Minimalist (Half bag) Golf

[Aron]

I have been playing for about a year and have only ever played with a half set. I really like having a lighter bag to carry (I like to walk), fewer clubs to master, fewer decisions to make and it’s cheaper.

Does anyone else play with a half set? What’s your set up? What do you enjoy most about it? What do you dislike most about the idea of a half set?

 

Here is my current setup.

Callaway Mini Driver

PXG Gen 6 XP 4 Hybrid

PXG Gen 6 XP 7 & 9 iron

Cleveland CBX 4 44 and 54 Wedges

Evnroll EV 5.2 putter

[jbern]

5 minutes ago, Aron said:

I have been playing for about a year and have only ever played with a half set. I really like having a lighter bag to carry (I like to walk), fewer clubs to master, fewer decisions to make and it’s cheaper.

Does anyone else play with a half set? What’s your set up? What do you enjoy most about it? What do you dislike most about the idea of a half set?

 

Here is my current setup.

Callaway Mini Driver

PXG Gen 6 XP 4 Hybrid

PXG Gen 6 XP 7 & 9 iron

Cleveland CBX 4 44 and 54 Wedges

Evnroll EV 5.2 putter

Great thread!

I do this quite often if I'm trying to play a round in a hurry! I love it and I've found that it helps with unique shots/half shots/punching out/etc. Most of my rounds I play with a full 14 club set, but I do enjoy the lighter load when walking.

Here's my half-bag setup:

Cobra LTDx 9* Dr (turned down to 8*)

Titleist TSR2 3W (turned down to 14.25*)

PXG Gen 4 4hy (turned down to 20.5*)

Sub70 659CB 5,7,9,50*

Sub70 JB full-groove 58*

LAB DF3 putter

I did a 4 club + putter challenge with a friend a few weeks ago! It was pretty tough and I could've chose better clubs (based on the par 3s). Here was my setup for the 4-club + putter challenge:

3W, 4hy, 8i, 54*, putter

 

 

 

[AP Major]

I’ve done this on nine hole rounds but never a full 18.  Quite liberating for the reasons you mentioned.

• Callaway Rogue ST Max LS 9*
• Ping G400 5W at 18.1*
• Wilson Staff Blades 4i, 6i, 8i
• Wilson Staff HT 56*
• SC Special Select Newport 2

I put it all in a Jones Carry bag which is perfect for this setup in both size and weight.

[BIG STU]

I used to do it quite often especially in rainy weather when I was able to walk a lot. I still do it at times with a 7 club set all vintage but I have to ride now. I can not go specific clubs because with vintage I have so much stuff I mix and match. Basically, here's the set up

Persimmon Driver, if windy a 1 iron or 2 iron, always a 5 iron which is the most versatile club for me, 8 iron , 9 iron PW and putter. Heck in my regular front line set I only carry 11 clubs. Playing minimalist golf will teach you to invent several shots with the same club. Yep it is fun and can be great practice

[RetiredBoomer]

 

Six or eight hickory shafted clubs and a canvas pencil bag
sounds awesome if you're young enough to walk the course,
carrying your own bag,

Maybe you can even wear Gene Sarzaen pants,
a newsboy cap,
and I'd love to have the steel-spiked wingtips again.

but with a hefty golf vehicle
willing to pull my substantial rear end and my heavy bag around, 
I feel under-armed with fewer than sixteen clubs.

My cart bag has only  FIFTEEN full length dividers.
Which one-trick-pony specialty club do I leave out?

Is it the specialty driving iron that I can't hit from the fairway?
Is it the specialty sand iron that I can't hit from a tight grass lie?
Is it the chipper that performs beautifully but can do nothing else?

Really, how hard could it be to make a sixteen-club cart bag?

This minimalist golf thing, though--its sounds pretty cool in theory.
I figure the bell has already rung where it comes to me trying it.
Make me thirty or forty again and I'm all in, though.

 

Edited September 3 by RetiredBoomer

[BIG STU]

11 hours ago, RetiredBoomer said:

 

Six or eight hickory shafted clubs and a canvas pencil bag
sounds awesome if you're young enough to walk the course,
carrying your own bag,

Maybe you can even wear Gene Sarzaen pants,
a newsboy cap,
and I'd love to have the steel-spiked wingtips again.

but with a hefty golf vehicle
willing to pull my substantial rear end and my heavy bag around, 
I feel under-armed with fewer than sixteen clubs.

