Choosing Which Clubs To Carry

Every once in a while I receive an email from someone that is loaded with great comments or questions that are a bit different from the usual kind I receive. Today we are going to talk about one that Floyd from Minnesota sent in several weeks ago when DJ and I did a live webcast from his living room.

"Greetings from MN,

I am retired. I would like to purchase new clubs, however a full set is beyond my financial means. Besides my Ping putter and Ping 3-wood, I would like to reduce the total number of clubs in my bag. I forgot--I also carry a left-handed 7-iron for getting out of trouble by trees, walls, etc. What club numbers (2 thru wedge) would you recommend I keep in my bag? I am only a recreational player and do not keep score, enter tournaments or play in a league. I was away from the game for about 8 years and the re-establishment of a reasonable level of play was just hindered by keeping score. It has taken 3 seasons but at last I am striking the ball pretty consistently. Now I can try different clubs and shot types without the tension of a low score. I believe I am about a high 90'€™s to low 100 player based on the comments of others I golf with. The purchase of a GPS has helped me greatly with what I refer to as '€œCourse Management'€. I have finally learned how to properly lay-up and not just keep trying to slug it over the creek/pond. I recommend that everyone should have a GPS. Lastly I lost LOTS of yardage with ALL my clubs during the layoff/aging years. Hopefully you can help me end up with about 8-9 clubs maximum in my bag."

To start with, I really like Floyd's approach to getting back in the game after a long layoff. He just wants to play socially, not competitively, so he's decided not to keep score and put undue pressure on himself. I know that a number of people like to do this--and it's perfectly OK--but rather than just do nothing while you play, I would like to see you keep track of the quality of your game by categorizing each shot using some sort of scale that suits you. For example, you could have four categories--let's call them Really Good, Good, Not So Good and Why Do I Play This Game? The names and number of categories are totally up to you. If you rate each shot you take by adding a mark under one of your headings, you can track your progress without the pressure of competing with yourself to shoot a low score. And once you get comfortable with this you could even extend the level of tracking you do by rating your drives, approach shots, putts--whatever phase of the game you want to measure--using the same categories.

Another thing I liked about Floyd's approach is his willingness to consider laying up rather than always trying to carry a pond or a stream. That's really smart stuff. After all, the object of the game is to get the ball in the hole with the fewest number of strokes, and that doesn't really change even if you aren't keeping score. I figure if I have to swing at 95% to 100% of my capability, the odds of successfully carrying the distance go way down and it's time to lay up.

Now to Floyd's question about how to reduce the number of clubs he carries. While there are a number of ways to do this, here's what I might do to get to 9 clubs total:

• 1 Driver or fairway wood, probably a 3-wood, maybe a 5-wood
• 1 long iron or hybrid
• 1 mid-iron
• 5 short irons (7, 8, 6, PW, SW)
• 1 Putter

Floyd, I really have to question whether you should keep that left-handed "rescue" club in your bag if you want to get down to just 9 clubs in your bag. Do you really use it often enough to justify keeping it in The Nine? Here's how you can figure out whether you should or not. For the next 2-3 rounds you play, keep track of how many times you use it. If you are using it just a few times per round, keep it at home. If you want, rather than take my suggestions on how to reduce the number of clubs in your bag, you could use this methodology to help you figure out which clubs you should keep by tracking which ones you use the most.

I know winter is fast approaching up there in Minnesota--particularly if you live up north of The Cities--so this may have to wait until next spring, Floyd. Whenever you do it, I'm sure it will add to the obvious enjoyment you get out of the game.

Keep it vertical!

The Surge

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