The Complete Guide
What is one club golf?
A straightforward guide to playing golf with a single club. What it is, how it works, what you need, and how to get started.
The basics.
One club golf means playing a round of golf with a single club. You use that one club for every shot: tee shots, approach shots, chips, and putts. No bag, no club selection decisions, no gear anxiety.
It's just a simpler way to play the game. You can keep score, play casually, play alone, or play with friends. The only rule is: one club.
Most people who try one club golf for the first time are surprised by two things: how close their score is to what they'd shoot with a full bag, and how much more they notice about their own swing when they're not constantly switching clubs.
Choosing your club.
You can play one club golf with any iron, but the club you choose affects your experience. Here's how the most common options compare:
| Club | Loft | Best for | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-iron | ~24° | More distance off the tee | Harder to chip and control around the green |
| 6-iron | ~27° | Good balance of distance and control | Slightly less forgiving than a 7 |
| 7-iron ★ | ~30° | Most versatile all-around | None. This is the default for a reason |
| 8-iron | ~34° | Easier to get the ball in the air | Less distance on tee shots |
| 9-iron | ~38° | Great touch around the green | Noticeably shorter off the tee |
The 7-iron is the standard recommendation. It hits far enough to tee off comfortably, lofted enough to get the ball in the air on approach shots, and controlled enough to chip around the green. If you're unsure, start there.
If you already own a club you're comfortable with, use that. Familiarity matters more than optimizing your loft by a few degrees.
Buying your first club? Check thrift stores, Play It Again Sports, or Facebook Marketplace. A used 7-iron in decent condition costs $10 to $20. You don't need anything new or name-brand.
What you need to bring.
One of the best parts of one club golf is how little you need. Here's the full list:
A 7-iron is standard. Check thrift stores, Play It Again Sports, or Facebook Marketplace for used options.
Used is fine. You'll probably lose one or two. Don't spend more than a few dollars.
Wooden tees. A few bucks for a bag of 100.
Helps with grip, especially if your hands get sweaty. Not essential, but a nice-to-have.
Keeps your balls, tees, and marker accessible without pockets bulging.
Total cost if you're starting from zero: under $30. You can be ready to play by this weekend.
Where to play.
Par 3 courses are the best starting point for one club golf. Every hole is designed to be reached in one shot, which means an iron off the tee is the right play. Not a workaround. The rounds are shorter (usually 9 holes), the green fees are cheaper ($10 to $25), and the atmosphere is more relaxed than a full-size course.
Search “par 3 golf course near me” and you'll likely find more options than you'd expect. Many don't require tee times, and most welcome walk-ons.
You can also play one club golf on a full-size course. There's no rule against it. You'll give up some distance off the tee on longer holes, but it works. Start with par 3 courses to get comfortable, then take it to a bigger course when you're ready.
Executive courses (a mix of par 3s and short par 4s) are a good middle ground if you want something longer than a par 3 course but less intimidating than a full 18.
How to play a round.
Check in and tee off.
Pay your green fee at the pro shop, grab a scorecard if you want one, and head to the first tee. Place your ball on a tee and hit it toward the green.
Play to the green.
Hit from where your ball lands until you're on the green. Adjust your swing for distance: full swings to cover ground, shorter swings to chip closer to the pin.
Putt out and move on.
Putt the ball into the hole, then walk to the next tee. Repeat for 9 or 18 holes. A par 3 round typically takes 1 to 2 hours.
A few things that are good to know: repair any marks your ball makes on the green (press the turf back flat), and let faster groups play through if they're waiting behind you.
A note on putting.
Putting with an iron takes some adjustment. The face is angled for loft, not for rolling the ball, so your putts may hop a little before they start tracking. Choking down on the grip and using a short, smooth pendulum stroke helps a lot. You'll get the feel for it within a few holes.
If you want a proper putting surface without carrying a second club, the One Club Ninja putter attachment clips magnetically onto your iron face and gives you a flat putting surface in seconds.
Tips for playing one club golf.
A few things that make a real difference on the course:
Open and close the face to change your shot.
Opening the club face (rotating it away from you) adds loft and lets you pop the ball up higher, like a shorter club. Closing the face (rotating it toward you) reduces loft and gives you more distance and a lower flight. One club, multiple shots.
Swing easier than you think you should.
A smooth 80% swing with an iron is more accurate and often goes just as far as trying to crush it. Control beats power every time with one club.
Play the ground game.
Instead of trying to hit high, soft shots onto the green, run the ball up with pitch and runs. Pick a landing spot and let it roll to the hole. This works well with one club and saves you strokes around the green.
Course management is the whole game.
With one club, you can't overpower a hole. You have to think your way around it. Where's the safest miss? Where do I want to be putting from? This is where one club golf actually makes you better.
Common questions.
That's one club golf.
Find a club. Find a course. Go play.
It really is that simple.