Saving Money As A Golf Beginner
Rich people golf, and I aspire to be rich. Therefore, it only makes sense that I take up an interest in the game of the rich. As one of the only permitted activities last summer, I found golf to be a great escape and a way to get just enough exercise to enable me to cancel my regularly scheduled workout. But there’s a reason it’s a rich person’s game: golf is freaking expensive. Here are a few ways I’ve been saving money as a golf beginner.
Buy cheap golf equipment to get started
For a novice golfer, the reality is that no amount of golf technology is going to make a significant impact to my handicap. I bought a 10-club golf bag for the same price that grown men spend on a single club. It’s got everything I need to get started, and probably more. It might not be the kind of stuff you’ll see on the PGA Tour, but it’s perfectly suitable for someone like me who just needs a stick with which to hack. As for balls, buy in bulk. There’s no need to spend five bucks on some high-tech ball when you’re likely donating a sizeable allotment of them to the water hazard. If you don’t mind deviating from the “top” brand names, you won’t have to break the bank to get started. You can always upgrade after using and abusing your beginner set.
Teach yourself to golf for free via YouTube
Rather than pay for expensive golf lessons, there are professional golfers giving free tips in such an abundance so as to allow you to teach yourself this frustrating endeavor. There’s no shortage of further lessons available from the equivalent of your local golf pros. As you get going, you may decide that you want to pay for one-on-one interaction and personal swing corrections. But, as with nearly every subject, YouTube provides an incredible resource for beginners in pursuit of a DIY project. There’s no DIY project quite as never-ending as improving your golf game.
Become a course member for free driving range practice
It’s somewhat counterintuitive to pay for a golf membership when you’re trying to save money on that very activity, but it’s easy to extract value out of a membership at a lower end course. Over the summer, I paid $30/month for a membership (minimum three months) that entitled me to a free bucket of range balls every day. A bucket of balls usually costs $10-15. Just two trips to the course during a given month pretty much covered the membership fee by itself. And naturally I went much more than that. Additionally, the membership included huge discount rates on their 18-hole course for when I finally mustered up the courage to play a real round of golf.
Help yourself to free balls and tees all over the course
Because I am such a terrible golfer, I spend a lot of time hitting balls out of bounds or into the woods. Oftentimes, I lose the ball I hit, but emerge from the woods with a wide variety of brand name golf balls that I would never have purchased for myself. Especially since they’re likely to end up right back where I found them. The out of bounds area on a golf course is basically a “take a penny, leave a penny” jar on the counter of a convenience store. One for me, two for you, Mr. Golf Course. I have no shame whatsoever about scanning the bushes just off the fairway in search of a gently-used Titleist. In addition to scooping up these free balls, I keep an eye out on the tee box for some intact tees. While tees are dirt cheap, I find myself breaking mine on nearly every drive I take. Every extra tee that I find delays another purchase.
Golfing during the week and other non-peak times
As with travel, there are deals to be had simply by taking a trip to your preferred golf destination during an off-peak time, such as during the week and in the afternoon. The weekends are typically packed with golfers compounding the frustration of their 9-5 by scoring a 9 on a Par 5. You can skirt these miserable weekend warriors by playing hooky from work or using one of those personal days nobody ever takes and golfing during the week. Better yet, hit the course after 1 or 2 p.m. for the reduced Twilight rate, which is often half the price of an earlier tee time. Plus, there’s no rule stating you have to play a full 18. Cut the price (and time) in half by playing nine holes as you get acclimated to the sport.
Let the golf gifts roll in
Tell your friends and family that you’re getting into golf, and you’ll find yourself with a steady stream of new golf stuff for birthdays and Christmases to come. Buying gifts for adults is nearly impossible. You know, since we tend to abandon our hobbies as we slowly give up on all of our hopes and dreams. But when your loved ones find out you are taking an interest in this silly game, there’s no limit to the amount of crap they can buy you. You’ll always need clubs and balls and tees and shoes and gloves and towels and on and on and on. Golf makes Father’s Day (and Mother’s Day!) simple.
The best way to save money on golf? Don’t play!
The number one way for beginners to save money on golf? Never golf at all! I am confident that the statistics back me up on this. If you don’t mind a little salty language, allow George Carlin to convince you never to play this meaningless, mindless game to begin with.
It may be a boring game for boring people, but good news for me: I’m bored! At least I’ve found a couple ways to make the arrogant, elitist game a little less so. Or, at the very least, I’ve paid a little less for my participation in the hobby by swiping a couple stray golf balls out of the woods.
Big Golf has done a better job with inclusivity over the last decade or so, but sticker shock remains for beginners. There are ways to participate in the sport without being an elitist asshole. Here’s hoping you can save money–and par–on your next trip to the links.
I golfed a lot in my 20s and 30s, but drifted away from it when golf got really expensive and I got a motorcycle. When it was nice enough to golf, it was nice enough to ride.
I have also found that there is a minimum of playing required in order to maintain my game at a level that is enjoyable. When I play five times a year, I really suck at it. Then I spend more time swearing and searching in the cabbage.
I would love to play golf in retirement, but I expect that it is not going to be in my budget. I’ll have to work too many more years to be able to afford retirement golf.
It really is something you have to do almost every week to maintain a respectable performance level. Spoiler alert–I don’t go every week. The affordability factor is still the biggest hinderance, no matter how many balls I find in the woods.
