Why Is Golf So Expensive Sport? Top 6 Reasons

Golf is one of the most expensive sports due to its associated costs. This article analyses the various reasons why golf is costly.

There is no denying that golf is an expensive sport. From golf equipment to accessories and course membership fees, golfers must spend hundreds or thousands of dollars annually. 

But what are the factors that contribute to the high costs of golf? 

Reasons: why is golf so expensive?

Golf is expensive because it requires access to high-end equipment and accessories. Additionally, the course fees, lesson charges, and other maintenance costs make it more expensive.

Here are the top 6 reasons why golf is so expensive.

1. Coaching and mentoring

Aspiring players need to spend a lot of money on coaching, mentoring, and other private lessons to become professional golfers. Although coaching can be expensive, it is a necessary investment for learning and improving the game. 

The coaching expenses vary based on various factors, such as the level of training and experience of the coach. However, here is the cost for different levels of coaching:

• Partnered playing lessons: $150 to $300 per 2-hour session
• Private lessons: $25 to $150 per 1-hour session
• Group lessons: $20 to $40 per 1-hour session.

2. Golf clubs

You will need different types golf clubs for different shots. A typical set of clubs includes a driver, wedge, putter, irons, and woods. Thus, golf clubs add up to the high cost of golf.

Here is an estimated range of the cost of golf clubs:

• Irons: $50 to $150
• Drivers: $100 to $600
• Woods: $50 to $400
• Putters: $50 to $300
• Hybrid clubs: $50 to $200

Additionally, the price of a golf club depends upon brand, quality and the material used. Here are the materials golf clubs are typically made of

• Titanium (expensive)
• Carbon graphite
• Stainless steel
• Aluminum
• Zinc (less expensive)

3. Other golf equipment and accessories

When you play golf, there are a lot of other equipment and accessories you may need. Shoes, tees, gloves, caps, golf balls and golf attire, and bags are some of the common items players may need to buy. 

Here is a list of the most common golf equipment and accessories along with their approximate cost:

Item	Price range
Golf bag	$100 to $650
Golf ball	$10 to $50 (per 12 balls)
Golf gloves	$10 to $20
Golf towel	$5 to $15
Golf shoes	$50 to $100
Golf pants	$30 to $80
Golf hats	$20 to $36
Golf belts	$20 or more
Golf shirts	$10 to $60

4. Green fees and membership

Green fees are an important expense when playing golf. Golf courses charge green fees for the day or week to allow access to the course and its facilities. Typically, green fees cost around $80 to play golf on 18 holes course.

On the other hand, membership fees allow access to the course and its facilities without paying the green fees. However, usually, memberships are expensive as you have to pay a substantial amount of money to become a member.

Here are different aspects of golf course membership fees:

• Initiation fee: Many golf courses have an initiation fee. It is a one-time cost that you need to pay to join the golf course, and it may vary between $2000 to $100,000.
• Annual fees: Depending upon the type of membership, the annual fees range from $3,000 to $10,000.
• Food and beverage charges: Golf courses may impose food and beverage charges of around $50 to $150 per month.

5. Influence of course maintenance and staffing charges

Maintaining a golf course is an expensive affair. Maintaining a golf course requires a lot of money and resources, from mowing the grass to watering it, fertilizing the soil, and repairing turf.

Additionally, staffing charges for various professionals such as cart staff, groundskeepers, maintenance staff, and clubhouse attendants also contribute to the high cost of golf. The membership and greens fees of well-maintained golf courses are higher than the others.

6. Cart fees

Many golfers use golf carts to get around the golf course. While some golf courses include cart fees in the green fees, some may charge separately for golf carts. Moreover, cart fees can range from $15 to $30 per person for 18 holes of golf.

Conclusion

Golf is an expensive sport. From coaching and golf clubs to green and cart fees, many expenses are associated with playing golf. However, shopping for golf equipment from discount outlets, purchasing used golf clubs, and joining a public golf course can help you reduce the cost of playing golf.

FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about golf and its cost: