is a SM4.

- Titleist Bulleye Putter bearing the “SC” logo for Scotty Cameron ( supposedly worth a little more than a standard Acushnet Bullseye, but idk…)

- Ping 35th Anniversary Ping-N-Ping putter, a modernization of the Ping 1A, and it makes a wonderful sound

- Taylormade TPA VI Putter 

- Some Random Ray Cook aluminum mallet style putter

- Aldila Rogue White 130 MSI 60g driver shaft with Callaway tip, Stiff Flex

 

Currently not bagged but also in my trunk and/or garage:

- Wilson Staff Ultra 45 iron set, 3 thru P, regular flex

- Cobra Gravity Back Iron Set, 3 Thru P, stiff flex

- 1974 Ben Hogan Apex partial iron set, with regular flex Apex 3 shafts, missing 3, 7 and 9 irons. (According to the code on the hosels, they were produced in July 1973 which would make them some of the earliest 1974 model 6200 irons off the assembly line) 

- Titleist DCI 962 iron set 5 thru P, Stiff flex (today’s cheap score) 

 

So tell me: do I have too much? Can I carry on collecting to my heart’s content, or until I run out of storage? 

[bobfoster]

Personally, I use the traditional, Nobel prize winning, time tested "Parked Car" criteria: TV(C + B + P + S) + C < CGD. 

 

The total volume of space taken up by clubs, bags, practice equipment and shoes, plus the space taken up by the car, has to be less than the total cubic volume of the garage itself. 

 

Really, it is science. Which, of course (according to our leaders), we're all supposed to follow. In layman's terms:

 

If the amount of equipment I have still lets me get my car into the garage completely enough to fully close the garage door, then by definition I don't have too much golf gear. 

 

Follow the science. I think its a federal law. 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by bobfoster

[Mainegrw]

6 hours ago, bobfoster said:

Personally, I use the traditional, Nobel prize winning, time tested "Parked Car" criteria: TV(C + B + P + S) + C < CGD. 

 

The total volume of space taken up by clubs, bags, practice equipment and shoes, plus the space taken up by the car, has to be less than the total cubic volume of the garage itself. 

 

Really, it is science. Which, of course (according to our leaders), we're all supposed to follow. In layman's terms:

 

If the amount of equipment I have still lets me get my car into the garage completely enough to fully close the garage door, then by definition I don't have too much golf gear. 

 

Follow the science. I think its a federal law. 

 

 

I love this! Sounds like I’m ok then since the majority of it is currently living in the trunk of my car. Collect on I shall! 

[Maine Golfer]

I dont have a wife, so no limits!

[MCoz]

Well this is a good question for me as I have over 60 years of clubs, two rooms. I probably need to do an inventory of some sort. It appears to be close to a couple of thousand clubs and hundreds of special and prototype shafts

Easily more than 200+ wedges and as many or more putters including numerous prototypes. Maybe four dozen iron sets many given to me by the OEMs, one gift set custom made for me from Butch Harmon in the late 90's when he was still working with Cobra (beautiful set of forged blades that have hardly been used and to this day they are in the original box). Another complete set (1 thru PW) designed for Ken Venturi. Two sets custom made special for Greg Norman. One a special Spalding Top Flight blade that he used and another from Cobra that were never sold (only a couple of dozen ever made). I have the set of First Flight blades  used in High School  and a pre- dot set of Ping K-1s from College. (I used the 1 iron for many years beyond the time I played the set (in the end too much off-set). Plus hundreds of drivers, woods and Hybrids, numerous special customs and prototypes most that were gifted to me from the designers, company owners, endorsers, tour and marketing reps.  I have done a lot of equipment testing over the years and I have never felt right in selling stuff that was gifted (and registered) to me. I have gifted much to other up and coming young players with out the resources for a couple of decades. I am planning to give away a ton of useable equipment to a couple of groups, First Tee and another that sets up clubs for veterans just taking up the game. Ironically most of my current clubs in my bag, I have bought myself while much or most of what I own were gifts.  

Edited October 2, 2023 by MCoz

[Tiptx1122]

[Putter Addict]

23 hours ago, Maine Golfer said:

I dont have a wife, so no limits!

