Golf Essentials by James Anderson

Without question, golf clubs are the most essential pieces of golf equipment. They are your keys to greatness and your weapons of battle. Without the proper set of clubs, you might as well be playing croquet, because you're not going to make a game winning long drive, or a precision putt.

From rookie to pro, the right clubs are undisputed golf essentials. According to the official rules of golf, a player can have no more than 14 clubs in his or her bag. One of those clubs is your putter, leaving you with 13 tools that will make or break your game.

To properly arm yourself with the golf essentials, it's important to be honest with yourself about your skill level, the quality of your swing, and exactly what kind of player you are. This will help in making your choice of woods and irons to match your game, and it can save you a bundle of money. If you fess up to the fact that you are indeed a beginner golfer, you can save hundreds of dollars on an inexpensive starter set of clubs.

To match your skill level with your golf equipment, you need to know your handicap. There are low-handicap, mid-handicap, and high-handicap golfers. The term 'handicap' measures how well you will compare with an average golfer in shooting an 18-hole golf course. Golf experts classify low-level golfers as those who will shoot an average of 82 or less on a typical course. This equals 9 or fewer strokes over par, or a single digit handicap. If you have been designated a low level handicap, you'll want to pack your bag with high performance golf essentials. Choose the best clubs and maximize your abilities.

Golf essentials include clubs to get you through, or around, any situation. Be sure to pack a driver and at least one other wood, such as the 3-wood. Low irons, such as the 3- or 4-iron, are also necessary. Low-level handicap players can make more accurate shots, and these essential clubs can help you hit the green from 200 or more yards. Your pitching wedge and high trajectory irons, like the 8 and 9, will benefit your mid-range approach shots.

Anyone can hit a ball with any golf club, but the right clubs for you are definite golf essentials. Choose your weapons wisely, and be sure to bring the right ones along. Oh, don't forget your sand wedge. Life's a beach after all, and you could find yourself right in the middle of it.