As your game develops and you improve, more specific clubs can be added to suit your abilities. To start there is only one rule to remember: You can't carry more than 14 clubs in your bag at any one time.

Before buying a set of clubs, first determine your ability level. A low-handicap player has a single-digit handicap, meaning he or she generally scores less than 10 strokes over par, or an 82 or less on a par-72 course.

The low-handicap golfer

The low-handicap player should carry a driver and at least 1 fairway wood, most likely the 3-wood. The low-handicap player will benefit from lower irons in his bag, because the three or four-iron is a difficult club to hit but can be very useful if it can be controlled.

A minimum of 3 wedges which includes a sand wedge, pitching wedge and either a lob wedge or approach wedge in their bags, with a maximum 4-degree difference between each one.

The mid-handicap golfer

The mid-handicap golfer plays "bogey golf," meaning his or her score averages out to 1 over par on each hole, or somewhere in the 11-20 handicap range.

In addition to the driver and a 3-wood and a 5-wood, consider adding a 7-wood or even a 9-wood. These fairway woods give much better control and consistency than the harder to hit long irons.

Usually only a 3 through 9 are recommended, since the 2-iron is very difficult to hit consistently. Three different wedges are recommended- pitching wedge, sand-wedge, and either a lob wedge or approach wedge

The high-handicap golfer

The high-handicap golfer is either a beginner or has not had the time to develop his or her game to reach the mid-handicap level. The high-handicapper usually shoots close to or over 100.

For starters, you may not even want to have a driver in your bag. Instead, try going with the 3-wood as your off-the-tee wood and add the easier-to-hit 7- and 9-wood. The wedge you should carry can be either a pitching wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge and or approach wedge.

As for wedges go with a sand wedge (55-57 degree loft) or choose between a lob wedge (60-64 degree loft) or a gap wedge (50-53 degree loft). Putters are usually sold separately from full sets to allow the golfer to choose his or her own style.