Here’s What to Bring to the Course
A player is only as good as their equipment.
Playing with ill-fitting or mismatched equipment undoubtedly reduces a golfer’s maximum potential and hurts their overall game.
So, how do you avoid this problem and create the golf bag that will carry you to the lowest scores of your career?
Here are the golf essentials every golfer must have in their bag!
CHAPTER 1
Golf Clubs
Fitting and getting the right clubs has been one of, if not the most important aspect of taking your game to new heights.
Yet, it is often overlooked by many golfers, often going with what is trendy at the moment or what’s expensive instead of embracing the importance of customizing each club.
Different manufacturers might come up with alternative ideas and approaches, but in the end what’s trendy boils down to just two major advances:
Center of Gravity Placement
The knowledge surrounding how the center of gravity placement will affect the golf club performance is not new. In fact, it has been the emphasis of golf club developments for decades.
However, the major breakthrough in material selections, such as very heavy tungsten material and extremely lightweight carbon fiber, leads to new ways to manipulate the center of gravity placements.
Adjustability and Customization
Professional club fitters can adjust newer wedges by altering the hosel and creating a higher or lower loft. Modern tour-level drivers have movable weights that customize the center of gravity placement.
By lowering and deepening the CG, you can create higher drives that maximize the launch angle and add distance.
And that is just to name a few. We can expect many more ways to fine-tune and personalize our clubs in the years to come.
Iron Sets
Finding the right set of irons (especially for seniors) can dramatically improve the game of an amateur golfer.
A great iron set can help reduce the influence of weather on the golf ball, create a high launch with a soft landing, and generate spin that dances on the green.
For senior golfers, mid handicappers, and beginners there are plenty of great iron sets and long irons to choose from. Not only are their forgiving irons that produce long distances, but they are also great buys and offer terrific value.
And for the women golfers and junior golfers out there, don’t think we’ve forgotten about you as we’ve put together lists detailing the best clubs tailored to your game as well.
Whether you are into forged irons, blade irons, cavity-back irons, or you need a utility iron, we’ve also written comprehensive reviews of the best sets for your round of golf.
Other articles for you to enjoy, look at the best irons for intermediate golfers and fans of Callaway and Ping irons, plus detailed reviews of the Wilson Ultra Irons and Callaway Strata set.
And as always, you want to find the best golf irons for your money.
Hybrids
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Much like fairway woods, hybrids are great for seniors who prefer updated gear that could boost their length and improve their accuracy.
A great tool for making long shots easier, the best hybrids will never cause the player to lose golf balls on the course.
Drivers
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Everyone wants the best driver for their game. Even if you are a beginner, searching for that perfect club for the tee box or playing a well-made driver makes golfing worthwhile.
Whether you are a mid handicapper, senior golfer that needs extra from their #1 wood, needing to cure a slice, want more forgiveness, prefer one from Cobra, TaylorMade, or Callaway, looking for a distance boosting driver or more loft with your top club there are plenty of resources to narrow your choices.
If you want to add a longtime popular driver who ranks among the best of all time, regardless of whether you are a man or woman golfer, there is plenty of information on Golf Influence to help you decide.
Fairway woods
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For the golf bag, another club that ranks among the top golf essentials is a well-crafted fairway wood. The best 3-woods always have representation from TaylorMade and Callaway.
The same holds true when looking at the best 5 woods on the market today. All are great for adding length while playing each round, making them a must-own golf club when going for the green.
Irons
Last updated on 2025-04-09. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Much like fairway woods, hybrids are great for seniors who prefer updated gear that could boost their length and improve their accuracy.
A great tool for making long shots easier, the best hybrids will never cause the player to lose.
If you are in need of some help to find more greens during each round, an ultimate guide to finding the best game-improvement irons can certainly weed out the bad golf clubs.
Players who believe a utility iron is a must-carry for golf items find that although difficult to hit, they do add length and complexity to anyone’s game, making it an important club to consider adding to the bag.
Finally, TaylorMade has long made outstanding irons like the P770, and for players looking for the best advanced clubs that always provide better contact while offering a low price, making them affordable and a great buy.
