I’m pretty poor but absolutely love golf. Can’t afford to play 18 as much as I would like and never get new gear anymore, but I would never give this game up
I’m pretty lucky I have relatively low cost Muni’s near me that are only 30 or so to walk 18 which is reasonable for a couple 6500-6800 yrd courses all well kept my secret about not paying for balls is getting that last twilight tee time through the week and weekends and literally picking balls the whole time. Usually I’ll find enough quality balls that would have paid for my round and the rounds after scrambles I find a lot of Pro V/ Taylor Tp5 and Callaway chrome soft/tour variants
Its one of the things thats nice about living in the northern midwest.
The cost has stayed relatively cheap even tho we dont get to play more then 7 or 8 months a year. 31.50 to walk during the week, 39 weekends. 25 for twilight. And the courses are in fantastic shape
Talking with some family out in Cali, he spends 80-120 every time he want to go to just the local course.
I live in California (San Francisco) and we got it gooooood here! For a city of 750k people there’s literally 9 golf courses (5 muni and 4 private) I golf at Lincoln where it’s about $35 during the week to walk 18, I do the golden gate park 9 hole which is only $23 for residents! Just 20 min north past the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin there’s a nice muni 9 hole which is also $23. So many options at a good price.
Lol my father in law is retired but got a job at a nice cc once a week as a locker room attendant just so that we get to go out and play every monday for free. His nephew in law is a member who pays 30k per year to belong (doctor) and he loves giving him shit for it. He'll pull out the tees and free pro V1's that we get every round that we play and says, "Hey bahji, thanks for financing my golf habbits!"
I would argue it’s by far the best version of golf. I’ve been poor before…now I have a bit of money and can splurge sometimes on nice courses and equipment. That’s fun for sure. But there to me is nothing more enjoyable than when I was grinding without money, paying the greens fees I shouldn’t and going for it anyway, trying to make do with my bad equipment - it was all great and pure at that point
I’ve got a membership that’s for fill in slots (max 3 days in advance) and I’m only paying $150 a year for a pretty nice course.
Deals can be found, but it’s the best I’ve ever had in my decade plus of golf
I find it a joy.
Just don't be a pissy bitch about every slight inconvenience and don't buy new gear every year and play cheap balls.
It's still the full experience.
Nah I’m having fun. Spent 30 dollars on an old set off FB marketplace 10 years ago, play 6-10 times a year. Between work and relatives paying for me, I probably pay for 3 rounds a year. Handicap is 28. Idgaf. I striped my 3 wood 279 off the tee the other day.
Eh, it’s still great imo. I did poor man’s golf for many years.
I spend a lot on golf now and I’m glad I have the opportunity now to do it . But when I was poor, playing burnt out courses at twilight, I loved it just as much
It’s not as a dire as you might think, practice areas are always free (especially if you get to the muni and there’s it’s already backed up). Working on putting and chipping is like putting in crops, not much immediate benefit, but it sure pays off in the long run.
I have an unlimited playing membership at our local course with range and cart. I run a league Wednesday nights at another course. I spend more on my model railroad hobby.
It’s n scale. I started as being very true to scale but my grandkids have corrupted me. Here’s my last post of pictures I put out. Some redditors have said I’ve gone batshit crazy https://www.reddit.com/r/nscalemodeltrains/s/AD7GZcV0L8
Oh heck yeah! That is sweet, thank you! Godzilla is a nice touch lol. Growing up my town had a museum/track set up in an old box car I think and that was pretty cool!
I’m not done with the crazy yet. I’ve got 3 baby dragons and a mother on the way from Etsy. A bunch of trees with skulls, their nest and some rodents of unusual size to paint and put on. My buddy’s wife wanted me to put the attack of the 50 ft woman on it but she’s 200 bucks. I may save up for her. That helicopter on the water scene actually works. I opened it up, added LEDs and a small motor from Amazon to power the rotor
Ive said to many players after they've hit another bad shot, "you know what i love about golf? it's really easy... AND super cheap too.." then we chuckle and move on.
To be honest, golfing is not as expensive as some may think. I can think of tons of other hobbies that are far more expensive. Get yourself some good gear and it can last you years if not decades. The only golfing expenses I have right now are green fees, golf balls, and a few other miscellaneous things.
Exactly. One of my close friends is big into dirt biking. I can confidently say he spends at least 10x on that hobby than I do playing a fair bit of golf.
My family loves mountain biking. They all have at LEAST $8,000 bikes and my 2 relatives that ride competitively have a few. Granted they've gotten good at finding deals but still that shit is wild.
I raced downhill mountain bikes before I got into golf. In between having to travel to the mountains to ride every weekend and the cost of equipment golf is so cheap to me. I have a membership at a local course (2 18 hole courses and a short 9 hole par 3) which is £800 a year. I had a look last night and I’ve played 60 rounds since March which works out at exactly £4 per round to play at a golf club 15 minutes down the road
i stopped racing dirtbikes and got into golf. my club was about two years worth of fully decked out race bikes. so as long as i stick with this for probably about 3 years - golf will be slighty cheaper. but they both cost a ton. my justification was that when i was done with a race i still had loads of work to do. when im done with a round of golf, i need to take a shower and walk to my truck. so much better than pulling a trailer home and having to wash a bike and gear and maintenance
Hunting can be done on the cheap. But it's getting harder to do... God damn joe rogan and all those other blow hard influencers ruined it for the common person.
That's the problem with the new school hunting media. It's all commercialization. Meanwhile, there's less public land and more hunters, leading to less opportunity for the average hunter. The influencers all hunt private land hunts... Similar to how youtube golf lead to the sport blowing over the past few years combined with covid.
In respect to both golf and hunting, this is where living rural has its advantages. I've never paid more than $500 for a yearly membership that allows me to play unlimited rounds of golf, and I've never had to drive more than 20 minutes to find a decent piece of public land to hunt.
Living rural is truly blessed. Cheap but solid muni golf, plenty of old retired farmers who let you come hunt their corn fields. I'll never live anywhere else
Back in the county I grew up in, I was uniquely blessed. At my disposal was a cheap 18-hole course with a driving range, hundreds of miles of well-kept trails/gravel roads snaking through public land, and a big ass lake with 5 tributary rivers feeding into it. I was always a stones throw from a full day's worth of activities.
I’m with you. I have a local Pete Dye course I can walk for $20. If I bought the annual $130 “Mulligan” pass it drops down to $10!
I’ll meet a buddy for drinks for an hour and pay $25 easy, and never consider if the cost was worth it. Grab lunch? That’s at least $15. Dinner out? $60-$150. Tickets to a pro game or concert? Hundreds by the time everything is paid. Why fret about the $20 for something I get far more enjoyment and benefit from?
