Do beginners need a driver?

Short answer: no. A driver is the loudest club in the bag and the easiest way to feel lost on day one.

Intimidated beginners often buy the driver because it looks like “real golf.” Then the first tee becomes a negotiation with a club they do not trust yet.

What to use instead

Start with the Sunday Bag: putter, 58°, pitching wedge. Play par-3 nines. Build contact and pace. Add a longer club later when you want distance — not before you can finish nine without panic.

When a driver makes sense

• You can play a calm par-3 nine.
• You want more distance on a longer course.
• You are ready to practice it as a project, not a personality.

Permission: skip the driver until it serves you. That is not less golf. That is a clear path.

Related guides

• First clubs for beginners (Sunday Bag)
• Should I go to the driving range first?
• How to play a par-3 nine
• Golf etiquette for beginners