Obviously the first games of golf were not played with the type of equipment we have today. The clubs and balls that players use on the field during tournaments are regulated by the PGA or other sponsor of such tournaments. But how did some staffs and rods used by shepherds become the many various clubs that can now be found in any golfer’s bags or sporting goods store?
The golf clubs no doubt went through the most amount of evolution over the years. They have often been made with the material and wood that was most readily available at the time. Hickory and American persimmon were very commonly used for many years because of their strength and the hardness of the material. As the golf ball itself evolved over time, iron clubs were also developed due to their strength as well. No doubt the evolution of the steel and iron industries also helped to encourage the governing bodies of golf to adapt clubs to the use of these metals! What was good for golf was also good for the economy. Steel shafts were somewhat slow to develop and be accepted, and in the 1970’s as manufacturing techniques began to be improved, graphite became popular because of its strength and light weight.
Today, titanium is a popular option for clubs because it’s stronger than steel or iron while still having a “springy” feeling that theoretically increases the distance when the golf ball is struck. Clubs today are typically a combination of graphite for the shafts and titanium for the heads.
Equipment Today
When you go out onto a public golf course, you can typically bring whatever clubs you prefer within their own particular rules. If you make up a club yourself in your garage or metal shop class, this is your prerogative. If it’s made of bamboo or steel or anything else, your options are limited only by the rules of the particular course.
Tournament play however is very different. As with most sports, the equipment used by professionals is strictly regulated by governing bodies that sponsor and organize these tournaments. Many private courses also strictly forbid the use of any other type of equipment, so it’s good to know if the equipment you’re using or buying is adhering to regulations or not.
Woods, irons and putters of course make up the golf equipment used on the links. We’ll discuss these in greater detail in another section, but woods are meant for longer distance while irons give you shorter distances but more control over your stroke. Putters are used only on the green itself and are meant for short distances but maximum control. You’ll notice how putters have a flat face; this is for just pushing the ball along the green and does not allow an arc or angle the way woods and irons do because of their slanted head.
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