Playing Equipment
The earliest golf clubs were made of exquisite wood - ash, thorn, apple and pear hence the name Wood’s. The Irons were more suited to the harder ball so wooden club makers began searching for materials that would make the ball go further.
Playing golf requires a range of equipment, all of which can be purchased and a lot of which may be hired. The main necessities are the golf clubs, golf bag, balls, tees, golf glove and shoes. Additional equipment includes a trolley, markers, a scorecard and pencil, waterproofs and an umbrella, a cap, hat or visor.
Golf clubs are designed to help you make different kinds of shots. There are Woods, Irons and Wedges for the shot from the tee to the green. A sand wedge for the bunkers and lastly a putter for rolling the ball along the green and into the hole. Each club has a different loft, or angle of the clubhead, which produces shots of different heights and distances.
The Woods have the least angle on the club face and are designed for shots from the tee or for long fairway shots. In theory, the Driver or 1 Wood provides the least height but the greatest distance of shot. In contrast the 3 Wood travels higher but not as far.
Iron clubs are numbered from 1 to 9. Again the low numbered clubs are built for distance while the 7, 8 and 9 irons are for higher, shorter shots.
Wedges are designed for even shorter and high shots aroud the green, short chipping on to the green and out of the bunkers.
Putters come in a variety of styles but all have a flat face with which the ball is struck to roll across the green.