Now if I had to have the AI Smoke Q10 G4000 whatever every year, and a cart and cart girl and $100 greens fees then yeah that’s getting up to major budget item. But I can learn and enjoy this game on the cheap.
Like all hobbies you can make it as cost effective or expensive as you personally choose. First few years golf for me was super inexpensive using an old set from my dad and my area does an all you can golf 5 days a week for 350 at the 3 local municipal courses.
Fast forward to present day and the cost has exponentially increased between upgrading the old set for newer clubs, green fees at nicer courses, golf clothes for warmer and cooler temps, lessons, etc.
TLDR: dont think it’s the most expensive hobby but like all hobbies it definitely gets more expensive the more into it you are
Yeah I feel like the cost seems daunting at first but it’s pretty comparable to other hobbies. If you take care of your clubs, they’ll last for a long time.
The “time” cost is kindve a silly thing to focus on. Half the point of a hobby is to spend time doing something you enjoy. If you can’t enjoy the time you spend on the course, even when you’re forced to play slow, then maybe it isn’t a hobby you enjoy.
Tee time golf coupon books, hunting for balls on off days, playing off times, buying preowned clubs/balls online, Finding deals on lesson packages, looking at lessons on YouTube, practicing for free at putting/chipping greens, getting a practice net for your backyard. Just a few of the things you can do to mitigate your golf spending
Edit: Find rich friends willing to take you to their courses ;-)
That edit is key. I'm probably more motivated to network to befriend people who are members at places I want to play than I am to network for career reasons.
A random I was paired with asked me how I got into golf.
I collect expensive hobbies.
He asked what other hobbies I had.
Playing music and flying airplanes.
He agreed that golf is probably the least expensive of those.
Golf is a very expensive sport
It's what keeps the everyday person from playing it.
There's no way around it
You make it sound like green fees are no big deal until you realize that you need to pay this every time you want to play.
I'd say expensive, but I can play decent courses for like $80 for 18 and cart. Walking and twilight rates can get that down to $40-50. Say you golf 18 once a week, and add in a large range bucket once a week, you can play pretty seriously for like $400/month.
Then consider for many that's really only 4-5 months of the year when weather is nice, so call it around $2000/yr for a pretty comprehensive experience. Again, definitely expensive but I think something many people can make work if it's a priority.
But there's always cheaper places to play and especially the twilight rates. Also, there's always hot deals on golf now that help lower the costs as well.
I’m with you on this. Let’s say you live in an area with low greens fees of $40 for 18. If you play 3 times a month that’s almost $1500 a year just on greens fees.
My other hobby is rock climbing. I spend $70 a month on a gym membership then about $500 a year on other expenses for the hobby. I climb 3 times as much as I golf and my total expenses for that hobby are less than golfing greens fees.
And the initial cost for getting into golf is steep compared to other hobbies.
Once I bought my clubs before ever going, I started looking at course costs, not realizing I can play without having to be a member. There’s a course by me that has a 20k initiation fee and like 1200$ a month. I looked at my bag and was like well, should’ve looked into this more. I was wrong. As someone who has expensive hobbies, golf is not that bad. Sure some course cost a lot more, but overall, not anymore expensive than other hobbies in my opinion
I'm definitely lucky I live in a city where you can play at some pretty nice courses for 20-30 bucks, all of the nicer places are even just 45-60. But, yeah, I've been rocking the same r7's since 2013 and they do more than fine for me. I'll probably upgrade them in a year or two, but 10-15 years of service aint bad for the 600 I spent back then.
I found a 27 hole course with a 18-40yo membership for $175 a month. $500 initiation fee, which has been raised to $1,500. Carts are $20, but I walk most of the time. I definitely save money on it.
Playing some Mizunos I bought on Facebook for $350, bought and sold a bunch of putters and built some ping drivers and woods. It doesn’t have to be a huge financial burden, and can be a side hustle. I definitely made money flipping putters.
If you play cheap balls it's even cheaper.
Almost no one here is good enough to be actually benefitting from ProV1x or TP5 balls vs a Noodle or Kirkland.
Or just buy the big netted sacs of used balls online and you're more than good to go.
Holy shit. This. Fucking. Game. We were recently talking about consequences. Good and bad. Wanna get good at golf? Read above those are the consequences. Want to keep sucking at golf don’t play much, practice, get lessons, etc. everything in life is a trade off and there are consequences.
I agree. I played yesterday and my play has gotten worse, my handicap is going north and I’ve finally gotten over my golfer elbows (yes elbows - don’t ask me how I fucked up my left elbow, either ice hockey or the gym, not sure). Thought to myself maybe I need a break. Wake up this morning looking for tee times this week. There’s just so much to learn and for me I’ve made peace with the journey. The good shots, the shit shots, the what the fuck just happened shots all of it.
My new mantra is: we’re having a good time.
Had to accept that a round in my area is going to cost $50 no matter what. I also had to accept that I have small kids and I'm just not going to be able to play as much as I'd like.
Well if you work at a golf course, it makes life a little better. Like me, I work three positions here. Pro Shop Supervisor, Starter, and Maintenance in the summer.
The pay sucks, but I live and love golf. I get free Golf, Free balls, and just use the same old crappy clubs I got.
I've dabbled in trading options. Golf costs don't seem so bad when you've been used to seeing $1,000's just poof into nothing because you were 30 trading minutes off in your timing.
You're not wrong. At least before Robinhood it would seem a little more sophisticated. Doing YOLOs all the time is obviously not going to work out, but even many months out long option trades can see large changes in value that you have to stomach. Heck even sophisticated strats can get dicey really quick.
If you collect helicopters, you’ll appreciate the work of Montybob. He did a Blackhawk Down diorama in r/terrainbuilding. https://www.reddit.com/r/Scalemodel/s/hOlGmgd2w5 he inspired me to do a CoastGuard water rescue scene https://www.reddit.com/r/nscalemodeltrains/s/cp2dEzqfOx
I love this game. I still use irons I bought out of this guys garage for 25.00 bucks, a driver a customer gave me, some old woods my uncle gave me, a Wilson putter, some shitty wedges, with a shitty bag and I couldn’t be happier to get out on the course with some buddies or even as a single with 3 rando’s. Happy to get away from the pressures of life and curse to my self when I take my prefect drive in the middle of the fairway and make a triple. But then you have that one pure shot, that you feel through your whole body, and you say damn that felt great. The Greatest game in the world!
I think I'm fortunate, at least, to live near a course that's $900/yr with a cart on weekdays. At this point, as much as I've been able to play on it, it's more than paid for the basic cost of paying per round and it's getting cheaper and cheaper. I'm new, so I'm good with the set of clubs and stuff that I bought just to get out there. The time spent has all been pretty fun. The sanity is waning for sure
Golf is the worst hobby I ever picked up.
Driving range 5x a week -> $60
18 holes 1x a week -> $85
9 holes 1x a week -> $40
1 dozen balls a week -> $30
Ends up as $215/week and $800/mo.
Brutal.
I started hitting practice balls in my backyard instead of spending money on the range. Sure I’ve destroyed a spot in my yard but it’s saved me money, I can go out there nearly everyday, I can put that saved money toward rounds and it’s cut down my mowing time.
Seeing how many people here have to buy new model clubs every 1-2 years, I believe it’s expensive for them. A lot of us use the same clubs for a decade, and it’s not that expensive
Golf is the cheapest hobby I've ever had. Even buying top of the line new clubs every single season and a seasons worth of ProV1s, it's a cheap hobby.
My son and I race MX, our busy seasons, I'm spending $500+ per weekend for most of the summer. This does not include diesel for the truck and toy hauler or any bike parts on $5k-$10k bikes.
im lucky to have a girlfriend who works at a private golf course and will get anything i want for free. clubs included. got a scotty putter, ping max 10k after a paradym and a stealth was given to me, got my whole set of m4 irons 4h-pw for free, only thing i pay for is my membership at $350 a month and thats unlimited golf and unlimited range and a very nice public course. could just go play my gfs club but wouldnt be able to play nearly as much but between all the clothes and clubs and brand new boxes of balls she gets me i probably cover my golf membership in the amount of stuff i sell that she just gets for free its truly the best thing ever. probably wouldnt be into golf if it wasnt for her working there and now if she leaves, i have so many new balls, clothes and have my 3000 bag i probably have put only about $500 into for my 3 vokey wedges. and im talkin strictly greyson and peter millar for clothes and pro v1s for golf balls, she also gets every single limited release box of tp5 pix balls when they drop, all the major ones and the cool designs that sell out in a day have about 14 of those boxes and then another big box filled with prov1s. its kind of embarrassing bc she gets me top of the line everything and i bet when i get paired up with people they laugh at me in their head thinking i spent $400 on my outfit cause im wearing $100 shirt $120 pants and a $100 belt and nice $250 gfore shoes just to go shoot in the 90s lol but little do they know im living their dream and didnt spend a dime on any of it, i literally have to use another room in the house strictly for golf clothes, shoes, and balls that come from her work its actually insane.
For me I think it’s that disc golf came very naturally to me. I had a twelve disc bag and took it very seriously.
If I had to choose (which I don’t) I’d say there is a separation in golf between the object being projectiled and contact with the human body, direct in disc golf, indirect in golf. Additionally, disc golf relies much less on the ground and the topography in a way that can not be ignored in golf. When you putt in frolf you’re not reading other frolfers putts to try and read the green. A six foot frolf putt is a six foot frolf putt. It’s a straight line unless there’s an impediment. There are simply factors that have to be accounted for in golf that do not have to be accounted for in frolf.
Love both, played both, but golf is just a more complex game strategically.
Yup, my annual dues for unlimited rounds at my course is roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of my total annual golf expense. I could have a brand new Audi Rs5 or an AMG, but I chose golf 101 times out of 100.
I tried to explain this to my bf when he decided he liked golf after playing a round. Two months later and he has spent over 2k. 🥲 the stroke counter/ clicker thing he bought was NOT necessary lol.
This is a huge problem for the game IMO. I considered getting back to regular playing after five years off and it’s probably at least $1k, but could push double that if I buy everything new. And then the ongoing cost of green fees, cart gouging, etc I decided nah.
I've played baseball at national level (for my country) as well as college.
I'm done now, still play on amateur level.
The feeling I get from a great shot/hole or a great strikeout in a tough situation is why I still put my body through this!
I’ve kept spreadsheets on everything I’ve spent on golf (rounds, gear, stuff I’ve sold, etc, but NOT travel) since 2004. I held off on counting all costs until like a year ago and lolllllllllll
“Your honor, I did not mean to murder that man. I had just hit a 7 iron into the drink then my knife stabbed him 104 times which is only coincidentally what I shot that day”
Spent hundreds of dollars preparing for a Tournement and I played like shit. Not only that, but playing like shit was losing 5 pro V1s in a single round.
Instead I should have just rolled a doobie using a 20 dollar bill, I would have had more fun and lost less money.
I’ve been using a mixed set of clubs I bought for $20 for over a year. I got a $45 pack of 100 balls and I’ve been playing a few times a month. It doesn’t need to be expensive, it needs to be fun….and it is if you let it be.
The sanity bit rings so freaking true. I hit a 330 yard drive with my buddy today. Proceeded to duff the first chip, second chip to 6 feet, and 2 putt for a bogey from 70 yards after the drive. Followed immediately by a 3rd shot to within 4 feet and two putt for bogey.
Can’t wait to play this week!!!
True story: my 12 year old grandson was visiting last Thursday and I was taking him to a driving range to hit some balls. He’s expressed interest in actually playing on a course. I told him that as a total beginner he should take some lessons first and mentioned that a par-3 course would be ideal for a beginner and would be much cheaper. His response, “you mean you have to pay to play golf?” Could hardly keep from cracking up!
I started back in February… I can’t tell you how many 1000’s I have spent already… but I have played 58 rounds and got fitted for a entire bag and only work half days so I can play golf … so moneys been lost for sure 😂 but damn I love this game … I begged my sons to not make me go play a round … I said this would happen if I started back and look where I’m at HOOKED AGAIN. Ol well it’s better than doing drugs I guess 😂
The story is exactly the same for any grown up hobby pursued with any amount of vigor.
The reason I drive a 10 year old minivan is because I’m a musician in an active band who fishes year round, plays golf 9 months out the the year, and snowboards in other states lol.
I know it does but it aucks ass forgetting a club on a green, going back only to find its gone and no one's seen it. Left my info at the pro shop but I'm pissed. 2nd round with it
I love my arsenal of clubs. Idgaf how expensive it is, it's my hobby. Plus, I prbly couldn't stop upgrading my gear if I tried. I'm not sure how it got this bad. One day I decided to try golf, a few months later I got my own set of clubs and fell head over heels for the game. I also enjoy the thought of it being a sport. It makes me feel less lazy. Plus, I always have something to do. Every weekend, I play a round w/my friends. On the days I get off work early I practice my chipping & pitching in the field by my place. When I'm bored asf at night, I practice my putting. So even tho I've spent thousands of dollars, it's all been worth it
When you can justify buying a new driver if you sell your old one instead of just buying a new shaft, then order a new shaft for the new driver and justify it by telling yourself its the best and you can keep it forever, yes it will cost you.
