Golf equipment ranges from golf clubs to golf apparel and everything in between. While you will obviously need at least a few clubs and a few balls to get through a round of golf, not all golf equipment is totally necessary. Read on for more information about typical golf equipment:
You are allowed to have up to 14 clubs in your golf bag for a round of golf. A typical full set might include a driver, a 3- and 5- wood, a set of irons from 3 to 9, a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, a putter and maybe one other club of the golfer's choice.
Here´s a run down of the main golf club families:
Woods are characterized by their long shafts. The head is roughly spherical in shape, with one flattened side with which to strike the ball. Woods slide over the grass to hit the ball instead of digging into the ground, as is the case with the irons. Historically made of wood (hence their name), woods are nowadays generally made of steel, titanium or composite materials. Woods are number 1-9, with the 1 wood being referred to as the "driver". The driver has the greatest range and is mainly used to hit the ball from the tee. The rest of the woods are generally used for long-distance shots from the fairway. 
Irons are a handy family of 9 clubs that can be used for a variety of short-, medium- and long-distance shots. Each club has a different loft, ranging from lower to greater. This means that a ball hit with a 1-iron will go further but closer to the ground than with a 9-iron, which will send the ball higher in the air but will cover a lesser distance. The iron you choose to use depends entirely upon how far you want the ball to go. To strike the ball, the club passes under the ball and essentially scoops it up and into the air. 
A round of golf requires the use of a special type of ball, aptly named - not surprisingly - the "golf ball". Over the centuries, golf balls have been made of anything from wood to boiled chicken feathers wrapped in leather. Nowadays, however, they consist of an exterior made of several layers of synthetic materials that encase a rubber core.
Traditionally white in color, golf balls are perfectly symmetrical and quite small, measuring less than 2 inches in diameter. The surface is covered in "dimples", little indents that actually help the ball's aerodynamics.
While sneakers will do just fine, many golfers choose to wear special "golf shoes", which have spikes attached to the soles. These spikes, nowadays made mostly of plastic (metal spikes have been banned on many courses), are designed to improve balance and traction as you swing.
Golf gloves, while optional, can be very helpful in gripping the golf club and in preventing blisters. The increased grip can help you to swing harder while maintaining greater control.
Tees are handy little stands used on each hole's like-named "tee" that prop your ball up, therefore making it easier to hit with your driver.
