In stroke play, what penalty does a player incur for having 16 clubs, including 2 putters?

In stroke play, the rules allow players to carry a maximum of 14 clubs in their bag during a round. If a player has 16 clubs but does not use the excess clubs during the round, there is no penalty as long as the player leaves the extra clubs behind before starting the play. This understanding is critical because it emphasizes that the penalty for exceeding the club limit only applies if the player has the extra clubs with them while playing. By choosing to leave the additional clubs behind, the player complies with the rules and avoids incurring any penalties for the club count exceeding the allowed limit.