New Golfer

Question
Hi, I just played a round of golf for the first time ever a couple weeks ago. It was my first time ever touching a golf club other than mini golf lol. I'm 21 and pitch on a college baseball team in Jacksonville.  I really enjoyed the golf and am looking to get some clubs of my own. I'm trying to stay under 200 and i've found some boxed sets (one was a RAM set for 130). Would it be better for me to build a set with a better driver or putter, or will the ram or a nother boxed set suffice. and what clubs would u suggest for me to get??
Thanks for all your help, and hopefully u can help me with one more questoin. When I was out with my buddy he let me use his driver and its head went about 30 yards down the fiarway. It was a Calloway Big Bertha with a yellow shaft. The head broke right off after i hit a few inches short of the tee.
Thanks for all your help, and please don't laugh at me too much :)

Shane

Answer
Hey Shane,

The problem I have with really inexpensive sets is that the club heads are usually made of some kind of cheap alloy, as opposed to stainless steel or some other material.  Cheap materials don't make very good equipment.  I would imagine that none of your teammates uses a $30 bat from a discount store, right?  The same theory applies here.  My advice would be to look around and find a good set of used irons.  Even if they're 4 or 5 years old, they're going to be superior to what you'll find in an all- inclusive boxed set.  You might even consider doing the same thing with a driver or 3- wood. The putter won't matter as much...whatever feels good.  I won 2 golf tournaments in college using an old Ping O-Blade that I paid $3 for in a pawn shop.

As far as you're buddy's driver, graphite will tend to snap easier on a bad shot than a steel shaft will. Usually this happens when you hit a ball too close to the heel of the club, but it can happen if you hit the ground too hard with it as well, as you found out. You can send the club back to Calloway and re-shaft it, or you may have someone around there that can repair it for you.

Enjoy the game and good luck with the pitching.

John