One Club and a Putter
Why this drill
Three clubs was improvisation school; one club is the doctorate. Nine holes with a single iron and the putter dissolves every swing thought into the only question that matters — what shot does this moment need? — and proves scoring lives in the golfer, not the bag.
Setup
Nine quiet holes, one iron — the 7-iron is the classic — and your putter. Choose before you see the course; no swaps, no exceptions.
The drill
Play seriously and score honestly. The 7-iron drives from the tee (tee it low, sweep it), punches from trouble, pitches with a gripped-down hooded face, chips like an 8-iron, and even splashes from sand with the face laid open and extra speed. Every hole is an essay in the same handwriting. Most players shoot within a handful of their normal nine — the number that permanently reprices what the other twelve clubs are worth. Note the two invented shots you liked best; they join the real bag next round.
One thought to take with you
The club is fixed; the shot never is. Invent, commit, accept.