Golf, at heart, is a simple game. Although the complexities of the drop ball rule can leave professionals scratching their heads. As a beginner, you will only need to know the basics. So, let's begin with the fundamentals.

A golf course features eighteen holes. Each hole features a tee, where the first shot is taken, a fairway, where the second shot is taken, and a green with a hole (highlighted by a flag), where the final putting shots are taken.

The lengths of the holes are measured in yards, and are categorised into three pars. A par is the number of shots a skilled player should complete the hole in. Currently the three pars, are a par 3 hole, a par 4 hole and a par 5 hole. A golf course with a selection of each of the three par holes, which will make a total of 72 points for a eighteen hole golf course. Typically there will be 4 par three holes, 10 par four holes, and 4 par five holes.

The equipment you will need

The bare minimum for a beginner is a follows.

• A half set of golf clubs, which should include five irons, one driver (or wood), a wedge and a putter.
• Some golf balls, better make this plenty of golf balls if you're starting out.
• A bag to store your clubs in.
• A set of tees to drive from at the beginning of each hole.
• A pair of shoes with a decent rubber grip.

As you begin to advance, then you can add the following items.

• Golf shoes with spikes to give the best grip.
• A trolley, which can relieve the effort of lugging a bag around 18 holes.
• A full set of clubs; nine irons, three drivers, wedges, putters and rescue clubs.
• Distance golf balls, which provide experienced golfers with a few extra yards.

As a beginner, it may appear logical to buy yourself the most expensive set of golf clubs available. This is a mistake often made by amateurs. As a beginner, there is a likelihood of you damaging your clubs during your learning period. Therefore, from a common sense standpoint, it's better if you damage a cheaper set of clubs than a set costing £500 or more.

Most manufacturers also make clubs which are specifically designed for beginners. They are more forgiving than other clubs, and encompass all the needs of a beginner. Likewise, ladies and juniors can find clubs designed for their stature and strength. Beginners clubs usually feature graphite shafts, the lightness of graphite helps compensate for a slower swing speeds.

A more skilled golfer may gravitate to picking a set of clubs on a club by club basis. This helps to cover their specific needs. This approach is not ideal for a beginner, who will not yet know what's best for them in the long-term. Only time on the golf course will. Therefore, a packaged set of golf clubs will give the best value for money, and stability, club for club.

Driver (Wood)

The club used to drive from the tee, and sometimes used on the fairway. While the original club head was made from wood, the modern day "wood" is made from metal. There are differing drivers, such as a 1 wood or a 5 wood. A wood can hit a ball above 200 yards.

Irons

The most commonly used club, irons vary from a 1 iron to a 9 iron. The 7 iron is often a golfers favourite club. Irons can be used to tee with, but their designated task is to hit shots from the fairway onto the green. An iron provides more accuracy than a driver, but with less distance. The higher the iron the more loft it provides, but, at the cost of less distance.

Putters

The club most responsible for seeing golfers bang their head against the wall. A bad case of the 'yips' can send a golfer to the nut house or permanently to the clubhouse bar. Of all the clubs, putters have seen their basic shape and dimensions altered the most. The only advice that can be given is to try as many putters as you can. No manufacturer has found the secret of creating the perfect putter. It seems an art form which resides in the head rather than the metal.

Driving Iron

Ideal for beginners, who still haven't got to grips with a driver. It's still, on occasion, used by the professionals. The head face is larger than a one iron, providing a bigger sweet spot and more distance. If you're a nervous driver, who goes weak at the knees at a line of golfers watching your tee shot, this club provides the control of an iron, but with a little extra distance.

Rescue club

The 3 and 4 irons are beginning to fall out of vogue. Presently many pros and semi-pros have begun to incorporate a 'rescue club' into their bag. This club is used when a tee shot has landed in the rough. Also described as a 'hybrid' club, the club provides next to no elevation, and typically a head face of between 19 and 22 degree. Providing the distance of a wood, but the shaft length of a iron, it's perfect for rectifying a bad drive.

Wedges

They come in four loft types; sand, pitching, gap and lob wedge. With head faces with varying degrees of angle they usually use a steel shaft for optimum accuracy. Read on for a further breakdown of the distance of golf clubs available.

The information contained within this site is general in nature, and may not be applicable to all aspects of golf. We can also not guarantee the accuracy of the information.

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