Being a new golfer is overwhelming. You’re trying to figure out how to grip the club, swing without falling over, stay quiet while your friend tees off and so much more. On top of that, you’re being sold something every step of the way. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with a garage full of golf accessories you never use.

It’s a lot like new parents. First-timers show up with every gadget on the market while the veterans carry one extra diaper in their back pocket and call it good. Golf works the same way. It tries to convince beginners they need way more than they do.

If you’re just getting into the game, here are the only four accessories you really need.

A golf towel

If you’re on the course without a towel, you’re not prepared.

Dirty clubs lead to bad contact. Wet grips lead to clubs slipping in your hands. Mud on your golf ball affects the ball flight and the roll on the green. A towel solves all of it.

A few golf towels I like:

If you want something magnetic: Ghost Golf Magnetic Towel A larger golf towel that works quite well: Callaway Caddy Towel Cheap but gets the job done: Vividly 3 Pack Golf Towel

Alignment sticks

Alignment sticks are some of the best training aids on the market. If you are new to the game, chances are you have no idea where you are aimed and it takes a little time to get that down. Alignment sticks help you build solid fundamentals which you can keep forever.

By working with alignment sticks, you can learn the perfect setup, improve your ball position and even your swing path. I recommend getting two so you have more options for drills and learning activities.

The SKLZ 3-Pack is a good option but there are some cheaper ones, like the Finger Ten brand.

A distance-measuring device (or a reliable GPS app)

All of your clubs may travel about the same distance when you are a beginner. However, this won’t last long. Soon, you’ll develop consistency and need to know how far you hit each club.

Guessing distances is not a good plan.

If you want to invest in a rangefinder, our best of 2024 was the Bushnell Pro X3+ because of its accuracy and features. As a new player, something like the Shot Scope Pro L2 is more affordable and will likely do the trick.

GPS apps, devices and watches can also give valuable course details including distances to the front, middle and back of every green.

TIE: A Sharpie marker or a club brush

I promised only four accessories beginners need so I had to make the fourth a tie between a Sharpie marker and a club brush.

The Sharpie helps you identify your golf ball but it’s also great for creating alignment lines on your ball. If you struggle with lining up your putts and/or your tee shots, the Sharpie marker can help.

The club brush is another important one to consider. Something like the GrooveIt club cleaning brush can ensure your grooves are free of mud and debris. It didn’t earn a top spot because, as a beginner, you can use your towel for this purpose, even if it requires a little extra elbow grease.

Final thoughts

This list is just my opinion. There are other useful accessories all beginner golfers accumulate during their journey in golf. However, if I had to make a beginner golf accessory starter pack, these four things are where I would start.

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