You don't need 14 clubs to start golf. Here's the exact minimal set — driver, hybrid, a few irons, two wedges, and a putter — plus what to buy, what to skip, and how much to spend in 2026.
The two questions every golfer asks — what's my handicap, and what does that word mean — answered instantly and for free.
Mid handicapper (bogey golfer)
See the full breakdown for 90172 terms, in plain English
Birdie, stableford, up and down, banana ball — every bit of golf jargon you'll hear, each with an example.
Open the full glossaryEverything a new golfer needs — clubs, etiquette, rules, cost, and how to break 100. Start here.
Breaking 100 in golf isn't about hitting perfect shots — it's about avoiding disasters. Here's the exact bogey-golf strategy, hole-by-hole plan, and practice priorities to shoot 99 or better.
June 20, 2026
The unwritten rules of golf etiquette — pace of play, safety, where to stand, caring for the course, and dress code. Learn the 20 essentials before your first round so you play with confidence.
June 12, 2026
The Rules of Golf allow a maximum of 14 clubs in your bag — with no minimum. Here's the exact rule, the penalty for carrying too many, a typical 14-club setup, and what beginners should actually carry.
June 5, 2026
A realistic, no-hype breakdown of what it costs to start golfing in 2026 — clubs, balls, shoes, green fees, and range balls — on any budget, plus exactly where to save and where not to.
May 20, 2026Everything a new golfer needs — clubs, etiquette, rules, cost, and how to break 100. Start here.
Fixes, drills, and fundamentals to stop the slice, strike it pure, and shoot lower scores.
Independent, hands-on reviews and buying guides for drivers, irons, balls, and tech.
Course guides, buddy-trip itineraries, and bucket-list golf you can actually play.
We're everyday golfers, not a faceless content farm. We play the courses we write about, test the gear we recommend, and write the beginner guides we wish we'd had when we first teed it up. In our experience, the fastest way to enjoy golf is straight answers without the jargon — so that's what we publish.
Our team brings a combined 30-plus years of experience and hundreds of rounds spent testing clubs, balls, and training aids. Every guide, calculator, and reference on this site is written and reviewed by our team, and where we cite numbers we base them on published data and label estimates as estimates.
According to distance research from the USGA and shot-tracking data from Arccos and Shot Scope, here's what typical golf actually looks like:
| Metric | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Average recreational driver carry | ~215 yards |
| PGA Tour average driving distance | ~300 yards |
| Average golfer's 18-hole score | low-to-mid 90s |
| Handicap for a golfer who shoots 90 | ≈ 14–16 |
Figures are estimates from public data — see our club distance chart and handicap calculator for the full breakdowns.
Our data and rulings draw on authoritative sources including the USGA, The R&A, the Rules of Golf, and the World Handicap System. Written and reviewed by the Fairway Labs team — meet the people behind the site.
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