[PHOTO: woraput]
An extra club in the golf bag. Whoops. The names and occurrences live in golf infamy. Ian Woosnam at the 2001 Open Championship. Jim Furyk at the 2009 Barclays. Woody Austin at the 2013 PGA Championship. Just last month, Joel Dahmen did it at the Shriners Children’s Open. Even Johnny Miller once got pinged four penalty strokes at the 1976 World Series of Golf for having his child’s cutdown putter in his bag.
As we all know (or should know), the maximum number of clubs in a bag is 14. If you have a 15th (or more!), it’s a penalty under Rule 4.3b in The Rules of Golf. In strokeplay, it’s two shots for each hole where the violation occurred up to four strokes. In matchplay, things get a little more complicated. The match has to be adjusted by deducting a hole from the violator, with a maximum of two holes. Note, this is not the same as losing a hole. At the end of the hole being played or just completed, the match is revised to deduct one hole. The deduction is applied up to two holes for a multi-hole breach.
A little confused? OK, here’s the example The Rules of Golf provides:
“If a player who started with 15 clubs becomes aware of the breach while playing the third hole and then wins that hole to go 3 up in the match, the maximum adjustment of two holes applies and the player would now be 1 up in the match.”
The key here, of course, is to check your bag before you tee off. But what about the question of carrying golf “parts” in your bag or cart? Is that considered a 15th club?
Actually, no. Rule 4.3 allows you to carry things such as an extra driver head or shaft in your bag. Grips are OK, too. What you can’t do is use any of that stuff during the round. The same holds true if you stick a club that you found out on the course in your bag, like when someone leaves a putter or wedge near a green. Remember, you can carry it, but you can’t use it.
Also, don’t worry if your mate in the golf cart accidentally sticks his wedge in your bag or vice versa. Neither of you are in violation of the 14-club rule for that oversight.
Getting back to the scenario of carrying a spare driver head in your bag. You might wonder if you can use that head to replace your existing driver during a round should the first get damaged. You can, after all, repair or replace a damaged club under Rule 4.1. In this case, however, you can’t build a club from parts being carried. It’s best to leave it in your locker or car boot so it’s there in case of an equipment emergency.
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