I recently read a post on Enemy of Debt where the author provided alternatives for expensive hobbies. One of those hobbies she discussed was golf. In her post, she gave suggestions like bartering for cheaper greens fees, sharing clubs with friends, and playing at public courses. Some of the ideas are great. Some others, not so much.

For instance, sharing clubs. As I said in my comment to that post, there are a ton of problems with sharing clubs. Sharing golf clubs is like sharing a baseball bat. There are a ton of variables that go into picking clubs: height, weight, grips, brand name (apparently this makes a difference). These variables mean that a set of clubs that will work for one person may not work for another. Also, what if the two people sharing clubs both want to golf on the same day, but on different courses? Who gets the clubs? Is there a custody agreement for the clubs?  What if one breaks? It’s just not practical. A better solution for a novice golfer would be to buy a set of used clubs and have them regripped to suit your needs. If you’re an infrequent golfer, investigate renting a set of clubs or simply borrowing a set from a friend.

Then she suggested bartering for greens fees at a public course. Since golf is pretty no nonsense, I can’t even begin to imagine how this works unless the pro is there and the course is getting ready to switch from peak to off-peak hours.  And at private clubs, there typically aren’t fees unless you are the guest of a member and are required to pay. There is no bartering at all for this fee.  If you really want to save money on greens fees instead of bartering, play off season, play at off-peak times (weekdays or after 3PM or so on weekends), and walk, don’t rent a cart. You can also play an executive course (short, typically par 3 courses) for around $10 a round. Playing this type of course 4 times will still add up to less money than one round at a public or private course.

She did offer a good suggestion in looking for deals on membership dues. There are some clubs that will offer reduced price memberships for new members or if you pay your yearly membership in full. These deals are hard to come by but they are out there. You may have to compromise on what club you join or the type of membership you have but if all that matters is being able to play golf, then I say seize those opportunities. Also, if you’re under a certain age or a student, you can get a junior membership or pay reduced fees for a single round of golf.  You can also get a part-time job at a golf course (pro shop, working the carts, etc); unlimited rounds of golf may be a job perk.

Other suggestions for saving on golf: If you want to play at the really good clubs, look into different tournaments that are open to the public like charity tournaments or open scrambles. See if your company will sponsor a team to play in a tournament. Call and ask if you can use the driving range or practice putting greens rather than playing the course.  If you’re already pretty good, offer to give lessons (the members might bring you onto their course) or see if there’s a job coaching high school golf (again, giving you a chance to play at different courses); you’ll not only get to play but you’ll get to do it for free and make money.

Don’t forget that along with clubs and greens fees, you are required to wear certain types of clothes on golf courses. If these are not clothes that you normally own (collared shirt, khaki pants), you’re going to have to buy them (which you can do cheaply). Don’t worry about fancy golf shoes. They’re horribly ugly anyway. Before you run out and buy anything or borrow from a friend, but make sure you check with the course as to what’s appropriate attire. You may be able to pull something together from your existing wardrobe. Also, make sure you understand why you are buying something; this helps reduce the amount of gimmicky items like wrist bands you’ll waste money on. If it’s not necessary or won’t help improve your game, don’t buy it.

Golf is pricy. Period. If you want to pick up golf, be prepared to spend a lot of money. You can manage the costs but in the long run, golf is one of the more expensive hobbies you can have. From what I’ve been told it’s worth it. But I’d rather just go for a walk.