Vintage Five Clubs Sunday Bag Ideas

[Wilsonian]

Hi All,

 

I've ordered a modern Sunday stand bag to use for my morning / sunrise rounds. I'm planning to select various clubs and try different combinations to see how I score with a 5 clubs vintage set. My first idea is to go with:

4w, 6, 8, SW, Putter. Second idea:

D, 4w, 8i, PW, Putter

 

I have various vintage and "modern" to mix and match so there will be some experimentation. (Really need to come up with a term to differentiate between actual moderns and vintage moderns since I don't really consider the old big Bertha woods moderns anymore.)

 

Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions for a vintage Sunday bag?

 

My typical hole lately has been to use driver, fairway wood, (or two) short iron, (or two) putt (or three). I rely on my fairway woods a lot, so there will probably always be a 4 or 7 wood in the mix. Thoughts?

 

[weakputt]

I haven't thought of this before, but why not combo Callaways and Pings.

 

Great Big Bertha Titanium #2 Deuce (13*), matching barrel head cover.

Great Big Bertha Titanium #7 Heaven Wood (20*), matching barrel head cover. 

Ping Eye 2 - 7 iron.

Ping Eye 2 - 53* SW.

Ping Anser Dale Head putter, matching faux fur dog ear head cover.

 

Bag, red Ping Man Sunday Bag.

[bcstones]

interesting....I'd go pre Ping & concentrate on '50s & earlier. Try 3w, 2 iron, 6 iron, L wedge & putter.....
Or better yet - take my Mickey Wright challenge....6 iron & putter (she used these clubs into her 80s & still broke 90... @Jiggered has an excellent video on just playing those 2 clubs (tho, he used 2 clubs he dislike most....I still think he should replay with a 6 iron & putter he likes).

[Wilsonian]

1 hour ago, bcstones said:

interesting....I'd go pre Ping & concentrate on '50s & earlier. Try 3w, 2 iron, 6 iron, L wedge & putter.....
Or better yet - take my Mickey Wright challenge....6 iron & putter (she used these clubs into her 80s & still broke 90... @Jiggered has an excellent video on just playing those 2 clubs (tho, he used 2 clubs he dislike most....I still think he should replay with a 6 iron & putter he likes).

I like that idea. I have a pyratone shaft 3&7 iron coming along with a putter from that era. Thought I might match them with a Spalding persimmon 2 wood and maybe my 4 wood. Still percolating ...

[Chiefmick]

I have never even considered doing this before, but I suppose that I would roll with:

2 wood

5 wood

6 iron

PW

Putter

 

I believe that would give me the coverage, loft wise, to make it work.

I'll have to give it a try and see.

I REALLY doubt that I would start playing just 5 clubs...

I am too much of a club-ho to give up my lovelies.

[Wilsonian]

I hear you, and think I would try a bunch of different combinations from different sets. I got the idea the other day when I played 9 holes with the same 5 clubs on every hole. So why not just carry those five, and walk instead of pushing the trolley full of clubs. I was staying in the fairway and out of trouble and it was quite enjoyable. Bag should be here tomorrow.

[scotts33]

The old hickory sets were 6 clubs.

 

• Brassie – serves as both a driver and fairway wood, about 13-14 degrees loft
• Mid-Iron – for long iron shots, about 25-27 degrees loft
• Mashie – for approach shots, about 34-36 degrees loft
• Mashie Niblick – short approach and pitch shots, about 43-47 degrees loft)
• Niblick – lofted for bunker and pitch shots, 52 -57 degrees loft
• Putter – for putting and maybe defending yourself

[ezgoer]

Vintage

2w

4w

5i

9i 

putter

 

Modern 

16 degree fairway wood

28 degree iron  (7i in SGI)

36 degree iron ( 9i in SGI)

48 degree iron  (G in SGI) 

putter

 

 

 I do occasionally play a half set vintage. 2w 4w 3,5,7,9,W putter with a 1954 Spalding synchro-dyned set I have but damn if this doesn’t sound fun in the modern setup I mentioned also. 
 

Thanks Tumbleweed for the suggestion! 

Edited July 7 by ezgoer

[Foozle]

Short sets are not short on fun. Less is more!

