In my last article I went over the basic rules for golf and how the course is set up. Here I will discuss the essentials for what you bring with you to the golf course, and your long game. The type of bag you get is not too important as long as it is comfortable to carry, or drag if it has wheels. Don't get a bag that is too heavy for you just because you think it looks nice, walking 18 holes is a long day, any unnecessary weight is just going to tire you out. So get a bag that is just big enough to hold your clubs, a good amount of extra balls (remember you are a beginner, you will lose a lot of balls!), your glove, tees, ball markers and maybe a light coat and umbrella for unpleasant days.

Most bags will have a lot of side pockets where you can put your keys, wallet, and some extra stuff like sunscreen and bug spray depending on where you are playing. If you must bring your cell phone with you, remember to keep it on silent, having your phone ring when people are trying to hit their ball is a big no-no in golf. Golf is a game of great concentration, the slightest distraction can lead to a terrible shot. That's about it on what to bring, just remember to check the weather before you go out to play so you will know what to bring in case of bad weather.

On to your long game. The long game in golf refers to your drives from the tee and fairway shots. Basically the shots that generally do not get you on the green. Using your driver to start every hole is not the best practice, even though the driver is very fun. Each hole is made up differently and your driver is not always the best way to start a hole. As you play more golf you will get more comfortable knowing what you are capable of with each club, how far and how accurate you are.

The lower the club number you are using, the farther the ball is going to travel. A 9 iron will hit the ball higher and shorter for a soft landing than a 4 iron, which will hit the ball low and far. When you are starting out on the course, you will very likely hit the ball poorly, sending it a mere 10 yards in front of you. That's ok! Everyone does this when learning to play golf, don't get discouraged. Even the pros hit the ball into the woods sometimes. Nobody hit's the ball perfectly every time, not even Tiger Woods. The best thing you can do for your golf swing is to get out to the range with ALL of your clubs, not just the driver, and practice, practice, practice. You need to get comfortable with your clubs. Even if you just get good with a few of them to start, that's ok, you don't really need every club in your bag to have a good game. The main clubs you should work on are your driver, 9 iron, 4 iron, a wedge for chip shots, and of course your putting.

So, pack your bag with the essentials, and practice your long game at the range. Hitting the ball straight off the tee box will set you up for a good score on the hole. Hope you picked up a tip of two from this article, good luck.