Golf Pride
What All do I need to Start Golfing?
Hello, after much thought, I have decided I would like to take up the game of golf. I am "restarting" after stopping golf when I was 7 or 8. I need to know what all I need to start up again, seeing as my clubs are WAY too small. I will probably get a set of Pre-Owned clubs. I am a lefty and take pride in it.
Thanks for the help!
Before buying anything, I recommend you find a local golf club that you can afford to play at. Check their rules - do you have to carry your bag? Do you have to use the club's golf carts? Do most players walk and use a pull trolley? Also check whether the club has a winter rule that players have to carry their bags when the course is wet! Once you know the answers to these, this will help you decide what type of bag you will need to buy, e.g. a cart bag or a stand-bag and perhaps a trolley.
Golf shoes are a must and soft rubber/plastic spikes are required at most clubs. A good pair will cost from £20 to £80 and you will need waterproof ones with a 12 months replacement guarantee. There is nothing worse than playing golf with soaking wet feet!
I'm also left-handed and agree completely with your idea to start with Pre-Owned. There are plenty available and that's what I have used all my playing career, 40 years and counting. Since you are just beginning, there isn't too much sense in spending a lot of money on equipment until you know you are definately hooked and that golf is "your sport!" There are lots of beginner sets out there and any set from a good manufacturer will get you going.
In my case I started playing again in my late 50's after a very long break and I bought a cheap set of Spalding clubs. After 3 years, with a 17 handicap, I upgraded to a 3 year's old, little used, set of Callaway Big Bertha clubs. This full set of irons and woods cost me £400 in total and have been a good buy. Using these clubs, which have given me much more distance and much straighter hits, even when I hit the ball off-center, my handicap is down to 12 and I reached 10 for a few weeks last summer, i.e. I reached my lowest handicap at 64 years old!
My set has regular flex shafts (recommended for beginners) and now consists of -
460cc Driver:
Woods: 3, 5 and 7
Irons: 5,6,7,8,9, p/w,s/w
Putter
I replaced my sets 3 and 4 irons with 5 and 7 woods and gained more consistency hitting long shots into, and stopping on, the elevated greens on our course - because of the higher flight the woods give me.
Before buying the Callaways, I tried many brands of new clubs first, at a place where they had a wide selection of demonstration clubs and a driving range to let potential buyers test them on. I talked to the assistants there and once I understood what clubs I needed, I bought the best second-hand set I could afford.
Getting fitted is a good recommendation when you are buying new clubs, and some places will adjust old clubs to suit you - at a price. Whether you need this sophistication or not depends on your budget and your height. A regular size set is designed to suit players of average height, between 5'-8'' to 5'-10''. If you are just outside that range you can still manage with regular clubs when you start playing. Having club shafts shortened or lengthened and the lie of the club (angle of the shaft to the sole of the club head) adjusted to suit anyone not of average size, can help experienced players become even better!
If you are like me and will play in all kinds of weather, a good wind/rain suit is a must. A breathable fabric one, that reduces the amount you will sweat inside it, will make playing in the rain much more tolerable. The best are very expensive, i.e. £300 for a top of the range Goretex jacket and leggings. Around £50 will buy you one that does the job well enough - just shop around and buy the best you can afford!
You will also need a strong umbrella - look for one with a double cover and wind flap. These let gusts of wind blow through and save the umbrella being turned inside out. Cost £20.
Also, a small thing but very useful if your course has lots of water hazards, buy a ball retriever - £10 will save you frustration at losing so many balls and money in the long run.
Finally, if you have a tight budget, I recommend you play second-hand balls. Most golf equipment outlets sell pre-owned, top-brand, water balls which are much better to play than some of the very cheap new balls on the market. Play low compression balls whenever possible - you can get guidance from pro-shops on which balls they are.
Hope this helps and I hope you Enjoy the Game!