Having to be inventive and manufacture shots adds to the game rather than detracts.

I often play a short set of 6 typically comprising 4w, 4,6,8,Sw & putter. To go down to 5, I would drop the 4 iron. 

 

[SnowbirdTom]

Heh, I was going to mention just going short set - 1/3 woods, 3/5/7/9 irons and a putter in a Sunday bag. Light enough for most to carry and lets you get inventive on shot making.

[EvanH]

Prefer irons over woods, so for 5 clubs only I'd be 5, 7, 9, SW, Putter (like this bag from 2023).

Of the clubs pictured, only the SW is still in my possession. 

 

Edited July 7 by EvanH

[Wilsonian]

10 hours ago, scotts33 said:

The old hickory sets were 6 clubs.

 

• Brassie – serves as both a driver and fairway wood, about 13-14 degrees loft
• Mid-Iron – for long iron shots, about 25-27 degrees loft
• Mashie – for approach shots, about 34-36 degrees loft
• Mashie Niblick – short approach and pitch shots, about 43-47 degrees loft)
• Niblick – lofted for bunker and pitch shots, 52 -57 degrees loft
• Putter – for putting and maybe defending yourself

This is pretty much what I have coming this week and next, but in Pyratone shafts. 

[scotts33]

1 minute ago, Tumbleweed_1968 said:

his is pretty much what I have coming this week and next, but in Pyratone shafts. 

Let us know how the Pyratone shafts play for yourself.  I have some Pyratone shafts in a few clubs but have never used them.

[scotts33]

Today's 9 hole carrying/walking round.  Minimalist set Alpha V2 10.5* driver 43.50", Alpha 830.2 Plasma 7 wood, Alpha VX irons 5i, 7i, 9i and a Alpha PF-2 SW and an old Alpha 2000 putter.  I sure enjoy walking/carrying in less than 2 hours nice pace and enjoy the walk in the green grass.  At 76 you never know so enjoy it!  Play for today!!!  😆

[bcstones]

5 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Heh, I was going to mention just going short set - 1/3 woods, 3/5/7/9 irons and a putter in a Sunday bag. Light enough for most to carry and lets you get inventive on shot making.

That was my first set that I played from elementary school thu high school years. The bag was small, but not a Sunday bag, with 2 dividers....

 

these days, I'd use a 13* driver, same irons plus a lob wedge or for the fun of it - 13* driver, 1 iron, 3,5,7,9 & LW (the 1 iron could be used as a putter)

[tatertot]

On 7/6/2025 at 5:29 AM, Tumbleweed_1968 said:

Hi All,

 

I've ordered a modern Sunday stand bag to use for my morning / sunrise rounds. I'm planning to select various clubs and try different combinations to see how I score with a 5 clubs vintage set. My first idea is to go with:

4w, 6, 8, SW, Putter. Second idea:

D, 4w, 8i, PW, Putter

 

I have various vintage and "modern" to mix and match so there will be some experimentation. (Really need to come up with a term to differentiate between actual moderns and vintage moderns since I don't really consider the old big Bertha woods moderns anymore.)

 

Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions for a vintage Sunday bag?

 

My typical hole lately has been to use driver, fairway wood, (or two) short iron, (or two) putt (or three). I rely on my fairway woods a lot, so there will probably always be a 4 or 7 wood in the mix. Thoughts?

 

Fun thread you can get some ideas from:

 

 

What's your goal? Scoring, or just enjoying the walk?

[Wilsonian]

"What's your goal? Scoring, or just enjoying the walk?"

 

Goals:

1. Replace the hickories I used to have and play, which I miss and now realize what a mistake I made by downsizing, but you can't cry over spilled milk, so I'm moving on to another kind of vintage.

2. Enjoy vintage golf

3. See if there is a difference between the "oldest vintage", the "mid-vintage", and the "vintage moderns" I have

4. See if I can beat my average and continue to improve 

5. And to walk and carry.

I always enjoy my morning walks.

 

Edited July 7 by Tumbleweed_1968

[Wilsonian]

Minimalist Vintage Golf. I can't remember the last time I carried 14 clubs. And I absolutely refuse to carry 13. I'm not superstitious, just a little stitious...

