how to get into golf on a budget

by Dr. Shad Douglas Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

How to Start Golfing On a Budget: Our Top 5 Tips

Buy Cheap Clubs. One of the best ways that you can make golf a lot cheaper for you and to get started right away, is to start out with ...
Choose the Right Membership. Another way you can save money when learning how to golf is to ensure that you’re comparing your membership options thoroughly.
Use Alternative Training Methods. ...
Go During Off-Peak Hours. ...

Full Answer

How can I save money on golf courses?

That’s a good place to start. Stop at your grocery store before your round. Instead of buying snacks at the course, where costs are regularly inflated, a sports drink and an energy bar at your local grocery store will run you $2. At the course, that number is closer to $5. Do this a couple times, and you’ll start to save real money.

Should you build or buy your own golf clubs?

Build Your Own Set of Golf Clubs Going off the last point, if you have the clubmaking skills to do so, I would recommend building your own set of golf clubs. By “building,” I mean purchasing each of the components separately (grips, shafts, ferrules, tip weights, butt weights, clubheads, etc.) and then putting them together.

What is the cheapest way to learn golf?

I know some of you might cringe at the thought of reading a book, but hey, it’s one of the cheapest ways to learn golf! Whether you want to learn the golf swing, the mental game, or putting, you can do it through golf books. My personal favorite is Every Shot Must Have a Purpose, followed by Search for the Perfect Golf Swing.

What is the best way to improve your golf game?

Lessons from a certified professional instructor will always be the best way to improve your game. But lessons can be expensive. There is plenty of golf instruction available for free on GolfDigest.com and elsewhere.

How can I practice golf cheap?

15 ways to play golf on the cheapUsed clubs. ... Take a part-time job on a golf course. ... Internet instruction. ... Stop at your grocery store before your round. ... Go hunting for balls in the winter. ... Buy refurbished/recycled golf balls. ... Walk instead of riding a cart. ... Organize a trip to a cheaper area.More items...•

How much does it cost to get started with golf?

Beginner sets start around $150 and go up to about $1000. Beginner golf sets are lightweight and usually have quite a bit of flexibility. A beginner set may come with a golf bag, and everything needed to get started on the course.

How can I get a free round of golf?

One way to get a free round of golf is to go try out a new private club in your area. The membership director at the club will very likely give you a round of golf for free so you can see if you want to join the course.

Is golf a waste of money?

Remembering that the average round of golf takes 4 hours we can safely assume that 1.824 billion hours or 76 million days are wasted playing golf every year . The average golfer wastes around 76 hours or 3.2 days playing golf every year.

Is golf worth the money?

This question will vary for all golfers, but for the most part, golf is worth it. You can learn to play golf with a lower budget, but golf will be expensive for many players. If you are enjoying yourself and you can afford it, continue to play golf.

Is golf for the rich?

Among other reasons, golf is famous to the rich because it is hardly accessible by anyone else. Some clubs can charge an annual fee to let you use their services, but some clubs can charge you more than $100 for a one-time fee. A box of balls costs $50, and the driver is about $500.

Can you walk on a golf course without playing?

In short, yes. However, you must keep off the greens and avoid doing anything which could damage the playing surface.

Why is golf club membership so expensive?

Many courses work on the principle that they need enough money from membership to continue to function (ie that they are not making profit), so all the income goes back into the course by employment of the staff, and reinvesting to keep the course running and looking presentable enough to play.

What is the best free golf game?

Top 7 Best Android Golf Games (Free & Paid)WGT Golf (Freemium)Desert Golfing ($1.99)PGA TOUR Golf Shootout (Freemium)Super Stickman Golf 1 & 2 (Freemium)Golf Battle (Freemium)Golf Clash (Freemium)Mini Golf 3D Multiplayer Rival (Freemium)

Why is golf a dying sport?

The golden age of golf appears to have come and gone and the demographics population in general is getting older. The decline in golf is surely in part due to those who love the game getting too old to play it and dying off, leaving the numbers of golfers continuing to dwindle.

Why does golf suck so much?

1. Practice more often, and with intent. One of the likely reasons you suck at golf is simply because you don't practice enough – and when you do, it's not quality practice.

Why golf is not a sport?

The fact that golf can be difficult and requires practice and skill to achieve proficiency does not mean it qualifies as a sport. Brain surgery, chess, and computer programming are difficult tasks that also require practice and mental acuity, but they are clearly not sports.

How difficult is it to learn golf?

Is golf difficult to learn? Golf is an easy game to learn, but one of the hardest games in the world to get good at. There are so many moving parts to the golf swing – including takeaway, backswing, wrist position, downswing and impact – that it can take years to master.

How much does it cost to play golf UK?

£20-25 is a good price. £30-35 if the course is decent. I probably wouldn't pay more than £40 for a round of golf in anything but very special circumstances. I think £30-£50 is about average for an average course.

Why is playing golf expensive?

Golf is costly due to the high cost of quality golf clubs, accessories, course fees, memberships, and the amount of golf that is played. Golf clubs are made from quality materials meant to last a lifetime, and courses often require membership, the cost of which reflects the club's exclusivity.

