New To Golf - How much to spend?

MikeCork2009

Hi all. I have always wanted to start playing golf but never really got further than playing some pitch and putt and having a few outings to a driving range. Anyway, I want to start properly now (I have signed up for 5 x 1hr lessons) and was wondering about getting a set of clubs of my own. As a beginner I don't want to spend a fortune at the outset until I get better (hopefully). Have been looking at options and am between a packaged starter set http://www.americangolf.co.uk/golf-clubs/package-sets/wilson-ultra-package-set-259112.html?dwvar_259112_variantimage=carry

and a set I put together as follows:

Club Make Loft Price
Driver Taylormade JetSpeed Driver 10.5* 109.99
5 Wood Taylormade JetSpeed Fairway Wood 19* 79.99
#3 Hybrid Nike VR Pro Hybrid 21* 49.99
Irons Wilson ProStaff HL Irons Steel 5-SW 129
Wedges Cleveland 588 RTX CB Wedge 60* 49.99
Putter Cleveland Classic HB 7 Putter 39.99

Total 458.95


I'm living in the UK these days so prices are in £. So, I know there is £200 difference between the two but is that too much to spend on a first set? Any advice at all would be really helpful.

Jawgap

MikeCork2009 wrote: »

Hi all. I have always wanted to start playing golf but never really got further than playing some pitch and putt and having a few outings to a driving range. Anyway, I want to start properly now (I have signed up for 5 x 1hr lessons) and was wondering about getting a set of clubs of my own. As a beginner I don't want to spend a fortune at the outset until I get better (hopefully). Have been looking at options and am between a packaged starter set http://www.americangolf.co.uk/golf-clubs/package-sets/wilson-ultra-package-set-259112.html?dwvar_259112_variantimage=carry

and a set I put together as follows:

Club Make Loft Price
Driver Taylormade JetSpeed Driver 10.5* 109.99
5 Wood Taylormade JetSpeed Fairway Wood 19* 79.99
#3 Hybrid Nike VR Pro Hybrid 21* 49.99
Irons Wilson ProStaff HL Irons Steel 5-SW 129
Wedges Cleveland 588 RTX CB Wedge 60* 49.99
Putter Cleveland Classic HB 7 Putter 39.99

Total 458.95


I'm living in the UK these days so prices are in £. So, I know there is £200 difference between the two but is that too much to spend on a first set? Any advice at all would be really helpful.

My own advice would be to go have a look at golfbidder.co.uk - decent kit for good prices, in my experience.

dball

or look om adverts.ie - always good deals to be found there

Jawgap

dball wrote: »

or look om adverts.ie - always good deals to be found there

I think being in the UK the OP might end up paying delivery charges that would negate the price advantage but eBay might be an option, or the local version of adverts.ie

It doesn't look hugely unreasonable to me tbh. Golf is expensive particularly in the early days when you have to buy everything. There's nothing on your list there that I would say no you don't need, or no it's bad value.

One thing that might be an option is to do the first lesson before you buy the clubs. It'll give you a sense of how much you enjoy it before spending huge money. Just keep in mind actually playing golf is (imo) exponentially more enjoyable than hitting balls off astro turf mats in the driving range.

LinksLad

A 60 degree wedge might prove a bit of a handful for a new golfer. I'd suggest a 52 or 54 degree instead.

awec

Would you really need a hybrid club if you are just starting? Driver and 5 wood not enough?

Asking the audience here!

Don't forget to factor in the cost of the other things you'll need. Balls, glove, tees, umbrella, bag, shoes - these could cost you another 100 or so.

SevesThreeIron

I'm presuming OP that you are talking about buying the set straight away. Straight off I think that's a bad idea. The clubs in the set you have put together yourself are all very good and a fine choice.

But will you get stiff shafts, regular, 12 degree driver, 9.5 degree, thin grips, fat grips, wedge bounce, standard shafts, slightly upright heads, etc, etc. Not trying to blind you with science and really all that stuff can be sorted out easily when you know what you want. But the point being that you haven't got a pattern or style to match up to your new clubs until you play for a bit, particularly if you're starting from scratch.

I'd borrow clubs for the lessons or buy a cheap set of irons (like 80 quid cheap) and spend the larger money in six months or so. It'll probably take you that long to get through half a dozen lessons. You'll be in a good position then to know what you like and what works for your swing. Just my tuppence. Good luck with it all.

stockdam

I'd look at some good quality 2nd hand sets. You shouldn't really buy new as a beginner as you will either buy cheap tack or else buy clubs that you will want to change when you find them difficult to use.

