Clubs are outrageously expensive, it’s not because you’re 15. It’s because the company’s keep pushing limits and people pay it.
Try to save and purchase a leftover set stay one cycle behind the curve.
Once you make the investment. Keep everything in good condition and Cycle everything out selling off your older stuff.
Upgrade irons, every 3-4 years, wedges 2-3, driver 2-3 and find a putter you love and stick with it.
You’ll begin to find things you love and will always a place in your bag and
Things like your most used wedge around the green that may need to be changed out yearly.
Hope this helps.

All clubs are expensive but companies, like Titleist, put in a substantial amount of R&D $ into continually bettering their products so they will never be "cheap".

I started playing golf when I was 4yo and played on our High School team. My father was left handed, I am right, and I never had a single new club until I was out of college and had a solid job before I could get anything new. It's almost like a rite of passage IMO but I can fully understand your plight.

As an adult, and cycling through clubs, I routinely gave my neighbor's son all of my gently used clubs. They wouldn't buy them for him and he had a real interest in golf. I can only hope it helped further his pursuit of our game.

Yes, they are expensive. Relative to other sporting equipment, they are in line. When a niece was participating in triathlons several years ago, the bikes were all in excess of 3 grand. Even quality running shoes run closer to $200 than $100.

Not to mention a 20 oz bottle of water at the Ryder Cup was $9.

When I was 55 I was still investing in my son’s’ college educations and buying used clubs. Be patient and set goals to achieve a goal to get equipment to match your potential.

You're 15 years old, so everything looks expensive.

Are they expensive? Yes, but what are they worth is another question. I said the same thing when I was 15. There's always a way to make some side money and put it away for new clubs, if that is your goal. Be patient.

You're still schooling (or should be) so be wise and choose what you want to learn, not just what they consider standard to get by. Take some classes in business, finance, and economics. It will give you a better understanding of the costs associated with developing and manufacturing, and how a company recoups those costs while maintaining their customer base.

Then after class, go play golf!!!

When I was 13, I wanted a guitar and my parents made a deal with me that if I saved half, they would pay the rest. Clubs are expensive but manufacturers spend a lot on R & D, and raw materials are expensive too.

I remember when clubs were like $700 a set. My last set I bought was used for a couple of hundred dollars. I finally was able a couple of weeks ago to get fitted and purchase a new set of irons and a driver. Yes, it was expensive, but I feel that they will outlive me or my golfing days.

I would not buy clubs every few years except for maybe new technology golf balls, wedges or a club that merited my attention.

Check out the used club selection at places like Dick's, Golf Galaxy and 2nd Swing. They have some really nice stuff that was traded in for upgrade. Hang in there. I didn't get my first set of new clubs until I was almost 30 years old, although I must admit that I spent about $500.00 for a set of woods and irons and today it's more than $500.00 for just a Driver.

Yes, new golf clubs are a very expensive investment- for now concentrate on developing your game, and pick up some used clubs that you feel would benefit your game. Be patient- more important to get a good education and then as your career advances golf will become more affordable

I think you are a lucky chap
I started playing golf at age 9 with a 2 iron, 7 iron and putter from a crazy golf joint
It taught me a lot about playing shots that came in really handy when I actually got a wedge
I got my hands on a full set of irons aged 16 a set of Aluminium Shafted X31 I borrowed from my brother
I did not get to own my own clubs until I was 26, a second hand set which lasted until 2002 when I got a set of Wilson Fat Shafts, which I just replaced for a set of T350 irons, TSR woods and a X5 mallet putter for $3800, so I guess that the price is very high

I would have to say that even with the new clubs, there is little difference between my new and old clubs

So stick with what you have today until you can afford to invest in another set either gently used/demonstrator/loaners, rinse and repeat until you can afford to get a set of clubs fitted

I hope that you have a long and enjoyable future with the game of golf

Buy used clubs, check loft and lie angles if possible, then go play the heck out of them. Improve your game, especially the short game and putting. Later on get yourself a fitted set, it’s all about having fun, most of us don’t do this for a living, of course we all want to play good and get better. I played in a tournament a year or so ago, a guy showed up with a set of old Pings older Odyssey putter and a Cobra driver, I played along side of him and he just went scorched earth on the field! We got to 15 tee and he pulled out a 1 iron and just blisters it down the middle of a narrow fairway. Just saying you don’t have to have the best of the best, his attitude was his game, nothing affected him mentally, he was playing care free having fun.

