When I first picked up the game, golf essentials were not something I thought about very often.
Grab my clubs, make sure there are balls in the bag, and let’s go.
A lot has changed for me over the years and I’ve reached a point where I can’t believe I ever played golf without a bunch of this stuff.
Most of it I learned the hard way.
Whether it was being stranded out on a Florida golf course in pouring rain or almost passing out from dehydration because I forgot my water bottle.
I’ve been humbled by golf more times than I can remember.
But with that comes a wealth of knowledge that I feel obliged to share with the rest of the golfing world.
So, without further ado, here are all the golf essentials I wouldn’t want to leave home without.
Golf Essentials for Your Bag
The first part of this list is all things you can and should carry in your bag.
Maybe not for every round, living in Southern California I know I don’t need an umbrella every round, but I can promise that I have dreaded days when I don’t have one of these at the ready.
Golf Towel
No golf bag is ready to hit the course without a towel.
In fact, I even carry two of them with me now.
Frankly, there’s no excuse to not clean your clubs after every shot.
Any dirt, sand, or moisture between your club face and the ball is ruining any spin that you would normally get.
Some people are die-hards over types of towels. I’m less die-hard and more, “just get a towel.”
At the end of the day, the point is to clean the club.
It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.
With that said, I still have some recommendations:
- CMC (Fun nostalgic designs)
- Ballpark Prints (Limited selection, but awesome if they have your team.)
- Blue Tees Magnetic Towel
Tees
There’s nothing like the subtle compliment of having some sweet tees.
I honestly have so many tees in my bag that I may never buy a tee again for the rest of my golfing days.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t have some favorites.
For starters, I love wood tees.
Yes, plastic tees theoretically last forever (or close to it).
But I think we’ve all used plastic tees that start to bend after a few good knocks.
I simply don’t like that.
Give me a wood tee and call it a day.
My favorite?
They don’t break as often as other wood tees and their designs are guaranteed to get comments from playing partners.
Extra Socks
A secret on the golf essentials list, this definitely matters more when you’re playing golf with the sun beating down on you, but socks are a game-changer.
While playing baseball growing up, an old coach would make us change socks between games in a doubleheader.
OH MY GOODNESS. What a difference.
Something about having fresh socks just revitalizes you.
So whether you need to change socks at the turn, or you are in your car for the drive home, know that it will change your life for the better.
Extra Golf Glove(s)
Nothing stinks more than ripping a hole in your glove and not having a backup.
And honestly, gloves are so light and slim that carrying an extra or two should be no problem.
On top of that, all of us sweaty-palm people can benefit from this too.
If your hands are anything like mine, it is an absolute necessity to have an extra glove when you sweat through the first one.
Some of my favorites:
- Mizuno Golf Glove
- Vice Golf Glove (You won’t find a better price for a better glove.)
- Titleist Golf Glove
Ball Marker
First off, you should never be the person on the green not marking your ball.
Second, it’s one of the best ways to make a statement about who you are and what’s important to you.
Whether it’s your favorite golf course, your favorite team to root for, or an inside joke with golf buddies, I promise there’s a ball marker for it.
Seamus Golf has some sweet, metal ball markers that are sure to turn some heads.
Divot Repair Tool
One of those golf essentials that others will thank you for.
Making a divot on the green is something that should be celebrated.
Don’t ruin it by not fixing your mark.
In a recent round of golf, I found myself putting from about 25 feet away and had to walk all the way down my line to fix FOUR ball marks.
That’s lunacy!
Fix your marks, everybody!
And while you’re at it, don’t be afraid to fix someone else’s too. We could all use a little more golf karma.
You can truly go down a rabbit hole of really cool divot repair tools.
Sunscreen
I’m ashamed to say I didn’t wear enough sunscreen in my younger days.
Who did though, right?
Now that I’m older and have a kid, it’s a must.
I hate waking up the morning after a round with sore skin because I got burned all over. Or worse, not being able to sleep because my ears hurt so much from getting burned.
I can’t believe I have a favorite sunscreen, but here goes…
This Neutrogena spray is amazing.
Somehow it’s not as sticky as others tend to be, and it smells delightful.
Snacks
Golf rounds seem to be getting longer and longer these days and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
What does that mean?