Wedges
Last updated on 2025-04-09. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
For better pitch shots or play from the sand, it is wise to get one of the best wedges on the market.
Regardless of your skill level, let’s say you are a mid handicapper or a high handicapper looking to improve your pitch shots, a wedge approved by PGA pros is a great way to advance your game around the green.
Finding one wedge could lead you to buy a pair to fill out your set.
Pitching wedges, gap wedges, lob wedges, and sand wedges; one for better bunker play and another to help you if you are a beginner looking to add more lift to your game.
Putters
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When it comes to flatsticks, we’ve got you covered over at Golf Influence.
From mallet putters to blade putters, we’ve written thousands of words covering the best putters on the market today from different golf brands, including Ping and Scotty Cameron.
If you are looking to upgrade a putter grip, add a forgiving putter or a toe hang mallet putter to your bag, or tinker with a center shafted putter, reading these articles can help ensure that you will find the one to always pack in your golf bag.
For fans of all-time lists, we’re also featuring the best putters of all time, the best Odyssey putters, and the best models for high handicappers and beginners, plus women who love spending time on the links marking your golf ball.
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
Golf Balls
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Let us begin by stating a fact: not all golf balls are created the same.
Seemingly obvious, it is often overlooked by many beginners and professionals alike. For example, there are the most forgiving golf balls and there are the best illegal golf balls.
Other golf balls are designated for better players with a premium, for value seekers, or even golf balls with low spin off the tee, which can help players of any skill level.
Golfers needing a golf ball for distance, or to help lower their scores because they are a beginner or high handicapper will find plenty of articles on the Golf Influence site.
The same goes for average golfers, seniors and women golfers looking to increase their distance and touch around the greens, higher swing speeds, and will lose its benefits or even become not optimal in the hands of players with slower swing speeds.
Thus, choosing the right ball (including practice balls) that suits your current level, swing speeds, swing arcs, and overall playstyle can significantly improve your game to new heights.
It is understandable that with so many brands like TaylorMade, Callaway, or Titleist types and features available in the market, choosing the right one can be a daunting task.
Golf balls are essential to getting you to a lower score: quality balls (and clean golf balls) go further and react better on impact.
CHAPTER 3
What to Wear
What Should Men Wear?
All male players should consider finding an ensemble that is important for how they want to play their round. Always finding the right sunglasses, golf pants, bucket hats, shorts, and regular golf hats ranks high among the golf essentials for playing 18 holes.
What Should Women Wear?
In addition to all of the accessories that males wear, female players should find a great shirt that encourages style and full body movement with their swinging motion.
What Not to Wear
All players should know the club rules about what is acceptable dress for their day on the links. Proper attire is among the essentials that every golfer needs to consider before making their way to the first tee.
Here’s what we recommend
Last updated on 2025-04-10. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Last updated on 2025-04-10. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Last updated on 2025-04-09. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Last updated on 2025-04-10. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
CHAPTER 4
Accessories
Finding the top golf accessories ranks high among the essentials you need to upgrade for the course. Compared to mini golf, you’ll want to have several of the accessories mentioned here to play better.
While you might not find the best band aids to soothe the blisters on your hands or the top lip balm to protect your lips from the sun, you will discover the top golf glove, best golf push cart, and the best towel to attach to your golf bag.
For golfing, these essential accessories are vital to reducing distraction and focusing instead on grabbing the tool from your bag that can solve any problem at any time.
By taking inventory of your golf bag, you can build a group of essentials that will leave you never needing help on the golf course.
From wooden tees to golf gloves to the best umbrella and sunscreen to take to golf courses, we cover it all in our golf accessories articles.
Well, we’ve created an exhaustive list of the golf essentials and items you need to conquer the golf course.
Every item is covered on this list from the best golf ball for your game to the best golf instruction books that will store everything you need for your round.
Important Golf Accessories
Other golf essentials include accessories that make the player better on the course.
Items such as the best accessories, best gadgets, gloves that help control sweat and humid weather, plus finding the best umbrella are extra important when playing. These also make great gifts for golfers!