How much does it cost to play golf in Australia?

Green fees of between $40 and $60 for 18 holes would be considered mid-range. Top-tier courses will be highly manicured with strict dress codes and excellent facilities, but cost upwards of $75 for a round of 18. Royal Adelaide, for example, is one of Australia's premier courses, setting visitors back $200 for a game.

Save Money on Golf Clubs and Other Equipment

Let’s face it, golf clubs can be one of the most expensive parts of the game!

Where to Find the Best Deals on Golf Clothes

9. Buy golf clothes on clearance. Visit big box golf stores and head to their sales or clearance racks. If buying online, find the tab marked “sale”.

How to Play Golf Without Breaking the Bank

18. Play golf during non-peak times. The busiest times for golf are usually the mornings and on weekends. Some golf courses will offer deals to get more golfers out playing durin the less busy times like weekdays and afternoon/evenings.

Learn and Improve Your Golf Without Paying for Expensive Lessons

33. Buy a punch card. Or a pass at a practice facility that provides a discount on buckets of balls.

Using Free Online Technology and Social Media for Golf Improvement

42. Free video tutorials. Utilize and watch free golf instruction videos that are all over social media. Depending on which platform you like, you will be able to find videos anywhere. From Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Tik Tok. Even the tour pros are offering help and posting video tutorials these days.

More Ideas to Save Money on Golf

48. Look for stay and play golf packages. If you want to travel and go on a golf trip, look for stay and play packages. If you book a hotel with a round of golf, there are some really good deals out there. And they may even throw in some food and beverage perks like free breakfast, a credit voucher or free glass of wine.

Do you need a golf glove?

You do not need a glove to start or play the game of golf, but I will say they do make it nice! I have bought a couple gloves throughout the years (Note: they are single packs and are labeled for your dominant hand), and I use mine just to drive with. They are great for someone who swings hard and fast because they do add that extra bit of grip. Trust me, the worst feeling in the world is swinging at a ball, the club slips out of your hands, and the club goes farther than the ball… But in regards to the brands, I have bought mostly Nike and Callaway gloves. Both glove are sold at Walmart for $15-20. The unfortunate part, they only last about a year. Typically when it gets cold out, the grip starts to separate from the base glove, which does allow the golf club to turn in your hand.

Do you need a golf cart to play golf?

If golfing on a budget, a golf cart is not required to play a round of golf. People can have the luxury of walking the course, but if you do this, prepare for a LONG day. A 2 person 18 hole round of golf takes about 2.5 hrs to complete (4-5 hrs if you’re with my friends…). If you decide to walk, you can probably add another 1-1.5 hrs to your game. To be fair, this estimate is based off the 2-3 rounds I played in this fashion. Some people may walk faster or slower than me. From a budget standpoint, this will add about $10-20 in extra fees, but I personally think this investment is absolutely worth it!

How to save money on golf?

Unless you happen to play at a golf course that serves good food at an extremely low price, one of the best ways to save money is bringing your own food. No sense in gobbling down a hot dog with chips for $5 if you could eat something 10x healthier for less than $2.

How to get free golf?

One way to get free golf is to show up at the course less than 2 hours from dark. Most head pros will give you a discounted rate or even let you play for free. I know it’s not the best situation, but you won’t be waiting on groups in front of you, and will most likely get more than 9 holes in anyways!

How to fix golf shoes that are forever ruined?

If you think your golf shoes are forever ruined, try cleaning them with Oxi Clean. This will delay the purchase of $150 golf shoes for another few months. Here is the process:

What percentage of golfers overlook mini tour events?

Something that 99.9% of golfers overlook is the opportunity to attend a Mini-Tour golf event. Watching professionals play is a great way to see what it takes to shoot a low score, but the majority of people think that attending a PGA Tour event is the only option.

How to deal with negative thoughts in golf?

On the golf course, it is extremely easy to let your thoughts get the best of you. Daily meditation allows you to treat your thoughts as separate entities from your mind, and allows you to separate emotionally from them when needed. This helps me handle my negative golf thoughts during a round much more effectively.

How can I learn golf?

How long should I meditate for golf?

To wrap up the mental exercises, meditation is always a great option for the busy mind. I spend 15 minutes each morning meditating (took me a while to get into the habit), and can honestly say that it is the best thing that I have ever done for my golf game!

Instructions

Find a field with a small area of grass that isn't too short or long and most closely duplicates conditions on a golf course fairway. This saves you from having to spend $20 to $30 weekly on range balls.

Tips & Warnings

Try practicing your shots with your driver at the practice range by getting free balls. Many driving ranges have balls that fly over or roll under the nets. These balls cannot be easily retrieved by the ball retrieving tractor. Suggest to the range's manager that you can retrieve these balls for the chance to hit them on the range.

About the Author

Glenn McAnally is a thriller novelist and life long golfer who lives in Southern California. His most recent work is the action thriller Endangered as well as a story credit for the upcoming Nintendo DS title Elite Forces: Unit 77. He is a graduate of Villanova University.