How many clubs is a player allowed to start with in a round?

A player is allowed to start a round of golf with a maximum of 14 clubs. This rule is established by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is universally followed in official play across golf tournaments. The purpose of this limitation is to maintain fairness in competition and to encourage skillful play, ensuring that all players have a similar range of tools available to them during a round. While a player can choose any combination of clubs within this limit, adherence to the 14-club rule is essential, as exceeding the number of clubs can result in penalties.