What are the names of the original three clubs in golf?

Answer 1

Answer

I think the terms you are looking for are "brassie", "spoon", and "niblick" (and possibly "driver") . The woods and the brassie were named for their materials, while the spoon was named for its shape. I have no idea where the term niblick comes from. If you find a set of clubs made before WWII, you won't find 1, 3 or 5 woods, etc. Instead, the clubs carried actual names. At that time, the brassie was a long fairway wood; I believe it evolved into the 3 wood. I think the niblick was a medium fairway wood; evolving into the 5 wood. The spoon was a shorter fairway wood; I believe it evolved into the 7 wood. The 3 & 4 hybrids look very similar to a spoon, and essentially recreate it. My understanding is that, before there were true irons, the spoon was used in the same way the short irons are today, the niblick was used in the same way the long irons and the short fairway woods are today and the brassie was used like we use the long woods (driver & 3 wood). I believe that the irons themselves grew out of the spoon, as it differentiated into different shapes optimized for different playing situations and as new materials were introduced.

It's fascinating that "woods" are no longer made of wood, and that the long iron hybrids aren't irons, but spoons.

However, if you are looking for the names of the types of clubs, a prevous poster stated, "IF I HAD TO TAKE A GUESS, DRIVER, IRON AND PUTTER. IT IS THE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLUBS IN YOUR BAG. ALL CLUBS ORIGINATE FROM THE PUTTER FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD."

I don't know about that last statement - its not something I had heard before.