Golf Essentials For Beginners

There’s little doubt golf is the greatest game ever invented. But for beginners, the sport can often be a tad overwhelming or intimidating. Firstly, there’s a dizzying number of rules to learn and an unspoken code of etiquette that can be downright daunting to understand. And secondly, the range of golf equipment is so awe-inspiringly extensive that newbies are often left utterly baffled at the options in front of them.

But don’t worry, we can help! We’ve compiled a list of 10 essential items of golf equipment that will set beginners off on the right foot (you can also check out our beginners guides on golf etiquette and golf formats too). Read on and prepare to join the millions of other golfers around the globe who are chasing the addictive, yet elusive, sensation of flushing the ball out of the middle of the club face.

We look forward to seeing you out on the course soon!

1. GOLF BAG

Essential No.1 on our list is a golf bag and it’s a logical place to start. After all, it’s the vessel that will store many of the golfing essentials that follow!

For beginners, a simple stand bag is the most effective way of transporting clubs on the course. Stand bags are lightweight and designed for carrying, with padded shoulder straps offering considerable walking comfort. The bag’s stand kicks out automatically when set down, keeping your clubs and bag upright while you’re busy playing your shot.

The compact size of stand bags also makes them easy to store compared to a cart or tour bag, however, they can also be strapped to a golf buggy if carrying becomes too much of a burden.

2. GOLF CLUBS

You’ve got the bag, now you need to fill it with some essential extras. How about some golf clubs, then?

A common source of confusion among beginners is determining which clubs they really should be playing. Is a package set the most affordable and effective way to start off? Is investing in a bag full of state-of-the-art weapons a better approach? Or is it more beneficial to begin with just a handful of clubs and build on that foundation later on?

For most beginners, starting off with a set of game improvement or super game improvement irons is an ideal building block for future success.

IRONS

Designed for maximum forgiveness, game improvement and super game improvement irons feature oversized footprints and are crammed with the latest technology. They’ll help launch the ball high in the air to maximise distance and their draw-biased design actively fights that cursed shot shape afflicting most beginners: the nasty slice.

Game improvement irons will make golf easier and give beginners a fighting chance of enjoying the game from the outset.

WEDGES

The irons are sorted but beginners should probably stump up for a wedge, or two.

We’d recommend a wedge with 58-60° of loft, which is perfect for chipping around the greens and blasting out of sand bunkers. A second lower-lofted wedge (48-54°) is arguably less important for beginners, but it’ll fill the awkward distance gap between the PW included in the iron set and the higher-lofted wedge.

PUTTER

A putter is the most used club in the bag and choosing one is relatively straightforward: just select the one that looks, feels and performs best!

There are traditional blade putters, which are the most agile, and mallet putters, which are bigger, heavier and offer the most forgiveness.

In many ways the putter chooses you: if it suits your eye and feels good in the hands then trust your instincts!

However, beginners should be aware that stroke path can also play a factor. Face-balanced putters generally suit putting strokes that travel straight-back-and-through while toe-hang putters align better with strokes that move in an arcing motion.

DRIVER, FAIRWAY WOODS AND HYBRIDS

To round out a beginner’s bag, you’ll eventually need to add a driver and a couple of fairway woods and hybrids.

Beginners should look for clubs geared towards forgiveness, rather than low-spin, low-launching bombers. With that in mind, drivers, fairway woods and hybrids that have MAX or 10K included in their name should be an excellent option.

MAX models are draw-biased and are also the most forgiving, which means they’re the easiest to hit and are designed to straighten up a slice.

AND FINALLY…

It’s important to note that not all beginners are equal. Players who swing the club faster will need a different type of head and shaft compared to a player with a slower swing speed.

The clubs in package sets are designed for players with slower swing speeds. If you’re a beginner and your swing speed is above average, we’d advise a more targeted approach. There are drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons and wedges designed for every skill level and swing speed, so starting off with a few clubs and building your set to suit your needs will be the most effective use of your budget.

GolfBox offer clubs in every price range and category. So, depending on how much you are intending to play, we’ve got clubs that’ll fit your swing and budget. And if budget permits, a fitting session at a GolfBox Custom studio will identify the optimal head and shaft combination to suit your swing characteristics.

