What you actually need, what you don't, and how to avoid the expensive mistakes.
Getting into golf is exciting — and overwhelming. Walk into a golf store and you're facing walls of drivers, racks of iron sets, buckets of balls, and a salesperson who wants to put you in $1,500 worth of equipment. Here's the honest truth about what you need to get started.
Complete starter set: If you've never played or have only been out a few times, a complete set (driver, irons, putter, bag — all included) is the simplest path. One purchase, and you're ready to play. Good starter sets run $300–$700 and include everything you need.
Build your own bag: If you've been playing regularly and want to upgrade from hand-me-downs, building club by club lets you pick exactly what fits your game. Start with the clubs you hit most — irons and a putter — and add a driver and wedges as your budget allows.
You're allowed 14 clubs in your bag, but beginners should carry fewer. Here's the smart minimalist setup:
A driver: For tee shots. Get something forgiving and lightweight — you don't need the $550 tour model.
A hybrid or fairway wood: Easier to hit than long irons. One hybrid replaces the 3, 4, and 5 irons that would frustrate you right now.
Irons (6 through PW): Five clubs that cover most of your yardage range. Game-improvement irons with wide soles and large faces make life much easier.
A sand wedge: For bunker shots and chips around the green. You can skip the gap wedge and lob wedge until your short game develops.
A putter: Don't overthink this. Any mallet-style putter with alignment aids will serve you well while you learn.
That's 9 clubs — plenty. You can add more as you figure out what gaps you need to fill.
Premium golf balls. You're going to lose a lot of balls. Play $20/dozen distance balls until you're keeping them in play consistently.
A lob wedge. The 60° wedge is the hardest club to hit in the bag. Your sand wedge handles everything you need around the green right now.
A rangefinder. Helpful, but you're not at the stage where knowing the exact yardage matters. Your distances aren't consistent enough yet for precise yardage to change your club selection.
Lessons-free equipment. Seriously — a $100 lesson from a PGA pro will improve your game more than a $500 driver. Budget for at least one lesson to build decent fundamentals before spending big on gear.
Under $300: Gets you a budget-friendly complete set that's perfectly fine for learning. Great if you're not sure whether golf is going to stick.
$300–$700: Opens up higher-quality starter sets with better materials and more forgiving club designs. Equipment you'll enjoy using as your game improves rather than fighting against.
$700+: Premium starter sets and curated half-sets built with clubs you'll keep for years, not outgrow in a season. This only makes sense if you're committed to the game.
Beyond clubs, you'll need: golf balls (buy in bulk, you'll lose them), tees, a glove (left hand for right-handed golfers), and comfortable shoes with soft spikes or spikeless soles. A divot tool and ball marker are nice to have. Everything else is optional.
Our beginner quiz helps you figure out exactly what you need based on where you are in your golf journey and your budget.