You’ve got to have snacks.
Just make sure you protect them.
Short ‘feel sorry for myself’ story…
Golfing at Coyote Hills in Southern California, I once had a brand new cookie stolen out of my cart by a squirrel.
As I still remember it many years later, you can tell how devastating this was to my morale.
I guess the cart girl wasn’t kidding when she said to watch out for the wildlife.
But I’ve learned my lesson and I snack responsibly now.
What are my favorite snacks?
It’s usually something that can be resealed or eaten quickly at one time.
My first one, and usually something I carry with me on every golf course is… don’t laugh… Uncrustables.
The ones that five-year-olds get in their lunch. Yes, those Uncrustables!
Before you make fun of me, let me defend why they are the perfect snack!
They come in a box with 4 of them, so you know you’ll have food through the entire round.
They start frozen and only need to be eaten within 8 hours, so you know they’ll be delicious any time you need them during your round.
And they have different flavors to fit any craving you might have. From grape PB&J to hazelnut spread, to peanut butter and honey, they’ve got you covered.
As long as you can handle being called a five-year-old by your playing partners, there’s no better way to snack.
But if you’re not brave enough, I guess you can always use the old favorites like beef jerky, protein bars, non-chocolate candy treats, or nuts.
Water Bottle
You’ve got to hydrate!
Everybody has their preference for what they want to use out there, but I always recommend having your own vessel to drink out of.
Most of the drinks golf courses will give you are going to be in some flimsy plastic cup that will do nothing but become a beacon of condensation disaster.
I personally recommend something that fits in the cup holder of a golf cart.
Those often mean they won’t hold as much, but I think I drink more if I see it sitting there in front of me the whole day.
If you have a golf bag with an ample spot for a bottle you can always go with something on the larger size.
Whichever size you prefer, I’m a staunch Yeti enthusiast because of their chug cap.
I only thought it was silly until I used a water bottle that didn’t have it.
Hydration Packet
Sometimes water just isn’t enough.
I definitely don’t have a ride-or-die dog in this fight.
All the ones I have tried seem to do pretty much the same thing.
Some have more electrolytes in them than others, which will help with the replenishment to your body.
But some of them also taste really bad.
At the end of the day, adding a little flavor to your water is probably going to make you drink more of it, which ends up being a win-win.
I would just recommend staying away from any of the ones that pump a bunch of sugar into you. (Most of the ones you’ll find, won’t have sugar anyway.)
Drinks
I have to admit, I’m not a drinker on the golf course. Adult beverage drinker that is.
I had the unfortunate event of stomach surgery in my younger days, so my golf rounds are spent with no liquid lubricant if things go sideways in my swing.
What’s left for me?
When it’s not water, it’s usually a Gatorade Zero or a Liquid Death (yes the sparkling water).
I still get carded sometimes when I pick up a Liquid Death, so I least I get to feel like I’m enjoying an adult beverage.
Pain Reliever
A list of golf essentials wouldn’t be complete without this one.
You can skip this section if you are still a young buck…
For the rest of us, a list of golf essentials wouldn’t be complete without some pain relievers for that achy back.
To each their own on here.
If you’re at the point where you know you need it, you probably already have your own favorite anyway.
My go-tos are Advil and Aleve and I’ll just leave it at that.
Hand Warmers
The thing you never need until you NEED it.
I think we’ve all seen an NFL linebacker play a game with a club of athletic tape on one of his hands.
Although it may show his toughness, it’s not something you can do in golf.
Hands and fingers working properly are essential for a sport where the smallest degrees of difference can literally mean winning and losing a round.
These are undoubtedly not needed everywhere or every time you play, but when you do they save your butt.
Alignment Sticks
The one thing I carry in my golf back that I’m ashamed it took me so long to carry.
It all starts with a story of the first golf tournament I ever went to and watching pros on the range.
Do you know what EVERY one of them had on the ground next to them?
Alignment sticks.
EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.
I don’t know why I had held out for so long.
I don’t know if I was somehow afraid of what people might think on the range.
But that’s all behind me now.
One thing I’ve learned is that part of the reason pros are so good is because they don’t care how dumb they have to look to practice what they need to practice.
If it makes them better, they do it.
Every time. No matter what.
