You’ve decided to take up the game of golf. But you have no idea where to start, what you need and at what cost! Here’s our beginners guide to start playing golf.
What You Actually Need to Start Playing Golf
- Clubs (basic set)
- Balls
- Tees
- Shoes (optional)
- Budget range
What’s Covered
- Golf Equipment and Costs: What You Really Need
- Clubs, Balls, Tees, Bags and more
- Lessons and Practice Tips
- Golf Handicaps Explained for Beginners
- Am I “course ready”?
Golf Equipment & Costs to Start Playing Golf: What You Really Need
Below in a quick check-list for the most basic equipment you’ll need.
| Equipment | Need | Cost | Notes |
| Clubs | Essential | £50 to +£100 | You can get a decent second hand set for £100. Cheaper if you shop around. More detail here. |
| Bag | Essential | £20 to +£100 | You can look for second hand bag otherwise a new one costs excess of £100. More detail here. |
| Balls | Essential | £5 to +£15 | Buy second hand balls (lake balls), if really keen you can buy new balls for upwards of £15. More detail here. |
| Tees | Essential | £1-£5 | For £5 you can get an assorted bag. You’ll also find them on tee areas. Check out the amazing bamboo tees by Golf Tees using the advert link below this table. |
| Shoes | Not essential | +£35 | In summer you can get away with wearing trainers or a pair of normal shoes. In wetter months we recommend a pair of waterproof golf shoes. |
| Clothes | Depends | +£50 | Courses are quite relaxed these days. However, some have dress codes. Be sure to check. In Winter wets should be considered. |
| Umbrella | Depends | £20 | It’s not essential if you plan to avoid playing in the rain. Personally, I’d get a cheap one to start. |
| Rules of Golf | Essential | Free | There’s a free app linked here, otherwise you can buy a book. But beware, golf rules change. |
Clubs
Clubs can be expensive. As a beginner I highly recommend starting with a second-hand set. Although I’m sure you’ll love golf, I’d refrain from spending too much money to start. I bought my first half-set of clubs with a bag back in 1996 for £65. Things haven’t changed too much since.
If you’re in the UK and Ireland, I highly recommend Golfbidder for purchasing second-hand clubs. You can also see them your old clubs. I’ve used them multiple times over the past 9 years. I find their prices fair and their service excellent.
What Clubs do I Need to Start Playing Golf?
The table below gives a recommended full-set, essential half-set, my current bag (as of 2022-10-06) and alternative club ideas. A full-set can include up to 14 clubs. For the “Recommended” full-set, I’ve suggested 11 clubs giving you three spare choices. For the “Essential half-set”, I’ve recommended 8 clubs.
You’ll notice I’ve not included Driver (D) and 60o wedge in the recommended full-set or essential half-set. This is because they are two of the most difficult clubs to use with consistency. Note, even second-hand Drivers can be very expensive.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | |
| My bag | Pu | 60o | 56o | PW | 9i | 8i | 7i | 6i | 5i | 4H | 3H | 5W | 3W | D |
| Alternatives | 56o | 520 | 7W | 4i | 2i | |||||||||
| Recommend | Pu | SW | PW | 9i | 8i | 7i | 6i | 5i | 4H | 3H | 3W | |||
| Essential half-set | Pu | SW | PW | 9i | 7i | 5i | 3H | 3W |
Bag – Stand or Cart bag
If you’re planning to carry your bag you should be looking to purchase a carry bag. Most carry bags have a twin strap to loop over your shoulders and a stand that pops out when you put the bag down. On the other hand, if you’re likely to use a trolley or buggy look for a cart bag instead. Cart bags are generally bulkier compared to stand bags which are slight and light.
What Balls do I Need to Start Playing Golf?
Will using second-hand balls drastically affect your game? No. Golf balls can be very expensive and loosing them can affect you mental game. There are lots of opportunities out there to buy good second-hand balls at a fraction of the cost. If you do decide to buy, take a look at our Best Golf Ball Guides.
Lessons & Practice Tips to Start Playing Golf
You don’t need lessons to start playing golf, but you’ll find even one will be a great help. I’d also say this will help prevent any bad habits that could hinder your ability, which may be harder to break in future.
Practice both on the range and on the green. Typically most amateurs don’t practice on the green much. If you’re keen to improve in an efficient way, a good rule of thumb is to practice splitting the following up into even chunks of time, e.g.:
- 30 mins on your stock swing in the range – typically PW to Driver
- 20 mins pitching i.e., 25 to 100 yards
- 20 mins chipping and putting. Alternate between chipping and putting.
We highly recommend the two articles below for further reading:
Golf Handicaps Explained When you start Playing Golf (for Beginners)
Whatever level you play, an official handicap is a handy. Even better, you don’t need to be a member of a club. Check out the blog “Golf Handicap for Non-Members”, which tells you a little more about how to get a handicap. If you want to know how the handicap system works, see “Golf World Handicap System and How it Works”.
Are You Ready to Start Playing Golf?
You’ve got all your equipment. Maybe You’ve had a lesson or two. You’ve been to the range a few times, maybe years, but never ventured on to the course. To get a handicap, you need to get some rounds under your belt. But now you’re pondering if you should. We totally understand any anxiety you have. But you’ll have so much more fun on the golf course, we promise. Plus you’ll learn a lot more. So take the plunge, get out on the course. Don’t worry about how you play and enjoy the experience. And as soon as you finish, you’ll be desperate for another round of golf, that we can promise. Enjoy!
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