Down to a Tee

You might not think of Hong Kong as a golfer’s paradise. But for the beginner, it’s a good place to start. Sophia Haines, a golfer of seven years, says it is not hard to pick up golf. “If you get the swing right at the start then you’re set,” she says. But if you need a wee bit more guidance than that, we’ve rounded up all the necessary details to get you on your way to becoming the next Tiger Woods. Just remember, it’s a precision sport, so if things don’t go right initially, keep practicing.

The Essentials
Of course, before you start, you need to get the gear. Usually, beginners get a so-called “Half Set” of clubs to get started. A Half Set includes a driver, a putter, a 3-wood, a 7-iron, a 9-iron and a pitching wedge. The main difference between clubs is the shafts. A graphite shaft is best for beginners. You can buy sets of beginner clubs for around $3,000-$5,000.

A few choice recommendations
Try the PING G10 series models for beginners.
PING G10 Wood: $450-500
PING G10 7 Iron set: around $2,400
PING Crazy-I putter: $1,200-$1,500

Tips on buying clubs
PuraGolf founder Kevin Chan gives us some tips on buying your first set of clubs.
1.     Rubber grips offer more grip than leather ones.
2.     A regular shaft offers good all-round performance for any beginner.
3.     Your short game is important, so spend more on your pitching wedge and putter. A putter is an incredibly personal club. The feel of it should suit you and how you hit the ball.
4.     It is worth doing a club fitting before you buy. Then you can determine what you need from a club.

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