New to Golf
Beginner Golf Guide
Whether you are a total beginner or have been playing for a few months, we are here to help. This page will answer your questions on what you need to get started with golf, from the equipment to the rules.
9 Golf Essentials
Here are the top 9 golf essentials you should bring to the golf course.
- Golf Clubs
- Golf Bag
- Golf Balls
- Golf Gloves
- Golf Tees
- Divot Repair Tool & Ball Marker
- Golf Towel
- Golf Pencil
- Golf Pushcarts – if you are planning on walking the course, a push cart will be very handy.
- Special Mentions – Sunscreen & Golf Umbrella
Golf Clubs
Which clubs should a beginner carry?
Golfers are permitted to carry 14 clubs in their golf bag, however, as a beginner we suggest you carry a smaller number of clubs to help you focus on improving your golf swing rather than worrying about which club you should hit.
The following 7 clubs are a good start:
- Driver
- 3 Wood
- 5 Hybrid
- 7 Iron
- 9 Iron
- Sand Wedge
- Putter
Golf Club Sets vs Buying Individual Clubs
You can certainly build your own set of clubs from scratch. However, you might find this to be a bit overwhelming as a beginner. If you would like to give it a go, see our Golf Clubs section for recommendations on the clubs that are great for beginners and where to purchase them.
If you don’t want to buy individual clubs, you can opt for a complete golf club set instead. This is a much easier option when you are starting out and can work out cheaper. Check out our Women’s Golf Club Sets for Beginners & Men’s Golf Club Sets recommendations.
Golf Bags
If you are buying a complete set of golf clubs, it will usually come with a golf bag, so there is no need to purchase a separate one.
If you are building your own set of clubs, you will need something to put your clubs in. See our Golf Essentials section for our Golf Bags recommendations. If you intend to carry your bag around the course, opt for a lightweight one, otherwise, you might want to buy a golf push cart to carry your bag. See Golf Push Carts for some recommendations.
Golf Balls
There is an overwhelming range of golf balls on the market today. The reason being is that companies have engineered their golf balls to cater to golfers who are either looking for:
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- Greater distance
- Straighter shots
- Better control around the greens
- All of the above!
This is quite daunting for a beginner, which is why we created this guide to help you cut through all the noise and make it as simple as possible to choose the right type of ball for you at this stage of your game.
If you want a deep dive into golf balls, what they are made of and how they work for difference aspects of your game, read our guide on 4 Factors to Consider When Buying a Golf Ball.
If you want to keep it simple, read our guide on Top 5 Golf Balls for Beginners.
Golf Gloves
As with most things in golf there is a myriad of choices for each category of equipment and accessories. To help you decide, we break down the main things to look for in a glove.
Take a look at our golf glove guide: How to Pick the Right Golf Glove for You and the Best Golf Gloves for 2023 for our full glove recommendations, including ones for different conditions.
Golf Tees
You can buy wooden, bamboo or plastic tees of varying lengths.
- Wood golf tees – The most common type. They do tend to break more easily.
- Plastic golf tees – More durable, but has a tendency to bend.
- Bamboo golf tees – Usually stronger than normal wood tees, but they still break more easily than plastic. They are also biodegradable if uncoated so they leave behind no negative impacts on the course.
Divot Repair Tool and Ball Marker
What is a Divot Repair Tool used for?
Divot tools are used for repairing pitch marks in the surface of the green. Pitch marks are often left when a golf ball lands heavily onto a green, leaving a little depression or crater in the ground.
It is good golf etiquette to repair pitch marks and one that is a good habit to get into. A pitch mark that has gone un-repaired can kill the grass and leave holes in a beautiful, smooth green. Every golfer has an obligation to help take care of the courses we play.
As you can see, it is important to repair the pitch marks, but it is also just as important do to it correctly. Click HERE for a video on how do repair pitch marks correctly.
What is a golf ball marker?
A golf ball marker is a small object used to mark the position of a golf ball on the green. They are usually in the form of a small, flat disc, like a coin.
Marking your ball on the green means you can pick up your ball to allow other players to putt without obstruction. To learn more about marking your ball, read our guide on Rules for Marking your Ball.
Golf Towel
You will need a golf towel to:
- Clean off clumps of dirt, mud and sand from your clubs and balls so that they are in good condition during play.
- Dry your sweaty hands and your clubs to improve the grip on the club.
- Drying your clubs can help reduce the risk of rust build up.
Many golfers hang their towels on a ring near the top of their golf bag. Some towels come with a carabiner clip to attach to your golf bag.
Golf Pencils
Make sure you carry some pencils to write on your scorecard.
Golf Push Carts
A golf push cart makes it easier to get around the course without having to carry your bag and potentially injuring yourself.
Check out our comprehensive guide for what we look for in Golf Push Carts and our recommendations.
Summary of what to look for in a Golf Push Cart
- Number of Wheels – 3 is easiest to manoeuvre.
- Adjustable Handle – Very handy to cater for different heights.
- Brakes – Hand brake more convenient.
- Storage – Handy to have a few compartments.
- Easy to Fold – Is it easy to fold?
- Compact – Does it fold into a compact size?
- Lightweight – Is it light?
- Accessories – Umbrella mount, drink holder, etc.
Sunscreen
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common cancer in America and worldwide. More than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in the U.S.
Golfers spend many hours out in the elements, which is why it is so important to protect your skin from UV rays. You should wear sunscreen every time you play, even on cloudy days as UV rays can come through the clouds.
You should look for sunscreens that contain zinc oxide, which is the best product for providing protection from both UVA and UVB rays. These sunscreens sits on top of your skin and reflects the sun’s rays.
Below are some zinc based sunscreens you might like to try.
Golf Umbrella
A golf umbrella is very handy for hot days to provide you with shade and also on rainy days to keep you dry.