Most beginners focus on clubs. I get it — clubs feel like the real investment.
But nobody tells you: it’s the small stuff that kills your round. You show up without a ball marker and hold up the entire green. You forget a glove and your grip slips on every wet shot. You have no idea how far away the flag is and start guessing clubs.
These 10 golf accessories fix all of that. None of them are expensive. All of them matter more than you think.
1. Golf Tees
You need more than you think. Seriously — pack at least 20.
Tees break, get left behind, or just disappear. For drivers, use a longer tee (2.75″–3.25″) to tee the ball up high. For irons on par-3s, a short tee (1.5″–2.25″) just off the ground is enough.
Wooden or plastic both work. I prefer wooden — they snap cleanly and don’t leave marks on the clubface.
Cost: $5-$8 for a pack of 50. Just buy them.
2. Golf Glove
Your grip is everything. Without a glove, your hands sweat, the club moves at impact, and your shot goes sideways — literally.
Wear it on your lead hand. That’s your left hand if you’re right-handed. It should fit snug, not loose. A loose glove is worse than no glove.
I’ll be covering the best golf gloves in a separate review but for now, any leather or synthetic glove from Callaway, Titleist, or FootJoy will do the job.
Cost: $10-$20
3. Extra Golf Balls
Buy more than you think you need. Then double it.
As a beginner, you will lose balls. Water hazards, rough, trees they all collect them. Going into a round with 6 balls and losing 7 is a real experience.
Start with distance balls — Srixon Soft Feel or TaylorMade Distance+ are both solid, forgiving, and won’t cost you a fortune when you lose them.
Cost: $15-$25 per dozen
4. Ball Marker
This one is about etiquette as much as anything.
When your ball is on the green and another player needs to putt, you have to mark and lift yours. Without a marker, you’re holding everyone up. A coin works fine. A proper flat disc marker is better easier to spot, less likely to roll.
Most gloves come with a magnetic ball marker on the Velcro strap. Use it.
Cost: $2-$5, or free with most gloves
5. Divot Repair Tool
After your approach shot lands on the green, it leaves a small dent called a divot mark. You’re expected to fix it. Every golfer is.
It takes 10 seconds. Insert the tool at the edge of the mark, push inward gently, then tap down with your putter. Done. The green is healthier, the next player putts better, and you look like you know what you’re doing.
Don’t skip this one. It’s basic course etiquette.
Cost: $3-$8
6. Golf Towel
Dirty clubs don’t fly straight. Dirt in the groove reduces spin.
Clip a microfiber towel to your bag. Wipe the clubface after every shot. Clean your ball before putting. It’s a small habit that genuinely affects your score over time.
Cost: $8-$15
7. Rangefinder
This is the one item on this list worth spending real money on.
Without a rangefinder, you’re guessing distances. You pick the wrong club. You come up short on a par-3 or fly the green on an approach. Over 18 holes, bad club selection costs you 5–10 strokes easily.
A basic laser rangefinder gives you the exact yardage to the flag in seconds. You don’t need slope compensation or GPS mapping as a beginner — just accurate yardage.
I’ll be doing a full rangefinder review soon covering the best options across different budgets. For now, look at the Bushnell Tour V5 Shift or the PRGR Laser Rangefinder as solid starting points.
Cost: $100-$200 for a reliable model
8. Golf Scorecard Holder & Pencil
Most courses hand out scorecards, but a proper holder keeps yours dry and flat. You don’t need anything fancy — a simple clip-on holder works.
Keeping score matters even when your score is bad. It forces you to track what went wrong, which holes cost you, and where to improve.
Cost: $5-$10
9. Sun Protection (Hat + Sunscreen)
Golf is 4-5 hours outdoors. You will get sunburned if you’re not careful.
A cap keeps the sun off your face and stops glare from ruining your ball-tracking. Sunscreen goes on before the round — not just at the turn. SPF 30 minimum.
This isn’t a luxury item. It’s practical. Squinting into the sun on your backswing is not ideal.
Cost: $15-$30 for a golf cap
10. Waterproof Bag Cover or Rain Gear
Weather changes fast on a golf course. You’re 9 holes in, and it starts pouring.
A rain hood for your bag costs almost nothing and keeps your clubs and grips dry. Wet grips are slippery grips. And trying to play with soaked club heads is genuinely miserable.
If you play regularly in a wet climate, a pair of waterproof trousers is worth having too. But start with the bag cover it’s the easiest win.
Cost: $10-$20 for a bag rain cover
What to Buy First
If you’re just starting out and want to keep costs low, here’s the order I’d go:
- Tees and balls — can’t play without them
- Glove — protects your grip immediately
- Ball marker and divot tool — etiquette essentials
- Towel — easy, cheap, useful
- Rangefinder — save this for when you’re playing regularly
The rest can come over time.
Everyone don’t to be expensive to start. Get the basics right, focus on your swing, and the gear will fill in naturally.
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