First off, congrats on your finding/getting to love this sport. You will find it to be very rewarding, and frustrating at the same time. If you are married, give your apologies to your wife... :laugh:
Buy a used set of game improvement clubs. Until you hone your game/swing with fundamentals, and find out if you can really devote the time this game needs, a good used set will do you fine and won't cost that much... All the big names have great game improvement clubs, Callaway, Adams, Cobra, etc... I would stay away from forged "player" clubs... They are extremely hard to hit and will make the game more difficult than it already is...
A driver is a driver is a driver... The only thing I would say is get a higher lofted one (i.e. 10.5-11 degree). They create more upward loft with less side-spin (side-spin is one of the main reasons the ball slices/hooks). A 3-wood should be 15 degrees, and a 5-wood about 19... Other than that, make sure the driver/woods look good to you when you are standing over the ball ready to hit...
The shafts are important for all the clubs. If you swing slower, get medium/regular flex. If you like to go after the ball and swing hard, get stiff flex. If you are older, senior flex is the way to go. Make sure all the shafts match.
Lastly, there is a reason 99% of all golf pros' swings look the same, and that is fundamentals. Learn the fundamentals from the start and the game will be more rewarding for you... Ben Hogan's book, "Five Lessons: the Modern Fundamantals of Golf" is a great $7.00 investment. Lessons are costly, and will just ingrain the fundamentals.
Good luck Tim. Nothing better than pairing a round of golf, good friends and some good cigars! :thumbs:
Regards,
BT