Heads up, friends: this post has affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. This list includes things I use and things I am considering; I explain the difference below. 💛
Hey friends, it's Lizzie! My Amazon storefront has a golf list now, so here's what's actually on it and why. Worth explaining, because I'm a beginner: driving-range era, one glove to my name, first eighteen still on the calendar. So this is the honest tour. Some of it I own, some of it I'm shortlisting for after my first real round, and I'll tell you which is which.
How I built the list
Three rules. It has to be something I'd actually take to the range, wear on a course, or genuinely want once I'm past the beginner stage. It has to be cute enough that I'd be happy to be photographed in it, because I am always being photographed in it. And it can't be the expensive version of something a beginner doesn't need yet. That last rule is why there are golf shoes on the list and none in my closet.
The one thing I own: the glove
The only golf-specific item I've bought is a glove, and it lives at the top of the list. It made the club feel more secure in my hands. If you buy one golf-specific thing as a beginner, this is the one; the list has a couple of women's glove options at different price points, and mine is right here.
What I wear to the range
Most of my range outfits were already in my closet, which is why the list leans toward matching sets and dresses with built-in shorts rather than head-to-toe golf clothing. The tennis-style dresses with shorts and a bra built in are exactly the shape that works for a swing, the layered sets are the same idea in two pieces, and the sleeveless collared polo is the one piece of “real” golf clothing I'm tempted by for a course with a dress code. The ponytail trucker hat is the visor alternative for days you want a high pony and shade at the same time. Sneakers, not shoes; more on that below.
The small stuff that makes a range day nicer
- Tees. Wooden, mixed lengths, a hundred of them, because beginners lose them fast.
- Ball markers and hat clips. The cute pink ones. Purely because they make me smile, and because a marker is useful for marking your ball on the green.
- A golf towel with a clip. Two on the list, both embroidered, both funny. A towel is the thing everyone forgets and everyone needs.
- A ball stamp. An option for identifying your own balls on the course. At the driving range, use the range balls and follow that facility's rules.
- A magnetic phone holder for the cart. For the first eighteen, when I will absolutely be filming.
- A clear makeup pouch. Sunscreen, lip balm, hair ties, a card. It belongs in a golf bag, and until you own one, a tote works fine.
The practice stuff
A hitting mat with swing-path feedback is on the list for the day I have a garage corner to give it, because five minutes of swings at home between range days is the kind of boring consistency that actually improves a beginner. The Callaway balls are an option to compare for your own rounds. Check the exact model and price; a ball is not automatically right for every beginner, and you will usually use the facility's balls at a driving range.
What I'm shortlisting for after my first round
Golf shoes. There are two pairs on the list, a spikeless Callaway pair and a leather Lacoste pair, and I own neither. I play in regular sneakers or my Tory Burch ones, and I'm not buying shoes until I know I want the grip on a real course. They're on the list so they're easy to find when the time comes.
A women's club set. The pink Precise set is the one that keeps coming up for beginners. A friend gave me a complete pink RAM Axial women's set to start, so I haven't had to buy clubs yet. Whatever you pick, a lesson is the best way to learn what to look for. This one is on the list as a reference for anyone buying a first set.
What's deliberately not on the list
A bag, a rangefinder, a cart, expensive balls, anything that assumes I already play eighteen a week. The list is for the golfer I am, which is a beginner with a glove, a visor, a cute set and a small bucket. It will grow as I do. If you're starting where I am, that's the whole point: buy the small stuff, borrow the big stuff, and let the list grow with your game. The full thing is one click below.
A note on how the links work
These are affiliate links, so if you buy through my list I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices on Amazon move constantly, so treat anything you see written anywhere as a snapshot and check the live listing. And if you've found something for beginner golfers that should be on here, tell me on Instagram; I read everything.
How I'd shop the list if you're starting this month
Buy the glove and a bag of tees. That's a range day sorted. Add a towel and a marker when you've been back three times and know you're staying. Then a dress or a set with built-in shorts if nothing in your closet works, and the ponytail hat if your hair is in your eyes on the backswing. Leave the shoes, the mat and the club set for the version of you who has booked a real round. The list is in roughly that order on purpose.
What I'll add after my first eighteen
Whatever the course teaches me I was missing. My guess is a proper bag, a second glove, and shoes, in that order, but I've been wrong about what a beginner needs before. This time I'm letting the round decide. I'll update this post when it does.
🛍️ My Amazon list: Golf
The glove, the sets, the tees, the towels, and the shoes I am shortlisting.
Your Questions, Answered
What golf gear does a beginner actually need? For a driving-range visit, check what the facility provides or rents and what its dress code requires. A comfortable outfit and suitable shoes come first; a glove is optional. Course play adds items such as your own balls, tees and a marker.
Do you need golf shoes to start? I play in regular sneakers, but check the facility’s footwear rules. The shoes on my list are a shortlist, not pairs I own.
What do you wear to the driving range as a woman? I like a matching set or a tennis-style dress with built-in shorts, a visor or ponytail hat, sneakers and a glove. Check the dress and footwear rules for the specific range or course before going.
