Why You Should Not Buy a 2-Iron to Play on a Links Golf Trip to Ireland or Scotland

If you've been planning a bucket list trip to Ireland, don't buy a new long iron. Seriously. The lockers of Irish caddies are full of 2-irons that were gifted by golfers who only hit them twice. 

Don't get me wrong. If you play off +2, have a 187 ball speed, and play with long irons every week, then go for it. Being able to put an iron in play 230+ off the tee in a cross wind is a great asset to have.

However, if you play 99% of your rounds with 4 or 5 fairway woods & hybrids in the bag, then stick with the clubs you are comfortable with. Sure, Tiger won the 2006 British open only hitting driver a few times. But he could hit that bladed two-iron like a surgeon wields a scalpel. And as he's gotten older he's a five-wood man now.

Don't be conned into thinking links players never carry woods or hybrids. Bob MacIntyre plays with a 7-wood, Shane Lowry has a 5 wood in the bag. Both can work low chasers (or, thanks to Tiger "stingers") as needed.

As a mid-handicapper, in my youth I had 1-iron in the bag for a while. Because I thought it was cool. But I figured out over the years better scores was cooler, so now the bag includes a 16-degree 3-wood, a 7-wood, and a 4-hybrid. Let the wind and the terrain work the ball for you, and it's a lot easier for me to hit a low 7-wood, than a high 2-iron, especially out of less than perfect lies that are often found on natural links courses.

If I need to get something in play off the tee then the 3 wood works just fine. How many times will you actually need a long iron as opposed to a hybrid or wood? Surprisingly less than you think. The only time it really comes into play is potentially long par threes into the wind. And in those scenarios, hitting something that might come up short isn't normally fatal, especially if it's straight. Just choke down an inch, swing easy (hard swing = backspin), and shorten the follow through.

So spend some time hitting 3-wood stingers  on the range before you go, and spare the cash from the 2-iron. Your confidence will thank you.