When on the green, always carry a divot tool, and clean out and sharpen your grooves with a specialized groove sharpening tool.
If you lose a ball in the water but can rescue it, a well-made ball retriever can save it without getting wet.
For practice time, a golf net in the backyard can help groove your pitch and chip shots, along with a home-ready indoor putting green, you’ll find that your skills around the green come in handy to lowering your scores.
If you ever find yourself wanting your own golf cart, make sure you’ve got your batteries ready. Learn the difference between Crown Battery vs Trojan to help you choose.
Golf Shoes
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The best modern golf shoes offer superior comfort regardless of whether you wear spiked, waterproof shoes or the most expensive golf shoes.
Replacing the spikes is also easy these days and an important accessory to always carry on any of your favorite courses.
Golf Swing Trainers & Simulators
The price of swing trainers has dramatically dropped in recent years, allowing players to set up home studios that feature the best golf swing analyzers and best golf simulators.
Best Golf Swing Analyzers
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Best Golf Simulators
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A dual device like the Optishot 2 offers the ability to play and practice all from the comfort of your own home. Other great launch monitors are FlightScope X3 and Trackman 4.
Golf Course Essentials
Essential golf essentials that players need to pack in their bag include:
- water bottle
- umbrella
- sunscreen
- a glove
- socks
- grips
- tees
- rain gear
- chippers
- training aids
- head covers
- mats
- lip balm
…and plenty of other essentials for the course that you can’t do without during a round of play.
Towels
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The best golf towels offer maximum absorption, remove sweat and grime from the players hands, and keep the sun from your eyes. A long golf towel is great for a bag because it can quickly clean a ball, clubs, or extra accessories.
Great for a push cart or a riding cart, a towel is an indispensable tool that works better in a pair, although some players like to pack up to three towels in their kit.
Rangefinders & GPS Devices
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Technology has moved the game of golf forward, with rangefinders and GPS devices helping weekend warriors find the right yardage for any important shot on the course.
Using the right golf clubs for each shot can only help get the ball closer to the pin.
GPS Apps, GPS watches, speakers, and rangefinders can all take the guesswork out of finding the yardage, helping to ensure that you never miss another yardage again on any courses you come to play.
Golf Bags
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A top golf bag can revolutionize the golfing experience for a beginning or inexperienced player. With a new bag that can travel or is great for walking the course on a Sunday.
Regardless if you are a man or woman golfer, the best option allows you to pack more accessories and never allows you to forget your favorite ball.
Cart bags offer extra storage with three pockets on each side of the bag to store extra balls, accessories like sun protection products, like sunscreen all from the comfort of riding in the cart.
Extra pockets are never a bad idea in a golf bag, allowing weekend warriors to take extra socks, sun protection, golf cart heaters, and golf balls.
Push Carts
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For players that love to walk their course, a push cart that can hold a bag to carry a towel or towels, bottle, set of clubs, while carrying extra things like a pack of socks and rain gear is a big help on the links, and one of the top golf essentials that an amateur can buy for their collection.
Golf Tees
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The top golf tees on the market today come in bags of 50, 100, and 200.
From long tees to short tees, you should never put yourself in a position where you run out of extra tees when you need one to speed up play during your round.
CHAPTER 5
What Do Pros Use (What’s in The Bag?)
Every golfer loves playing with the same equipment and apparel of their favorite golfer. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, serious golfers had a red shirt in their closet, just like Tiger Woods.
We’ve put together over a dozen articles on the site that show what golf clubs, golf balls, and other accessories the best professionals on the PGA Tour are playing currently.
These “What’s in the Bag?” articles, otherwise known as WITB articles, provide excellent information if you are interested in adding new balls or the clubs of your favorite professional player to your golf bag.
Golfers such as Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Jason Day, Luke List, Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Champ, Tommy Fleetwood, and Justin Thomas are also represented in our expansive WITB section.
CHAPTER 6
Conclusion
Playing with the right golfing essentials, whether it is a better bag or a sleeve of three new, soft balls, and improved golf balls, will help improve the enjoyment of another round for many years to come.
Tip! Make golfing more fun with these games you can play on the course!