The Best Deals In Golf

We all like free stuff (or at least saving money). Our crew gives you some ideas on how to cash in

Free: get yourself custom-fit: Every April PGA Professionals provide free 15-minute fitting sessions to any player. Before you get fit for a new set that can improve your game, go online and print the PGA Trade-In Network Credit Certificate for your old set's fair market value. Then redeem the certificate at any of the more than 6,000 participating facilities.

$14.97: subscription to Golf Digest: Even the newsstand price for one issue ($3.99) is less than a gallon of gas. Click here to subscribe.

$199: romantic getaway

Silverado Resort is in the heart of California wine country and the former home of PGA and Champions tour events. From Nov. 23 to Feb. 28, you receive one night lodging for two in a one-bedroom suite with a fireplace and golf for two for $199 Sunday through Thursday. Weekend suites normally go for $425 and $335 midweek, and golf is $160.

So, that's a savings of 70 percent off the regular price.

$50 and up: get new grips: Make an old set feel like new with new grips.

$25: muny rates for nonresidents: Most municipal golf courses offer great deals to city residents but burn out-of-towners. However, there are munys out there that are kind to all people from all places. The 6,590-yard, par-72 Coronado Municipal Golf Course outside San Diego, where the climate puts it high in the running for best green-fee value nationwide, has several holes along the bay and charges the same rate to all: $25 to walk 18 holes, or $13 for twilight.

$5-$8: book learning

Prowl amazon.com for used copies of classics. Dog-eared pages or scuffed covers? You won't sweat throwing them in your bag and using them during practice. We found Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf for $8, Harvey Penick's Little Red Book: Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime in Golf for less than $5 (including shipping) and Jack Nicklaus' Golf My Way for less than $8.

--Max Adler, Jon Terbell, Jeff Patterson, Brett Avery, Annmarie Dodd, Peter Finch, Matt Ginella, Marty Hackel, Ron Kaspriske, Pete McDaniel, Mark Soltau and Mike Stachura.