Suggestions on How to Play Affordable Golf

At times, the game of golf can be frustrating enough, but when you add up the cost of all those  lost golf balls, $400 drivers, and $200 putters, the price tag can really add insult to injury.  But fear not, we’re here to tell you that there are ways to play affordable golf and these suggestions should help alleviate a bit of the strain on your wallet and let you leave your worrying for your swing!

Great Golf Sets that Won’t Break the Bank

Wilson Profile HL Complete Set will run you less than $300.00

Some of us are lucky enough to live close to an excellent golf equipment store, but for the rest of us who either have to travel or shop online, the preference tends to be towards finding websites that offer free shipping as a way to defer some of the overall purchase cost of an item.  We’ve found Amazon.com’s golf section to be a great resource for both new and used golf gear, and as a bonus  if you’re a “Prime” member which most people are ($75/year), you can buy and receive almost anything with free shipping.   This is a refreshing alternative to most other online golf stores that force you to spend a certain amount to earn free shipping.

With that said, here are some of our suggested golf club sets for each skill level that we believe provide an excellent overall value:

• Beginners:  The Wilson brand is becoming increasingly popular in the game and it typically targets the beginner golfer.   An example of an affordable starter set would be the Wilson Profile HL Complete Set.  For about $225-$270 (depending on righty or lefty) you can score a 15 piece golf set which includes a putter, driver, fairway wood, hybrid, and irons 5-SW with the bag and the head covers.
• Intermediate: Callaway is a common brand in the game, used perhaps most notably by pro golfer Phil Mickelson.   The Callaway Strata Plus Men’s Complete Set will run you only about $299 and comes with a 460cc driver, 3 and 5 woods, 4 and 5 hybrids, 6-PW, SW, putter, a bag and the head covers.  This 18-piece set has dozens of great user reviews and comes fully equipped with everything the intermediate golfer needs.
• Advanced:  For advanced (low handicap) golfers who know their game well, we suggest you spend a bit extra for custom fitted clubs.  While the difference may not  be significant for beginner or intermediate golfers, fitted clubs are what you’ll need to take your game to the next level.  Not too many ways to cut corners here with regards to afforability but chances are if you’re playing the game at this higher level you’re not skimping on equipment.  With that said however, you can still score some great deals on more disposable items (like your Pro V1 Golf Balls) if you’re willing to keep a sharp eye out for deals.

Be sure to also check out our recent article describing 5 Ways to Save Money on Golf Equipment for more great suggestions on how to get the golf equipment you need for less.

Finding an Affordable Tee Time

Usually a decent golf course that will both challenge and improve your game also tends to come with a hefty price tag.  Some rounds could cost you over $100, and while courses of this caliber can be a real treat, we don’t recommend breaking the bank on these tracks every weekend.  As with anything else, finding an affordable round of golf can be easy, as long as you’re willing to put a little research into it.  Very often golf courses will run steep discounts to fill up tee time gaps during their less busy times.  For example, many golf courses will run discounts as high as 60% off during “Twilight” hours (usually after 4pm).

We also suggest you use a tee time system that offers you discounted greens fees and try to play most of your golf in the later part of the day if it fits your schedule.  As mentioned earlier, that is when you’ll tend to find the best rates.  Many courses also offer discounted rates on Tuesdays since that tends to be the slowest day of the week for most courses (many run outings on Mondays so be aware of that as well).

Another way to save a few extra bucks out on the course can be found in the same way you save a few extra bucks at work every day by bringing your own lunch.  Most golf courses will offer food and beverages both in the clubhouse as well as out on the course, and some places may charge you as much as $3.50 for a Gatorade, $3.00 for a protein bar, and $12.00 for a sandwich. For that price, you can bring a whole lunch and multiple bottles of water out on the course with you.  Just stuff them into the cooler compartment of your bag or on your golf cart and you’re set.

Affordable Ways to Practice

Save money with a home practice set like the Birdieball system.

A bucket of golf balls at the driving range could run you $5-$12 dollars depending on your location and the size of the bucket.  In this game, building muscle memory through practice is essential to becoming a skilled golfer, so range tokens could be running you around $30 dollars per week, which added up is as much as small car payment every month. Why cut your range sessions back a bit and supplement some of your practice time by using inexpensive (one time purchase) training aids that you can use in your backyard or the local park?  Here are a few we love:

• Birdieball Practice Set: This fun and helpful training tool is a great way to practice your swing in your yard, house, office, or any other small space. The hollow Birdieballs are designed to travel less far while at the same time allowing you to take your full golf swing to mimic a real ball strike and help build your muscle memory. Short chip shots around the house into the target buckets will help with your short and approach game. Heck, you can even be home a little more which may be nicer than spending all day after work at the practice facilities. You can get a full set for just under $50. (Read our complete full Birdieball review here)

• 3-in-1 Golf Practice Mat and Net:   For $85 dollars you can setup your own golf practice facility right in your backyard!  For the same amount you would spend going to the range over 2 months, you can have a setup like this forever in a location convenient for practicing your long, mid and short game with a large net, chip net, and tee mat.

Hopefully we’ve helped to show you that you don’t have to levy your entire paycheck to enjoy the game of golf.  While we all agree that practice makes perfect, do it wisely and affordably and we’re sure your fatter wallet will thank you for it!

(Cover Photo Credit)