Same. It makes a big difference.

 

In all seriousness, if your spending habits are not negatively impacting anyone, there are much worse hobbies and addictions to have. But as long as your family is taken care of properly (if you have one), no one should tell you how to spend your money. 

[Maine Golfer]

Right I'm not a hoarder , I try to keep stuff I can bend and play (im tall). I support my extended family. As long as your life has balance. 

[MtlJeff]

I have about 5 full bags right now. It's only a problem if you run out of room in your house

[Ghostwedge]

What do you drive ? A '68 Lincoln Continental ? That's a lot of clubs in a hostile environment. I prefer to transfer my clubs from house to course and back.

Keep the trunk for important stuff like a.spare tire and dead bodies.

 

[HillbillyHoma]

You can never have too many!!

[ksher84]

There's no such thing as too much
I could easily build 4 or 5 good sets with the clubs I have.  It's fun to tinker and try out new clubs & ideas.  Top-end to Lower-Middle of the bag is where I have the most variety clubs (woods, hybrids, long irons, utilities, etc.).  Even buying individual clubs for specific tournaments and courses (64 wedge for par 3 tournament).

 

TBH I end up going back to the same setup 95% of the time, could have 1 set be just fine

[tatertot]

I have actually lowered my handicap as I've lowered my inventory ... golf clubs are like quarterbacks, if you have 2 starters, you don't have a starter. I find if I have 2 clubs, especially putters, I really like, I bounce back and forth between them and never commit. I see improvement if I dump everything but 1 and just stick to it, not matter what.

 

Now that I think about, putters are more like women than quarterbacks.

[AdmiralPicard]

[Milfordlefty]

2 hours ago, jbeer7375 said:

You can never have too many!!

Clubs, spare tires or dead bodies?

[JAMH03]

@Mainegrw that's a really good question and one that many of us would benefit from figuring out for ourselves.

I agree storage space or encumbrance, difficulty getting to or accessing all the equipment is a reasonable hard limit. 

Secondly I really like some of your sets and bags I can see why you'd want to keep them around. They're cool for different reasons.

As an overview when we look at what makes people happy though... it's all the touchy feely stuff. Connection to others, unity in purpose, growth, learning etc.

So with that said... I'd start looking at what you think is fun with your golf equip and everything else then either add or pare down based on that.



 

[Hat Trick]

Well, I can only play one set at a time... so one set in use and one my last driver, irons, wedges and a putter just in case something breaks or goes missing.

[Tiptx1122]

11 hours ago, Maine Golfer said:

Right I'm not a hoarder , I try to keep stuff I can bend and play (im tall). I support my extended family. As long as your life has balance. 

 

11 hours ago, Maine Golfer said:

Right I'm not a hoarder , I try to keep stuff I can bend and play (im tall). I support my extended family. As long as your life has balance. 

No one said you didn't take care of your family as what some might see as being a hoarder, well maybe when it comes to 200+ wedges what in the world does anyone need that many and when do you have time to play with all the extra stuff that you have. Its not a terrible habit to have but it's expensive but it's your money so no one should care how you spend your money. I'm sure most of the extra stuff won't bring you in much money if you were trying to sell anything but just to look at,  if it isn't serving a purpose and I don't need it I sell it, trade or give away.  

[sailfishchris]

As long  as they aren’t collecting dust-you don’t have too many. If  they’re sitting and not being used- That’s when you have too many

[Tommy56]

I'm on the far opposite end of the spectrum.  As a minimalist player, my gamer set + a handful of nostalgic clubs is only 14 total.  I sell or donate anything I don't need.

[bekgolf]

5 complete sets of irons, 3 drivers, 5 shafts for two of the drivers, 13 wedges not including the iron set wedges, 6 hybrids, a few assorted fairway woods and 42 dozen new golf balls.  Also have a set of old school flighted Rifle FCM 5.5 shafts.  There is also a Medicus double hinged iron.

 

I didn't realize I had that many balls until just now.  I only buy balls when there is a significant discount on them, it happens a few times a year and usually involves a previous year ball.  I might have a golf ball problem, 42 dozen is ridiculous and I'm not sure how they built up like that without my realizing it.  FFS!