3. GOLF BALLS

Unfortunately, there’s no way to sugar coat this: learning the game goes hand-in-hand with looking for lost golf balls. Yep, you’re going to lose plenty of golf balls so it’s best not to put too much stock into filling your bag with the most expensive multi-layer tour balls.

For budget reasons, you’d be better off loading up with low-compression, two-piece balls. They offer the best value, a softer feel off the face, and significant stopping power on the green. And speaking of green, they also come in a large range of colours, which comes in handy when attempting to identify which ball is yours.

4. GOLF TEES

Golf tees are an absolute necessity for beginners. But should you choose plastic, wood or Tornado tees?

All three are excellent options but plastic might be the most durable choice for beginners, who tend to lop the heads off their tees like it’s the French Revolution. Opting for a multipack that features tees of different lengths will make the task of teeing the ball at an appropriate height much easier for beginners. Pro tip: the biggest tee is for the driver.

5. GOLF GLOVES

The hands of beginners are nowhere near being “golf tough”, so a quality leather or synthetic golf glove certainly qualifies as an essential item. Practising is the key to improving, yet the soft, uncalloused hands of budding golfers just won’t handle extended time on the range or course.

But practising and playing with a golf glove will sufficiently protect your mitts from becoming a blistered and bloodied mess and help you avoid the beginner’s folly of sore, raw and throbbing hands.

6. GOLF SHOES

There’s nothing stopping beginners traipsing around many public access courses in joggers, or other similarly casual footwear. But a pair of quality golf shoes will make the on-course experience infinitely more rewarding.

Both spiked and spikeless golf shoes will significantly increase traction with the turf. And given one of the fundamentals of a consistent and powerful golf swing is a stable lower half, it almost goes without saying that golf shoes should be viewed as an essential item for a beginner.

Golf shoes will also keep your feet content trekking between shots while also keeping them dry when the course is wet or dewy. And another thing: if you ever get invited to play a private members’ course, golf shoes are part of the dress code. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

7. GOLF TOWEL AND CLUB CLEANING BRUSH

As a beginner golfer, carving out massive, chunky divots is a rite of passage. The art of filling divots in with a sand bucket or bottle is an important skill to master. And so is cleaning the sand, mud and dirt that gets deposited on your club face and embedded in the grooves after you’ve chopped up the course.

That’s why a golf towel and club cleaning brush are both necessary items for a beginner. Wiping and scrubbing the detritus off your clubs guarantees they’ll perform as intended by maintaining spin rates and maximising accuracy and distance. And a golf towel can also be used to wipe the sweat off your brow and hands in the summer heat or keep the grip dry when it’s wet!

8. GOLF POLO

Believe it or not but dressing like a real golfer will fool most people into thinking you have half a clue about what’s going on. So for beginners to pass muster out on the course, a polo shirt should be viewed as an absolute essential for golf.

Nearly every golf course has a dress code requiring a collared shirt, so having a couple of golf polos handy in your wardrobe is your golden ticket. Featuring breathable fabrics, a golf polo will keep you cool and dry on the course: whether you choose a polo with a bold patterned print or opt for the simplicity of a block colour is up to you. Pro tip: never pair said polos with white pants, which should be considered the sole domain of scratch handicappers or professionals.

9. GOLF UMBRELLA

The humble golf brolly certainly qualifies as a beginner’s essential. But not just beginners; every golfer should stow their brolly in the umbrella sleeve of their golf bag because you just never know when you’re going to need it.

Not only does a golf umbrella provide the necessary mobile shelter to keep you dry when it’s hosing down, it’ll also keep the UV off your neck in summer. Golf is one of a few sports where active participants need to be adept at handling an umbrella during play, but some things just are.

10. GOLF WATCH

Before GPS was a thing, golfers would gauge the length of their shots using their shrewd sense of distance honed through years of experience. Well, stuff that! Times have changed for the better!

A GPS golf watch is an essential item for a beginner golfer, with its unique capacity to convey accurate distances anywhere on the course an absolute godsend.

Shot Scope, Garmin, Bushnell and Voice Caddie all offer highly affordable models that will help speed up play by providing instant distances. And they’ll also provide analytical insights into your game to identify weak areas so you can prioritise your practise and start shooting lower scores sooner.