Golf Equipment

Golf Clubs

• Woods: Sometimes called metal woods (since they were once made of wood but are now primarily made of metal), these are used when a golfer wants to hit the ball the furthest distance. Woods are usually numbered 1–9. Higher-numbered clubs have shorter shafts and club faces that angle more toward the sky, which cause those clubs to hit the ball higher but not as far. The 1-wood is also called the driver, and most golfers use it to hit the ball off the tee at the beginning of many par 4 and par 5 holes. The other woods are called fairway woods and are typically used when the ball is on the fairway but there is still a long distance to the green.
   
  
• Irons: Irons provide less distance than woods, but more accuracy. The irons are numbered from 1–9, though the 1- and 2-irons are rarely used. As with woods, the larger the number, the shorter the distance the club will hit the ball. There are also irons called wedges that have broad faces angled so that they cut under the ball, popping it high into the air. The pitching wedge is designed to hit high, soft shots off of grass, while the sand wedge is designed for hitting even higher shots and also for freeing the ball from bunkers near the green.
   
  
• Putter: The putter is used almost exclusively on the green. It has a flat head that is perpendicular to the ground so that it causes the ball to roll along the green.
   
  

Buying Golf Clubs

Other Golf Equipment

• Golf bag: To carry your clubs and other equipment, you’ll need a golf bag. It’s worth it to pay a little more to get a bag that’s com­fortable and that has a built-in stand. A good-quality bag may cost $100 or more. Some starter sets come with bags.
   
  
• Golf balls: You’ll need a number of golf balls so that you can still continue to play even if you lose one on the course. There are a wide variety of brands on the market. It’s best to find one type and stick with it, so that you have a feel for how it moves and so you’ll always be able to recognize your own ball on the course. Inexpensive golf balls cost about $10 per dozen, while top-of-the-line balls can cost as much as $50–60 per dozen.
   
  
• Golf tees: Golf tees are little wooden supports that you use to hold up your golf ball when teeing off. They cost only about $1–5 for a pack of 100.
   
  
• Golf glove: Many players prefer to play with a golf glove on their nondominant hand (i.e., a righty would wear the glove on her left hand). Though not essential, a glove provides extra grip on the club and protects the hand from blistering or chafing against the club grip. Most golf gloves range from $10–20.
   
  
• Golf shoes: You can play golf in any rubber-soled shoes, though if you get serious about the game, you may prefer the traction and support provided by golf shoes, which have soles studded with short rubber spikes. Good shoes tend to cost at least $100.
   
  
• Club covers: Padded covers protect your clubs from nicks or scratches. They usually come in sets of three or more, at a price of about $5–10 per cover.
   
  
• Ball mark repair tool: This small tool helps you fix ball marks that your ball makes when it lands on the green. Though some players use golf tees to fix ball marks, a repair tool works better and typically costs only $5–10.