Golf has become one of the most popular sports in America, and indeed in much of the rest of the world, with most nations finally catching up with Scotland, the birthplace of this sport of kings.  But for many years, unfortunately, golf was looked upon as a sport that required money to play and was indulged in only by the upper classes.  This actually was never the case in Scotland, just in other countries.

Golfing on the cheap, supporting the golfing habit without breaking the bank account, really isn’t that difficult if a golfer uses a little common sense.  The first thing to do if deciding to play golf on a limited budget is to find a golf course that won’t bust your chops with high prices.  Of course country clubs are nice, and if you can afford a membership many people consider country clubs to be one of the best golfing experiences that can be had.  But most cities have public golf courses that are supported by tax dollars and are part of the local parks and recreation department. These public golf courses are usually very well maintained and provided great places for consistent and enjoyable golf play without the high membership prices of the country club.

If you are a young golf enthusiast, then getting a part-time or summer job at a country club as a golf caddy can be a great way to grab some golf play at one of the top notch golf courses.  Famous champion pro golfer Payne Stewart actually began his golf career in this manner, by getting a job as a caddy at Hickory Hills Country Club, at the time a rather exclusive country club in his hometown.  By working as a caddy he had access to the club when he wasn’t working and was able to play for free.  This led to a career that made him financially well off and the idol of millions of golfing fans. 

Acquiring the proper equipment at a lower price than you originally thought possible is another way to keep the cost down.  You’ve probably heard the old saying “never pay retail.”  This holds as true in golf as it does in all other aspects of life.  Never pay retail for your golf clubs, your golf bag, your tees, golf balls, gloves, hats and other necessary items.  Check out some of the discount golf outfitting shops rather than the expensive pro shop.  Look online, especially online auctions.  If you have a good knowledge of the type of equipment that you need and have done your homework you may be able to find some bargains.  Another good place to look are the large retail discount chains and superstores that dot the country, as well as the wholesale clubs.  Many times they will have a wide range of high quality golf equipment available at a discount, or perhaps even as low as wholesale. 

Used golf clubs and bags, and other used equipment are another way of keeping the cost of an enjoyable game of golf as low as you can keep it.  Look in the local shopper paper, the classified ads of your daily newspaper, or online at community websites to find people who are selling used golf equipment.  Check out the used sections and bargain bins of the golf discount outlets.  Join an online users group, chat room or forum for golf enthusiasts, especially in your geographic area, and let everyone know what you are looking for. Chances are very good that you will find inexpensive golf equipment that way. 

When the season is right check out yard sales, garage sales and charity bazaars, especially at churches.  Many times members and other individuals who no longer have time to play golf will sell their clubs, bags, balls, tees and other items at bargain prices.  Thrift shops and flea markets, and even pawnshops are also great places to check out if you have the time. You might just find a bargain and keep the cost of your golf game very low indeed.  Remember that a game of golf doesn’t have to be expensive.  Find bargains in your equipment and enjoy the game.

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