A driver is typically used for tee shots on long holes.
Also known as the 1-wood, the driver is the longest club in a golfer’s bag and generally has the largest head and the longest shaft. Its low loft and broad clubface are designed to produce maximum distance when the ball is struck from a tee, making it the usual choice on long par-4 and par-5 holes.
The shot itself is called a drive or tee shot. On a long hole, the goal is normally to send the ball as far as practical down the fairway, leaving a shorter approach shot to the green. A tee raises the ball slightly above the ground, allowing the golfer to sweep the driver through impact without the turf interfering as much.
Driver does not mean mandatory. Golfers may choose a 3-wood, hybrid or long iron when accuracy matters more than distance, or when hazards and narrow fairways make a driver risky. On short par-3 holes, an iron is often more suitable. Wedges are used for shorter, high-lofted shots, while putters are primarily used on the green.