Clubhead Covers
You should have clubhead covers in your bag.
Period.
However, none of them should be on your irons.
Drivers, woods, hybrids, putters.
That’s it.
What are some good ones I like?
Did I mention Seamus Golf already? Yeah, they have some more sweet stuff here too.
Valuables Pouch
Don’t tell my wife, but I’m not very good at securing my belongings when I go play golf.
She probably already knows this though as I’m notorious for walking away from carts with her purse in it while we shop.
Many of rounds have ended with me standing behind my car stifling through my bag wondering if I left my keys in the golf cart somewhere.
What’s the solution for this?
Valuables pouch!
Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. It’s just an easy way to make sure everything stays in one safe place and your goods are always there when you’re ready to return home.
You can go a lot of different ways with this.
Just like ball markers, it’s a great way to make a statement about some sort of fandom you have, but you can always go tradition clean leather with a company signature on it.
Either way, just make sure your stuff is safe!
Rangefinder
There is a long-standing debate out there over whether you should use a rangefinder or GPS.
I’m here to tell you there is room for both in your life!
Shockingly, rangefinders can do things that GPS isn’t very good at. But the opposite is just as true.
Whichever side of the argument you fall on, I believe there’s space in golf for both of them.
They may mean getting a less expensive rangefinder like a Precision Pro, or Blue Tees.
But if you are a diehard, rangefinder, or bust type of golfer, then Bushnell is a pretty clear winner for you.
Sharpie
Gotta mark your balls!
Full disclosure, I don’t always have a Sharpie with me, but I’m also religious about knowing what ball I’m playing.
What’s the best way to know that someone else isn’t playing your ball?
Mark it with a Sharpie.
Can be any marking you want just make sure it’s unique.
I’m not a huge fan of putting an alignment line on my ball, but if that falls into your comfort level it’s nice to have a Sharpie handy for that too.
Rain Hood for Clubs
I literally just played a round of golf where there was no rain in the forecast and low-and-behold it started raining.
BRUTAL.
Shove a rain hood in the bottom of your bag for moments like this and you won’t have to worry about rogue rain cells ever again.
I promise it’s a lifesaver.
Umbrella
This one is tough to tote around if you don’t know you’re going to need it.
So while I won’t suggest always carrying it with you, it’s nice to have it and keep it in the garage for desperate times.
If you’re the type of person who would rather bail on golfing than mud around for an afternoon, then by all means, skip this purchase (they are pricey after all).
But if you play somewhere weather is not always favorable make sure you own one and keep it in a safe place.
Especially if you love walking.
One of my favorites for a pretty decent price is the GustBuster.
Athletic Tape
Full disclosure: will save your life.
Ok, maybe not your life, but it will save your round of golf at some point.
Whether it’s a blister, a cut, or you just did something dumb that stops you from holding a club comfortably, athletic tape can help.
I’m notorious for getting little knicks and cuts and athletic tape has been among my most important golf essentials for over a decade now.
It works every time!
Lip Balm
Have you ever actually finished a stick of lip balm before losing it?
It’s a trick question. No one ever has…
That doesn’t mean you should take one and leave it in your golf bag.
If you always leave it there, you’ll never lose it again.
Nail Clippers
Lots of free time spent sitting on golf courses means one thing.
Tons of time to clean up those fingernails and cuticles.
Yes, it sounds dumb.
But I promise you or someone will want nail clippers during a round one time and you’ll be the hero.
And if you need more convincing, Shane Bacon is an advocate for it too.
Who doesn’t love Shane Bacon!?
Band-Aids
The best friend of the athletic tape that you should have in your bag.
Sometimes a cut is fresh and athletic tape isn’t the right tool for the job.
Wrap it in a band-aid!
And then put on the athletic tape.
Hand Sanitizer
I’ve been laughed at for this by the same people who ask me if they can borrow some after the round is over.
As much as I love golf, I also know there can be a lot of nasty stuff out there on the course.
Whether it’s dirt, chemicals on the grass, or if you dipped your hand in the lake to fish your ball out, your hands have probably been somewhere that you don’t wanna know the real truth about.
I’ll admit to my boujee ways and say that I prefer some kind of sanitizer spray, but anything will do.
Especially if you are about to drop into the clubhouse for some post-round grub.