I wouldn't buy a #3 hybrid as you'll find that hard to hit. A #4 would be better but you may still struggle to hit it as a beginner.

MikeCork2009

Thanks all. It is a bit daunting knowing what to go for and what advice to trust. I asked a Pro in a shop yesterday and he said I should be spending at least £500 on clubs and £300 of that on some Mizuno irons. Better to buy something quality he said.

MikeCork2009

MikeCork2009 wrote: »

Thanks all. It is a bit daunting knowing what to go for and what advice to trust. I asked a Pro in a shop yesterday and he said I should be spending at least £500 on clubs and £300 of that on some Mizuno irons. Better to buy something quality he said.

Did he perchance have said Mizuno irons in stock?

Look that is not good advice imo. If you're just learning how to swing a golf club you don't need a quality set of irons. Buy something like you had listed in your first post, learn the basics, grow out of them (in terms of ability), and then buy yourself a new set of irons that will last you 10 years or more.

Charlie Charolais

don't buy 2nd hand, they were someone else's dream


try e.g. argos for a start; http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2143927.htm


plenty good to get going, learn the basics with these,
expensive gear won't make you a better golfer

Domo1982

I second the starter set option and go from there

When I started golf I bought a Ram starter set in McGuirks. Was perfect at the time and as I got better or more interested in playing I started to upgrade some of the key clubs like Driver,Putter & wedges while still using the ram irons. Got to single figures with the Ram irons still in the bag actually.

Enjoy anyway and get out on that course asap!

1stuey1

Something like is fine
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MENS-GOLF-CLUB-SET-WILSON-GOLF-CLUBS-VECTOR-FULL-PACKAGE-GOLF-SET-NEW-/252016330655?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aad58079f
Its what I bought when starting out, wasnt too heavy on price and good clubs albeit not the best pro clubs but who cares. if you enjoy it and in a year or 2 are still at it, upgrade!

rrpc

Charlie Charolais wrote: »

don't buy 2nd hand, they were someone else's dream


try e.g. argos for a start; http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2143927.htm


plenty good to get going, learn the basics with these,
expensive gear won't make you a better golfer

Those Wilson clubs are dreadful. My son got a set of them when he was starting off and the quality is really poor. The putter used to drive him mad as it had this awful 'ding' sound when you hit the ball. It got to the point where he'd be yipping putts in anticipation of that awful 'ding'. I tried it once and put it back in the bag after two putts.

A good second hand set will probably cost you less and will be far better quality. There are loads on eBay and you could get a good set of irons for as little as £50. Granted they may be 5 to 10 years old, but you have photos to check condition and you have plenty of choice.

Don't forget that you also need to buy a bag, shoes, a pull trolley (at least) and clothing.

Here are a few examples:
Ping
Taylormade They come with woods and putter as well
Callaway
Cleveland

Golfbidder is also a good site to find clubs, but generally these are newer and a bit more expensive.

For clothing and accessories, you can't really go wrong with sportsdirect.com; lots of bargains.

theduffer

Would the set linked below the Wilson X31 set be a good recommendation. Had a look at them and was impressed. I have an ancient set of golf clubs, im new to golf and am thinking of investing in them....

http://www.mcguirksgolf.com/p/wilson-x31-steel-package-set-mens-right-hand-inch-longer-2015/wi5c101plus1mrh

rrpc

theduffer wrote: »

Would the set linked below the Wilson X31 set be a good recommendation. Had a look at them and was impressed. I have an ancient set of golf clubs, im new to golf and am thinking of investing in them....

http://www.mcguirksgolf.com/p/wilson-x31-steel-package-set-mens-right-hand-inch-longer-2015/wi5c101plus1mrh

That's basically the same set as was linked above except it's priced in euro instead of sterling. Different name, same crap.

You can't really compare those to what you would buy separately. The cheapest set of good quality irons would be in the €250-€300 mark and you only start getting a choice of sets at about €400, so it's easy to work out what the quality in the above set is likely to be.

theduffer

rrpc wrote: »

That's basically the same set as was linked above except it's priced in euro instead of sterling. Different name, same crap.

You can't really compare those to what you would buy separately. The cheapest set of good quality irons would be in the €250-€300 mark and you only start getting a choice of sets at about €400, so it's easy to work out what the quality in the above set is likely to be.

Hi rrpc,

Thanks for all your useful information. I picked up that set of cleveland irons you recommended. What drivers and brand would you recommend? I'm assuming you would be recommending a 2nd hand set of drivers for beginners as well?