how to play golf on a small budget

How expensive is golfing as a hobby?

Breakdown of Costs to Start Playing GolfItemLow EstimateHigh EstimateGolf Clubs$200$2,000Golf Bag$100$250Golf Lessons$40$200Practice/Range Balls$7$60 (multiple visits/week)6 more rows

How much money do you need to start playing 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 cheap round of golf?

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 play 1 round of golf?

According to a Golf Channel survey, the median cost for an 18-hole round at a public golf course is $36 including cart. Private clubs are costlier with annual membership dues and additional fees and range anywhere from moderately-priced to six-figure initiation fees.

Why do rich people play golf?

It has a high entry barrier 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.

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 there a way to get free golf clubs?

By becoming a club-tester, you can not only get clubs for free, but you'll likely get some new releases. Securing a role as a club-tester will require some work, and some luck, and there will also be a commitment to follow testing protocols and provide a review of the clubs you test, but the reward is free golf clubs.

How can I practice golf at home?

9:1510:32HOW TO PRACTICE YOUR GOLF AT HOME - TOTAL SWING DRILLSYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGo ahead and do it airflow balls door-mat. Down hit them at the fence. Doesn't really matter anywayMoreGo ahead and do it airflow balls door-mat. Down hit them at the fence. Doesn't really matter anyway you can. So I've done the drills done the exercises.

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.

What is proper golf etiquette?

Golfers should avoid distracting fellow golfers. Golfers should not run during play, but instead walk quickly but lightly during play and remain stationary while others play their shots. Players should be still and remain silent during a fellow player's pre-shot routine and subsequent shot.

How long does it take to shoot 18 holes of golf?

4 to 4.5 hoursHole-by-Hole A normal golf hole will take a group of four amateur golfers around 15 minutes to complete. This equates to an 18-hole round of golf taking anywhere from 4 to 4.5 hours.

How expensive is golf a year?

By my estimates, the first year in the game can cost anywhere from $832 to $3,454 for juniors and $1,849 to $3,349 for adults. Those numbers are probably inflated since most places in the country can't play year-round.

How to play golf the most expensive way?

The most expensive way to play a round of golf is by calling the day before, and booking a tee time over the phone. Instead, visit Golf Now, or the course’s website (if they run an online tee time service), and book your tee time at least a week in advance. Chances are, you will save $10 or more just by doing this. 26.

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.

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 keep golf gloves from wearing out?

Put Your Gloves in a Plastic Bag. For those of you who play lots of golf, you know how fast golf gloves wear out. Here are my rules for getting the most out of each glove: Wear your newest glove for golf rounds, and your oldest glove for hitting balls at the range. Store all gloves in plastic bags in your golf bag.

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.

Can you walk in and demand a discounted golf membership?

Remember, golf courses need to make a profit, so you can’t just walk in and demand a discounted membership. It is a give and take scenario. Also, most country clubs won’t allow for leniency in the membership thanks to steep initiation fees.

Do plastic golf tees break?

If you play a lot of golf, purchasing wooden tees can get a bit costly. I prefer the Zero Friction 3-pronged plastic golf tees. They rarely break on me , and also feel extremely smooth through impact. My biggest problem with plastic tees is when they are so hard that you actually feel the club hit the tee at impact.

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!

1. 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 cheap golf clubs. Golf club sets range in price a lot. The most expensive golf club sets can really leave your wallet hurting.

2. 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. Not all memberships are the same and some offer a much better value than others.

3. Use Alternative Training Methods

If you really want to save money when you’re first learning how to play golf, then you may want to consider some alternative training methods.

4. Go During Off-Peak Hours

One final way to save money when learning how to golf is to play during off-peak hours. Whether you choose to visit a golf course or golf club during the times of day that aren’t as popular or you’re choosing to golf in the off-season, you can save a lot of money by doing so.

Using These Tips to Start Golfing On a Budget

If you want to get started golfing on a budget, it’s not as difficult as it may seem. By thinking carefully about when and how you play golf and about what clubs you use, you may find that golf becomes a much more accessible hobby after all.

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.