Think of your bag as a toolbox. You do not need every tool to begin.
Distance clubs
A driver is mainly for long tee shots. Fairway woods offer distance with more loft than a typical driver. Hybrids can replace harder-to-hit long irons. Any of these can be a sensible tee option when it fits the shot.
Approaches and shorter shots
Irons cover different distances. Within a matched set, a lower-numbered iron usually has less loft and flies farther than a higher-numbered one. Wedges provide more loft for shorter approaches, chips, pitches, and bunker shots.
Rolling the ball
A putter is designed to roll the ball. You can also putt from suitable grass just off a green. Choose the shot you can control rather than assuming every short shot needs to fly.
Learn your own bag
Two clubs with the same number can have different lofts and distances. Your strike, speed, and conditions matter. A label is a starting point, not a distance promise.