[2Down]

In Washington DC there is an unwritten rule that a building shouldn’t be taller than the monument.  
in much the same fashion you shouldn’t have more clubs than Arnold did.  
 

fortunately, he owned a lot.   

[Mike_Honcho]

20 hours ago, AdmiralPicard said:

 

[ND2005]

I love old blades...and as a lefty good stuff is hard to find so I tend to sit on them. Have had a few of these sets refinished and will hang on to them forever. 

 

-Mizuno MS 3

-Mizuno TP-19

-Titleist 731 PM

-Callaway X-prototype

-Miura Y-grind

-Nike VR Pro

 

Then in terms of "modern" clubs I have a set of Srixon ZXII that I'm currently playing with and a set of 2021 Titleist T100s

 

 I have about 8 or 9 Scotty Camerons including a mint condition Napa and 2 old school TeI3s

 

Wedges - I have one golf bag in the garage with probably about a dozen old wedges from various makers.

 

Woods - Some reason have the least of these. Have my current driver, a Paradym I fiddled with this season and need to sell, and then an old Callaway Rogue tour head that I just loved and hung on to, I'm sure in some moment of swing darkness I will put it back in the bag. 

 

 

[MountainKing]

No right or wrong answer, some people like to collect, others like to hoard.  For me if I'm not using it, it's just taking up space and it's too much. 

[Stonewalled]

On 10/2/2023 at 12:56 AM, MCoz said:

Well this is a good question for me as I have over 60 years of clubs, two rooms. I probably need to do an inventory of some sort. It appears to be close to a couple of thousand clubs and hundreds of special and prototype shafts

Easily more than 200+ wedges and as many or more putters including numerous prototypes. Maybe four dozen iron sets many given to me by the OEMs, one gift set custom made for me from Butch Harmon in the late 90's when he was still working with Cobra (beautiful set of forged blades that have hardly been used and to this day they are in the original box). Another complete set (1 thru PW) designed for Ken Venturi. Two sets custom made special for Greg Norman. One a special Spalding Top Flight blade that he used and another from Cobra that were never sold (only a couple of dozen ever made). I have the set of First Flight blades  used in High School  and a pre- dot set of Ping K-1s from College. (I used the 1 iron for many years beyond the time I played the set (in the end too much off-set). Plus hundreds of drivers, woods and Hybrids, numerous special customs and prototypes most that were gifted to me from the designers, company owners, endorsers, tour and marketing reps.  I have done a lot of equipment testing over the years and I have never felt right in selling stuff that was gifted (and registered) to me. I have gifted much to other up and coming young players with out the resources for a couple of decades. I am planning to give away a ton of useable equipment to a couple of groups, First Tee and another that sets up clubs for veterans just taking up the game. Ironically most of my current clubs in my bag, I have bought myself while much or most of what I own were gifts.  

WOW pretty impressive collection MC!!!

Equally impressive group of contacts in the Golf World.

 

My garage looks like a golf club bomb went off in it, and I'm down to 1/2 of the 30 plus sets I had in 2018. Couldn't imagine having 2000 plus clubs. 

 

Well done!!!

[Bye]

I have no plan B 

 

[Mainegrw]

I’m glad I’m not alone here, I see a lot of love for collecting and playing older clubs. I’ve expanded again by happenstance, lol, a fellow near me cleaned out his garage and sold me two bags and an assortment of clubs for a very reasonable price. The price alone was worth the brand new Sun Mountain cart bag that was included, but I think the real gem might have been the Taylormade Ti Bubble 2 Driver with the old school head over included. I waned a BRNR mini driver, this might be a nice consolation prize. 

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

Too Much = When appliances break down and you don't have any money left to replace them, but continue to buy new golf clubs.

[AdmiralPicard]

1 hour ago, Mikey_HACKilroy said:

Too Much = When appliances break down and you don't have any money left to replace them, but continue to buy new golf clubs.

A dishwasher can’t hit a butter cut 3 iron from 227 to 6’ to win a skin.