Golf Essentials to Look the Part
What’s the best part about golf apparel?
You can wear it anywhere. Pretty much any time.
Golf Shoes
For the love of all that is good and holy in this game, when you’re investing in golf essentials, get yourself some good shoes.
I don’t know how else I can explain it other than saying that they are your literal source of stability and power.
Not only that, most of them are going to keep your feet dry!
Suffering through a round of golf wearing wet socks with your feet slipping is a surefire way to not enjoy five hours of your life.
And there’s no way to ever get them back.
It probably wouldn’t shock anyone to know that I’m a FootJoy homer.
I think it’s the best golf shoe I’ve ever owned. But they can get a little pricey.
If you are more price-sensitive, the Nike Roshe shoe is a great buy. (Please don’t buy the polka dot one.)
Also, don’t be afraid to raid the sale rack for last year’s model of any shoe. You can find some STEALS.
Socks
Socks are one of the easiest things to underestimate until you suddenly have a good new pair and you feel the comfort you’ve been lacking.
It doesn’t get more complicated than finding a sock that has exceptional cushioning on the bottoms and just going for it.
Don’t be afraid to invest in a good sock!
And while you’re at it, get an extra pair and shove them in your golf bag in case you need a sock change during/after a round.
Long Sleeves
I love having a pair of warm sleeves close by when it comes to golf.
My wife always makes fun of me for constantly having extra clothes in my car… until she’s jealous I had something to change into.
Golf courses can get nippy depending on when you are out there!
Don’t be afraid to be prepared for it.
Polos
Kind of goes without saying… but I’m saying it anyway.
Polos might be the epitome of golf essentials going back decades.
Many companies (Nike) have tried to tamper with it, but most of the golf world is still in polo mode.
Granted technology has come a long way, so we are no longer stuck with starchy, uncomfortable block polos.
However, companies have also graced us with the power of expression and we can now use our polos as a way of expressing ourselves.
If you want a premium option you really have a plethora of options to choose from.
Just to name a few…
- Holderness and Bourne
- Rhoback
- Travis Mathew
- Peter Millar
- Lululemon (Yes, that Lululemon!)
Rain Jacket
This one is like having an umbrella except you can easily shove it in the bottom of your bag and never think about it until you need it.
While everyone else is out there scrambling for cover in the rain, you can stay right on out there and keep golfing.
There are a few different ways you could go with this one, though.
“Rain jacket,” is kind of a vague term.
After spending 5 years in Oregon I learned that sometimes it’s 40 degrees and raining and sometimes it’s 70 degrees and raining.
Each of these could use a very different type of jacket.
Thankfully for all of us, smarter people than us have also figured this out and they use their powers to make more rain jacket options than you could ever imagine.
Your job is to figure out how much warmth you want inside your rain shell and then keep it handy for that fateful day!
Living in Southern California now, I usually just keep a light rain jacket tucked away somewhere.
But don’t be afraid to have multiple options if you live in colder, wetter climates.
Hoodie
Controversy knows no limits!
If you think there’s no place for hoodies on a golf course, then skip right on over this section.
I have worn a hoodie while golfing and I will do it again.
If I’m being honest, I do it to help keep my neck and ears warm on windy days.
I hate being cold and I HATE being in the wind.
But if it’s for a round of golf, I’ll still be there… in my hoody.
Some recommendations:
Quarter Zip
Half zip, quarter zip, q-zip.
Whatever the kids are calling them these days, you should make sure you have one.
Or half a dozen if you’re like me.
They’re great for twilight rounds when the sun starts going down and you can wear them straight on into the next part of your evening wherever life takes you.
Shorts
The only recommendation I would give is to try to find shorts without buttons on the back pockets.
If you keep a glove, yardage book, phone, or anything in your back pockets while you play, those stupid buttons just get in the way.
It’s only 3 seconds of uncomfortability, but it’s 3 seconds that happen 75 times.
Save yourself the hassle and get shorts with no button on the back pockets.
Pants
I never thought I’d ever be an advocate for golf pants, but here we are.
Maybe it’s a sign that I’m getting older, but I fully embrace there is a time when pants are an absolute necessity on the golf course.
Same rules apply with pack pockets. Buttons on the back pocket are a no-fly zone for me.