Expensive by choice. A life style. Most everything in todays market is expensive. You can choose to buy a less expensive set of clubs from manufacturers who put less into their clubs and they do not last. Gas is expensive, so is food, housing, education and just about everything you can imagine. I almost had a heart attack the other day when we were in a rest top on the road. Buckies. They were selling cigarettes. Almost $10 a pack. Glad I stopped smoking in 1990, health wise and for my bank account. Use to smoke three packs a day. That is $100 dollars a carton. That would cost me $30 a day, $210 a week, or $10, 920 a year in today's market. Ouch, and you think golf clubs are expensive. Just think, I saved over $360,000 (not really because they were not that expensive back then, neither were golf clubs, but you get my point). But with the dollars I saved over the years, have been able to get new Titleist clubs for myself and a new BMW for my wife. Made right choice. Hakuna matata.

I agree clubs are too expensive. I have been playing Titleist clubs for years. However, I recently replaced my driver with a PXG 0311 because I just couldn’t pass up the price. I haven’t been able to get it out on the course yet due to the winter weather. We shall see how it goes. I may be changing back, but I’m curious to see how it works out on the course.

Price is relative based on current market and how you view value. For instance, a $1200 set of irons allows quality golf for at least 2 years. $75 dinner twice a week for 2 years is $7800. $100 green fee once a week for 2 years is $10,400. Season tickets to your favorite professional sports team at least a couple of thousand dollars. One week's vacation with the family probably $2000 - $6000. I guess compared to baseball, tennis, or pickle ball, the equipment is more expensive but it's the only sport that really relies heavily on refined technology and materials to allow for the best performance possible. I am going to spend money anyway, it might as well be for golf. My perspective anyway.

All my hobbies are expensive. Whether it's golf, bicycles, motorcycles, slow pitch softball or playing the guitar. It all costs too much but I love them all. Haha

Life is expensive. Stay in school, do well, and get a good job when you graduate. Once that happens, you will be able to afford new clubs whenever you like and not have to worry about it. Until that happens, find a good second hand set of Titleists and ditch the TA’s.

Maybe I'm just old but it's a choice you make. There are always alternatives. As a 15 year old it's time to start saving for what you want. Stay in school, get a good job and the rest will follow. Apply YOURSELF and don't expect things will be given. Life is earned, not handed to you

Be patient. Develop your game with the clubs you've been gifted. Save your money and upgrade your set when you can afford it. You complain about having Tommy Armour clubs. Just for reference, I have TSr2 driver, fairway, and hybrid, and Vokey wedges - but even though I have tried AP1 and AP2 irons, I ended up selling them. I couldn't hit anything as well as my Tommy Armour 845s from 1990. Because of that, I bought a new/used set on ebay for under $200 that I regripped and they are my gamers. Don't be ashamed of what you learn to hit well.

I don’t pay the big bucks I mostly buy second hand.

None of my clubs are custom fit I just can’t justify it.

I’d still enjoy golf with car boot clubs. Does everyone play better because they spent silly money on clubs? No! Also I feel some custom fittings are a waste if you’re not swinging it well that day so you get fit for a bad swing. Is that good? No!

If you go to a fitter the cost of the clubs would be same as you would pay off the rack, other than the cost of the fitting. And some of the fitters allow the cost of the fitting towards the purchase price. Good to get a set fit to you swing and needs versus a set of the rack. See folks buy many sets to look for the right set spending way too much money and never improve on their game thinking they are saving money. I see it all the time. Hard to convince people of this fact.

Well, from my experience at using rental clubs, including current Titleist bags at resort courses, there is a difference from the clubs I get fit for. It’s ok to accept that used clubs work for you. Buying the new release every release won’t guarantee a drop in handicap. But getting fit every 5 years, especially after 45, can make sure the clubs are matched to where you are physically. 65 is not the new 35 when it comes to the golf swing.

Ain't that the truth. Last year when I hit 67 (age - not score) I noticed that I'm either walking faster to get to my next shot, or I'm not hitting it as far as last year. I kept tapping my GPS thinking it was broken and adding a few extra yards to the green. Nope - GPS works fine, and yup - not hitting it as far. Started banking my extra change from the skins so I can get a new fitting this spring.
Buying off the rack might work for some but fitting is definitely the best choice. I don't know anybody who has gone through a fitting and decided they didn't need it the next time, but I do know several people who wished they had gone for a fitting before they bought their current set.

Considering where they are made, and the materials used, top line golf equipment is ridiculously overpriced. So is my truck, my house, my computer, and all my Apple gear. Gotta have it!

Nicholas, yes, anything that is 'good' also has a matching price point. The alternative is 'cheap and inexpensive, too'. Once you are able to get a 'nice' set of clubs, you'll appreciate them more and also take care of them more carefully. My equipment was many years between upgrades until I started to work at a golf course (I was able to purchase at a discount there), but it was always kept clean and shiny - no rust, minimal bag chatter - because my $$ went toward purchasing them.

TT, any way for me to reach out to Nicholas directly, maybe arrange to send one of my 'preowned' sets to him?

clubs are expensive but if you look at how much they are used, its not to bad. With some weekend or holiday work im sure you could make somthing work, then the new clubs will last till you have a job. there are a lot of payment plans out there which can help out to.