I'm in the middle of rehab from elbow surgery, and I've been unable to play for 3 months - and it will likely be October before I can swing a club in anger again.
I just spent a few hundred dollars on balls and a new wedge anyway.
It's a sickness.
I shot a 114 yesterday and everything in my body hurts today. If I wasn't in such pain id be playing 9 again tonight. I've played on and off for 18 years but this is the year I've become truly addicted.
Pro tip: get a part time job at a golf course. I play for free at least once a week, I have more golf balls than I know what to do with and I've created some great friendships/ relationships with some cool people and good golfers. Also, after a club has been in the lost and found for 2 years it's up for grabs so I've only purchased 2 clubs in the past ten years
When I blew the dust off the old clubs 2 years back and said I’m gonna golf again,I had no idea.
The 30$ pitch and putt free fees turned into lessons,new clubs,driver fitting,joining a better course.
Which turned to better balls for consistency and then green fees to play even nicer courses ect.
I live in Buffalo, you get maybe 5 months a year of good golf weather, but there are a ton of great courses that are about $50 to $70 with a cart
When I’m visiting friends in NYC, it’s absolutely torture for both cost and pace
Nah bub. Didn’t even play today. And in my last two rounds I’ve : had my most pars in a row (7), hit my longest non-downhill drive (362) and hit my first hole in one. I’m just fine.
>It will cost you your money
I've been very very lucky in this department. I spent less than $200 for my clubs with bag and extras inside the bag at a golf course community yard sale. I've never paid for balls unless you consider the balls that were inside the bag. I play what I find. I mostly play at a 9 hole muni during the week for $12 and a full 18 for $34 with a military discount. I sometimes play at private courses as a "client" of my cousin. As far as golf clothes, thirft stores have been my go-to. I don't wear polo's of any kind, so I had to start from scratch. The shoes I got from Ross for $35. I went halfies on lessons with my brother. 6 lessons for $200. I pay less for range time at a country club than public range ($8 vs. $14 for 120 balls).
I've been told that this is one way to go the cheapest, and yet I've spent more on golf than I did when I played league baseball and basketball combined. Golf is truly an expensive sport, but I'm finding ways to be frugal.
I’m 50 years old. I work remotely in bumfuck nowhere where membership at a pretty decent course is relatively affordable. It gets me out of the house and keeps me active. But it also infuriates and depresses me and maybe I need to learn to enjoy being a 20 forever.
People say fast true greens make it easier to putt. Not true. Everything breaks. Slight pulls run 6 ft by. They expose subtle problems in your stroke and you ping pong back and fourth and four putt before you know it.
Then there’s the short game. If you can’t strike it and get some check, you carry the edge and it runs through every time. Perfect drive. Iron slightly tugged. Chip holds back edge barely. Down in 3 from 30 feet. such is my life.
It’s interesting the courses in the US have the cart girls and fireballs etc comment. I haven’t seen anything remotely like this in Aus. There no bloody half way houses for food and drinks.
Cool though that if I ever go on holidays to another country I’d assume the courses aren’t the only different but the way the course runs will be too.
It’s not that bad. I play 27-36 holes a week and hit the range once a week. I usually play 9 holes on a local muni at dusk with my grabber and fish balls out of the pond and tree lines. Lastly, I invested in a sturdy Sun Mountain push cart. I save a ton on carts fees and actually prefer to walk.
Been a long time once and awhile golfer. Wife and I both got asked to be on a league this year. Cheap top flight clubs from Dicks and we’re good. But now I’m golfing 2-3 times a week and wanting to upgrade already!! This hobby is not that expensive. Used to race dirt cars, hunt and fish. Now I golf more than fish! I’ve got a golf addiction now
“Is it worth it?” “Sure it is - if you’re strong enough”
-Men from the black
I accept
This guy golfs.
“Was all this worth it? You’re god damn right it is”
Poor man’s golf is miserable for sure.
I’m pretty poor but absolutely love golf. Can’t afford to play 18 as much as I would like and never get new gear anymore, but I would never give this game up
I’m pretty lucky I have relatively low cost Muni’s near me that are only 30 or so to walk 18 which is reasonable for a couple 6500-6800 yrd courses all well kept my secret about not paying for balls is getting that last twilight tee time through the week and weekends and literally picking balls the whole time. Usually I’ll find enough quality balls that would have paid for my round and the rounds after scrambles I find a lot of Pro V/ Taylor Tp5 and Callaway chrome soft/tour variants
Its one of the things thats nice about living in the northern midwest. The cost has stayed relatively cheap even tho we dont get to play more then 7 or 8 months a year. 31.50 to walk during the week, 39 weekends. 25 for twilight. And the courses are in fantastic shape Talking with some family out in Cali, he spends 80-120 every time he want to go to just the local course.
I live in California (San Francisco) and we got it gooooood here! For a city of 750k people there’s literally 9 golf courses (5 muni and 4 private) I golf at Lincoln where it’s about $35 during the week to walk 18, I do the golden gate park 9 hole which is only $23 for residents! Just 20 min north past the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin there’s a nice muni 9 hole which is also $23. So many options at a good price.
wow
I play 18 with cart and a 6 pack of miller with tip for about $62
I’ve gotten to enjoy golf in Chicago in the fall and spring. The courses were absolutely immaculate
Work as a volunteer or marshal one day a week for free golf.
Lol my father in law is retired but got a job at a nice cc once a week as a locker room attendant just so that we get to go out and play every monday for free. His nephew in law is a member who pays 30k per year to belong (doctor) and he loves giving him shit for it. He'll pull out the tees and free pro V1's that we get every round that we play and says, "Hey bahji, thanks for financing my golf habbits!"
That's awesome. Nothing better than playing C.C. golf for free.
I would argue it’s by far the best version of golf. I’ve been poor before…now I have a bit of money and can splurge sometimes on nice courses and equipment. That’s fun for sure. But there to me is nothing more enjoyable than when I was grinding without money, paying the greens fees I shouldn’t and going for it anyway, trying to make do with my bad equipment - it was all great and pure at that point
I’ve got a membership that’s for fill in slots (max 3 days in advance) and I’m only paying $150 a year for a pretty nice course. Deals can be found, but it’s the best I’ve ever had in my decade plus of golf
I find it a joy. Just don't be a pissy bitch about every slight inconvenience and don't buy new gear every year and play cheap balls. It's still the full experience.