I would just kindly recommend that you not be the person wearing white pants…
Hat
I honestly don’t know if I could golf without a hat.
Ok, I probably could if I had to, but I don’t want to.
I recently went to the putting green without a hat on and even that was hard for me.
If just a staple for me at this point.
I don’t know how Matt Fitzpatrick played so much golf in his life without a hat on, and I simply don’t want to find out.
Maybe it has something to do with my balding head.
Either way, golf hats are here to stay and whether you realize it or not, most of them are all made by the same company at this point.
Go up and down the hat aisle the next time you’re in a golf store and see how many of them are made by FlexFit/Yupoong.
The only question you have to ask yourself is if you prefer snapbacks or not.
Equipment Golf Essentials
Now that you look the part, what are you actually going to play with?
These are the golf essentials you need to plot your way around the course.
Starting with the most essential of all golf essentials as it’s the only piece of equipment you use on every single shot.
So don’t underestimate it!
Golf Balls
I’ll start this section with a common misconception.
You can play a premium quality ball.
No matter who you are.
All this nonsense about picking a golf ball based on your swing speed is a marketing stunt.
Do you know what the longest golf ball is for fast swing speeds?
The longest golf ball for slow swing speeds?
Now yes, that is an oversimplification.
When I say ‘longest’ in this sense, I am purely talking about shots with a driver.
And you should never pick a golf ball based on the driver.
But the most important characteristics of a golf ball are spin rate and trajectory.
You can see how I recommend you go about testing golf balls in this post.
But if you’ve never been fit for a ball before and just want to start with an average spinning ball, look no further than a Titleist Pro V1 or a Vice Pro (if you’re looking to save a few bucks).
See our list of every golf ball you could ever want.
Golf Stand Bag
If you’re reading this, you’re not a tour pro. Don’t buy a tour bag.
Do yourself a favor and get yourself a good, sturdy stand bag.
The arguments you’ll hear are whether you need 14 slots for clubs, or just 8.
Or 6.
Maybe just 4?
The truth is, it doesn’t matter.
You do you.
My bag has 14 slots and I love it because every club has its home and it’s extremely easy to tell if I’m ever missing a club.
That doesn’t mean I’ve never run back to a previous hole to find it, but I realized it was gone faster!
The winner in my opinion for stand bags is Ping, but here are a few other favorites of mine:
Irons
PSA: Get fit for your clubs!
But whatever you get fit for, there’s going to be irons in there.
If I were telling you there was one set of irons you had to buy, it’s probably going to be from the Titleist family.
Their new T150 or T200 series will fit just about everyone out there. (Don’t worry, they have other options if you need those too.)
My other recommendation from the traditional options would be the Callaway Apex or Apex Pro.
Again either of those is probably going to fit your game no matter who you are.
With those two in mind, don’t sleep on Srixon irons.
They fall into the “if you know you know” category of golf equipment sickos and I can guarantee they will not disappoint you!
My last comment on irons is for those of us who are ballin’ on a budget.
For that, I would HIGHLY recommend the direct-to-consumer brand of Sub 70.
They’ll be a smaller company, so much more willing to work with you directly than some of the name brands.
They carry all the same shafts you could get anywhere else, and the irons are more than worthy of competing with the big boys.
Wedges
PSA: Get fit for your clubs!
This might be more of a personal preference, but I would highly suggest getting wedges separate from your iron set.
They play differently, they have more versatility and they are specifically made for the short game.
With all the customizability that comes with wedges, including wedge bounce and grinds, it’s kind of a no-brainer when you really start digging into the options.
Find someone that can get you in wedges that truly fit your game and you’ll never look back.
Drivers
PSA: Get fit for your clubs!
Maybe the most customizable club in your bag.
And you need to take full advantage of that!
While there are hundreds of different combinations you can find for wedges, each one needs to be made separately.
With today’s tech, you can take one driver and give it 15+ different options for loft and shot bias.
That’s kind of insane when you think about it.
Not only that, but it’s extremely easy to swap out shafts to get exactly what you need for your swing tendencies.
A general rule of thumb, find a golf ball that fits your wedge/iron game and then fit your driver to the golf ball.
Grips
This is the epitome of “you-do-you.”
