Tim, I realize the game is exciting to a new player such as yourself,and can become quite addictive. Several things to note: four months is not a long time here at WGT. There are people who have been playing seven and eight years. As you play, you move up levels which are based on experience points (XP's). You are now nearing the point where it will take longer to move from level to level. You are also nearing the point where you will need more ranked round to move to the next tier.
This is where choosing equipment becomes a challenge. The question of equipment benefits versus what is needed at the next tier and what is available several levels above your current level starts to impact your wallet. You belong to an excellent club with an owner who is more than willing to give advice. As previously mentioned, think about dumping the hybrid and using a 3rd wedge. Gary most likely would agree.
Free credits are an issue, especially for players living in countries other than the US. If you have a smart phone, use the WGT app to get credits from watching videos while doing things like watching television. Do the 7 videos on carousel every day. While each of these videos is worth less than one credit, by the end of a year you have gotten 1916 credits. There are offers that vendors make that require a purchase, but if it is something that you want and need it is a win win situation. I personally purchased a bicycle pump and a pair of shoes and got credits as well. You need to mine the free credit pages very carefully, which takes time, but keeps your money in your wallet.