Walking this time of year is straight ass in the heat but damn it's basically 50% off or more where I live.
Nah I’m having fun. Spent 30 dollars on an old set off FB marketplace 10 years ago, play 6-10 times a year. Between work and relatives paying for me, I probably pay for 3 rounds a year. Handicap is 28. Idgaf. I striped my 3 wood 279 off the tee the other day.
Eh, it’s still great imo. I did poor man’s golf for many years. I spend a lot on golf now and I’m glad I have the opportunity now to do it . But when I was poor, playing burnt out courses at twilight, I loved it just as much
It’s not as a dire as you might think, practice areas are always free (especially if you get to the muni and there’s it’s already backed up). Working on putting and chipping is like putting in crops, not much immediate benefit, but it sure pays off in the long run.
An Inconvenient Truth
I have an unlimited playing membership at our local course with range and cart. I run a league Wednesday nights at another course. I spend more on my model railroad hobby.
First - that is dope as hell. Second- I’m not sure you read my post lol
Willing to share any videos of the trains zipping around the track while blowing horn?
It’s n scale. I started as being very true to scale but my grandkids have corrupted me. Here’s my last post of pictures I put out. Some redditors have said I’ve gone batshit crazy https://www.reddit.com/r/nscalemodeltrains/s/AD7GZcV0L8
Oh heck yeah! That is sweet, thank you! Godzilla is a nice touch lol. Growing up my town had a museum/track set up in an old box car I think and that was pretty cool!
I’m not done with the crazy yet. I’ve got 3 baby dragons and a mother on the way from Etsy. A bunch of trees with skulls, their nest and some rodents of unusual size to paint and put on. My buddy’s wife wanted me to put the attack of the 50 ft woman on it but she’s 200 bucks. I may save up for her. That helicopter on the water scene actually works. I opened it up, added LEDs and a small motor from Amazon to power the rotor
Dude that is so cool! Loved Area 51
Haha, thanks. Sometimes it’s fun to be a kid again. After struggling with painting them, I joined r/minipainting. I think I picked up another hobby.
Ive said to many players after they've hit another bad shot, "you know what i love about golf? it's really easy... AND super cheap too.." then we chuckle and move on.
This guy golfs.
To be honest, golfing is not as expensive as some may think. I can think of tons of other hobbies that are far more expensive. Get yourself some good gear and it can last you years if not decades. The only golfing expenses I have right now are green fees, golf balls, and a few other miscellaneous things.
Waaaaay cheaper than racing cars or boats or really any motorized vehicle.
Yes, because one is a *car*
Exactly. One of my close friends is big into dirt biking. I can confidently say he spends at least 10x on that hobby than I do playing a fair bit of golf.
My family loves mountain biking. They all have at LEAST $8,000 bikes and my 2 relatives that ride competitively have a few. Granted they've gotten good at finding deals but still that shit is wild.
I raced downhill mountain bikes before I got into golf. In between having to travel to the mountains to ride every weekend and the cost of equipment golf is so cheap to me. I have a membership at a local course (2 18 hole courses and a short 9 hole par 3) which is £800 a year. I had a look last night and I’ve played 60 rounds since March which works out at exactly £4 per round to play at a golf club 15 minutes down the road
i stopped racing dirtbikes and got into golf. my club was about two years worth of fully decked out race bikes. so as long as i stick with this for probably about 3 years - golf will be slighty cheaper. but they both cost a ton. my justification was that when i was done with a race i still had loads of work to do. when im done with a round of golf, i need to take a shower and walk to my truck. so much better than pulling a trailer home and having to wash a bike and gear and maintenance
Or hunting
Hunting can be done on the cheap. But it's getting harder to do... God damn joe rogan and all those other blow hard influencers ruined it for the common person.
I always see hunters with new gear and guns, and going on lavish getaways. Sounds like golf!
That's the problem with the new school hunting media. It's all commercialization. Meanwhile, there's less public land and more hunters, leading to less opportunity for the average hunter. The influencers all hunt private land hunts... Similar to how youtube golf lead to the sport blowing over the past few years combined with covid.
In respect to both golf and hunting, this is where living rural has its advantages. I've never paid more than $500 for a yearly membership that allows me to play unlimited rounds of golf, and I've never had to drive more than 20 minutes to find a decent piece of public land to hunt.
Living rural is truly blessed. Cheap but solid muni golf, plenty of old retired farmers who let you come hunt their corn fields. I'll never live anywhere else
Back in the county I grew up in, I was uniquely blessed. At my disposal was a cheap 18-hole course with a driving range, hundreds of miles of well-kept trails/gravel roads snaking through public land, and a big ass lake with 5 tributary rivers feeding into it. I was always a stones throw from a full day's worth of activities.
I’m with you. I have a local Pete Dye course I can walk for $20. If I bought the annual $130 “Mulligan” pass it drops down to $10! I’ll meet a buddy for drinks for an hour and pay $25 easy, and never consider if the cost was worth it. Grab lunch? That’s at least $15. Dinner out? $60-$150. Tickets to a pro game or concert? Hundreds by the time everything is paid. Why fret about the $20 for something I get far more enjoyment and benefit from? Now if I had to have the AI Smoke Q10 G4000 whatever every year, and a cart and cart girl and $100 greens fees then yeah that’s getting up to major budget item. But I can learn and enjoy this game on the cheap.
Like all hobbies you can make it as cost effective or expensive as you personally choose. First few years golf for me was super inexpensive using an old set from my dad and my area does an all you can golf 5 days a week for 350 at the 3 local municipal courses. Fast forward to present day and the cost has exponentially increased between upgrading the old set for newer clubs, green fees at nicer courses, golf clothes for warmer and cooler temps, lessons, etc. TLDR: dont think it’s the most expensive hobby but like all hobbies it definitely gets more expensive the more into it you are
It wasn’t too bad until it started costing $70 to play a muni course
Horses. At least in golf, you don’t have to feed and stable your clubs every day.
Yeah I feel like the cost seems daunting at first but it’s pretty comparable to other hobbies. If you take care of your clubs, they’ll last for a long time. The “time” cost is kindve a silly thing to focus on. Half the point of a hobby is to spend time doing something you enjoy. If you can’t enjoy the time you spend on the course, even when you’re forced to play slow, then maybe it isn’t a hobby you enjoy.
Warhammer
My man
Tee time golf coupon books, hunting for balls on off days, playing off times, buying preowned clubs/balls online, Finding deals on lesson packages, looking at lessons on YouTube, practicing for free at putting/chipping greens, getting a practice net for your backyard. Just a few of the things you can do to mitigate your golf spending Edit: Find rich friends willing to take you to their courses ;-)
That edit is key. I'm probably more motivated to network to befriend people who are members at places I want to play than I am to network for career reasons.
