How many clubs can you have in your golf bag?

Even those that are old hands at the game can easily slip up. After all, well-known professionals have been heavily penalised in tournaments for the simple mistake of carrying too many clubs (but more on that later!).

So, whether you are brand new to the game and just finding your feet or a seasoned golf player that needs a bit of reminding, we have you covered.

In this article, we have everything you are looking for, including how many clubs in a golf bag are allowed, the penalty for carrying too many clubs, when you are permitted to use your partner's clubs and much, much more.

A player is allowed precisely 14 clubs in a golf bag, as stated by both the R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) and the USGA (United States Golf Association).

These 14 clubs usually include:

• 1 putter
• 3 types of wood (for example, a driver, 5 wood and 7 wood)
• 8 irons
• 2 additional clubs of your choice

It used to be that professional golfers were allowed to carry anywhere between 20-25 golf clubs at any one time, although sadly, this is no longer the case.

The rules regarding how many clubs in a golf game are allowed changed because steel-shafted clubs could not allow the same number of shot-making possibilities, so then pro golfers would take extra clubs because there was much more opportunity for a variety of shots.

Thus the rules were updated to limit the number of clubs that a golfer could carry in their golf bag, with the USGA imposing this in 1938 and the R&A following suit shortly after in 1939.

We've established how important it is to ensure you carry the exact amount of clubs that you are permitted and no more. But why?

If it's found that you have more than 14 clubs, you can face a penalty. The penalties carried out depend on the type of game you are playing.

There are two penalty options:

If you use an extra club during match play, the result will be a deduction for that particular hole.

Stroke play comes with more severe penalties. If you use an extra club, two strokes are enforced for however many holes on which you use the club. The maximum number of strokes in four.

If you find that you have an extra club, it's essential to make sure this error is rectified immediately.

Generally speaking, there are two ways to do this:

1. Inform whoever you are playing with of the mistake.
2. Turn the additional club(s) upside down in your golf bag.

If you are on the course and decide that you require more clubs, so long as you have fewer than 14 clubs currently with you, you are free to add more clubs, regardless of what point you are at on the course.

For example, if you have 9 clubs but decide you need some more, you can add up to 5 without facing a penalty.

One of the most notable and infamous golfing mistakes involving golf equipment occured during the 2001 Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Anne's, when Ian Woosnam discovered he had 15 clubs in his bag.

When he realised his caddie had miscalculated how many golf clubs he had, Woosnam threw his club across the tee but was still given a two-stroke penalty. Somewhat amazingly, he still managed to finish in third place.

As for Woosnam's caddie, he was allowed to keep his job.

While it might not be something you spend a considerable amount of time thinking about, the number of golf clubs you carry with you during a game is of vital importance if you don't want to suffer an unnecessary penalty on the green.

While 14 clubs is the maximum number allowed on a course, there is no minimum number of clubs allowed, so if 14 clubs is too much for your game, feel free to take fewer.

But, it's definitely recommended that you don't leave yourself too short as courses can always throw up some unexpected shots, choose your clubs wisely to avoid causing yourself overly difficult shots.