By Keila Doyle, Founder of Golf Hero previously Golffily
Walking into a golf shop for the first time can feel a bit like buying your first car. Every shelf promises to improve your game. Every gadget claims to save strokes. Before you’ve even hit a ball, you can easily spend thousands of dirhams. The reality is much simpler.
When you’re starting golf, the smartest investments are rarely the most expensive ones. They are the ones that help you build confidence, develop good habits, and keep you coming back for another round. As someone who has fallen for the gimmicks and built a whole app around supporting beginners and the golfing community, read my tips on where your money is actually best spent:
1.A forgiving set of clubs beats a tour-level set
The biggest mistake new golfers make is assuming better equipment automatically means better golf. It doesn’t. Game-improvement clubs are designed to be more forgiving when you don’t hit the ball perfectly, which, as a beginner, will be most of the time. Buying the same irons your favourite professional uses often makes the game harder, not easier. Many UAE golfers also choose to start with a quality pre-owned set before upgrading once their swing becomes more consistent.
2.Invest in lessons before upgrades
A new driver might gain you a few metres but a good coach could save you dozens of shots. One or two lessons early on can prevent bad habits becoming permanent and give you a much better understanding of the fundamentals. Many golf academies across Dubai and Abu Dhabi also offer beginner packages that make getting started more affordable.
3.Good shoes matter more than you think
You don’t need a full golf wardrobe on day one, but comfortable golf shoes are worth buying early. The UAE’s long golf season means you’ll spend several hours walking on firm ground, often in warm temperatures. Good grip, stability and breathable materials make a much bigger difference than most beginners expect. Brands such as Skechers Golf and ECCO Golf have become popular with golfers in the region thanks to their comfort in warmer conditions.
4.Don’t underestimate the climate
Golf in the Middle East comes with its own checklist. A reusable water bottle, sunscreen(!), sunglasses, a lightweight cap and cooling towel will probably get more use than your rangefinder during your first year. Playing well starts with staying comfortable.
5.Start tracking your game from the beginning
Most golfers wait until they’re “good enough” before tracking their scores. In reality, beginners often benefit the most from this. Looking back over previous rounds helps you see where you’re improving and where you’re consistently dropping shots. More importantly, it stops every round feeling like guesswork. Platforms such as Golf Hero are making this easier by turning scorecards into useful insights and offering AI-powered strategy based on your playing ability, handicap and the course you’re about to play. Rather than overwhelming players with statistics, the aim is to provide practical guidance that helps golfers of every level make better decisions before and after a round.
6.Find people at your level
One of the fastest ways to lose confidence is playing with people who are far beyond your ability. One of the fastest ways to improve is playing with golfers facing the same challenges as you. The right playing partners make the game less intimidating, more enjoyable and far more social. After all, most golfers don’t remember every score. They remember who they played with.
7.Leave the gadgets until later
Launch monitors, swing analysers, GPS watches and laser rangefinders are all brilliant tools but they are just not essential on day one. Until you’ve developed a repeatable swing, understanding the basics of course management and building confidence around the greens will have a much bigger impact than another piece of technology.
Every golfer remembers their first round. Not because they played well, but because they realised golf is one of the few sports where progress is earned slowly. The best starter kit isn’t built around equipment. It’s built around patience, consistency and finding enjoyment in getting a little better each time you play. Because long after you’ve upgraded your clubs, those are the things that keep you coming back.
About Golf Hero:
Golf Hero is a UAE founded golf technology platform created to help players track progress, improve performance, and connect with other golfers. Founded by Keila Doyle after she began learning the sport herself, the platform transforms traditional paper scorecards into clear performance insights through simple scanning and data analysis. Golf Hero aims to make golf more accessible, social, and easier to understand for players at every level.
