Golf for those who want to take it up

Golf never ceases to fascinate me. No matter when I go to play on the green; it always has something for me to cherish. And I know times are hard in terms of economy and all. This dismal picture is exaggerated for a sport that requires you to buy certain equipment. Like I always tell kids, they can always manage with a lot less than they think.
First off, like every game, golf takes a certain level of dedication in the beginning. So in that sense, it may not be a summer sport that you pick up and leave. And anyway if you ask anyone who plays golf either professionally or otherwise they will always tell you that they wish they could have taken up the sport earlier. So I don't think you can't be small or big enough to play golf but having said that, I wouldn't force my kids into playing the game if they didn't want to.
So if you are looking at golf equipment I think you can get clubs second hand and get golf balls from your local club. When you're starting out you should just get stuff that you need and test the waters before deciding that you really want to take the game up for real.
So sometimes taking a position as a caddie is a good idea to get more exposure of the game. I have always thought of golf as a test of the mental strength of a person than merely his physical prowess. I am, however, not suggesting that golf does not test you physically!
If you play the game as it was supposed to be played, walking the whole 9 or 18 yards, then it is quite a physically challenging game especially on a hot summer afternoon. Some kids ask if they need special workout regimes to help them play golf. Well, personally I have never felt the need for them since they just add bulky muscles which will get in your way.
The game itself needs to be more accessible to more people. I think social media and other web related communities play a larger role in giving a platform for the golfers to connect with each other. This game is almost always mistaken to be slow and boring by the youth but is not once you get down to actually playing it. So don't write the game off without giving it a go. Good Luck!