As the sport became more and more competitive, players want top notch golf equipment to have the upper hand. If we just examine the history of the golf ball, we can understand how technology has changed and improved the sport. There is a documented reference that the very fist golf ball was made from wood in 1550. In 1898, Coburn Haskell created the one-piece rubber cored ball which was then officially adopted by the US and British Opens in 1901. Modern age technology made a lot of changes to the golf ball, allowing players to hit it farther, straighter and longer than ever before. Precisely engineered dimple patterns have allowed manufacturers to alter everything from trajectory to spin rates.
The golf clubs evolved from primitive wooden shafts to carbon fiber shafts with precisely engineered club heads. The club head is called clubface. Usually, the entire set of a pro player would consist of 14 clubs - three woods (wooden head, designed for long distances from a tee of fairway), two wedges, a putter (provide more accuracy, used for the putting shot) and eight irons (with metal heads). Special 'Game Improvement Golf Clubs' are available featuring a clubhead, designed to provide less distance loss or less of a drop in accuracy when the ball is hit away from the center of the clubface. The goal of every golfer is to hit the ball with the center of the clubface, but for novice players, that can be hard, so such clubs could be a good choice.
Basically, all you need to start playing golf is a set of golf clubs - three woods, collection of 3-9-irons, pitching wedge, sand wedge and a putter. As you develop your skills, you can buy additional clubs for more advanced shots. But remember, you can't carry more than 14 clubs in your bag at a time. Of course, before buying anything, be aware of your skill level.
Walking around a golf course without the proper shoes can be a real disaster. High quality shoes are available in abundance and brands such as Adidas and Nike are playing a key role in this sport as well. When buying a pair of golf shoes, look for the following characteristics: comfort, style, traction, breathability, waterproofing and price.
Of course, you will have to carry all the golf equipment with you, so buying a golf bag is an absolute must. A golf bag surely won't influence your game in any way, so the choice is up to your individual likes and needs. Prices and features on golf bags vary vastly. The carry bag is the most basic and widely used type. All top manufacturers produce quality carry bags.