Good quality wet gear is so important, as there is nothing worse than being stuck on the golf course either without waterproofs or with poor quality waterproofs.

• Make sure you are confident with the equipment you carry in your bag. You can carry a maximum of 14 golf clubs in your bag so ensure you have the best possible make up of clubs. A good starting point is to make sure you have sufficient gaps between your wedges. Carry enough wedges to be able to cover most distances from 100 yards and in. Work out how far you hit your driver and how far you hit your full pitching wedge. From this, work out the difference between the two distances and divide it by how many clubs you have that cover that distance.

For example:

Driver distance = 220 yards

Pitching wedge = 100 yards (difference 120 yards)

Clubs that cover that difference – Driver 3 wood, Hybrid, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, pitching wedge (10 golf clubs)

120 yards/10 clubs = 12 yards per club.

Work out how many clubs you carry from your full wedge distance to a distance of only 20 yards. For this example that would be 80 yards. Pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge = 20 yards per club. From this breakdown we can start to identify any gaps or weaknesses within the clubs that you carry so that the gaps can be appropriately filled.

A large good quality umbrella which is wind resistant
Spare gloves are a must and also a wet weather glove is vital to play in wet conditions and even hot conditions where the hand may become sweaty.
Ample golf balls so that if you are having a bad round you still have enough ammunition to continue your round. When picking a golf ball that will suit you, you need to consider do you want distance and a firm cover or spin with a soft cover? If you move the ball a long way in the air with hook spin or slice spin, it is recommended to use a golf ball that spins less.
A ball marker is a must when playing. Something small and flat. It may be a lucky charm or it may just be an old coin you have found in your bag.
Pitchfork – To repair pitch marks on the putting green. Repairing takes seconds, but can save weeks of healing for the turf. It is an important thing to do for the course, and for the golfers who follow you.
Marker pen – To personalize your golf ball so that it is easy to recognise on the golf course.
Tees – A mixture of different sized tees so that you can hit with irons and woods.
Towel – Keeping everything clean and dry is vital when out on the golf course. Also carry a spare towel.
Sun cream
Sun glasses
Measuring device – Many more devices are available now including laser range finders and GPS distance measuring devices. Great for distance control on the golf course.