If there's one site every Australian golfer should bookmark before buying a single club, it's MyGolfSpy. Founded in 2010, it has become the de facto Consumer Reports of the golf equipment industry - running rigorous, data-driven testing on drivers, irons, putters, wedges, and golf balls with real golfers using launch monitors in controlled conditions.

Crucially, MyGolfSpy accepts zero advertising dollars from major golf manufacturers. That independence means when they publish test results, they reflect actual performance - not marketing budgets. Their annual "Most Wanted" rankings across every club category are the most referenced independent tests in the sport, with approximately 17 million readers annually. If a club you're considering isn't performing well in their data, that matters.

How to use it: Before buying any driver, iron set, wedge, or putter, search the club name followed by "MyGolfSpy" and read their test results. Pay particular attention to the distance, accuracy, and forgiveness data. Then cross-reference their top picks with used prices at Rising Sun Clubs - that's where the real value emerges.

Established in 1911, Golf Monthly is one of the longest-running and most respected golf publications in the world. Their buying advice section covers every club category with in-depth reviews, head-to-head comparisons, and expert-written guides that are regularly updated as new models release.

Their editorial team includes experienced club testers who play the equipment in real course conditions - not just on a range - which gives their reviews a practical, real-world perspective that complements MyGolfSpy's lab data nicely. Golf Monthly's tour coverage is also excellent for understanding which clubs professionals are trusting at the highest level, including the recent story of Scottie Scheffler switching back to the TaylorMade QI10 LS at the American Express.

How to use it: Use Golf Monthly for in-depth written reviews and buying guides when you've narrowed your search to two or three clubs. Their "best irons" and "best drivers" roundups are consistently comprehensive and well-structured for golfers at every level.

Golf Digest is one of the most widely read golf publications globally and their annual Hot List - a gold/silver rating system across every equipment category - has become a trusted benchmark for the industry. Clubs that earn Gold on the Golf Digest Hot List are consistently among the most sought-after on the used market twelve months later, making it a useful guide for identifying which used clubs will hold their performance and desirability.

Their equipment editors test clubs extensively and their "best drivers", "best irons for high handicappers", and "best putters" roundups are thorough and updated annually. They also cover instruction and fitness, making Golf Digest a good all-round resource beyond just equipment.

How to use it: Check the Golf Digest Hot List for your category before buying used. If a club earned Gold two or three years ago, there's a strong case it's a smart used buy today - the performance hasn't changed, but the price has dropped significantly. Then search for it on Rising Sun Clubs.

GolfWRX is the world's largest golf equipment community and forum. While the testing sites give you data, GolfWRX gives you the unfiltered opinions of tens of thousands of real golfers who have actually played the clubs you're researching. The signal-to-noise ratio is high because the community skews toward serious, equipment-knowledgeable players who are quick to separate performance from marketing hype.

Their "What's In The Bag" (WITB) articles are particularly useful - when a tour professional switches equipment mid-season, GolfWRX typically has the full breakdown within hours. For Australian golfers, there's even a dedicated Australia/New Zealand forum section where local golfers discuss equipment, courses, and buying options relevant to our market.

How to use it: Search the club model you're considering in the GolfWRX forum search. Read through threads from actual owners discussing real-world performance, shaft combinations, and common issues. This is particularly valuable for older models you might be considering on the used market - threads from the year of release give you an honest picture of what the club actually delivers.

You might wonder why we're recommending two major retailers as research tools. The answer is simple: you need to know the retail price before you can appreciate the used price. Golfbox and Drummond Golf are Australia's two largest golf retail chains, and checking the current retail price of any club you're researching takes thirty seconds and completely changes how you evaluate a used listing.

For example, when you see a TaylorMade QI10 driver listed at $420 used, knowing it retails at $799 at Drummond or Golfbox makes the decision much clearer. Without that context, used prices exist in a vacuum. With it, every used listing becomes a quantifiable saving.

These sites are also useful for checking availability - if a club is no longer stocked new, it's likely because a newer model has replaced it, which often means the used price of the older model will drop further in coming months.