Golf Set for Beginner

[polymath]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to golf - new as in... stepped on a golf course for the first time last week. I'm currently taking a couple of lessons to get me started with basics.

I plan on purchasing a beginner golf set that will last me around three years to a point when I'm ready to invest in serious equipment if I find myself getting more involved and enjoying the game of golf.

I've looked around in pro shops as well as dept. stores and the sets in the pro shops seem to be above my budget.

I have a couple of questions:

1. In terms of the make of a golf set, Dunlop and Wilson seem to be the primary choices that are available in my budget. Is one brand considered better over the other?

2. In terms of the shafts, I've read that I should go for steel shafts. Is there anything else I should consider?

3. Each golf set seems to come with different number of clubs. Now I think if there are more clubs in the set it will allow me to refine my game at a more granular level - but am I missing something here?

4. Some sets come with SW while others come with a PW. Does this matter?

Sorry about the many questions... but like I said I'm a beginner... even though I've done a fair bit of research through Google, there's a lot of information out there and sometimes it gets confusing.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[tortoise]

1) I wouldn't worry too much about the brand. Starting out getting something that has the right shaft flex and decent fit is probably much more important. You'll want a more forgiving club too. I suggest going used as you'll most likely end up with a better set for way less money.

2) Steel shafts in the irons and graphite in the woods/driver is a safe bet.

3) Huh?

4) Most sets are 3 or 4 - PW. A SW can be added later.

Here's my suggestions from what's on sale in the forum (assuming you shoot right).

Driver (Couldn't find a cheap driver on OG): http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-se...AdIdZ386937438

Hybrids: http://forum.ottawagolf.com/showthre...-cheap-hybrids

Irons: http://forum.ottawagolf.com/showthre...y-Armour-845Us

Putter: http://forum.ottawagolf.com/showthre...White-HOt-XG-7

Bag: http://forum.ottawagolf.com/showthre...cend-Carry-Bag

For $260 all in you aren't going to do any better.

Of course, if you shoot left, nevermind. But at least you get the idea.

[Grouchy]

I wouldn't worry too much about different components just yet like shaft material. I'm sure you know that the different clubs are for hitting different distances, but when you are just starting the difference in reality isn't that much. Unless you are going hard core, the first couple of years won't be refining your game to a "granular level", it'll be hammering home the basics.

Personally, I would just buy a set that had a Driver,, putter, maybe a hybrid or two, 5-9 iron and a sand wedge. At that price point, I doubt the quality will be dramatically different.

eta: lol, no response for two days, then a simulpost.

[polymath]

Thanks for the replies tortoise & Grouchy... I appreciate the pointers.

I spoke to a few people over the weekend and they had similar advice for me - i.e. For the first year or two I shouldn't be too worried about specific details and just get the basics of mechanics using any golf clubs. So I took the plunge and purchased a dept. store set of 10 clubs.