The essentials of golf begin with the clubs you choose. Shopping on the Internet will save you time and money but choosing can be difficult, as there seems to be endless options. From our work with different golfing web sites we have seen sales for golf clubs dramatically increase in the past two years but do people really know what they are buying? I think the answer to this is yes if you have been playing for a few years and no if you are a total beginner. Some people starting out in the golf world have more money than sense. At the start of every golfing year (generally in March) you see new members on the first tee with thousands of dollars worth of equipment beside them and the golfing skills of a squirrel.
Excuse the expression from above but you really need to go back to the basics when starting golf. Golfing is a skill that needs to be developed, by having clubs worth thousands will not help you any more than the person starting with second hand clubs worth fifty dollars, I had that told to me from more than one Irish professional during my time. All the major club manufacturers are selling online at great prices, choose carefully and get well within your budget, the left over money can be well spent on other golf apparel.
What are the essentials to have?
Without being silly and mentioning the usual such as golf balls etc you should have the following:
Good waterproof golf shoes
Waterproof Jacket and Pants
Golf Cart (Manual or Battery)
Golf shoes are essential, and if they are not waterproof put them in the garbage. Your feet must be kept dry at all times. Golf is not always in great weather. If your feet are wet for a number or hours you will not feel comfortable and run the risk of catching a nasty cold or flu like symptoms. There are plenty of cheap golf shoes on the market along with cheap so called waterproof pants and jackets, but by spending carefully on the golf clubs allows you spend wisely on essential clothing.