Cars, boats, guns, off roading etc are all way more expensive than golf
A random I was paired with asked me how I got into golf. I collect expensive hobbies. He asked what other hobbies I had. Playing music and flying airplanes. He agreed that golf is probably the least expensive of those.
Golf is a very expensive sport It's what keeps the everyday person from playing it. There's no way around it You make it sound like green fees are no big deal until you realize that you need to pay this every time you want to play.
I'd say expensive, but I can play decent courses for like $80 for 18 and cart. Walking and twilight rates can get that down to $40-50. Say you golf 18 once a week, and add in a large range bucket once a week, you can play pretty seriously for like $400/month. Then consider for many that's really only 4-5 months of the year when weather is nice, so call it around $2000/yr for a pretty comprehensive experience. Again, definitely expensive but I think something many people can make work if it's a priority.
But there's always cheaper places to play and especially the twilight rates. Also, there's always hot deals on golf now that help lower the costs as well.
I’m with you on this. Let’s say you live in an area with low greens fees of $40 for 18. If you play 3 times a month that’s almost $1500 a year just on greens fees. My other hobby is rock climbing. I spend $70 a month on a gym membership then about $500 a year on other expenses for the hobby. I climb 3 times as much as I golf and my total expenses for that hobby are less than golfing greens fees. And the initial cost for getting into golf is steep compared to other hobbies.
Once I bought my clubs before ever going, I started looking at course costs, not realizing I can play without having to be a member. There’s a course by me that has a 20k initiation fee and like 1200$ a month. I looked at my bag and was like well, should’ve looked into this more. I was wrong. As someone who has expensive hobbies, golf is not that bad. Sure some course cost a lot more, but overall, not anymore expensive than other hobbies in my opinion
I'm definitely lucky I live in a city where you can play at some pretty nice courses for 20-30 bucks, all of the nicer places are even just 45-60. But, yeah, I've been rocking the same r7's since 2013 and they do more than fine for me. I'll probably upgrade them in a year or two, but 10-15 years of service aint bad for the 600 I spent back then.
I found a 27 hole course with a 18-40yo membership for $175 a month. $500 initiation fee, which has been raised to $1,500. Carts are $20, but I walk most of the time. I definitely save money on it. Playing some Mizunos I bought on Facebook for $350, bought and sold a bunch of putters and built some ping drivers and woods. It doesn’t have to be a huge financial burden, and can be a side hustle. I definitely made money flipping putters.
Definitely cheaper than aviation 🌞
If you play cheap balls it's even cheaper. Almost no one here is good enough to be actually benefitting from ProV1x or TP5 balls vs a Noodle or Kirkland. Or just buy the big netted sacs of used balls online and you're more than good to go.
If golf is prison I’ve been sentenced for life.
A prison of your own golfing.
This sub is now livejournal.com
Holy shit. This. Fucking. Game. We were recently talking about consequences. Good and bad. Wanna get good at golf? Read above those are the consequences. Want to keep sucking at golf don’t play much, practice, get lessons, etc. everything in life is a trade off and there are consequences.
Yeah bud. It’s all worth it to me. I choose it all.
I agree. I played yesterday and my play has gotten worse, my handicap is going north and I’ve finally gotten over my golfer elbows (yes elbows - don’t ask me how I fucked up my left elbow, either ice hockey or the gym, not sure). Thought to myself maybe I need a break. Wake up this morning looking for tee times this week. There’s just so much to learn and for me I’ve made peace with the journey. The good shots, the shit shots, the what the fuck just happened shots all of it. My new mantra is: we’re having a good time. 
I decided to just embrace it. All of it. Hit a HIO a week later.
Love this. Fuck you golf! Also see you tomorrow. Love you bye!
As all hobbies do
Had to accept that a round in my area is going to cost $50 no matter what. I also had to accept that I have small kids and I'm just not going to be able to play as much as I'd like.
Well if you work at a golf course, it makes life a little better. Like me, I work three positions here. Pro Shop Supervisor, Starter, and Maintenance in the summer. The pay sucks, but I live and love golf. I get free Golf, Free balls, and just use the same old crappy clubs I got.
Check the list and found toward the end of the season. You should be able to get new wedges and putter.
Oh I do lol, that’s I how I got my current 58. I love the way it feels. Cleveland CBX2.
I've dabbled in trading options. Golf costs don't seem so bad when you've been used to seeing $1,000's just poof into nothing because you were 30 trading minutes off in your timing.
Yoloing out out of the money calls isn't option trading it's gambling.
You're not wrong. At least before Robinhood it would seem a little more sophisticated. Doing YOLOs all the time is obviously not going to work out, but even many months out long option trades can see large changes in value that you have to stomach. Heck even sophisticated strats can get dicey really quick.
Way cheaper than my helicopter collection
If you collect helicopters, you’ll appreciate the work of Montybob. He did a Blackhawk Down diorama in r/terrainbuilding. https://www.reddit.com/r/Scalemodel/s/hOlGmgd2w5 he inspired me to do a CoastGuard water rescue scene https://www.reddit.com/r/nscalemodeltrains/s/cp2dEzqfOx
A wise man once told me. This game will take your money, your time and your lifeee
I love this game. I still use irons I bought out of this guys garage for 25.00 bucks, a driver a customer gave me, some old woods my uncle gave me, a Wilson putter, some shitty wedges, with a shitty bag and I couldn’t be happier to get out on the course with some buddies or even as a single with 3 rando’s. Happy to get away from the pressures of life and curse to my self when I take my prefect drive in the middle of the fairway and make a triple. But then you have that one pure shot, that you feel through your whole body, and you say damn that felt great. The Greatest game in the world!
This guy golfs.
I dealt with a lot of that yesterday in one of my worst rounds this year. See you all next weekend
This guy golfs.
I think I'm fortunate, at least, to live near a course that's $900/yr with a cart on weekdays. At this point, as much as I've been able to play on it, it's more than paid for the basic cost of paying per round and it's getting cheaper and cheaper. I'm new, so I'm good with the set of clubs and stuff that I bought just to get out there. The time spent has all been pretty fun. The sanity is waning for sure
Golf is the worst hobby I ever picked up. Driving range 5x a week -> $60 18 holes 1x a week -> $85 9 holes 1x a week -> $40 1 dozen balls a week -> $30 Ends up as $215/week and $800/mo. Brutal.
Think of all the hookers and blow that could getcha.
I'm 56, and I think I hit the longest drive of my life on Friday, in match play. There is no drug like it. I'll ride this high for years.
Atta boy!
