Welcome to golf!  Glad you like it!  I would say that once your handicap dips below 20, it's time to start looking and get fit for new clubs.  When you are in college, we do have programs to help you, so keep it up!

thanks

Suggest you check this out with your school golf coach...or your club professional.  There are plenty of 14 year old kids who play really well...a 36 handicap means you need to spend more time on the putting and chipping greens...learn to get the ball into the hole with the club you will use on every hole you ever play...the putter...that way, when you are 17 you will be the best golfer on the golf team...and by that time, you will know what clubs to use.  There are many kids your age who hit the ball really far but can't putt worth beans.  Chip and putt 90% of your practice time this year and then start with short wedge shots next summer.  Oh, and be sure to stretch every day as well as weight training specific to golf.

i would say this wait threw a golf season. if after next fall your still as pasionet as you are now. talk your parents in to getting you fitted. but along with getting fitted try to get lessons. im 29 and i still take lessons from my local pga pro. look at the best golfers, as good as they are they still need someone else to help them with their swings. So in golf its always better to have a coach.  i would actually say take lessons first. let a swing coach develope your swing. once he has your swing the way it should be get fitted for clubs. my First coach explaned how getting fitted is one of the best things. and its more important for a new'er golfer than an older one. i play best with fitted clubs but i can pick any club up off the shelf and with a few buckets on the range i can go out and shoot in the 80's couse i know how to adjust for diffrent flex shafts and club lies and things like that with my fitted clubs i shoot low 80's and break in the 70's every once in awhile. so first thing first get lessons then save up your money for a good set of fitted clubs. and when you get fitted listen to the fitter let him just hand you clubs and you just swing them dont look at them and try to hit certen clubs better or say a club feels better couse you like it more let him pick out whats better for you. thats the best way to do it.

My suggestion is go talk to your local PGA professional.  He or she will steer you in the right direction.

you should check with your local club fitter to make sure you get the right set for you. Don't just go to the store and buy a set off the shelf, you could but getting fit and getting the right spec's for your game is best.

First off, welcome to this wonderful game. My advice would be to make sure that you LOVE this game. If you know that golf is something that you're going to like...if you can, get lessons. If you don't have access to lessons, just try to do as much research online as you can, in reference to the golf swing, etc.. They're are thousands of tips, videos and so on, that you'll come across. Try watching videos of Tour players and taking down notes. Then, PRACTICE! Practice. Practice. If you really want to be good, you have to dedicate yourself to the game and be willing to make sacrifices.

As Cathi mentioned, when your game gets better, around a 20, or so, then it's time to start thinking about getting some new gear. No matter what, GET FITTED! You're definitely on the right track wanting Titleist equipment! You can't go wrong with Titleist/FJ. They are THE BEST in the golf world.

I wish you the very best through your "journey". If there's anything that I can do to help you out, just let me know!

i agree with almost everything you said and if you look at my post on this were talking on the same lines. My only thing i differe on this is the handicap thing. Look the most important thing is make sure this is going to be your sport of pasion. If you really feel good after a full season and you know you'll staty with it. get fit early. the handie cap thing is only for competitive players. yes its always good to know yoru handie cap but lets be honist if your not competitive with it, its just another statistic just like driving distance.  I have a good freind who has played golf for 20 years and he is still a 32 handie cap. but he loves the game and thats whats important.  now then thats not to get you down on your handie cap dont worrie about a handie cap.  if this is the game for you after atleast a year then get fit. dont wait till your below 20. do it when you know your going to play this game for a long time. a proper set of clubs will last you a long time. I hit a driver thats 4 years old. you know why. I got fit for it and i hit it longer and straighter than anything on the market today. im in the process of replaceing it just couse its 4 years old but i wont through it away. i think the overwelming idea from this forum is:

Welcome to golf were all happy you have started this game. Everyone wants to see you continue and do we'll but as golf members of the sport for years we all know clubs come with a price and this isnt somethign you buy brand new when yoru not sure if its for you. Once you know this game is for you then go get fit. but do it with a trained professinol eye. and let that fitter fit you. 

Everyong in this forum is giving you good and the right advice i hope you learn to love this game asmuch  as the rest of us.  Good luck.

I am 26 and just started playing last year in the fall. I started out with a box set of clubs from Dicks, and in the year my handicap is now down to 18. I jsut got fitted for and ordered a set of Titleist AP-1's. I have had them for 2 weeks and have already noticed that being fitted for the club (and since titleist clubs are awesome) I have shot 2 83's which is my best score. I highly recommend to you that you wait a year and continue to play with the clubs you have and after a year you still love playing golf to get fitted and invest in a good set of clubs. They can only make your game better. Good luck and have fun.