I grew up playing golf similar to Frugal Professor. My mom would drop my brother and I off with $10 and that would cover two rounds of golf and lunch. And I’m not even that old!
I recently came up with a rule to only play a round if it is less than $30. This typically ends up limiting me to 9 hole rounds, but it at least helps to make easy decisions when someone invites me to a $100 or up course. No thank you — unless you are paying!
You’ll be lucky to get lunch for $10 now!
That’s a solid rule. You can still golf some pretty nice courses for $30. The relatively cheaper courses have a much better (less pretentious) vibe about them anyway, which is good for a novice like me who still isn’t even sure what to wear to a golf course.
The best tip for a golf beginner would be to get your own personal Mr. Meeseeks! As long as you take two strokes off your game, you’ll be well off both skill wise and financially.
Jokes aside, I’m all for pursuing sports on the cheap. It’s amazing just how expensive sports equipment is, for any sport. I mean, they have to make up for the huge endorsement deals they make with athletes somehow, right?
That Mr. Meeseeks might be around a long time trying to fix my game!
It’s no wonder so many kids around the world gravitate toward the more accessible sports that only require a ball–soccer, basketball etc. In terms of equipment, I think hockey is right up there with golf. Second hand products or knock off brands are the way to go (at the possible expense of a kid’s cool points).
“You know, since we tend to abandon our hobbies as we slowly give up on all of our hopes and dreams.” Too real! Haha those YouTube clips were hysterical! I love Rick and Morty, but I’ve never seen that George Carlin standup before. Very clever. I also hope I influenced you when I purchased those same cheap Nitro balls last week! That, or it was a coincidence, and I now have the IF-approved golf balls!
P.S. I also love finding old, abandoned golf balls in the woods when I play too.
Ha! Maybe subconsciously I saw you order those Nitro balls. It’s great value!
George Carlin has some great stuff–ahead of his time. But he’s not stopping me from golfing!
I grew up golfing. I worked at a par 3 course as a kid. I quit the moment I had to pay for myself (in college and beyond).
It’s not worth it.
I’ve recently picked up frisbee golf and am addicted. Free to play. $50-$100 of discs will last you close to a lifetime. Unbelievably fun. You just need a group of friends to join.
Sounds like a great frugal rebuttal to golf! Still get to enjoy the outdoors, and I’d imagine it’s slightly more difficult to lose frisbees in the woods.
So expensive to golf. Don’t get to swing that much because of the price…. That’s my excuse anyway when others see my game. Yeah the twilight rounds or back nine is the way to go on the cheap.
I still have a half a dream to take it up regularly in “real” retirement. I don’t think an early retirement budget can support regular play. Well unless I can Fat FIRE. I’m too impatient for that though.
Great writing.
Yeah, totally get that. The sport prices out a lot of lower income families right off the bat, which is a shame. But as far as a physical activity that can be sustained throughout retirement/aging, it’s hard to beat. No wonder it’s the hobby of choice for so many in that demographic. I just have to up my savings rate for that to my an option for myself haha.
Brilliant. Although I’ve never had any interest in golf, partially because of the price tag and elitism (I was once required to go as part of a work event, and I’ve resented being forced to spend that money… and the money on a polo shirt… ever since), I do respect your determination and creativity in finding a way to make it work. It’s funny, because I’ve applied the same logic to things like traveling, clothing, and other “rich people” indulgences, but I never thought to apply it to something like golf. Well done.
It’s super intimidating to a schlub like me to go to some of these courses. And most of the dress code stuff is rooted in racial/sexist motives. So… understood. I just really enjoy the activity. I’ve always been slightly bored by hiking, so this gives me an activity to do while enjoying nature. I think of it more as a nice little walk with an occasional rock to kick down the road.
There’s a small Par 3 near my place which is mostly empty on the weekdays. I find it really relaxing to stroll down and play once in a while. I usually dictate blog posts and notes into my phone while I play and walk around. It’s a great place to get work done haha!
A few years ago I listened to Malcom Gladwell’s podcast on LA courses, golf stats, country club taxes, etc… I’ll admit it put me off golf for a loooong time. Amazing episode if you have the time… https://www.pushkin.fm/episode/a-good-walk-spoiled/
Par 3s are the best! Sounds like a productive activity all the way around for you. I’ll have to give that a listen.
There’s somewhat of a debate in San Francisco about a golf course that was open to the public during the pandemic and used as a large public park. Many longtime residents saw the beautiful area for the first time and were outraged that it took a pandemic for them to be able to visit that section of SF (a relatively small mass of land). Hard to argue in favor of golf courses sometimes but the more I play the more I start siding with the rich a holes haha.
we do slowly give up on all our hopes and dreams! nailed that one. i played “bargain golf” on and off for many years but gave it up about 5 years ago. the nail in the coffin for me was distance from home to a good public course. it was too far. one day if i live nearby a good cheap course maybe i’ll get back into it, but probably not. it’s frustrating to just continue to go out and suck.
you can always put your bloody mary’s and steak sandwiches on the underhill’s tab at the clubhouse.
Double steak sandwich! Proximity definitely plays a huge part in my participation levels. There are tons of great courses in the Bay Area so it’s been fun to see these elitist alcoves for myself. I am partial to a par 3 course or an hour at the range followed by an alcoholic beverage or two. My expectations for myself are low so there’s not a ton of pressure to perform any better than terribly.