Tips on how to save money when playing golf

Golf is one of a select group of sports that can be inherently expensive; the cost of clubs alone can set you back a couple of hundred pounds for a full set and a bag to store them in.  Whilst the sport used to be thought of as an exclusively “rich man’s sport” these days with golf growing in popularity and having a booming youth scene the cost is becoming a key deciding factor.

There are many ways you can play golf on the cheap but they may take a bit of research to find out all the insider tips.  This article should give you a few tips on how to go about playing golf but not breaking the bank.  Some may seem obvious whilst others are top secret insider hints that could help you cut your golfing costs clean in half!

Know someone at a golf club

Many golf courses local to you may be member’s only who would either require a membership fee or even a lengthy waiting list.  These courses are probably the best ones to play on as they will be less crowded than municipal courses and well kept but they will also be pretty tough to get a game on at the same time.  Members are often able to bring guests who can play on the course for a discount rate that regular non-members have to pay.  You never know, you may like the course so much that you end up becoming a member yourself!

Pick your time and date wisely

On more popular courses around the world there are seasons where the golf courses’ green fees can rise significantly (green fees are the payment you make every game that goes towards maintenance costs).  This rise will normally be when the weather’s nice in the summer but also before and after a major tournament is due to be played, any courses in the UK that are scheduled to host the annual Open tournament like this year’s Turnberry course in Scotland can be pricey if you want to play during the lead-up or aftermath of the tournament.  As long as you don’t mind early games or late in the day then you could save some money on your fees by being flexible.

Find out about any discount schemes

Sticking with Green fees, sometimes there are schemes that can help cut the cost of playing a round of golf.  These schemes often come in the form of vouchers that a selection of courses will accept; these vouchers will enable two players to play a round of golf but for only having to pay one green fee.  Basically it gives you the “buy one get one free” or “2 for 1” deal we see in retail and other areas.  This is a great way to save money, essentially cutting your golfing costs in half and well worth looking into.