No, I would never lend out my clubs even to my best friend. I do however have an old set kicking around in the garage that I always throw in the trunk of the car if I'm golfing with someone who I know is new to the game or doesn't have more than a putter and a driver to his or her name. I don't worry about anyone wrecking that set - if they do happen to lose one in the water hazard (yes, I've seen someone let go of the club when they swung in the rough and wound up with the club in the water as well as their shot), it's not the end of the world for me.
As for wife and girlfriend loaning in preference to club loaning, I would bet if there are any female golfers online, they'd say just the same thing about their husbands/boyfriends ... take my wife, please! :cheeky4: