Starter Sets

I've been looking around for a starter set for my father. Up until now he has only played about once a year but is looking to start playing more. I've been looking at clubs for him and was wondering if the starter sets that they sell (3-PW, woods, driver, putter, bag) in golf and sports stores for cheap are decent clubs. I've been looking for clubs on ebay and have found some good late model sets, but I'm just not sure it's worth the money for his skill level and the amount he plays. I found a good set of Adam's Idea irons for $250, but then you figure in a driver ($150), 3 and 5 wood ($150), wedges (100), and putter. Now Im looking at over $700. So I'm wondering if those starter sets are decent deal for someone just looking to get out and get some excercise?

If he's just going to golf for exercise, buy him a starter set of irons (3-PW). Then take the 3 and 4 irons out, and put them in your basement. Then go with him and let him find a putter he likes, and a sand wedge can't hurt. If he gets serious, then it'll be time to add more wedges, a 3 and 4 hybrid, and something longer than a 3 iron. But once he decides to get serious, either get his current clubs fit, or get him new clubs, and get them fit.

My guess is that You could shave a lot of the cost off your estimates. You can get a driver for a lot less, I just picked up a new Adams Redline Driver for $70 with shipping(off ebay), Their Gt2 drivers are not bad and go for less then the above (could even go with the Adams GT2 Irons for 100-150), You probably get by with 1 wedge in the 35-50 range and either a 3 wood 5 wood or a long hybred club. That or look into component parts with good shafts which you can be close to the same range as above.

As far most of the starter sets (in Wall Mart etc) to me most of them looked like a waste of money . I would get him fewer quality clubs and work from there.

I talked to the club maker tonight at the range. Its actually a clubmaking outfit with a range attached-as their main business is from clubmaking. He said it would be a much better idea to get fitted for a few clubs instead of buying an off the rack full set. He told me if all my father wants to do is get out and have fun and get excercise (he's not on a scratch quest by any means) that he should just get 8 or 9 clubs specifically made for him: 6 iron, 8 iron, 9 iron, PW, SW, a fairway wood and a driver with offset, as well as a putter. I think the clubs will be better and he'll probably play better with fewer clubs. Thank you both for your help.