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.
The Internet is a very good place to search for used golf clubs. A lot of people post their ads selling their used equipment at really low prices. Just cause it's used, doesn't mean that your opponents will be in a better position. As long as the clubs are properly used and are in good condition, they are as good as new. Buying used golf clubs is the best choice for a golfer on a limited budget or for people who are new to the sport. Because if you are a novice golfer, you probably won't make all the right choices when buying a set of golf clubs for the first time, therefore, you shouldn't spend so much money on something that you are not even sure it will be good for you. Once you are aware of your style of play and actually develop a certain way of playing, then you can think about getting the latest and top notch equipment. And that is if and only if you can afford it. A regular set of golf clubs costs about $1000, a used set can be purchased at $500-600. But pros play with golf sets that are worth around $1000. So, there are golf clubs and golf clubs.
When you are making your choices, it's an absolute must to check the condition of any used golf club you get. First, check for face wear. Clubs used for a long time usually have a shiny worn spot at the center of the club face. Check the edges, make sure they are well defined. Test the shaft, see if it's strong enough and not weaken in any area. Test it by twisting the grip and head in opposite directions. If there isn't much resistance, that means the shaft is weakened. The next element to look is the grips. Make sure they aren't worn out, because re-gripping costs about $15 per club. Check every club one by one and then see if the whole set has consistency, by lining up all the clubs and comparing them. You don't want to buy a set that consists of clubs with different shaft types or models varying from one club to another. There should be a normal progression in terms of the length of all clubs.