Last Updated on March 28, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
Are you still trying to figure out a way to get that extra club in your golf bag?
I get it.
Our clubs are the only tools we have (besides our brains!) to help make it around the course in the fewest number of strokes. If you think you may have found a loophole in the rules of golf, think again. Here is everything you need to know about the very commonly asked question. Does the putter count in the 14 clubs?
You may want to read this before excess clubs cost you your next match.
Does the Putter Count in the 14 Clubs?
A golf putter counts as one of your 14 golf clubs. Although it is highly recommended to carry a golf putter, it is not even a requirement from the United States Golf Association or USGA. All the USGA cares about regarding their 14-club limit is that you have USGA-approved golf clubs, and you don’t carry more than 14 of them.
This may seem simple, but plenty of golfers know that having an extra hybrid club or even an additional sand wedge (maybe one with less bounce) can be a distinct advantage on the golf course. However, the total number of clubs that you can carry is limited to 14.
Why Does The USGA Limit The Number of Golf Clubs In A Golf Bag?
The USGA limits the number of golf clubs that professional and amateur golfers can use because having a large number of clubs creates an unfair advantage.
Although some will argue with me that golf is still a game for the wealthy, years ago, when there was no 14-club rule in effect, the wealthy players had the most equipment. These players didn’t carry their own clubs; their caddies were left to lug around 30 or more golf clubs.
Eventually, it was decided that fewer clubs, although a slight disadvantage at times, was a more fair assessment of skill level.
If you want to put this to the test, head out to the course with just three clubs and see how creative you have to get!
Minimum Number of Clubs For Golf
The USGA does not set a minimum for the number of golf clubs that you need to have in a golf bag. Some beginner sets may only come with 7 or 8 clubs.
Junior golf sets could have 3 golf clubs, which is completely acceptable. You will want a club to get off the tee, a club for approaching the green, and a putter.
Ideally, having at least 10 clubs in the bag will give you a wide range of shots you can hit. Also, you’ll have a bit easier time getting the performance that you need.
Maximum Number of Clubs For Golf
The maximum number of clubs for golf is 14. Additional clubs leave you subject to penalty strokes or the loss of a hole in match play. The USGA does not care if you have more than one putter, a few drivers, or even 6 hybrids in the bag. The only thing that matters is that you carry less than 14 clubs throughout the course.
What Is The Penalty For Carrying Too Many Golf Clubs?
The penalty for carrying too many golf clubs is two strokes per hole (for a maximum of 4 strokes total) in stroke play and loss of hole (maximum of two holes) in match play.
However, the USGA rules are always a little confusing. I did a little deep dive here so you know how to handle the situation should you run across a problem of having too many golf clubs in your bag.
Stroke Play
In stroke play, you must take a two stroke penalty for every hole in which you have 15 clubs in your bag. If you notice this problem on the first hole, you get a two-stroke penalty for teeing off and starting your round with more than 14 clubs.
The maximum number of strokes you can get from this penalty is four. When you discover that you have an extra club, make sure you tell your playing partners and declare the club out of play from this point forward.
One thing that confuses some golfers here is the number of times that the “extra” club was used. Even if you had an old 3 iron in the bag that you were experimenting with, you don’t have to use it to be subject to the penalty. In fact, just having it in your bag is what penalizes you.
Match Play
In match play, you will lose the hole if you have more than 14 clubs in play. The maximum number of holes you can lose due to this penalty is 2. The penalty is always enforced for the hole you just completed. Let’s say you were on the 5th hole, and you noticed that you had a combination of clubs that totaled more than 14.
If, at this point, you were 1 up on the match, you would immediately go to 1 down. The maximum penalty is still the two holes, even though you have played the course for more than two holes.
Pro Tip: Get into the habit of counting your clubs before you head out on the golf course. This is a good idea to help you ensure you don’t get any penalties in competition play. It also helps ensure you didn’t leave any golf equipment on the driving range!
How Many Clubs Do Experienced Golfers Play With?
Experienced golfers will almost always use 13 or 14 golf clubs. A typical set makeup will be a driver, 3 wood, 4 hybrid, 5 iron through pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge, and putter.
For players with 14 clubs, the additional fairway wood or hybrid can help to fill in some yardage gaps. A lot of the golf club selection you make for the course comes down to personal preferences. However, you must ensure that your distance gaps are rather even throughout the set of clubs.
Beginner golfers don’t need as many different clubs as the more experienced golfers. This is because many clubs seem to go the same distances. Until you establish some consistency in your game and master the feel of those short distances, it’s fine to only have 10-12 golf clubs in your bag. Your golf game will develop over time, and you can add the types of clubs that you need.
So, if you’re wondering how many putters can you carry, you can have more than one but your sacrificing other clubs.
Why Do Some Golf Bags Have 15 Club Slots?
If the USGA rules of golf say that you can only have 14 golf clubs in your bag, why are there golf bags for purchase that claim to have 15 club slots? Isn’t this a bit misleading?
I thought the same thing the first time I saw these 15 slot golf bags. However, I realized it has more to do with functionality than the rules of the game. The 15 slots allow you to keep your umbrella or a swing speed trainer in one of the slots. This avoids you from having to stuff it in the pocket of your bag. Personally, I like the 15th slot for golfers who like to practice with alignment sticks.
The only downside to having 15 slots for your clubs is that the golf bags are usually a bit heavy and cumbersome.
Pro Tip: If you constantly trade clubs in and out of your bag and test new equipment, you may want to consider a 14-slot golf bag. You will have a much better idea when your bag is full, which will help prevent a penalty.
Do Players On The PGA Tour Carry 14 Clubs?
I do a lot of research into the clubs that professional golfers are playing. I have yet to find a player who does not take advantage of having all 14 golf clubs in their bag.
All professionals like to mix up the type of clubs. There are even some that carry two drivers, but they almost always have all 14. The PGA tour is a competitive place. Taking advantage of all 14 club slots is well worth it for these players.
Professional golfers (the smart ones) will count their clubs before they head out to the first tee of any tournament. These players often test new equipment, and leaving that extra club in play can be a major problem. Ian Woosnam did this at the 2001 Open Championship, which cost him some strokes!
How Many Golf Clubs Are You Allowed In The Tournament?
The rules of golf state that you can only have 14 golf clubs in your bag for any round of golf, including tournaments. If you play in tournament situations, get into the habit of counting your clubs before you get to the first tee.
We recently played in a 3 club scramble at our country club. This was a little bit of a different situation where only 3 clubs were allowed. For a fun event like this, you may see changes to the rules, but 14 is the maximum.
Is The Putter The Most Important Club In The Golf Bag?
As we have established, the putter is one of the 14 golf clubs in the bag, even though it is not required. However, most golfers would agree that having a putter in the bag is truly necessary.
Although you may be forced to use a hybrid or a wedge if something happens to your putter during your round, nothing quite performs the way a golf putter does. Try a round without your putter, and you will have a whole new understanding of the 3 putt!
Conclusion
I’ll leave you with one more tip of advice on this concept of does the putter count in the 14 clubs. If you think that sharing golf clubs with your playing partners is a quick way to access 28 or even 56 different clubs to try during a round, think again.
The USGA has this rule covered as well. If you are going to share golf clubs with a playing partner, you must make sure that the combination of the number of clubs you have and the number of clubs they have is not more than 14.
This rule gets rid of this concept or idea. Learn to use the 14 clubs you have in your own bag to the best of your ability. At that point you won’t be so hung up on getting that 15th or 16th club in play.
