Three ways to make golf more affordable
Golf can and should be affordable for everyone. The personal enjoyment and life lessons that golf provides often make it a transformative experience for those fortunate enough to have the opportunity. It’s time to spend less on golf and open up that opportunity to a much larger group of people. In my first article, I will explore ways to do exactly that.
Here are 3 ways to bring the high cost of golf back to Earth.
1) Buy used equipment. Equipment is very important in golf, so if your budget is small, don’t go out and buy clubs from other brands just because they are shiny new. You almost always sacrifice quality when buying cheap new clubs. Trust me, your game will suffer for it. You will be much better off waiting for the right deal on a used set. There are classic designs like the old Ping i2 irons that are sure to outperform the new cheap starter sets. Preowned Golfsmith, Craigslist, eBay, and your local pro shop are some great places to start when looking for affordable used clubs. I recommend going to a golf blacksmith or equivalent (TGW, etc.) so that you can narrow your search by hitting the clubs in person. They usually have good used deals, but you will generally get a better value in a non-retail environment like eBay, Craigslist, or your local golf course. When I first started, I was using some dirty old blades from the 1970s (blades is a generous term), with an old-school red plaid bag that looked more like a quiver of arrows made from a red kilt. At the time, I had no idea why I was getting so many comments and jokes from random people in the course; on the other hand, I had no idea the difference between a 5-iron and a 9-iron. Fortunately, I came across the PGA Golf Pro that helped me straighten up after laughing at my “gear.” It ended up being very useful, and it turned out that he had a $ 50 set of plates that he was selling for one of his clients. The customer had recently upgraded and left his old clubs for the Pro to sell at the pro shop. This is not uncommon; Kind of like a mechanic helping to sell a customer’s car. So get out there and find a great set of used golf clubs at your local course, pro shop, or on the internet. Golfsmith is still one of the best places to try a variety of used clubs.
2) Visit thrift stores to save money on attractions. You might be surprised, but literally EVERY thrift store I’ve been to has $ 30 to $ 80 golf jerseys for $ 3 to $ 6. Think about it, a relatively high percentage of golfers have a lot of money. What do rich people do with their little used things? Donate to a charity. The good news is that there is not much competition in these places to attract golf. Golfers just don’t shop for thrift stores, and non-golfers don’t know that some of these jerseys retail for $ 80. So this is what you do:
For. Go to your local thrift store
B. Go to the shelves that have polo shirts and pants and browse one by one for the highest quality materials and the best brands. You’ll find a lot more returns than guardians, but there will be gems there if you can spot them.
vs. Make sure you wash your clothes well before wearing them.
D. Now is the time to step into the field looking like a million dollars. Remember, no one knows that it is second hand; they just know that you have good taste when it comes to golf apparel.
Saturdays are usually good days to save and tend to have great sales potential. Saving is about having fun and looking for things that are undervalued. Be prepared to leave empty-handed; there are not always surprising findings. If you are teased, don’t let that put you off, just check back after they get a couple of new submissions. Trust me, you’ll save money, look great, and have fun doing it.
3) Get creative with your rounds and your practice, it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money each time. When you want to play the course, play twighlight golf at night. Most golf courses charge much less at night. Many courses will also allow twighlighters to play until dark, so if you move quickly you may get additional holes. Cheaper rates for additional holes? That’s making your dollar stretch.
As far as practice goes, take time to go to the course to work only on the chip and putt. This is absolutely FREE and essential to becoming a better golfer. It will help you improve your scores, increase your enjoyment, and ultimately save you money. When you’re on the driving range, take your time and make each ball count because you’re paying roughly 5-10 cents for each (usually $ 3- $ 4 for a 30-50-ball bucket, depending on location) . To get the most out of each ball, be sure to hit several practice shots and visualize how to hit the ball on each one. The goal is to get the same feedback from practice swings as you do from real shots. Basically this can give you 2-3 times the impact of your practice, without spending more money. Practice smart to become a better golfer and save money doing it.
Until next time, be thrifty, my friends.
The thrifty golfer