In Golf Why Do We Have Irons And Woods?

These are the two types of club commonly used in the game, but a player doesn't have to use them or even carry them.
Woods are used for long drives. You might select one for your first shot off the tee or from along the fairway. Their heads used to be made of wood with a brass sole and face plate. Modern woods are mow very high tech'. They are often constructed from exotic metals and promise longer and straighter shots.
From the tee you might use a driver and from a long the fairway #2 or brassie, or a spoon #3 for long high shots. The faces are angled to add loft to the shot. A cleek or #4 is for short drives. Its use is now largely superseded by one of the irons.
The head of an iron is made from iron or an alloy. They are used for shots approaching the green. The faces are progressively angled as the number increases depending on the lie of the ball. #1 is a driving iron; #2 a midiron, #3 mid-mashie, #4 mashie iron, #5 mashie, #6 mashie niblick, #7 pitcher, #8 pitching niblick, #9 niblick with the face at about 45 degrees.
In addition golfers carry a putter or putting iron and a sand wedge for blasting out of a bunker.