I'm a minimalist ... playing a purposefully built set of 7 Titleist clubs exclusively for the past 6 months. 917F2, 816H1, 716AP2 5, 7, 9, Vokey gap wedge, and Scotty Newport 2 putter. Love the simplicity and ability to be creative when necessary to cover gaps. Score just as well.

Len,
I joined a club last fall that doesn't allow pushcarts. You may only walk if you carry your bag. I hate to ride. At 79 years old it's difficult to carry a normal 6 or 7 pound carry bag with 14 clubs. So I purchased a 2 1/2 pound Sun Mountain dual strap carry bag and put in my 913 driver, 816 23 degree hybrid, 6,7,8,9, and 52 degree gap wedge. All 716 AP1s. I also carry my 60 Vokey and a putter. I looked at the course and figured those were the clubs I would use the most. You can't avoid gaps. However, learning to hit 1/2 and 3/4 shots can only help your game. There are times when I miss one of the other clubs but I would much rather walk than ride.

I don't consider myself a minimalist but only carry 13 clubs. Driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, 24 degree hybrid, T-MB 6-PW, Vokey 52, 54 (bent 55), 60, putter. I'm not a long hitter so i don't feel like i have any significant gaps in these for my game. Also carry my clubs most of the time so the set up keeps by bag a little lighter than going 14.

If I was going to do it. I would go with:

Driver (9.5 degree)
T-MB 3 iron (20 degree)
AP3 6 iron (28 degree)
AP3 8 iron (bent 1 degree weak 36 degree)
AP2 PW (bent 1 degree weak 44 degree)
SM7 52.12 F grind
SM7 60.08 M grind
Putter

I'd have about 30 yards distance between each club except for the 3 iron and driver, that would be about 60 yards. Like Norm said, you'll need to work on 1/2 and 3/4 shots. Let us know what you choose. Good luck!!

Josh

Still carrying 14 clubs. Still learning to hit them all. Like to play local tournament golf and never know when I might need one. As we get older and play from the shorter tees (seniors in particular) we do tend to use less clubs. I did take my 15 degree fairway out of my set but replaced it with a 816h1 16* and getting good results both off the tee and short grass, plus two other hybrids, a 816h1 19* and a 913H 23.25*. They help out on the par fives.

I often play with 7 clubs. (Driver, 3,5,8,pw, sw, putter.) I think doing so has made me a better player because I must be able to hit those clubs different distances.

This is Torrey Pines ready. Lofts are 12-18.75-23-27.75-32-36-42-49-57-64. The minimalist setup is to leave the 5 wood and 32H out. I also played between 1972-1979 with 8 clubs: 3-4 wood, 3-5-7-9 irons, dual wedge and putter.

20 yard gaps are not hard. You choke down 1/2" to shave 10 yards off your distance on a full swing. For 3 years I played with a 47* PW and 55* SW. About a 25 yard gap. On executive courses, a driver isn't needed.

I might note that I played with 3-4 woods, 3-5-7-9 irons, Dual Wedge (about 57*) and putter between 1972-1979. I broke 90 with this in 1975.

I played with driver-7W-5H-7H-9-PW-54-60 and putter before. When I broke 80, I had a 19 fairway and a 9 wood. Still 10 clubs.

13 with the new AP3s. Putter, DR, 3W, 3H, AP3 4-PW(47) and Vokeys 48, 55, 58

My group plays a 2 club tournament every year. And you have to putt with one of the 2 clubs. Funny thing is that I don't play much worse with 2 clubs vs 14 clubs. About 2-3 strokes more per side. Usually 37-38 per nine and with 2 clubs I do 39-40 per nine. The most important thing is making sure you can putt with one of the 2 clubs.

Playing at PGA Golf Club which has 3 courses, it's hard to operate with less than 14 clubs. I wish that I could carry 15 in order to put another wedge in.

I love the minimalist approach of fewer clubs. I feel we as amateurs, can’t hit the club on the number as a professional would every time. Most of the time, amateurs are at 1 club short or more. An it leaves fewer decisions for a person. I play Titleist 915D2, 714 mb 3, 5, 7, 9, 50 degree wedge, and putter. Enjoy your walk.

Summing up my game at the end of the year:

Club total went from 14 to 12.
Handicap went from 8 to 6.

What’s in the bag?

Driver
16.5 degree 3 wood
21 degree hybrid
5-PW
50 and 56 degree wedges
Putter

Happy Holidays everyone!

I carry 16 clubs...

I play with a weekly group that has one guy who occassionally plays with us. He is a rules nut. I had forgotten to remove an extra wedge that I re gripped for a friend the first time he played with us. Sure enough, this guy explained the rule on the first tee ad nauseum. Now, every time I play in the guys group, I see him hawking my bag and counting clubs. I finally decided to load 2 headless shafts upside down in my bag making my 14 club count. It may take him a few holes but he can't resist the peak.

I'm at 13 clubs,
Driver
3 wood 16.5
hybrid 21
ap3 5-48deg
vokey 54 & 58
putter

So far this setup is working well without any noticeable gaps for my game.

This year I turned 75 and moved to the forward tees and continued to use a Titleist 1.9 lb carry bag with either eight or nine clubs: 915 D2 8.75, 915F 16.5, T-MB 3, 5, MB 7, 9, Vokey 52, Vokey 60 and Cameron Napa or Newport 2. The eight club bag changes the iron configuration to T-MB 4, MB 6, 8, PW, Vokey 56. It works out well and I will continue this arrangement in the 2019 season.

When carrying, 10 clubs for me to reduce the weight, but also fun to hit a few more creative shots. 917D3, 816H1 19, TMB 3i, 718 AP2 4,6,7,8, PW, 54 SM6, SC putter. I walk all year round, but find in the winter or when very wet, easier to carry and not push the cart.

I play 13 clubs; I thought about adding another wedge, but I like my creativity without it. I think its fun to really work my 56 for a variety of shots.

Have to re-address this post. Have made a recent change in my setup. Still have 14 clubs but recently did away with my 917f 15*. Realized that I very seldom use it and that I used my 816H more, so changed it to a 16*. Iit is a more versatile club and off the tee can come close to the fairway club with better accuracy. New set up as follows: 917D2 11.25*, 861h1 16*, 816h1 18*, 818h1 22.50*, 716AP1 5-52W, SM6 56.10 or 56.14 F grind (depends on sand), SC Newport 2 Notchback Select .... the first day I used this set up I had four birdies.... hope this trend continues and I can get my game in check....

Sometimes...

913D3 10.5
913F 19.0
22.0 HB
5-PW AP2 716
56 SW Putter

11 Clubs