What Golf Equipment is Worth Investing In?

Are you hoping to improve your handicap in 2022? Or perhaps you’ve a golf enthusiast in the family and are in search of the perfect Christmas gift?

 

With hundreds of tools and products promising to improve your game, choosing golf equipment that’s worth investing in can be a minefield. But fear not, because we’ve done the leg work for you, coming up with a definitive list of golfing tools that deserve a place in your club bag.

 

Clubs

 

Is it time for a new set of clubs? Or perhaps you’re a beginner looking to take to the fairway for the first time?

 

Golf clubs can be expensive, but there are advantages to opting for a mid-high range set as opposed to an affordable starter kit. For starters, you’ll find ball striking much easier, while also enjoying more power and control between drives and putts.

 

There are, of course, complete golf club sets out there that are perfect for beginners. But if you’re looking to invest in your game, it’s well worth building a bespoke selection featuring all your preferred clubs.

 

Typically, the clubs you’ll need include:

 

·      Putter

·      Driver

·      Fairway woods

·      Sand wedge

 

With lots of makes, models, weights, and setups out there, choosing your preferred clubs is a matter of trying different options to get a feel for what you like and dislike. For this reason, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend buying someone a club as a gift – simply because it’s a very easy thing to get wrong.

What does every golfer need

Golf Bag

 

Golf bags range widely in price, with some offering specialist features and storage areas that bump up the cost. Generally, you’re looking for a bag that will keep your clubs safe and not disintegrate after a few long days out on the course. After that, it’s just a matter of personal taste and overall budget.

 

There is, however, one thing you’ll need to decide before buying a golf bag, and that’s whether you want to carry it or push it. Some club bags are designed to be carried on the shoulder, with cushioned straps to make transporting up and down the fairway as comfortable as possible. Others are strapless, but instead have mountings that allow them to be carried in a compatible push cart.

 

There’s not a huge difference in price between these two club bag variations, but you do need to factor in the additional cost of a push cart. Two of the leading brands in golf club bags that are stocked in The Mere Golf Shop are TaylorMade and Wilson.

 

Push Cart

 

Using a push cart to carry your clubs might sound like overkill, but it makes sense when you consider how heavy a bag of clubs can be. Hefting a bag around for hours at a time can place a lot of strain on your shoulder, neck, and back, so you could easily find yourself feeling weary by the end of the course.

 

Indeed, such is the cumbersome weight of a full bag of clubs that many golfers opt for a push rather than pull trolly carrier; this is to make the weight easier to transport around all day. We would strongly recommend a push cart over a pull, and the difference in price between the two variants is largely negligible.

 

Don’t forget, you can try out push carts from The Mere’s golf shop, where they can be rented for your round. You can also rent electric golf buggies, perfect for saving all your strength for your swing.

Things that golfers need

Golf Balls

 

Many beginner golfers wrongly assume that golf balls are provided by course operators. And while that is the case in some situations (such as during tournaments), it’s generally assumed that players should bring their own balls to the course.

 

Regular golfers can never have too many golf balls. After all, it’s likely that you’ll lose at least a small handful every time you play. Happily, golf balls are available to buy in bulk net bags, so there’s no need to run short out on the fairway.

 

As with clubs, the balls you use are highly subjective. You’ll need to play with a few different types before you get a feel for what you like and dislike. Some of the best golf balls currently on the market are Titleist 2021 Pro V1, Srixon 2021 Z-Star, and Callaway Chrome Soft.

 

Ballmarkers

 

Ballmarkers are an essential bit of kit to keep in your club bag, allowing you to mark the position of your ball while another player is taking their turn. They come in lots of shapes, sizes, colours, and designs, so make sure you carry a handful with you and don’t rely on coins, as they can mark the green.

 

For golf gift-buyers, ballmarkers make an excellent stocking filler. There are lots of options out there, so you can find something that reflects their interest, personality, or sense of style.

 

Pitch Mark Repairer

 

Another club bag essential; pitch mark repairers are small tools used to repair holes and divots on the fairway and green. They allow players to raise or tap down the turf with ease, so they can leave the surface as they found it and not make a nuisance of themselves at their local club.

 

Pitch mark repairers range in price, with some starting below £10 and others hovering around the £50 mark. We’d recommend a multi-tool option which not only lets you repair the course but also allows you to clean your clubs too.

Important tools for golfers

Golf Rangefinder

 

Golf rangefinders are used to measure strike distances, so they can help improve your game and work on your swing. Ideal for players actively looking to improve, these nifty tools come in two varieties, including GPS-enabled and laser, with both offering different pros and cons.

 

GPS golf rangefinders allow you to track the distance and location of your ball, as well as your position in relation to the hole. More expensive than their laser counterparts, they’re great for finding your way around a course and always knowing where you are in relation to the green. However, they do require a course to be mapped first, which can be a drawback.

 

Laser rangefinders are more affordable than GPS versions, and are generally only used for measuring how far a ball has been struck. Slower to work than GPS models, they also require you to have a direct line of sight with your ball, which may not be convenient on some holes.

 

Do you need a rangefinder? No, not really. But if you want to improve your swing and get the most from your set of clubs, they’re a nice-to-have tool that could help you raise that handicap.

 

Golf Towels

 

We can’t overstate the importance of having a decent set of golf towels in your club bag when you’re out on the fairway. These specially designed microfibre towels are absolutely ideal for drying your hands, rubbing and cleaning your clubs, and wiping away sweat, so make sure you always carry at least two towels on every trip.

 

Tip – when using golf towels, keep one for drying your hands and another for cleaning your clubs and balls. You can thank us later.

 

We hope this guide helps you assemble the perfect kit and take your game to the next level. At The Mere, our dedicated Golf Shop has everything you need to enjoy a day on our award-winning fairways, including clubs, clothing, accessories and more. For more information or to plan your visit, click here.