18 holes with one club

Back in the 60's I got mad at my clubs and played the back nine with a 7 iron and putter. Shot a 42.

I once broke 80 with only four clubs in the bag (I think Professor was there to witness it, if memory serves).

But that was back when I wore a younger man's clothes, as Billy Joel once said in a song of old.

The older I get - the better I used to be. And look. lol

On some golf courses I would probably be better off if I played a whole round with just a 6 or 7 iron. I might even be able to play a whole round without losing a ball if I did. But I can remember one course that had overgrown waste areas between the tees and fairways with some requiring a 230 yard carry just to clear (I was playing with big hitters that wanted to play the next tee up from the max.). Even from the next tee up I would have needed my one club to be a 3 wood just to get a ball in play on a third of the holes.

The question here really is what is the only club you'd use to play your course? I think I would take a 5 or 6 hybrid.

Fun til the green or close to the green....then not so much!

I think playing rounds with 1, 2, and 3 clubs would be a lot of fun. I've never had the chance to try it, but if I had a membership somewhere, I would certainly be playing rounds like this. (That along with playing Ryder Cup multiple day formats with friends.) Then again, it seems every time I hit a "safety club" off the tee I hit into trouble, so selecting a club might be a bit of a problem for me.

I've never tried this but it sounds like fun. The only thing I have done is played a full length course from the tips with irons only. Usually when we do this we take out the oldest blades that we own and have a little fun. Generally, my score doesn't differ much. No reaching par 5's in 2 but usually no losing any balls off the tee either. Its also a great way to work on you long iron game. If I had to pick one club to play with, probably the lowest lofted iron I could chip with around the green would be my choice -maybe a 6 iron?

If I had to play with just one iron, I'd probably go 7i. If I were picking 3 clubs, I'd go 4h, 8i, SW. Four clubs would be 3wd, 5i, 9i, SW.

I guess it would really depend on the course, too. I'd have to look at the tee shots and see if there were any long forced carries and see what iron I could utilize most on the par 3's.

I punish myself out there enough the way it is.

I’d pick based on landing areas off the tee, or realistically, how long the par 3s are. More likely than not a 7 or 8 iron would work best. Most courses 160 at a time will get it done.

DC300 Most courses 160 at a time will get it done.

Agree. Problem is, my 160 club is a 5h, so that club doesn't work well for me near the green. I would use a 7i and play forward tees.

The closest I've come to that is at a local Pitch and Putt course. Just a wedge and a putter. IIRC the longest hole is 85 yards. Shot 53 or something like that. I've never tried it again.

Par4QC Sorry to hear about you bother, I never got to play golf with mine as he did not play. We played a lot of fast pitch softball together for some years. He passed away three years ago.

Spartan - 1 under 53? Nice!

We HAD a nice little well maintained pitch and putt with the longest hole 120ish and I was usually 1 or 2 over after 9 (with the wife). And it was lighted! So, there were opportunities to go over there after our regular 18 at the club and play an 'emergency 9 under the lights' (without the wife). The alcohol at the club did too much talking and it made my billfold squeak with payoffs after finishing these martini fueled rounds at the Sports Center. Great times though.

When i was in my 20's the regular bunch of guys I played with often finished the the season playing one club rounds. Probably didn't shoot more than 4 or 5 strokes over our usual scores. My choice was a 5 iron, but in those days I hit it 175 or so, instead of the 160 I do now. Truth be told, that would be my 5h today, as I don't carry a 5i anymore.

SVonhof
I have a buddy who plays with 2 hybrids, 7-8-9-W-SW and putter every round, and shoots between
75 and 79 most of the time! He plays a combination of white and senior tees....claims his back
and shoulders hurt if he hits driver or 5 wood (he was great with those as recently as a few years
ago). He's one of these stubborn characters who makes his mind up and will NOT be persuaded
otherwise. Can't argue with his results, I guess.

I may try a 7 or 8 club bag sometime, but I would have to have a driver in the mix to get it out
there at least 200 yards to start with.....

sdandrea1 That makes sense, play the tees that give you a chance to enjoy it, especially if you can only have one club haha. I would think a hybrid would be a decent option around the trees as long as you avoided bunkers, I see pros use them occasionally for odd chips. I admittedly suck at it, but I’d bet with a little pop strike you could make it quite effective.

Way back when, I played with a guy(kid) that could blade his lob wedge, consistently about 200 yards and then use it as a fairly regular shot in. He used to challenge people all the time, he’d beat you with nothing but his lob wedge vs your whole bag. He didn’t lose often. I bet him on one hole and won on a lucky eagle, came out of the rough with a wedge and slam dunked it from about 110, he made par, so I never played him again.. I win Hahahaha! That was the only time I had ever been able to keep up with him, so I’m keeping my moral victory.

It just comes down to what you feel good about I guess.