Whether you’re taking up golf for the first time, revisiting the passion after several years, or merely curious to see how the inner workings of the sport impact your bank account, you’re going to be left asking one main question;

How much does it really cost to play golf?

There’s no denying that on the face of it, golf can feel like an expensive sport. There’s a lot of equipment to invest in, club memberships to pay for, and then all the extras that come with golfing. Clothes. Food. Drinks. Everything in between. It’s a lot to think about. However, to give you a quick rundown here’s everything you need to know about how much the average player will spend on golf.

Breaking Down the Costs

Let’s go through the basics of golf and see how much it’s all going to cost you.

The most important thing you’re going to need to get your hands on is the equipment because you can’t play golf without clubs. Obviously, if you’re looking for a basic beginner set, which will contain the essentials like irons, woods, and a putter, you can find a decent set around the $200 mark.

However, as you go up in quality, you can expect to pay around $400 per wood or iron, which is considerably more expensive. Balls cost around $15 to $50 per dozen. However, some clubs will offer rental equipment for a variety of prices per day.

Then you’ll need clothes. A grip to help steady your aim will cost between $10 and $25, and you’ll need proper footwear, which will cost between $50 and $200, depending on the brand. You can then buy proper golfing clothes, but this is up to you.

You also need somewhere to play, which varies dramatically depending on the location, popularity of the club, the time of day you go, and the season. To walk around will cost you between $10 and $150. You can pay monthly or annually for memberships, which can be thousands. Prices also seem to be the most expensive in the mornings and weekends. The average cost is around $6,200 for the year, but this can vary wildly.

The final aspect you’ll think about is hiring motor carts, which can be between $5 and $25, with caddies being far more expensive. You may want to reserve a table in the club afterward, which can cost between $10 and $25.

All in all, if you break the costs down for just ten rounds of golf, you’re going to pay around $700, and then you can round up accordingly. Of course, you can save money here and there, but if you’re looking for a much more affordable option, it’s always worth shopping around or looking into the best golf simulators, which can provide a very bespoke experience.

Summary

Yes, golf can be expensive, but it’s one of the most liberating pastimes and escapes from the pressures of the modern world. It’s really to be enjoyed. However, by shopping around and being mindful of the costs, it’s quite easy to enjoy golf, whatever budget you’re on.