You may start a round with no more than 14 clubs. You can start with fewer and add clubs during the round up to 14, provided you do not unreasonably delay play or borrow a club selected for play by someone else on the course.
The limit applies to clubs selected for use in the round, not to how many clubs you own. Competition penalties differ between stroke play and match play.
The 14-club limit
Before starting, count every club in the bag, including an extra putter or practice club. If two players share a bag, they must still be able to identify their own clubs and each player remains limited to 14.
What if you have too many?
On discovering the breach, immediately take the excess club or clubs out of play using a clear declaration or another definite action. The penalty is applied under Rule 4.1b and is capped, but the exact application depends on the format.
Do not simply continue using the club after noticing the problem.
Can you add or replace a club?
If you began with fewer than 14, you may normally add clubs up to the limit. A club damaged by an outside influence or natural forces may be replaced in certain circumstances; damage caused by the player is treated differently. Check Rule 4.1 for the precise conditions.
The essential point
Count the bag before you start. Fourteen is the maximum, and any excess club must be taken out of play as soon as the breach is discovered.
Sources
The following official or specialist sources were used to verify this independently written guide.
- The R&A – official guidance Source used to verify the rules or factual information in this guide.
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