Swinging Smart: How to Enjoy Golf on a Budget
Golf can easily end up becoming an expensive hobby, between high green fees, pricey clubs, and other costs that add up. However, with some smart strategies, you can keep playing the sport you love while sticking to your budget. Follow the tips below to slash your expenses while still enjoying all that golf has to offer.
Buy Used Clubs
Top-quality new clubs don’t come cheap, but used sets that are only a few seasons old can provide excellent performance at a fraction of the price. Check sites like eBay and Craigslist for full sets from trusted brands or visit specialized thrift stores for their selection of pre-owned gear. With a good clean and grip replacement, used clubs can feel like new at a bargain price. Don’t be afraid to negotiate on the pricing to potentially save even more money. You may also be able to trade in your old set at some stores to cut down on costs when purchasing your used clubs.
Learn to Regrip Clubs
While you’re replacing grips, why not learn to do it yourself? The labor costs of re-gripping add up every time your clubs need new wraps. With a few tools and tutorial videos, you can handle this simple process right at home for all your future regripping needs. Investing in a quality vice and grip tape makes the process even easier over time. Watch for sales on bulk packages of grips for the best deals.
Share a Golf Cart
Most courses charge per golf cart, not per rider. Splitting the fee with one other swinger slashes this cost in half automatically. Stuff two more friends in there, and you’ve cut the cart cost by 75%. Just don’t overload the cart if you want to preserve your safety and the grass! Consider walking instead to save even more on cart fees. You could even consider asking your friends to invest in a shared golf cart. If you find one secondhand, you can make it look brand new on a budget with all sorts of accessories. At Golf Cart Tire Supply, find all your golf cart accessory needs in one place.
Purchase Discount Gift Cards
Golf gift card resellers offer play packages at deep discounts compared to the course’s regular rates. Look for extra promotions around the holidays for even more savings at your favorite local links. Check deal sites and Groupon for gift certificate offers to leverage the best golf card deals out there.
Book Twilight Tee Times
If you’re willing to play later in the day, twilight tee times can chop 30% or more off primetime greens fees at some clubs. Bonus: the setting sun makes it easier to track your drives against the dusk sky. Just bring glow-in-the-dark balls for the back nine! Twilight tee times also often have fewer players on the course, speeding up overall play time.
Invest in Practice Gear
You don’t have to pay to play every time you want to polish your skills. Affordable practice nets, mats, and hitting screens let you groove your swing right in your own backyard. Alternately, head to the driving range and buy bulk buckets for the biggest bang per ball. Mastering your stroke off the course saves money on the course. Check second-hand stores for discounted practice gear options. Hit the range during off-peak hours for reduced basket prices.
The high costs associated with golf can limit enjoyment of the game. But by buying used gear, learning some DIY skills, sharing expenses, and looking for deals, you can continue playing on a budget. Use these six tips to keep swinging happily even on a slim wallet. Fore!