My cart bag has only  FIFTEEN full length dividers.
Which one-trick-pony specialty club do I leave out?

Is it the specialty driving iron that I can't hit from the fairway?
Is it the specialty sand iron that I can't hit from a tight grass lie?
Is it the chipper that performs beautifully but can do nothing else?

Really, how hard could it be to make a sixteen-club cart bag?

This minimalist golf thing, though--its sounds pretty cool in theory.
I figure the bell has already rung where it comes to me trying it.
Make me thirty or forty again and I'm all in, though.

 

Well the saying goes "You are never too old to rock and roll" I cannot walk anymore to a certain extent but I still do it on occasion because it is fun to me. I like to mix things up on the equipment end anyhow from playing my front line stuff to vintage or even Hickory. For me these days at my age I like mixing it up part of my kicks and giggles factor.

Most courses in this area are not conducive to walking at any age. Long walks winding between houses from tee to green and some courses have long walks between swamps. My old course was sort of like that. I had my own Stu Nine. When I was able to walk I would go over there especially in rainy windy weather and play like a 5 to 7 club vintage set up. Those days no on the course and I had the whole place to myself. I would throw on the rain suit in a heartbeat and go. Some thought I was nutty but I enjoyed it. Out there by myself and the elements I found solace. That course closed in 2019. My new course I love it but it is not conducive to walking especially now with my back issues.

Now the wife and I do go up by the Airport and walk the short Par3 on Saturdays. Taking breaks at rest areas the course provides about every 4 holes I do ok even carrying an old Hoofer bag with 6 clubs. My wife plays with me and she loves the little course. Most time I play it with 3 Hickory clubs. Sometimes I play it with my front line PW and 56* plus putter. Sometimes I just pick at random from the stash in the shop. I mix it up from week to week and it is fun plus I get exercise. I basically do the same thing at my home course on Sunday mornings except I ride. Last Sunday I played a full set of vintage Hogan irons and a mixed set of Power Bilt woods along with a vintage Bulls Eye putter. More than likely play the same set up this Sunday. Then again I may decide on a whim to play a 7 to 5 club mixed set with modern and vintage. With my stash the possibilities are endless. Again some around here think I am nuts. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum.

But overall what ever I want to do I do and it is fun to me

[RetiredBoomer]

6 hours ago, BIG STU said:

 

But overall what ever I want to do I do and it is fun to me

Of course, Stu.

If it's not fun, what's the point?

[RyanGi]

Love the idea of a short set and walking. I’ve got a Sunday light bag that I use for range work, no reason I couldn’t take half the clubs and walk instead of ride…once the temps come down a bit, that is. 

[slash25rc]

That sounds fun! I have never done that, but I can see how limiting clubs would increase creativity on shots and understanding how you can hit the same club at 3 different distances. I might have to try that in the next month!

I think I'd try:

Driver

7-Wood

5-Hyb

7 Iron

9- Iron

GW

LW

Putter

 

[RyanGi]

I wonder if I could go even lighter...maybe    Driver, 5Hy, 8i, 54*, Putter?

That leaves some pretty big gaps, but I think they'd at least be pretty symmetrical for me...dunno...

Edited Thursday at 05:58 PM by RyanGi

[Aron]

On 9/5/2024 at 1:56 PM, RyanGi said:

I wonder if I could go even lighter...maybe    Driver, 5Hy, 8i, 54*, Putter?

That leaves some pretty big gaps, but I think they'd at least be pretty symmetrical for me...dunno...

The Gaps in my bag don’t bother me. I know what the yardage is and I’m not trying to win any leagues or anything lol.

[RyanGi]

That’s a true statement. But it doesn’t come without qualifications. I’m trying out a higher compression ball and played my first round with them today. Over-clubbed damn near every shot. Not sure I like how they feel, but I might be able to get used to it. Anyway, I feel like you better really have your yardages dialed in if you’re gonna try to play with only a handful of clubs…my yardages are pretty good (with my usual gamer ball) but I would have had a hell of a time trying to manage the links today with only 6 clubs!!