Why Is Golf So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)

 

If you are on a budget, golf is not going to be the best game for you to get involved in.

Playing golf is an expensive activity.

There is no denying the fact that you are going to spend some money as a golfer, and if you love the game, you will spend even more.

There are some reasons golf is expensive, and those can make some people decide that they don’t want to play.

If you have ever wondered why golf is so expensive, we have laid out the costs for you to help you understand what it is that will get the price to be so high.

After reading our list, you will fully understand what makes the game so difficult for golfers to afford.

 

Why Is Golf So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)

 

1. High Price Of Equipment

 

Golf equipment is expensive.

Whether you are buying new golf clubs or used golf clubs, these are not going to be cheap.

The golf equipment that you purchase is built to last for a long time.

Materials are of high quality to ensure that the clubs are high-performing and long-lasting.

Golfers are able to keep 14 golf clubs in their bags.

This means that by the time you pay for all of the woods, irons, wedges, and even a putter, you could spend thousands of dollars.

The price of equipment seems to get higher each and every year.

The more that companies incorporate artificial intelligence and premium technology into their equipment, the more expensive it gets.

Years ago, golf drivers cost $200 or so, but today the new releases are going to cost $500 or more.

The higher price of golf equipment is enough to keep some people from playing the game at all.

Golfers who are serious and want to continue to get better at the game will need to keep upgrading their equipment.

Having a golf bag full of clubs that can help you improve and take your game to the next level is a huge benefit.

Many players are smart about their equipment and will ensure that they find the best deals possible, but for the most part, the high price of the equipment is one of the significant reasons the game is so expensive.

 

2. Expensive Accessories

 

Golf accessories are not necessary for all players.

Some golfers will play a very simple game of golf and hardly use any accessories.

However, there are more golf gadgets on the market than you could ever even use during the course of a round.

One of the things that many golfers need to tell them how far they are from the golf hole is a golf rangefinder or GPS.

These accessories cost hundreds of dollars, and it has become almost accepted that golfers must have these with them when they play a round of golf.

In addition to the GPS and rangefinder devices, there are other expensive accessories that golfers use.

For instance, you will have a towel, headcovers, ball markers, divot repair tools, golf bags, and more.

The accessories for golf are optional, but if you want to have the best chance to make it as a great player, you will need quite a few accessories.

Golf accessories tend to update and change quite often, so you can expect to pay high prices initially and have them last for quite some time.

 

3. Losing Golf Balls

 

It is a rare occurrence to play a round of golf and not lose a golf ball.

The golf course is set up to be challenging.

There are woods, sand traps, and even water hazards that can sometimes take a golf ball and make it so that you can’t find it.

Golf balls can cost anywhere from $20 to $50 per dozen.

This is quite a bit of money to spend to have it all disappear after just one round of golf.

The high price of golf balls is a major reason that golfers are always going to spend quite a bit of time looking for a lost ball.

Players worry about the costs associated with these lost golf balls, and they will try to ensure they are going to get more than one round out of a dozen golf balls.

Lost golf balls will only add to the costs that you spend during a day on the course.

Think about the cost of a dozen Pro V1 golf balls at $50 per dozen.

Each of these golf balls costs a little over $4.

If you lose three golf balls during the golf round, when all is said and done, this is an additional $12 to add to the cost of a day.

Overall, losing golf balls is frustrating and just makes the game of golf much more expensive.

 

4. Greens Fees

 

Golf greens fees are the costs that you pay to enjoy a public or semi-private golf course.

The greens fees are just a portion of what you will pay, as cart fees tend to be in addition to greens fees.

The greens fees at a golf course can range in price from around $20 or so to more than $500.

Paying for one greens fee is not a big deal, but if you want to play golf every day or a few days a week, you have to be ready for some very high expenses.

Greens fees add up quickly, and they can be restrictive for many players.

The only alternative to having to pay greens fees is to join a golf club and pay for a membership.

Overall, the greens fees tend to be cheaper than a private golf membership, yet the costs are still relatively high and difficult for many to afford.

Golf greens fees help golf courses to cover their overall operating expenses.

Players will notice that golf courses with excellent conditions, layouts, and customer service will have higher greens fees.

If you want to enhance your experience on the golf course and enjoy the time that you are spending, you will have to pay a bit more money.

Golfers who are interested in lower greens fees will have to play later in the afternoon or at a course that has poor conditions.

This can make it less inviting to play, and therefore, the greens fees almost become not worth it.

When you decide you want to become a golfer, try to plan out how often you want to play and what the greens fees will be like during that time.

 

5. Cart Fees

 

The majority of golfers enjoy playing golf with a cart.

Cart fees will range in price from around $15 per round to close to $30 per round.

The problem with cart fees is that they are going to be in addition to the greens fees.

If you haven’t already noticed, these costs are all starting to add up to quite a bit more money than many golfers would expect.

By the time you head to the course, pay the greens fees, the driving range golf ball fees, cart fees, and lose a few golf balls, chances are you will have spent more than $75 and sometimes as much as $150 or $200.

For many players, this is a lot of money, and it will make the decision to play on a weekend a more difficult one.

Of course, players typically have the chance to walk the golf course and cut down costs considerably.

However, the idea of walking the course sometimes slows golfers down, and some golf courses will put restrictions in place.

These restrictions make it so that players must take a cart during certain hours.

Even if you want to save some money, you will not be able to because of restrictions put into place by the golf course.