 

Usually 3 woods, 3-4 irons, and a putter with room to test one or two.

On league nights it's 12 for the "old-moderns". I don't think anything I carry is newer than 2005. Believe it or not, my partner doesn't like to see vintage clubs in my bag. When I sub for him, his partner doesn't have a problem with it. But he seems to get ornery when I've brought vintage in the past so I oblige him and carry 12 OM.

 

So the pyratone set is going to be a Brassie, 3,4,7,8 & putter. Still looking for a jigger and something to use like a wedge. 

Thinking out loud...

3&4 can always be laid off a bit. 4 could serve as a jigger stand in. 8 could be opened up to serve as a wedge. 7 could be closed a bit strong. 

I'd appreciate suggestions from those who already play pyratone shafts, but I think I got the bases covered and remember how to play the old school way from my hickory days.

I'm looking forward to receiving the clubs, especially the Brassie. I'll post pics when they arrive.

[bcstones]

8 hours ago, Tumbleweed_1968 said:

So the pyratone set is going to be a Brassie, 3,4,7,8 & putter. Still looking for a jigger and something to use like a wedge. 

Here's another thought - instead of the usual 3,5,7,9....try 2,4,6,8 & Burke made a "Trapshooter" wedge, it is huge...tho, not sure of the loft.

[Chiefmick]

I'm not superstitious, just a little stitious...

 

Tumbleweed, that made me literally laugh out loud.

I thank you, sir!

[Hockeysam66]

For a 5 club set, I’d go 3 wood, 5 iron, 8 iron, my Wilson Dyna Powered Triple Duty wedge, and putter.  Gives me coverage for yardages from about 200 yards in, with about 30-40 yard gaps between clubs, and lots of options for chipping around the green.

[Wilsonian]

3 hours ago, Hockeysam66 said:

For a 5 club set, I’d go 3 wood, 5 iron, 8 iron, my Wilson Dyna Powered Triple Duty wedge, and putter.  Gives me coverage for yardages from about 200 yards in, with about 30-40 yard gaps between clubs, and lots of options for chipping around the green.

I like that setup alot. That would work quite well at Hawthorne Hills. I'll give that some thought.

[Wilsonian]

My new Sunday bag came today so the plan is to go out at Sunrise tomorrow with 5 clubs and play the back nine at Hawthorne. I've chosen:

7 wood (generic Callaway clone)

6, 8, W (K-28)

Putter (Wilson Tour Special II)

I'll be playing either a Wilson Zip or Chromesoft from the red tees.

This will be a test of the new bag, me carrying the bag, playing 9 holes with 5 clubs, and using only a 7 wood for all but one tee shot and for all fairway shots up to about 125 yds. 

I'll take pics and post tomorrow the results.

[Wilsonian]

As promised, sunrise round recap:

First off, I really enjoyed carrying this morning. Liked the bag very much. Didn't take the range finder but might next time. The bag holds my 16oz water bottle, about 8 golf balls, has plenty of storage, a rain hood, and just about everything a larger stand bag has. It felt small at first, but then kind of grew on me. We got along just fine. There was never a point where I wished for something it didn't have. So it's a good bag for my purposes. It could hold 7 clubs comfortably I think.

 

5 club experiment worked well. The 7 wood off the tee never cause me trouble except on one hole. Don't know what the problem is but I just couldn't hit it on the last part 3. ??? All in all, I was happy with the club. Arnold Palmer was right.

 

Shot 48 on the back and 47 on the front for a 95. Better than my average and way better than Monday's league night. Wiped the memory banks of that one. 

 

I found myself playing to the 100 yd marker on most every hole. Hit the par fives in three most of the time. When I was in between 150 & 100 I went with a soft 6 iron. At 100 I hit an 8 iron. Once or twice around 90 yds I hit a strong PW.  But difficult holes suddenly became very easy. My score would have been lower if I hit better (closer) approach shots and putted better. But...

 

Putting was difficult and problematic because I was following the guy aireating the greens after about the 5th hole. So a lot of 3 putts after that. 

 

I played a Wilson Zip ball today. Liked it quite well. I think I'll stick with the same ball tomorrow.

 

Felt good enough to walk 18, so that's always a plus at 65. I plan on going again tomorrow. Not sure if I'll do 18, but I'd like to.