Of every person I play golf with, none of us like the same grips.
Some like them with cord, some like them extremely soft and tacky, others like thick grips, while others still like them firm and smaller.
The best advice I could ever give anyone is to simply go to your local golf shop and try every single grip they have.
Close your eyes, put your hands on each grip (they’ll have a sawed-off shaft, so you can actually feel what it’s like on the club), and within 10 minutes or so you’ll find your grip soulmate.
Which one do I use? Lamkin Crossline.
Push Cart
For the diehards only.
If you live in a place where you can walk, or if your course makes you walk, you want, nay NEED a good push cart.
I would suggest a push cart over a pull cart any day of the week. It’s just easier to get around and you don’t put as much strain on your arm.
For a bonus, you can even get an electric cart and you won’t have to worry about pushing anything at all!
Gloves
The second coming of gloves on the golf essentials should tell you how important this one is!
Invest in a nice golf glove.
I promise it’s worth it, if for no other reason than it will last longer than a cheap one.
How long they last has a lot to do with how you swing (if your club is rubbing against your hand a lot), so it’s hard to make a guarantee of how long they will last.
But I would venture to guess, I can get through 15-20 rounds with a glove.
AND if you are an avid sweater, I would suggest keeping a couple of extra pairs in your bag so you can even change during a round.
This doesn’t mean those gloves are gone forever, you just need to let them dry out again.
Shoe Bag
As I said before, you need to have golf shoes.
Whether they’re spikes or spikeless has more to do with your preference and turf conditions wherever you play.
But once you’ve got that part handled you need a place to keep your shoes while you’re not playing.
Insert shoe bags.
I would highly recommend you put your golf shoes on once you get to the golf course, and if you’re at a nicer facility, they may even require that you put your shoes inside their facility as opposed to the parking lot.
Apparently, people debate putting shoes on in parking lots, but I’ll let you go down that rabbit hole by yourself.
In this space, I’ll just tell you how nice it is to have a nice shoe bag that I always keep with my other golf stuff so I know nothing will happen to my shoes!
Golf Essentials to Track Your Game
If golfing for recreation is your jam, don’t let me stop you.
But if you are looking for golf essentials that can start you on a path of improving your game, look no further.
Arccos
Dare I say the leader in golf shot tracking?
I know someone is going to get mad at me for saying that.
While I know some people feel strongly about some of its shortcomings, Arccos is still the leader in the category.
Not only that, it’s pretty darn impressive what the system can do.
Is it perfect?
No. It will probably miss a few shots during your round.
But hell, most of us are looking at our phones between holes anyway. Just do a quick check on the app to make sure it tracked them all accordingly.
Do I love carrying my phone in my front pocket while I play?
Not really, but they created Link for that!
All in all, I’m just impressed that someone a lot smarter than me decided to build a product this advanced for a little niche sport like golf.
GHIN Handicap
Golf essentials don’t do you much good, if you can’t play against anyone else.
Debates about recent changes to the handicap aside, if you want to be taken seriously in the golf world, you need an official GHIN handicap.
It’s easy to get, easy to maintain and allows you to compete against anyone with any skill level.
Also makes it easier to track your progress!
18 Birdies App
There are many golf GPS apps out there, but this one is by far my favorite.
It’s simple, will have any course you want to play, and can even give you a handicap (though not an official one).
If you don’t want to fork up the money for Arccos, 18 Birdies is an extremely worthy free alternative.
It will not give you anywhere near the amount of data that Arccos can, but depending on how often you play you might not want to pay the extra price.
I can’t recommend 18 Birdies highly enough if that fits you and your needs.
There is also a paid version if you are interested in tracking your game more closely too.
Golf Essentials: Final Thoughts
Having your golf essentials is the surest way to pave your way to on-course success.
Most people know what apparel to wear to the golf course, but when it comes to what’s in your golf bag, things get a little murkier.
It’s often the things you don’t see that can make the biggest difference.
Like the guy in your group who packed all the best snacks.
So, whether you already knew some of these coming in, or you were a complete novice in golf essentials, remember that you are going to get out of this whatever you put in.
Golf is an incredible journey, one that should be enjoyed every step of the way.
Even through its frustrations and occasional club throws.
So gear up and go launch ’em!
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