HOW TO PLAY CHEAPER GOLF

With the cost of living rising markedly in 2022, we look at various ways you can save money on green fees so you can play more of the game you love

- JEREMY ELLWOOD

Despite some non-golfers still believing that golf is only a sport for the well-off, it doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be, of course, and just as with all the best things in life, whether cars, houses, clothes or whatever, the very best golf courses tend to cost the most, especially when they reside on the comfortable side of the supply and demand equation. This means that many, though not all, of the courses in the current Golf Monthly Top 100 rankings will be expensive – perhaps too expensive for many – though there are ways to enjoy the experience for less for those able or prepared to be flexible over timings (e.g. low-season rates, shoulder-season rates, twilight rates). But there are also probably more places – and ways – to play golf relatively cheaply now than ever before.

As we all know, though, the cost of living is going up, most significantly in the UK via huge increases in our energy bills. This, and rising costs elsewhere, means many will be having to save money somewhere to balance the family books. Factor in that many golf clubs increased both green fees and membership fees following golf’s well-documented membership boom during the pandemic and finding ways to keep playing as economically as possible is becoming ever harder.

Harder, but not impossible, for there are still several ways to keep playing for less (including some of the very best courses) if you’re prepared to be a little more flexible, or in some instances, a member of a golf club and/or fortunate enough to live in the right part of the country…

Twilight rates