Yvonne Glasgow
If you’ve ever wanted to learn to golf, but put it off because you thought it was an expensive country club affair, think again! Below are some tips to help you get started with golf without breaking the bank.
Golf offers a full-body workout, and it’s also an activity you can do outside instead of in a stuffy gym. Below we’ll help you pick out just the right golf equipment to get started.
A Decent Set of Clubs
Pros easily drop $800+ on a set of fancy clubs, but you can get a name-brand set for under $300. As long as you take good care of them, they’ll last a long time. Choosing the right set of clubs is kind of like choosing a bicycle—it’s all about height.
Tall folks will want longer clubs, while shorter people will want shorter clubs. Your height isn’t the only factor to consider, though. You’ll also want to look at where you hold your hands when you swing. If you’re ordering online, check the measurements to get a good fit.
This set of Callaway clubs is perfect for beginners. It comes with a bag, and you can choose left or right-handed clubs. The length of each club is also readily available in the listing, which is extremely helpful. If you want to try a used set, keep your eyes peeled during yard sale season. You can find some excellent deals on both complete sets and individual clubs.
A Pushcart for Your Golf Bag
If you want to save some money by not renting or buying a motorized golf cart, you’ll definitely want one of these manual pushcarts. The first time you lug that bag full of clubs and balls around nine or 18 holes, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about.
You’ll save money on that chiropractor’s bill, too!
A Pack of Golf Balls
You can’t play golf without golf balls, but you don’t have to go broke buying the fancy kind, either. You’re going to lose at least one ball every time you play, anyway—especially if you’re a beginner. You’ll whack them into the trees or some water and never see them again.
For that reason, your money is better spent on recycled balls. While they do wear out over time, most resellers are careful to make sure they only carry balls with some life left in them. Not only will you save money, you’re also helping the environment by buying balls that are no longer litter.
Sometimes, courses resell the balls they find that are still in decent shape. You can also buy them online. And when it comes to golf balls, you can never have too many, so stock up whenever you see a good deal!
Some Tees
There’s a reason the shot at each hole is called “teeing off.” You’ll need some tees tucked away in your golf bag, and the more, the merrier.
Plastic tees break just as much the wooden kind, but the latter are more environmentally friendly. That’s why we recommend this bag of 50. No matter how hard you try to pick up all your broken tees, broken chunks will sometimes elude you.
Golf Gloves
One extra investment that’s worth it (especially for beginners) is golf gloves. Wearing one on your non-dominant hand helps your grip. Wearing one on both hands will help prevent blisters as you get used to playing.
To get a set, though, you’ll have to buy them separately.
Still unsure if you want to drop a few hundred dollars to try out a new sport? If so, many golf courses have rental clubs for the driving range. Just rent a club and a bucket of balls for a few dollars, then do some swinging to see if it’s for you.