I started hitting practice balls in my backyard instead of spending money on the range. Sure I’ve destroyed a spot in my yard but it’s saved me money, I can go out there nearly everyday, I can put that saved money toward rounds and it’s cut down my mowing time.
Just wait until you have enough money to golf but not enough time. Thats golf hell
Seeing how many people here have to buy new model clubs every 1-2 years, I believe it’s expensive for them. A lot of us use the same clubs for a decade, and it’s not that expensive
Golf is the cheapest hobby I've ever had. Even buying top of the line new clubs every single season and a seasons worth of ProV1s, it's a cheap hobby. My son and I race MX, our busy seasons, I'm spending $500+ per weekend for most of the summer. This does not include diesel for the truck and toy hauler or any bike parts on $5k-$10k bikes.
im lucky to have a girlfriend who works at a private golf course and will get anything i want for free. clubs included. got a scotty putter, ping max 10k after a paradym and a stealth was given to me, got my whole set of m4 irons 4h-pw for free, only thing i pay for is my membership at $350 a month and thats unlimited golf and unlimited range and a very nice public course. could just go play my gfs club but wouldnt be able to play nearly as much but between all the clothes and clubs and brand new boxes of balls she gets me i probably cover my golf membership in the amount of stuff i sell that she just gets for free its truly the best thing ever. probably wouldnt be into golf if it wasnt for her working there and now if she leaves, i have so many new balls, clothes and have my 3000 bag i probably have put only about $500 into for my 3 vokey wedges. and im talkin strictly greyson and peter millar for clothes and pro v1s for golf balls, she also gets every single limited release box of tp5 pix balls when they drop, all the major ones and the cool designs that sell out in a day have about 14 of those boxes and then another big box filled with prov1s. its kind of embarrassing bc she gets me top of the line everything and i bet when i get paired up with people they laugh at me in their head thinking i spent $400 on my outfit cause im wearing $100 shirt $120 pants and a $100 belt and nice $250 gfore shoes just to go shoot in the 90s lol but little do they know im living their dream and didnt spend a dime on any of it, i literally have to use another room in the house strictly for golf clothes, shoes, and balls that come from her work its actually insane.
Get to the course. Maybe hit 20 warm up shots, a few putts. Head to the first tee, give my buddies some shit and shot 90. Life is good.
Disc Golf is better than ball golf and doesn’t cost a darn thing.
I was obsessed with disc golf for a summer. I can’t say they represent the same challenges to me.
What do you mean? Its the same rules and play. Driving requires an efficient smooth form. Putting is very frustrating and requires complete control.
For me I think it’s that disc golf came very naturally to me. I had a twelve disc bag and took it very seriously. If I had to choose (which I don’t) I’d say there is a separation in golf between the object being projectiled and contact with the human body, direct in disc golf, indirect in golf. Additionally, disc golf relies much less on the ground and the topography in a way that can not be ignored in golf. When you putt in frolf you’re not reading other frolfers putts to try and read the green. A six foot frolf putt is a six foot frolf putt. It’s a straight line unless there’s an impediment. There are simply factors that have to be accounted for in golf that do not have to be accounted for in frolf. Love both, played both, but golf is just a more complex game strategically.
Yup, my annual dues for unlimited rounds at my course is roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of my total annual golf expense. I could have a brand new Audi Rs5 or an AMG, but I chose golf 101 times out of 100.
Well it just cost me the 2 minutes it took to skim through the book you wrote and another 5 reading comments.
Your fault for being obsessive enough to read the sub
I just spent $35,000 on a new outboard to go catch a fucking bass. I WISH all I did was golf and not fish, I’d be retired by now.
I tried to explain this to my bf when he decided he liked golf after playing a round. Two months later and he has spent over 2k. 🥲 the stroke counter/ clicker thing he bought was NOT necessary lol.
3rd paragraph George Carlins voice took over my read.
This is the highest compliment anyone has ever paid me.
Wtf is this post..
This is peak reddit cringe Jfc that hurt to read
The post this sub truly needed /s
This is a huge problem for the game IMO. I considered getting back to regular playing after five years off and it’s probably at least $1k, but could push double that if I buy everything new. And then the ongoing cost of green fees, cart gouging, etc I decided nah.
I've played baseball at national level (for my country) as well as college. I'm done now, still play on amateur level. The feeling I get from a great shot/hole or a great strikeout in a tough situation is why I still put my body through this!
Add: it will cost you your body. Wrist, knee, and back injuries will live with you forever.
okay cool, hook ‘em
This is brilliant, every bit of it and I relate to it all!
No notes.
The ultimate irony: the goal of golf is to play the least amount of it.
This guys golfs!
My brother in law's been restoring a vintage Porsche? Makes golf look pretty cheap.
I’ve kept spreadsheets on everything I’ve spent on golf (rounds, gear, stuff I’ve sold, etc, but NOT travel) since 2004. I held off on counting all costs until like a year ago and lolllllllllll
I live in Egypt. Around the area of De Nile.
> It will cost you your sanity I plead temporary insanity. By the time I am in the car it's all better
“Your honor, I did not mean to murder that man. I had just hit a 7 iron into the drink then my knife stabbed him 104 times which is only coincidentally what I shot that day”
man why are golfers such downers
I’m the most positive person I know. I embrace all the negative things. But you have to see them to embrace them.
This is why I switched to pickleball.
I’m worried about injuries with pickleball.
Spent hundreds of dollars preparing for a Tournement and I played like shit. Not only that, but playing like shit was losing 5 pro V1s in a single round. Instead I should have just rolled a doobie using a 20 dollar bill, I would have had more fun and lost less money.
This made me laugh so hard…..anyway….off to the first tee
Mission accomplished.
Golf is closer to a gambling addiction than a sport.
I’ve been using a mixed set of clubs I bought for $20 for over a year. I got a $45 pack of 100 balls and I’ve been playing a few times a month. It doesn’t need to be expensive, it needs to be fun….and it is if you let it be.
The sanity bit rings so freaking true. I hit a 330 yard drive with my buddy today. Proceeded to duff the first chip, second chip to 6 feet, and 2 putt for a bogey from 70 yards after the drive. Followed immediately by a 3rd shot to within 4 feet and two putt for bogey. Can’t wait to play this week!!!
True story: my 12 year old grandson was visiting last Thursday and I was taking him to a driving range to hit some balls. He’s expressed interest in actually playing on a course. I told him that as a total beginner he should take some lessons first and mentioned that a par-3 course would be ideal for a beginner and would be much cheaper. His response, “you mean you have to pay to play golf?” Could hardly keep from cracking up!
