Golf equipment

Have you ever wondered what equipment a golfer needs to complete their round?

Or might you be completely new to golf but are going to St Andrews to watch Tom Grennan perform in August and want to catch some AIG Women's Open action while you're there?

Don't worry; we've got you covered.

You're no doubt already aware that golf clubs and balls are the obvious essentials, but there is a raft of other items a golfer needs to pack before they walk onto the course.

Let us take you through a checklist of most of the things you can expect to see a player carrying or using during their 18 holes…

Clubs

No golfer would be complete without a set of clubs. There must be no more than 14 clubs in a bag and that collection will be made up of a mix of woods, irons, wedges and a putter.

Woods

Woods are a group of clubs so called because of the material from which they were historically made.

A driver is the most powerful club in the bag, a club which is usually used off the tee (see above) because of the distance it can generate.

(Based on this season's stats, the average distance you can expect to see a player drive the ball during the AIG Women's Open will be somewhere between 245 and 280 yards.)

Other woods, such as a 3-wood or a 5-wood, are often used off the tee but can also be used on the fairway* - commonly known as “fairway woods”.

*the fairway is the long stretch of short grass between the tee box and the putting green.

Irons

Irons are shorter in length than woods and come in numbered sets, typically from a 3-iron to a 9-iron.

The blade (or “face”) of each iron is angled differently.

A 3-iron is flatter than a 9-iron, with the aim of achieving more distance. The face of each subsequent iron is angled to a greater degree, allowing for more height on a shot but reducing the distance the ball will travel.

A golfer will decide which iron to choose depending on how far they would like to hit the ball.

Wedges

While they are still technically ‘irons’, the blade of a wedge is more severely angled for more height.

The most typical wedges used are pitching/chipping wedges, gap wedges, sand wedges (initially designed for bunker shots) and lob wedges, with each one being used for approach shots into greens depending on the distance.

Putter

A putter (colloquially referred to as the “flat stick”) is most commonly used on the greens and allows a golfer to putt the ball into the hole.

Some players choose to putt the ball from off the green if they feel they are close enough.

Golf balls

The ultimate premise of golf is to hit your ball from the tee into the hole in the fewest amount of shots.

There are many manufacturers of golf balls - as there are clubs - and most players will mark their ball with a pen in order to differentiate it from another player's.

Tees

A tee is a very small plastic or wooden stick upon which a golf ball can perch.

A tee may only be used in the tee box and helps a golfer achieve maximum distance (and/or height) with their first shot on a hole.

Glove

A golf glove simply helps a player get a more comfortable grip of a club.

Right-handed players will wear a glove on their left hand while left-handed golfers will wear a glove on their right hand.

Most players remove their glove while putting in order to get a better feel for the putt.

Golf shoes

Just like any sports shoe, golf shoes come in a variety of different styles.

What makes golf shoes unique is that they contain small spikes on the sole (not too dissimilar to shoes worn for track and field), to aid a player's balance.

Ball marker

A ball marker may only be used on the green.

Golf etiquette dictates that the player who is furthest away from the hole putts first so ball markers allow their playing partner(s) to mark where their ball sits, allowing them to remove said ball from possible line of sight - in other words, moving their ball out of the way.

Scorecard

Every player must keep a record of their score after each hole.

In competitive golf, a player must sign their scorecard and submit it to an official in the clubhouse at the end of each round. Failure to do so will lead to disqualification from the tournament.

Headgear

You will rarely see a golfer without a hat of some description.

The most common hat seen on course is a baseball cap, but some players – such as Georgia Hall (above) – opt for a visor.

In colder conditions players often choose a warmer alternative, such as a beanie.

Sunglasses

While a hat may shield the sun to some degree, sometimes a golfer will need to wear sunglasses for added protection.

And on really hot days, sun lotion is also an essential.

Umbrella

A round of golf can take 4-5 hours to complete, so players must be prepared for every eventuality when it comes to the weather.

Even in the height of summer, players will often have an umbrella packed inside their bag in case of a sudden downpour.

Towels

A golfer will often carry with them more than one towel.

While one or two will be used for cleaning clubs during the round, a spare towel will be available in case a player needs to dry themselves in wet, or extremely hot, conditions.