Elemental Golf

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By John M

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  • 12 Replies
  1. John M

    John M
    Asheville, North Carolina

    Military

    This morning, I decided to go back to the future of golf. What's that you say? I'm saying that today, I decided to put 5 clubs in my Sunday bag. No range finder, no gloves, just a 3 wood, hybrid, 7 iron, 52 degree wedge and my putter. I was willing to sacrifice shooting a higher score because I was missing an important club. So off to the Puny Muny I went. I was so elemental that I wore just a pair of shorts and a golf shirt. I was elementally freezing with involuntary yips as I tried to hit some warm up putts. This course is a small and short one-4 par 4's, the rest par 3's with small greens, loads of trees and bunkers filled with freshly raked dirt. Stretching out in front of me this fine morning were several groups of geriatrics riding their carts, marking their 10 inch putts and parking said carts in front of the greens. No matter, I was in no hurry. I discovered two things right away. First, this bag was LIGHT! It was brilliant! My shoulders didn't ache, it was fantastic. The second thing I learned that I could walk up to the ball, take out the only club that could possibly work, not worrying about choosing the right club because anything from 100 to 170 yards was a 7 irons and anything above that was a hybrid. The 3 wood was for the tees. In little less than an hour, I was off to the side of the 9th tallying up my score and discovered low and behold that I had hit all of the fairways and more than half of the greens and save for 2 3 putt greens I could have matched my best score ever on this course. Still, I was quite happy with a 37. My round was simple, it was fun and it was golf as it should be in most cases. Call me a converted golfing minimalist. Cheers to all of you who carry the Sunday Bag.

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  2. Good story, thanks for the suggestion. Would be fun to try.
  3. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    Great John. I don't know if i would routinely play that way but i get a similar feeling playing my evening 9 holes walking my home course. I still carry 13 clubs (rarely carry 14) but do not use a rangefinder or anything else to distract me from playing more of a "feel" game. Thanks for sharing.
  4. Jerry M

    Jerry M
    Dallas, TX

    Great story John, Certainly speeds up the game. Less clubs to choose. I remember hearing about Ballesteros showing some pros how to hit a 3 iron from a green side bunker. He was very creative in his shot making.
  5. Joseph M

    Joseph M
    Saint John, New Brunswick

    Not sure I could go with 5 clubs but perhaps 7- only need to shed 3 clubs- hopefully your example leads to many converts- as a minimum get more golfers walking and/or carrying.
  6. Jonathan L

    Jonathan L
    Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear

    Love this story!! It is something I always think about doing but rarely actually do it. I'm going to make sure I do this one quiet evening before the end of the month!
  7. Tom C

    Tom C
    Lake Saint Louis, MO

    Great story John. I, too, am a minimalist and thoroughly enjoy the simplicity of the game.
  8. Awesome story John! I'll definitely look into playing this way a few times this summer.
  9. David T

    David T
    Grosse Pointe Farms, MI

    This gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it. Played last night and inadvertently had 15 clubs in my bag (forgot to take out 4i).
    More power to ya but not for me!
  10. Steve S

    Steve S
    Tuckerton, NJ

    Great post John. Loved the story. What a great game huh?
    Play Well,
    Steve S.
  11. Good story, I play with a bunch of retired guys once a week. (25-30 guys at a time) we occasionally play 4 clubs and a putter. Same theory. I really enjoy those days because it makes me work the clubs much more than I would with a full bag.
  12. John M

    John M
    Asheville, North Carolina

    Military
    Thanks for the responses. Funny thing is-before I went to 4 clubs and a putter, my best score at the Puny Muni was a 36. In the last week, I've shot 35 twice. It's a blast making up shots. All the best!
  13. Frank P

    Frank P
    Port St. Lucie, FL

    Military
    Years ago we used to have the "One Club Open". I used a 6-Iron. Tee, fairway, chip and putt.

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