How do you afford green fees/range balls?

[mn_pickle]

How do you guys afford to play golf almost everyday? Do you guys have jobs, allowences, or do you parents just pay for it? I know a lot of people here play almost everyday and and the days they don't practice. How can you afford the green fees and range balls?

[italianstallion]

Most, including myself, like to kill two birds with one stone: Work at a golf course.

 

You get to play whenever you don't work, and you get to save your money for other things that really matter in life!

[imsocrabby]

i'm not a junior golfer....

 

but i volunteer as a starter once a week, for 6 hours and get free golf, range balls and carts.

 

 

can't beat it.

[SCameron009]

Exactly what Vince said...the day I wanted to start playing/practicing everyday was the day I got a job at a golf course. With my job I'm able to play whenever I want and hit as many range balls as I can mentally handle. The only exception to this rule is if you decide to get a job at a private club where employees can only play generally one day a week. Public courses are the way to go as far as jobs go unless you can work a deal with a private club's manager.

[idiotbox]

I am somewhat glad that I did not play golf as a junior because there is no way that I would have practiced because I grew up broke as a joke and could not have afforded clubs.

 

If you are fortunate enough to have parents that can offset those costs, make sure that you say thanks as often as you can. Maybe even offer to cut the grass for Dad for a few months or even double up your chores.

[greenmachine0227]

Public courses are the way to go as far as jobs go unless you can work a deal with a private club's manager.

 

 

I would disagree with this sentiment that you should work at a public course. I've worked at both a public and a private course and I found that the private club has been much better. At the public course, I found that many of the people I would meet didn't really show any respect for the game. They would show up in undershirt tank tops, get insanely drunk and not really care about the game or those that took it seriously. On the other hand, the private club had a much friendlier atmosphere. The members actually care about you (many have asked about future college and career plans- conversations I never had at the public course) and are very willing to help you whenever possible. Also, the members that are there actually respect the game. When you pay a $12,000 buy-in and then another couple grand in annual golf fees and restaurant fees to be a member at the club, you are probably going to care more than the once a year golfer who gets upset with the $20 greens fees. Surprisingly, the private club members actually tip better than the public course players. Once they see who hard you work on a repeated basis, they seem to be more willing to slip a $5 or $10 your way every so often. While the club I work at doesn't restrict when the proshop staff can play or practice, I would probably still rather work there if they did just for the simple reason that the atmosphere is so much better. Plus the pro is an awesome guy who genuinely cares about his employees.

[rholm]

I caddy and get all the golf i want for free on Monday at one of the best courses in California....

[hattrick3518]

get a membership... it practically pays for it self after you play 2 rounds, at least at my course. haha play almost every day, its great dont have to pay a dime, just your monthly due and thats it, free reign on the course i love it!

[phsgolfguy]

caddying is the way to go. especially if you caddy at a particularly expensive CC like i do. the money is great and getting to play the course on mondays is good enough for me.

[hattrick3518]

my friends and i were talking about that at break at work today, caddying is pretty sweet i guess

[Ditty_72]

I used to buy myself a membership at a public course with some money I saved from holidays/birthdays and stuff and help form my parents, but now I have a job at a golf course, so I get free golf there, and free balls at the range down the street (the course doesn't have a range so we arranged a deal where the range employees golf free and the course employees hit balls for free). It's a pretty sweet deal, it doesn't pay the most, but it adds up pretty damn fast when you're working 15-20 hours a week.

[Shaitan]

In Australia you NEED a membership at a golf course to play in any club competitions, tournaments and to hold a handicap. It is pretty good. For a year at my course juniors pay $100 bucks and then you can play as much as you want, and you get cheaper green fees at reciprocal courses - comps cost $9, but during holidays when I'm down there everyday it's great. I also have a membership at another course and I get reciprocals from there as well (same mem fees as well)

[italianstallion]

Public courses are the way to go as far as jobs go unless you can work a deal with a private club's manager.

 

 

I would disagree with this sentiment that you should work at a public course. I've worked at both a public and a private course and I found that the private club has been much better. At the public course, I found that many of the people I would meet didn't really show any respect for the game. They would show up in undershirt tank tops, get insanely drunk and not really care about the game or those that took it seriously. On the other hand, the private club had a much friendlier atmosphere. The members actually care about you (many have asked about future college and career plans- conversations I never had at the public course) and are very willing to help you whenever possible. Also, the members that are there actually respect the game. When you pay a $12,000 buy-in and then another couple grand in annual golf fees and restaurant fees to be a member at the club, you are probably going to care more than the once a year golfer who gets upset with the $20 greens fees. Surprisingly, the private club members actually tip better than the public course players. Once they see who hard you work on a repeated basis, they seem to be more willing to slip a $5 or $10 your way every so often. While the club I work at doesn't restrict when the proshop staff can play or practice, I would probably still rather work there if they did just for the simple reason that the atmosphere is so much better. Plus the pro is an awesome guy who genuinely cares about his employees.

 

Most of these statements are true for any random public course. But if you work at a high end public course, its not all true. I still get the occasional guys who get plastered, and the leagues can be annoying

 

However, when I went to the private clubs around me looking for a job, most of them didn't even offer ANY golf as a benifit, not even playing on mondays. For the ones that said I could play just mondays, I said adios because I wouldn't be able to stand only being able to play once a week. But thats just around me.

