World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession

The Concession Golf Club

Full Leaderboard
The Loop
Golf Digest Logo
Subscribe

The Loop

Golf Digest Logo
  • News & Tours
    • All
    • Gambling
    • Features
    • Podcasts
  • Play
    • All
    • Instruction
      • All
      • Swing Sequences
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Beginners
      • Fitness
    • Equipment
      • All
      • Hot List
        • All
        • Drivers
        • Fairway Woods
        • Hybrids
        • Player Irons
        • Player-Distance Irons
        • Game-Improvement Irons
        • Super Game-Improvement Irons
        • Wedges
        • Blade Putters
        • Mallet Putters
      • Apparel
    • Courses
      • All
      • Course Rankings
  • The Loop
Golf Digest Schools Logo
  • Newsletter Sign-up
  • Golf Digest Handicap
  • Digital Edition
  • Tee Times
  • Log Out
  • Log In Sign Up
  • Contact
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Visitor Agreement
  • California Don't Sell My Info

Follow Us

Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Instagram Logo Youtube Icon
Must Reads

The Loop
December 05, 2020

15 ways to play golf on the cheap

By Stephen Hennessey
    Share this story:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Used clubs

Used clubs

Much like cars, there is a substantial used market. Unlike cars, most golfers don’t know about it. Sites such as the PGA.com Value Guide and 3balls.com offer top-notch equipment at a fraction of its original cost. And if you have some old clubs you no longer want, you can trade them in to lessen the amount of cash coming out of your own pocket for the purchase.
Take a part-time job on a golf course

Getty Images

Take a part-time job on a golf course

Even if it’s eight hours a week, employees usually get free golf. If you have some free time and are wondering how to utilize it, we can’t think of a better way than giving back to a local course, earning some cash, and getting some discounted tee times.

Photo By: Getty Images

Internet instruction

Getty Images

Internet instruction

Lessons from a certified professional instructor will always be the best way to improve your game. But lessons can be expensive. There is plenty of golf instruction available for free on GolfDigest.com and elsewhere. We have thousands of articles from the top teachers in the game available on our website. That’s a good place to start.

Photo By: Getty Images

Stop at your grocery store before your round.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Stop at your grocery store before your round.

Instead of buying snacks at the course, where costs are regularly inflated, a sports drink and an energy bar at your local grocery store will run you $2. At the course, that number is closer to $5. Do this a couple times, and you’ll start to save real money.

Photo By: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Go hunting for balls in the winter.

Go hunting for balls in the winter.

When the trees are bare, the heather is manageable and the course is absent of golfers, it’s a great time to fill your shag bag for the summer. You might even find a few gems.
Buy refurbished/recycled golf balls.

Buy refurbished/recycled golf balls.

Another way to get quality balls on the cheap: Refurbished or recycled golf-ball websites. Sure, nothing beats a box of premium golf balls. Especially if you’re a good player, there can be a noticeable difference. Sites like lostgolfballs.com, which sold 43 million recycled balls in 2015, have divers going into ponds and lakes just to recover old balls.
Walk instead of riding a cart

Walk instead of riding a cart

Sometimes we don’t even realize a course is charging us a cart fee in addition to our green fees. It’s a cost you can cut. Cart costs can add up -- and let’s face it, you could probably use the exercise.
Organize a trip to a cheaper area.

Mark Matcho

Organize a trip to a cheaper area.

Save on airline and housing expenditures by organizing an event in an area that’s: A) A central location for your group but B) Will give you more bang for your buck. More expensive areas of the country will amplify the cost of your entire trip. Sure, some of the best resorts and facilities are located in highly populated areas of the country, but you’ll find some hidden gems after thorough research.

Photo By: Mark Matcho

Now’s the time to buy a membership.

Now’s the time to buy a membership.

It’s a buyer’s market out there so take advantage of it. If you’re not particular about which club in your area you join, find out what each is offering and leverage that information. Deals are being struck all over so no initiation, several months of no dues, monthly credits, waiver of food and beverage minimums or all of the above are possible.
Discounted rounds

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Discounted rounds

If joining a private club isn’t for you, see if your town has "resident cards" to make your local public courses a bit cheaper. Some facilities offer deals through their social-media accounts, too, so it’s worth following their accounts.

Photo By: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Discounted clothes

Getty Images

Discounted clothes

Wait until the winter. October through January is the prime time to purchase your golf wardrobe. Many shops and stores are looking to unload the leftover spring and summer collection before next season’s inventory arrives. You might not have the trendiest clothes, but you can still upgrade and save cash in your pocket.

Photo By: Getty Images

Play in the afternoon

Getty Images

Play in the afternoon

Many courses have lower rates past 3 p.m. Even some of the best public courses in the country offer twilight fees. In the summer, you can complete a full round with enough sunlight.

Photo By: Getty Images

Play more 9-hole rounds

Play more 9-hole rounds

We all love 18-hole rounds. But if time and money are factors, don’t discount the enjoyment you can get out of nine-hole rounds. More and more facilities are buying into nine-hole rates. Call your favorite public course -- it might be a way to get out for a discount. And don't overlook nine-hole facilities, such as Skyway Golf Course in Jersey City, N.J. (shown here).
Always check online reservation systems.

Getty Images/PhotoAlto

Always check online reservation systems.

This is the prime spot for finding hot deals and special rates. And searching your area on Groupon has proven to be a decent way to finding discounted tee times and lessons. Find yourself with a couple hours to spare? Odds are, you can find a facility with a deal.

Photo By: Getty Images/PhotoAlto

Sneak out to play a few holes

Getty Images

Sneak out to play a few holes

OK, we’re not advocating committing a crime, or try to get away with not paying. But if you’re a regular on the putting green, there’s nothing wrong with going out at sunset to sneak in two or three holes. Just be respectful about it.

Photo By: Getty Images

Sections

  • News & Tours
  • Play
  • Instruction
  • Equipment
  • Courses
  • The Loop

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility Help

Services

  • Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Digital Edition
  • Give A Gift
  • International Subscription

Magazine

Newsletter

Sign Up

Social

  • Facebook Logo
  • Twitter Logo
  • Instagram Logo
  • Youtube Icon

Newsletter

Sign Up

Sections

  • News & Tours
  • Play
  • Instruction
  • Equipment
  • Courses
  • The Loop

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility Help

Services

  • Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Digital Edition
  • Give A Gift
  • International Subscription

Social

  • Facebook Logo
  • Twitter Logo
  • Instagram Logo
  • Youtube Icon

Magazine

USE OF AND/OR REGISTRATION ON ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR VISITOR AGREEMENT (UPDATED 1/1/20), PRIVACY AND COOKIES NOTICE (UPDATED 1/1/20) AND CALIFORNIA PRIVACY NOTICE. IF YOU ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT AND WOULD LIKE TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO OPT-OUT OF THIRD-PARTY DATA SHARING, YOU MAY DO SO HERE: DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC.

© 2021 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED