your success is only limited by your desire

Getting into golf- What?

What do you need to start playing golf?

The short and simple answer is nothing.

When you start playing golf, your golf instructor should have everything you need in the way of clubs. You can quite happily have your lessons and borrow all the gear you'll need.

After a few sessions you will find that the 'golf bug' is starting to bite and your thoughts start turning to getting your own equipment, but there's so much on the market, where do you start?

Ask your instructor, I always advise that my new students look at some of the reasonably priced starter packages that are easily available. I recommend that you go to a golf shop at a golf club, mainly becasue the PGA Professional has responsibility for the equipment that's in stock and they know what constitutes good value and quality.

Quality is a very important issue, I have seen many, many clubs break on the range, even after a well struck shot. There is a lot of sub-standard rubbish out there and if you buy from a reputable establishment, they will generally help you out if something goes wrong.

A basic starter set should comprise of...

3 Wood - teeing off

5 iron - along the fairway

7 iron - getting to the green

9 iron - close to the green

wedge - chipping and bunkers

putter - getting into the hole

This could last you for your first 8 - 12 months of learning and the good thing about golf clubs nowadays is that you can add new clubs one by one as you go along.

When you know that golf's your game and you fancy investing in some more equipment, you can trade in or sell your half set and move up to a full set. The maximum number of clubs in your bag is 14 according to the rules of golf.

Here's how a full set might look...

1 wood - driver

3 wood - tee off and fairway wood

5 wood - fairway wood

3 iron -

4 iron - Long irons

5 iron -

6 iron -

7 iron - Mid irons

8 iron -

9 iron

pitching wedge - short irons