Some golfers also have physical reasons that they cannot walk a golf course.

In the end, it is up to you if you think walking is a better value and worth it.

Without a doubt, golf carts make golf more expensive.

 

6. Private Golf Memberships

 

Private golf membership comes with a variety of benefits.

You will have a hard time finding a member of a private golf club who is disappointed with their golf membership.

If you are a diehard golfer and love having access to golf and driving ranges at all times, the private golf membership is certainly the best deal.

Private golf memberships have monthly costs, sometimes cart fees, and they tend to have a large initiation fee associated with the plan.

The initiation fee for some private golf clubs is $10,000 while, for other golf clubs, it can be more than $150,000.

There are all different types of golf courses across the country, and private golf memberships can vary widely from one area to another.

However, one common feature of all of these private golf memberships is that the pricing will be expensive.

If you are not prepared to spend a large amount of money on your golfing and golf career, you will want to avoid the private golf membership.

Overall, private golf membership is going to provide golfers with better course conditions, a faster pace of play, and a host of other amenities and benefits.

The fact that these private golf club memberships exist and are an option for players increases the overall cost of the game.

 

7. Cost Of Instruction

 

If you want to get better at golf, you are going to have to pay for it.

Golf instruction, golf training aids, and any kind of golf equipment that will help golfers get better are expensive.

The reason behind this is that gaining the ability to get good at golf is quite difficult.

If a company or an individual can provide golfers with a much easier way of shooting lower scores, players are willing to pay for it.

If you have been slicing the golf ball your entire life, paying $150 to a golf pro to help you fix it will be worth the money.

However, this is another expense, of course.

The better you want to get at golf, the more money it is going to cost.

The golf professionals who train and teach players have been well trained, and they can quickly pinpoint the issues in your golf game.

Some golfers don’t care all that much about their scores and lowering the number they shoot.

However, if you do, be ready to spend quite a bit more money.

If you want to try and get better without the help of professionals, or you simply think you can figure it out on your own, get ready to spend quite a bit of time and effort.

The quickest way to get better is to invest in your golf game, and that will get expensive.

 

8. Addictive Sport—More Rounds Requires More Money

 

Golf is an addictive sport.

There is something about the way that you can get beat up on the golf course and then hit a great shot and be rewarded for it.

The reward is the shot that keeps you coming back to the course.

You can sometimes make a seven on a hole and then birdie the next hole.

This is the way the sport is, and it keeps golfers coming back over and over again.

You will feel as though one day you will be able to make several birdies or pars in a row, and it is enough to keep you coming back.

In addition to working on your game, you may head to the driving range several times a week to work on things.

These experiences end up making you want to continue to play golf more and more.

Before you know it, your golf budget will go from $50 a week to more than $100 and then higher from there.

The more golf you play, the more expensive it is going to get.

One of the reasons that players love golf is that you can continue to work on your game and become an amazing player, but this costs money.

If golf didn’t give us these rewards and great shots that we get from time to time, then we all may not spend as much money playing the game.

Many avid golfers will warn new players that once you start golfing, you will have a hard time stopping.

 

9. Clothing And Gear

 

Golf clothing and gear cost a lot of money.

The materials used, the style, and the fact that golfers will have no issues spending the money combine to make golf more expensive.

When you look at purchasing a golf shirt instead of a t-shirt, be prepared to spend quite a bit more money.

In addition, golf jackets, golf socks, golf shoes, and even golf rain gear are all higher in cost than you might expect.

Most golf brands know that their target customer has a high level of disposable income.

This means that they will put options on the market that have premium fabrics, fits, and features.

Many golf clothing options will have UV protection and moisture-wicking technology.

Playing a lot of golf will require thousands of dollars’ worth of golf clothes.

In a golf shop a typical price for a shirt will be around 75% or more.

This is going to add up quickly if you are playing golf more than once per week.

Golf is so expensive because, in order to play well, you must look great and feel good about yourself.

 

10. All-Weather Conditions

 

Last but certainly not least, golf is expensive because you need to be prepared to play in all conditions.

If it is raining, snowing, sleeting, or windy, golfers will try and finish their round.

Therefore, it is important to have waterproof equipment, equipment that can keep you protected from the sun, and even gloves and other gear that help make rainy day golf possible.

The weather conditions that you have to deal with on the golf course will require specific gear.

When you get caught in the middle of a rainstorm, you need a rain hat, rain gloves, rain gear, and an umbrella.

Just the equipment to get you through a rain shower on the golf course can be hundreds of dollars.

Many players are fair-weather golfers and will avoid the rainy or windy days on the course, but most will play any chance they get.

If you are going to be prepared to finish your round, your golf bag needs to be prepared to manage any situation that could come your way.

Many players are starting to get more serious about sun protection on the golf course.

Every time you turn around, golf gets more expensive.

With the competition in the market and how the game of golf is growing, expect to see golf continue to get more expensive.

 

Is Golf Worth It?

 

Now that you have our top ten reasons as to why golf is so expensive, the question becomes whether or not golf is worth it.

Do you think that, even though golf is priced high, You want to continue to participate and enjoy it?

This question will vary for all golfers, but for the most part, golf is worth it.

You can learn to play golf with a lower budget, but golf will be expensive for many players.

If you are enjoying yourself and you can afford it, continue to play golf.

The best thing about the sport is that you can play golf from the time you are a kid to the time you are a senior.

There are really no other sports like this, and that is what makes golf worth it, even if it is expensive.