Is Five Clubs Enough?

Is Five Clubs Enough? is a personal journey by author Martin Stephens through his own life as a keen amateur golfer. Part memoir, part practical guidebook, it recounts his experience playing golf with his father and father-in-law, the latter being a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews who has played the game for his whole life and always carries just five clubs in his golf bag. Inspired by his father-in-law's sensible approach to club carrying - which apart from anything else makes for a much lighter golf bag - this book is an attempt to answer that question as to whether five clubs would in fact be enough for any amateur golfer to carry with him or her around a course.

Now a player in his 50s, who started out when a teenager, the author has come to the strange realisation that for the first time in his life, golf has in recent years become really quite cool. With that in mind, plenty of men and women are now looking to embark on playing the game but may struggle to find a sensible guidebook that provides some friendly, interesting and practical advice on where to start when it comes to such matters as: what clubs to get; what the different colours of golf ball might mean, and which might the best YouTube videos to check out.

In examining the question as to whether five clubs are enough, the author aims to assist the beginner golfer with some guidance as to which clubs might be an essential requirement for the golf bag, as well as providing some practical hints and tips as to what to look for when seeking out golf clubs when it comes to such terms as 'loft', 'shaft' and 'flex'. The reader will find answers to such questions as: What is a driver? A wedge? What should you look for in a putter?

Packed with anecdotes, along the way the book provides an entertaining look at the history of the game, how the construction of the kit has changed over time, as well as providing an interesting commentary on the various different tournaments that a golf enthusiast may enjoy watching.

The author, who is a primary school teacher specialising in children with special educational needs, also covers the mental health and wellbeing benefits that can be acquired through focusing on a small white ball and trying to make it fly around an 18 hole golf course in as few shots as possible.

Of course, golf is known as being a not necessarily always serene activity, but one that can be full of frustration, too. The author takes the golfer through some useful practice 'drills' focusing on getting the most out of the game through intelligent practice that should help with becoming a more consistent player..

So is five golf clubs enough? Answering this question takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the history of golf, and the author's personal relationship with a game that can be by turns tranquil and anguish-inducing, but is endlessly enjoyable and absorbing. Golf can be equally enjoyable if played solo, or with friends, and it might be one of the few sports where - due to the handicap system - players of very different abilities can play together in a competitively satisfying way. In this way, golf is rare in the world of sport in that groups of strangers can meet and enjoy a few hours together round a golf course.

This chatty and informative guide is a brilliant entrée into the world of golf for the keen player to someone just beginning their golfing journey and unsure where to start. The question as to whether five clubs is enough may ultimately be for the reader to decide, but this friendly guidebook provides some great advice to help them on their way and enjoy years of satisfaction on the golf course.