Under the rules of golf, a player may carry a maximum of 14 clubs.
The limit applies during a round played under the Rules of Golf, including professional tournaments and rounds submitted for handicap purposes. There is no required minimum: a player may begin with fewer than 14 clubs and can choose any combination of conforming clubs, such as woods, irons, wedges, hybrids, and a putter.
The 14-club limit is intended to make players rely on judgment and shot-making rather than carrying a separate club for every imaginable distance. A typical modern set may include a driver, several fairway woods or hybrids, irons, wedges, and a putter, but the exact selection is a strategic choice.
Carrying more than 14 clubs is a rules breach. The extra club must be taken out of play, and penalties can apply depending on the format and how many holes were affected. A common misconception is that golfers must carry exactly 14 clubs; in fact, many players deliberately carry fewer, especially when walking or playing unusual formats.