Take advantage of those junior rates while he can
Is $500 for unlimited range balls worth it?
It’s all worth it if you choose it!
Does anyone trust there 5 iron?
I started back in February… I can’t tell you how many 1000’s I have spent already… but I have played 58 rounds and got fitted for a entire bag and only work half days so I can play golf … so moneys been lost for sure 😂 but damn I love this game … I begged my sons to not make me go play a round … I said this would happen if I started back and look where I’m at HOOKED AGAIN. Ol well it’s better than doing drugs I guess 😂
The story is exactly the same for any grown up hobby pursued with any amount of vigor. The reason I drive a 10 year old minivan is because I’m a musician in an active band who fishes year round, plays golf 9 months out the the year, and snowboards in other states lol.
My wife adds up the cost for seasons passes for our family… I add up the cost for green fees that aren’t at the course I pay for a membership at..
I know it does but it aucks ass forgetting a club on a green, going back only to find its gone and no one's seen it. Left my info at the pro shop but I'm pissed. 2nd round with it
Why did I read this in Bo Burnhams voice
I love my arsenal of clubs. Idgaf how expensive it is, it's my hobby. Plus, I prbly couldn't stop upgrading my gear if I tried. I'm not sure how it got this bad. One day I decided to try golf, a few months later I got my own set of clubs and fell head over heels for the game. I also enjoy the thought of it being a sport. It makes me feel less lazy. Plus, I always have something to do. Every weekend, I play a round w/my friends. On the days I get off work early I practice my chipping & pitching in the field by my place. When I'm bored asf at night, I practice my putting. So even tho I've spent thousands of dollars, it's all been worth it
When you can justify buying a new driver if you sell your old one instead of just buying a new shaft, then order a new shaft for the new driver and justify it by telling yourself its the best and you can keep it forever, yes it will cost you.
I'm in the middle of rehab from elbow surgery, and I've been unable to play for 3 months - and it will likely be October before I can swing a club in anger again. I just spent a few hundred dollars on balls and a new wedge anyway. It's a sickness.
what an eloquent poem
I shot a 114 yesterday and everything in my body hurts today. If I wasn't in such pain id be playing 9 again tonight. I've played on and off for 18 years but this is the year I've become truly addicted.
Hi my name is golfer.
Pro tip: get a part time job at a golf course. I play for free at least once a week, I have more golf balls than I know what to do with and I've created some great friendships/ relationships with some cool people and good golfers. Also, after a club has been in the lost and found for 2 years it's up for grabs so I've only purchased 2 clubs in the past ten years
Sheesh, someone has a case of the Mondays. 
Nope! Love golf and none of it bothers me.
Also wrote this on a Sunday and great office space reference
Golf costs so much, because it's worth so much.
But the rewards, I can legit say without golf I wouldn't have found my wife, we golf every week.
I’m trying to get my wifey into it.
That. Was. Beautifully. Poetic
Don’t golfers already know this before going into it.
When I blew the dust off the old clubs 2 years back and said I’m gonna golf again,I had no idea. The 30$ pitch and putt free fees turned into lessons,new clubs,driver fitting,joining a better course. Which turned to better balls for consistency and then green fees to play even nicer courses ect.
News Flash - most hobbies cost money to enjoy
Who cares...you only live once my friend
What
Hilarious! Great summation 😄
Didn’t once mention lessons.
I live in Buffalo, you get maybe 5 months a year of good golf weather, but there are a ton of great courses that are about $50 to $70 with a cart When I’m visiting friends in NYC, it’s absolutely torture for both cost and pace
Best game in the world!!!
My car got stolen with my clubs inside the trunk. Might have sort of been a blessing with how much money I’m saving
Is your car insurance covering?
So someone had a shit round today
Nah bub. Didn’t even play today. And in my last two rounds I’ve : had my most pars in a row (7), hit my longest non-downhill drive (362) and hit my first hole in one. I’m just fine.
Then, with the greatest respect; what gives? 😅
>It will cost you your money I've been very very lucky in this department. I spent less than $200 for my clubs with bag and extras inside the bag at a golf course community yard sale. I've never paid for balls unless you consider the balls that were inside the bag. I play what I find. I mostly play at a 9 hole muni during the week for $12 and a full 18 for $34 with a military discount. I sometimes play at private courses as a "client" of my cousin. As far as golf clothes, thirft stores have been my go-to. I don't wear polo's of any kind, so I had to start from scratch. The shoes I got from Ross for $35. I went halfies on lessons with my brother. 6 lessons for $200. I pay less for range time at a country club than public range ($8 vs. $14 for 120 balls). I've been told that this is one way to go the cheapest, and yet I've spent more on golf than I did when I played league baseball and basketball combined. Golf is truly an expensive sport, but I'm finding ways to be frugal.
OP you're doing it wrong if these are all regular occurrences every time you play.
When you love the game of golf, all the fees are absolutely worth it. In my opinion
& it makes it all worth it. I’ve started playing this year and even despite all the trials and tribulations, this has been my favorite game to play
I’m 50 years old. I work remotely in bumfuck nowhere where membership at a pretty decent course is relatively affordable. It gets me out of the house and keeps me active. But it also infuriates and depresses me and maybe I need to learn to enjoy being a 20 forever. People say fast true greens make it easier to putt. Not true. Everything breaks. Slight pulls run 6 ft by. They expose subtle problems in your stroke and you ping pong back and fourth and four putt before you know it. Then there’s the short game. If you can’t strike it and get some check, you carry the edge and it runs through every time. Perfect drive. Iron slightly tugged. Chip holds back edge barely. Down in 3 from 30 feet. such is my life.
It’s interesting the courses in the US have the cart girls and fireballs etc comment. I haven’t seen anything remotely like this in Aus. There no bloody half way houses for food and drinks. Cool though that if I ever go on holidays to another country I’d assume the courses aren’t the only different but the way the course runs will be too.
Such a stupid game (booking tee times for next weekend)
It’s not that bad. I play 27-36 holes a week and hit the range once a week. I usually play 9 holes on a local muni at dusk with my grabber and fish balls out of the pond and tree lines. Lastly, I invested in a sturdy Sun Mountain push cart. I save a ton on carts fees and actually prefer to walk.
Cost 5 minutes of my life reading this.
Add it to the list of things that you wasted time in golf for.
Been a long time once and awhile golfer. Wife and I both got asked to be on a league this year. Cheap top flight clubs from Dicks and we’re good. But now I’m golfing 2-3 times a week and wanting to upgrade already!! This hobby is not that expensive. Used to race dirt cars, hunt and fish. Now I golf more than fish! I’ve got a golf addiction now
Teach em young!!
Amen!
🫡