Walking into a golf store is like being a kid in a candy shop.
Except everything costs hundreds of dollars, and you have no idea what any of it does.
Don’t worry – we’ve all been there.
Here’s the thing about golf equipment: you need some basics to start, but you don’t need to remortgage your house.
This guide will walk you through what’s worth buying and what can wait.
Your first goal?
Get you playing good golf without wasting money on stuff you don’t need yet.
And trust me, there’s a lot of stuff you don’t need yet.
Golf Clubs – What You Need
The rules say you can carry 14 clubs…. that’s a maximum.
If you’re a scratch golfer who can make the most of the difference between a 3-iron and a 5-iron you will want them all.
But when you are just getting started? Seven to ten clubs will do just fine.
Here’s what you should start with:
CLUB 1:
A driver with 10-12° loft.
More loft means more forgiveness and a better chance of keeping the ball in play. Look for one with a large sweet spot—you’ll need it while you develop consistency in your swing.
Skip the 3-wood.
CLUB 2:
Go for a 5- or 7-wood instead. The extra loft will help you launch the ball higher, and the shorter shaft makes it easier to control. They are great for using off the fairway, or even off the tee for when you need more control.
You’ll actually get the ball in the air and keep it there.
3: Grab a 6 hybrid. It’ll become your go-to club for those 160-180-yard shots. Hybrids are more versatile than long irons – they work from the fairway, rough, and even not-so-great lies.
CLUBS 4, 5 & 6:
For irons, start with 7, 8, and 9.
These are your bread-and-butter clubs for approach shots. The 7-iron is great from about 150 yards, the 8-iron from 130, and the 9-iron from 120. These clubs are easier to hit because of their shorter length and higher loft.
CLUB 7:
Add a pitching wedge for approach shots from about 100 yards and in. You’ll use this club a lot around the green too.
CLUB 8:
And don’t forget a putter – you’ll need it for every hole (hopefully only once or twice).
That’s eight clubs.
More than enough to play decent golf while you figure out if you love or hate the game. You can always add more clubs later, but focus on getting comfortable with these for now.
The goal is to build confidence with a few clubs rather than confusion with many.
It will also make it easier for you when playing, as there are less decisions to make and club choice is almost automatic depending on how far you are from the hole.
Choosing A Golf Bag And Your Accessories
Your golf bag is basically your locker room on wheels. Choose the wrong one, and you’ll regret it by the third hole.
Here’s what’s out there:
Carry Bags
The lightweight option.
Perfect if you like walking the course and don’t mind carrying your clubs.
- Weighs 2-4 pounds empty (before you fill it with those dozen balls you’ll definitely need)
- Has padded straps that won’t dig into your shoulders
- Comes with about 6 dividers to keep your clubs from fighting each other
Push Cart Bags
Made for golf carts or push trolleys. Great if you prefer saving your energy for actually hitting the ball… or at least trying to.
- Sits perfectly on any cart with special brackets
- Has 6-8 sections to organize your clubs
- Plenty of pockets for snacks (I mean, golf accessories)
Stand Bags
The Swiss Army knife of golf bags.
Good for both walking and riding.
- Comes with legs that pop out when you set it down
- 5-7 sections for your clubs
- Works well on a cart too
How To Pack Your Golf Bag The Proper Way
Think of your bag like a kitchen – everythingneeds its place:
- Woods and drivers go in the back
- Irons sit in the middle
- Wedges and putters stay up front where you can grab them quickly
- Side pockets are for balls, tees, and that granola bar you forgot about
- Keep your phone and wallet in the waterproof pocket
- Clip your towel and rangefinder where you can reach them
Extra Accessories
Golf Balls and Tees
Yes, tee height matters (who knew?):
- 1.5 inches (orange) – for irons (typically par 3s)
- 2.25 inches (red) – fairway woods off the tee (more control and/or looong par 3s)
- 2.75 inches (yellow) or 3.25 inches (blue) – driver (experiment with both sizes)
Source: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/golf-ball-hot-list
Gloves and Towels
These are nice to have, but are not essential.
- Regular gloves
- Towel (microfibre)
Course Tools
The small but important stuff:
- Free alternatives including a coin, casino chip marker, washer or really anything small, flt and round).
- Divot repair tools (fixing your ball marks is good karma)
- A pen or pencil to keep score (some courses will have these available for free).
