How To Play Golf For Cheap (11 Tips)

Written by Todd in Online Golf Instruction

Golf can be an expensive sport.

The golfer at a minimum needs golf clubs, a golf bag, golf balls, golf tees and then after spending money on all of those items needs to pay for his her green frees.

We will break down tips to help you save money in different areas when it comes to the game of golf.

How To Play Golf For Cheap – 11 Tips

We will break our tips into following categories:

  • Getting Started
  • Green Frees
  • Learning The Game
  • Ongoing Equipment Needs
When seeking cheap golf, you might not get to play the nicest courses unless you work there or have good friends!

Getting Started For Cheap – Tips

Tip #1: Hand Me Down Golf Clubs

If you need to get started for the lowest amount of money possible, I would recommend finding an avid golfer and inquiring if you can have any of his or her old golf clubs.  While they might be 5 to 15 years old, they are probably decent clubs that can at least help you get and explore if you would like to invest more money into the game.

The next best option at the completely cheap end is to visit garage sales and see if you can pick up a set for under $50 and you might even pick up a bag at this price point.

Tip #2: Find Golf Balls

You have several options here.  Walk the perimeter of a golf course looking for golf balls or simply ask an avid golfer if they have any older golf balls they are not using.  Many serious golfers only use one brand of golf balls, but find others on the course that they might throw into their shag bag.  They will more than likely be happy to give you 10-20 golf balls to start your golf journey.

Are expensive golf balls worth it?

There are plenty of places to find golf balls on tree lined golf courses!

Greens Fees – Tips

Tip #3: Find The Cheapest Course

Many of the courses in the middle of nowhere or far enough away from big towns have the cheapest green fees.  While the course might not be very nice, it will get you playing and for the cheapest price possible.

Tip #4: Volunteer or Work At A Golf Course

Most golf courses will offer free golf to their volunteers or workers everyday or some courses limit it to only 1-2 days per week.  If you have extra time in your life, this is a great way to play golf for little to no money.  It can also help you get on some nicer courses if your budget is really tight.  Many youth or senior citizens will work at private Country Clubs to gain access to some of the best courses in their area.

Tip #5: Buy A Cheap Membership

Some of the golf courses we highlighted in #3 will often have all you can play membership for at or below $1000.  If you plan on playing 4-7 times per week, the cost per round is significantly decreased as you get further into the season.  This frees you from worrying about having to pay for every round and allows you to show up and simply play as long as you have a tee time or the course is not crowded.

Is a golf membership worth it?

Some courses offer memberships which are ideal for those planning on playing 100 plus rounds per year.

Tip #6: Walk Instead of Riding A Cart

A golfer can get quality exercise and save money by walking their rounds of golf.  Many golfers will invest in a quality push cart, which will pay for itself in one season pretty easily.  The benefits of walking are great for those that can handle it!

Tip #7: Discounted Rounds

There are several ways to find discounted rounds.  Some players will offer deals in the heat of the day or at twilight.  Learn more about the area where you live and ask around of what some of the best deals are.  You can also find “hot deals” on sites like GolfNow where you can get discounted rates.  There are deals to find if you simply look.

Tip #8: Have Good Friends

People define good friends in a number of different ways.  Some of my “best” friends have access to some great courses through a variety of ways.  The more people know you golf and the more you enjoy the game, the more they will want to treat you to a special round at an elite golf course.  Having a friend that works at a golf course is another great option!

Walking a round is a great way to get great exercise and save decent money!

Learning The Game – Tips

Tip #9: Online Videos

There are some great youtube videos online to help you learn the basics of the game.  While it might not be as great as having a 1 on 1 instructor, it is free and you can still learn a lot.  I have reached the scratch level of golf without every really having an official golf lesson.  I wouldn’t say I am self taught because I have explore thousands of videos and have built a swing based on numerous instructors.

Here are some of my favorite online instructors:

Tip #10: Shag Bag

Buy your own shag bag, save up some older golf balls and find a place to hit at least some wedges.  Learning to strike the ball solid is the key.  If you are limited on space, you can purchase a net for your backyard or your garage space.  Find a way to work and practice on the game in a way that doesn’t cost any money.

Find a way to practice at home!

Are wiffle balls good for practice?

Ongoing Equipment Needs – Tips

Tip #11 – Lostgolfballs.com

Golf balls are some of the most expensive part of continuing on with the game.

I have found lostgolfballs.com to be a great resources for buying golf balls at around half the price of new golf balls.  If you buy the mint 5A level golf ball, you will be impressed with the quality and possibly never buy a new golf ball ever again!

If you want to get better fast, playing golf year round is the number one way!

My Secret To Golf Improvement

Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently.  About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.  I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.

This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer.  I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day.  I can practice or play rounds of golf.  I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.

It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.

Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

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