[greenmachine0227]

However, when I went to the private clubs around me looking for a job, most of them didn't even offer ANY golf as a benifit, not even playing on mondays.

 

 

That's very strange that they wouldn't offer golf as a benefit. The local clubs even helped us out and with a phone call from one of the assistant pros I can go to almost any other local course and play for free or at a discount. Too bad more clubs don't take care of their employees this well.

[FreakinA]

In Tucson we have a junior card. If your under 18, you play for 1.08 on all the munis everyweekday.

[gentles]

My situation is the same as Shaitan. In New Zealand, you have to pay a membership for playing privleges, even as a junior. At my course, it's around $90US for a year. That allows me to use the course anytime, practise facilities. I can't imagine having to work at a golf course just to get to play, makes me grateful for what I have.

[sync71]

I have a membership at my course which I pay off in about a week. It's $165 at the beginning of the year and no more during the year. There are a few time restrictions but for the most part it's not that bad at all. And the pro is extremely nice to all the juniors especially the ones that are out there every day like me. We also have 2 practice greens which are free and the driving range is a dollar for 15 balls so its really reasonable and I mow lawns. I'm hoping to get a job with him after one of the kids working there goes off to college and I will then get free range!

[greenmachine0227]

I can't imagine having to work at a golf course just to get to play, makes me grateful for what I have.

 

 

Trust me, when you can't afford to pay a huge buy-in fee, it is a sweet deal to work at a private club. There are quite a few times when I say to myself that for what I have to do, I would do it just for the free golf and no $$$. Our club is fairly small (less than 400 members and probably less than half have a golf membership) so it is never very busy unless large tournaments are in town.

[FreakinA]

The local course to me in season is about 200 bucks to play, and in the summer its either 80 or 100. What I did was make friends with the pros and we do a twilight type thing where I go out and play with them(basically a playing lesson) for a couple hours until it gets dark for 5 bucks. Also I use the golf now website that will get you 50% off tee times for many courses in AZ.

[r7425]

I just decided to start my own business, and since I have virtually no competition, the money is pretty good. To get the most bang for my buck, I play a course that "pay your age" for juniors on weekdays, or play at my club for $14 after 3:00.

[sboardz006]

get a membership... it practically pays for it self after you play 2 rounds, at least at my course. haha play almost every day, its great dont have to pay a dime, just your monthly due and thats it, free reign on the course i love it!

^

[shootermcgavin42]

The club I work at is super private and only have like 300 members we can only play the first monday of the month but if all the members come in early im able to get in 9 holes plus during the day when nobody is at the course playing I hit range balls

[johnsmith]

I work at the driving range at a public course in my town, i pay zero greens fees, get unlimited use of three practice greens, get free range balls (i even get to hit between picks) and the pro gives me clubs at wholesale.

[stevestrike]

Hrmm... I work my arse off 50-60 hours a week running my own business. I sneak out whenever I can in the evenings/weekends. We do have a long, lighted 18-hole course nearby that I can play. It's quite a thing teeing off for 18 holes after sunset.

[F4unknown]

Hrmm... I work my arse off 50-60 hours a week running my own business. I sneak out whenever I can in the evenings/weekends. We do have a long, lighted 18-hole course nearby that I can play. It's quite a thing teeing off for 18 holes after sunset.

man a lighted 18 hole course??? thats sick.. I'd go out evening to avoid the burning sun

[stevestrike]

man a lighted 18 hole course??? thats sick.. I'd go out evening to avoid the burning sun

Not just "a" lighted 18 hole course, "The World's Longest Lighted Golf Course", according to their website. Don't get me wrong, they are a bit of a dog-track. The course never has time to heal because people play it about 16 hours out of the day every day. They don't get enough water on the greens, so they're hard and often have dead spots all over them. Still, there's something to be said for playing golf when no other course is open.

 

http://www.beaconlakesgolf.com

[g8a_golf]

I work at a golf course that has a range, so i get to golf once a week for free and use that range all i want for free. I also work at another driving range as a second job where i can hit all the free range balls i want...

[pro11ace]

Im not old enough to work at a golf course, but next year i will probably work at my local course. On the other hand, I mow 2 grasses a week which earns me $50/wk which is quite enough to play golf (i have a free pass to another local course) and occasionally buy items such as shoes, which i bought yesterday. I only need to buy a dozen golf balls 2-3 times a year soo... that doesnt really bother me. Next year will be good because i can probably play there for free and get free range balls.

[hoganfan924]

Here's a different perspective from one of the game's greats:

 

"My family wasn't rich, they were poor. I feel sorry for rich kids now, I really do. Because they're never going to have the opportunity that I had. Because I knew tough things, and I had a tough day all my life, and I can handle tough things, they can't. And every day that I progressed was a joy to me, and I recognized it every day."

 

Ben Hogan

[XYB34A]

Get a membership. Have one for my son and myself. Cost a bit less thant 2000 bucks. last time i figured it out. Then it was costing about 8 dollars a round. Their are 4 months left in the year. So it will only go down. I am a ballhawk also. Find at least 5 to 10 every time I play. The good ones go in my bag. My son gets everything else. But then somedays he loses 10 balls in a round. Also worked as a manager for two of the biggest chain lumber hardware stores for a shade over 23 years. So I paid the time.