Golf on a Budget

One of my goals is to travel the world, playing golf everywhere. Another is to actually be *good* ad golf.

Now, golf is expensive. It just is, right? But with everything, there's a cheaper way to do it. So what are the main expenses of golf? I count 3-

1. equipment
2. lessons
3. greens fees/ driving range fees

So let's take a look at ways to cut back

Equipment-

To play golf you need a bag, at least 4 clubs, golf balls, tees, "appropriate" clothes (usually khaki's and a shirt with both collar and sleeves), some shoes and a glove.

First rule of saving money on golf stuff- Don't ever buy any equipment at the pro-shop on the course if you can possibly help it. Tees are cheap everywhere, but you can get a huge bag at most discount stores. Gloves run from $5 to who knows how much, but one will usually last at least a season, unless you play every day.

Khaki's and a polo shirt are in just about every guy's wardrobe, and chicks get a bit of a pass on the collar *and* sleeves thing. I usually wear an old button down men's shirt anyway, to keep the sun off. Shoes are, oddly enough, a bit of a fashion item. One pair lasts a couple years at least, so long as you replace thecleats as they wear down ($20 or less per set). In areas with a "no golf" season shoes go on sale. They also go on sale when the next "season" of golf gear comes out.

Clubs and bags seem to be the biggest expense for most people, the thing that keeps them from even trying this "golf" thing. Luckily, there are a lot of people out there who upgrade their clubs regularly, and need to get rid of the old ones. Here in South Carolina garage sales, thrift stores, and church jumble sales usually have a set hiding somewhere, usually for less than $60, and more often around $30. Usually includes the bag, too. They might not be the best clubs ever, but they work, and you can use the same hunting method to upgrade slowly as you get better.

Balls- You don't need sleeves of snazzy $20 balls. You can pick up a bag of "used" balls for less, or even use generic balls. Out on the course, keep an eye out for balls other players have lost, and you can easily finish a round with at least one or two balls more than when you started.

Lessons-

Private lessons are expensive! They're great, but not on a budget. Luckily, group lessons are cheaper- both through golf courses, and city, county, and university recreation programs. One school I went to had a 6 week summer course for $55, and I think that even included clubs. Eventually you might get good enough to need private lessons, and then one or two could be what you need. But when you're just starting out private lessons are too much.

Green fees/ Driving Range fees-

This is the area with the biggest potential for savings. You only have to buy clubs once in a while, and lessons are really only needed until you have some idea what you're doing. But you can't really play golf without a golf course.

So how do you save money on golf? Part of it depends on how often you play, part on where you live, and part on how much you're willing to do to get a good deal.

First, easiest way to save money is to only play on courses that allow walking, and then walk. Cart fees, even at the cheapest courses, are usually at least $1 a hole- that's an extra $18 + tax for a round. $18 is a round of golf. Walking will save money. It also allows you to wander the edges of the fairway for lost balls. Double win.

Don't play on weekend mornings. Weekends are higher anyway, because both tourists *and* locals want to play golf on weekends, and golf in the morning is just better. As the greens dry out over the course of the day they play differently, finish your round while they're still covered in dew and haven't been trampled and your game goes much better.

Play in the evenings- some courses (all my local muni courses, for example, or all the city courses in Los Angeles) have a special "twilight" rate. This has nothing to do with the books, and everything to do with changing light and a risk of not finishing before dark. Most people want to go home and watch TV after work, but if you're willing to hit the course, After 4,5, or 6pm rates drop- sometimes dramatically.

Get a job- some courses (Kiawah Island, for example) offer special rates for employees, either free on set days, or (in one case I can think of) 90% off if there are spots. $15 to play a $150 course isn't bad, but it requires more time than just playing later in the day.

Also worth looking at are "Par 3" courses. They're good for practicing on and tend to be *much* less expensive.

For affordable driving range fees, look for courses that offer discount cards, and buy in "bulk." These tend to be "use it or lose it" deals, but can usually save you 10% or more. Also, check around- sometimes semi-private clubs will be less expensive per bucket than municipal courses. they do usually have more restrictions, and if you show up every day for a month might start wondering when you're planning to join.

Speaking of- if you have an affordable club nearby, look into joining. In the last place I lived, $450 or so would buy unlimited golf for the year- running usually from April to November. If you play every day, though, and live in an area without many affordable courses, joining a club might be the way to go. But since most people don't play *every day*, this isn't a good choice for them. Only really dedicated players will save anything this way at all.

For now my golf budget is zero, so I'm not playing at all. Hopefully by the end of July I have enough spare cash to cover a bucket of balls a week, and by the end of the year I plan to be working the rest of these ideas. Heck, I already have the equipment, might as well use it, right?