Essential Golf Course Tool
| Accessory | Description |
| Ball Markers | Use a coin, casino chip, washer, or any small, flat, and round object to mark your golf ball. |
| Divot Repair Tools | Essential for fixing ball marks, promoting good course etiquette, and ensuring smooth greens. |
| Pen or Pencil | Walking into a golf store is like being a kid in a candy shop. Except everything costs hundreds of dollars, and you have no idea what any of it does. Don’t worry – we’ve all been there. Here’s the thing about golf equipment: you need some basics to start, but you don’t need to remortgage your house. This guide will walk you through what’s worth buying and what can wait. Your first goal? Get you playing good golf without wasting money on stuff you don’t need yet. And trust me, there’s a lot of stuff you don’t need yet. Golf Clubs – What You Need The rules say you can carry 14 clubs…. that’s a maximum. If you’re a scratch golfer who can make the most of the difference between a 3-iron and a 5-iron you will want them all. But when you are just getting started? Seven to ten clubs will do just fine. Here’s what you should start with: CLUB 1: A driver with 10-12° loft. More loft means more forgiveness and a better chance of keeping the ball in play. Look for one with a large sweet spot—you’ll need it while you develop consistency in your swing. Skip the 3-wood. CLUB 2: Go for a 5- or 7-wood instead. The extra loft will help you launch the ball higher, and the shorter shaft makes it easier to control. They are great for using off the fairway, or even off the tee for when you need more control. You’ll actually get the ball in the air and keep it there. 3: Grab a 6 hybrid. It’ll become your go-to club for those 160-180-yard shots. Hybrids are more versatile than long irons – they work from the fairway, rough, and even not-so-great lies. CLUBS 4, 5 & 6: For irons, start with 7, 8, and 9. These are your bread-and-butter clubs for approach shots. The 7-iron is great from about 150 yards, the 8-iron from 130, and the 9-iron from 120. These clubs are easier to hit because of their shorter length and higher loft. CLUB 7: Add a pitching wedge for approach shots from about 100 yards and in. You’ll use this club a lot around the green too. CLUB 8: And don’t forget a putter – you’ll need it for every hole (hopefully only once or twice). That’s eight clubs. More than enough to play decent golf while you figure out if you love or hate the game. You can always add more clubs later, but focus on getting comfortable with these for now. The goal is to build confidence with a few clubs rather than confusion with many.It will also make it easier for you when playing, as there are less decisions to make and club choice is almost automatic depending on how far you are from the hole. Choosing A Golf Bag And Your Accessories Your golf bag is basically your locker room on wheels. Choose the wrong one, and you’ll regret it by the third hole. Here’s what’s out there: Carry Bags The lightweight option. Perfect if you like walking the course and don’t mind carrying your clubs. – Weighs 2-4 pounds empty (before you fill it with those dozen balls you’ll definitely need) – Has padded straps that won’t dig into your shoulders – Comes with about 6 dividers to keep your clubs from fighting each other Push Cart Bags Made for golf carts or push trolleys. Great if you prefer saving your energy for actually hitting the ball… or at least trying to. – Sits perfectly on any cart with special brackets – Has 6-8 sections to organize your clubs – Plenty of pockets for snacks (I mean, golf accessories) Stand Bags The Swiss Amry Knife of golf bags. Good for both walking and riding. – Comes with legs that pop out when you set it down – 5-7 sections for your clubs – Works well on a cart too How To Pack Your Golf Bag The Proper Way Think of your bag like a kitchen – everything Keep accurate scores with a pen or pencil, often available for free at many golf courses. |
Playing Golf In Bad Weather (Because You Already Paid For The Round)
Let’s be honest – most of us check the weather forecast before booking a tee time.
But sometimes Mother Nature has other plans.
Rain
You’ll need three things when it starts raining:
A decent umbrella. Get one that’s actually made for golf – they’re bigger and stronger than regular ones. Plus, they won’t flip inside out when the wind picks up.
Rain gloves—it sounds weird, but they work better when they’re wet. Your regular gloves turn into a soggy mess, but these things grip like they’re covered in superglue.
A rain jacket. Don’t grab the one you wear to walk the dog. Golf rain jackets are designed to move with your swing. The cheap ones feel like you’re wearing a plastic bag and make that annoying swish-swish sound every time you move.
Sun
Playing in the sun might seem easier, but a sunburned neck can ruin your next few rounds.
Grab a hat with a wide brim. Baseball caps look cool but don’t protect your neck. And trust me, nothing says “new golfer” like a lobster-red neck on Monday morning.
Sunglasses aren’t just for looking good. They help you track your ball against bright skies and stop you from squinting through every shot. Get ones that wrap around your face a bit – they’ll stay put during your swing.
And please, wear sunscreen. SPF 30 minimum. Reapply at the turn. Your future self will thank you.
Quick Tip: Keep a small golf towel in your bag. It’ll help keep your grips dry in the rain and wipe sweat off your hands in the heat.
Either way, drier hands mean better shots.
[Weather protection table remains]
Performance Enhancement Tools
These are definitely optional for a beginner golfer.
But if you have the cash, or have been playing a while, technology gives every weekend golfer the chance to improve their game.
Either in the range or on the course, we can make small gains that turn into lower scores (or so we hope).
If you’re struggling to figure out the distance between where you are and the green, there’s three obvious choices:
- GPS units
- Rangefinders
- Smartwatches
Each has its benefits and drawbacks.
GPS units clip to golf carts to show the hole layout. They’ll help you spot hazards, greenside bunkers, and anything else that could cause you to lose a couple of golf balls on your way.
A good GPS unit can cost between $250 and $500, depending on the model and store you buy it from.
If a GPS unit seems a bit overkill, a rangefinder is perfect. It’s lightweight. It can be clipped to your golf bag, giving you what you need to take your next shot.
Rangefinders can cost between $100 – $300 and are designed to help you pinpoint distances. Most models will tell you the wind, slope and total yards to the front, middle and back of the green.
What it won’t do is stop you from chunking it 10 yards in front of you. Sorry.
Finally, we have smartwatches.
This is my preferred choice for a couple of reasons:
- It’ll remember my club choices and distances automatically.
- The distances are very accurate.
- I can track my score if I pair it with an app.
I find it much easier to look at my smartwatch than grabbing my rangefinder.
Mainly because my bag is normally left in the fairway while I’m in the woods hunting for my ball.
But that’s for another time.
I’d recommend Garmin. They’re a little more on the expensive side but the battery works great and it gives you all of the information you’ll need to play better golf.