 

I like the 5 clubs thing. Tomorrow I might add a long iron, or switch to a 4 wood. We'll see. Pics:

Edited July 9 by Tumbleweed_1968

[Wilsonian]

Pyratone came today so I pulled the 6&8 and replaced them with the 3 iron and 7 iron for tomorrow's round. Both are dot face. Should be fun!

[Chiefmick]

On 7/8/2025 at 8:49 PM, Tumbleweed_1968 said:

 

This will be a test of the new bag, me carrying the bag, playing 9 holes with 5 clubs, and using only a 7 wood for all but one tee shot and for all fairway shots up to about 125 yds. 

 

This sounds like a crazy math problem..

1 bag 

9 holes 

5 clubs 

7 wood 

1 tee shot

125 yards

 

equals... Anyone?

Anyone?

[Chiefmick]

3 hours ago, Tumbleweed_1968 said:

Pyratone came today so I pulled the 6&8 and replaced them with the 3 iron and 7 iron for tomorrow's round. Both are dot face. Should be fun!

When I saw the new bag, I was thinking to myself, "That kinda looks like the bag that has my old Pyratone clubs in it!"

 

[Wilsonian]

11 hours ago, Chiefmick said:

This sounds like a crazy math problem..

1 bag 

9 holes 

5 clubs 

7 wood 

1 tee shot

125 yards

 

equals... Anyone?

Anyone?

Happiness!

[Wilsonian]

Played the pyratone clubs today, along with the Wilson K-28 4 wood, Wilson putter. I brought a wedge and only used it once. Could have easily left it home. Did all my chipping with the Pyratone 7 iron. That club worked great. Took a little longer to get used to the 3 iron, but had a sweet tee shot with it on the 140 yd 8th, red tees, pin high to about 15 ft. When you hit the sweet spot they are like butter.

 

Played a Wilson 50 Elite ball which was awesome! Hole 1 was closed so I played 2 balls on #3. The second was a Callaway ERC soft which I got a pair with. I'd recommend either ball for pyratone shaft clubs. Had a good time walking 18 and carrying vintage clubs.

[Foozle]

On 7/9/2025 at 3:40 PM, Tumbleweed_1968 said:

As promised, sunrise round recap:

First off, I really enjoyed carrying this morning. Liked the bag very much. Didn't take the range finder but might next time. The bag holds my 16oz water bottle, about 8 golf balls, has plenty of storage, a rain hood, and just about everything a larger stand bag has. It felt small at first, but then kind of grew on me. We got along just fine. There was never a point where I wished for something it didn't have. So it's a good bag for my purposes. It could hold 7 clubs comfortably I think.

 

5 club experiment worked well. The 7 wood off the tee never cause me trouble except on one hole. Don't know what the problem is but I just couldn't hit it on the last part 3. ??? All in all, I was happy with the club. Arnold Palmer was right.

 

Shot 48 on the back and 47 on the front for a 95. Better than my average and way better than Monday's league night. Wiped the memory banks of that one. 

 

I found myself playing to the 100 yd marker on most every hole. Hit the par fives in three most of the time. When I was in between 150 & 100 I went with a soft 6 iron. At 100 I hit an 8 iron. Once or twice around 90 yds I hit a strong PW.  But difficult holes suddenly became very easy. My score would have been lower if I hit better (closer) approach shots and putted better. But...

 

Putting was difficult and problematic because I was following the guy aireating the greens after about the 5th hole. So a lot of 3 putts after that. 

 

I played a Wilson Zip ball today. Liked it quite well. I think I'll stick with the same ball tomorrow.

 

Felt good enough to walk 18, so that's always a plus at 65. I plan on going again tomorrow. Not sure if I'll do 18, but I'd like to.

 

I like the 5 clubs thing. Tomorrow I might add a long iron, or switch to a 4 wood. We'll see. Pics:

One of life's greatest pleasures is to walk, carrying a short set in the early morning / late evening.

Having the course to yourself, enjoying the scenery and nature focusing on your game and having to think through every shot. Sheer bliss!

I am not anti social but do enjoy the solitude of those rounds, calms the soul - even when the golf is bad!