7 Ways To Save Serious Money On Green Fees

For all the expense of golf equipment, apparel and other accessories, one of the harshest costs of being a golfer is just getting on the course to play.

Unlike with buying gear, a green fee is perishable. That $400 putter can be used for decades but the money you pay to play golf repeatedly goes out the window and never comes back.

Increasingly, that cost is going up.

Here in my hometown of Nashville, the cost of playing a mediocre course is still north of $60 in many cases. Somewhere decent is usually beyond $100.

That can add up quickly.

There are, however, a few tricks and options if you want to save money on green fees.

Here are seven of the best ways to limit spending on green fees while still playing the same amount of golf.

1. Consider playing at non-peak times

This is the most obvious one but it has to be said.

Playing on a Saturday at 10 a.m. is almost always going to be more expensive than playing on a Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Most courses have twilight-hour pricing. In the summer, you can often start in the late afternoon and get 18 holes in with ease before the sunset, paying far less in the process.

Not everyone has the luxury of playing golf during weekday mornings when rates are lower than their weekend counterparts—but getting on for an evening nine or late-afternoon 18 holes during the week is more realistic.

2. Find the lowest rate available for when you want to play

Another straightforward one: make sure you are paying the lowest amount possible.

I’ve been in situations where booking directly through the course is either cheaper or more expensive than using a tee time service like GolfNow.

Included in that equation are any discounted rates offered on those tee time services or by the course itself. Sometimes those are $15-$20 less (or more) than normal.

Sign up for email updates from courses you frequent to find out about any promotions.

You can also shop around and see if there are any discounts on courses near you.

If you are committed to play at a certain course, you have the option of at least finding the cheapest rate for that course.

3. Walk instead of ride

I’m often surprised how many golfers refuse to walk when they play golf.

Walking a golf course is one of the great experiences of the game. It’s not always feasible due to course design, weather, health or other factors, but walking is highly encouraged at many facilities.

A lot of courses have push carts available for free or a small fee. That takes some pressure off your back as opposed to carrying your clubs.

Maybe the single best option to lower your annual green fees cost is to buy a push cart and then walk when you play.

That takes off $20-$30 (or whatever the cart fee is) from your round. Do that a handful of times and the push cart has already paid for itself.

4. Try a par-3 course

There are some awesome par-3 courses around the country.

While they lack the full experience of a regulation course where you get to hit driver, these short courses are a fun changeup from the typical experience—and they come with a more reasonable price tag.

Maybe it’s not a consistent choice you make but adding in a few par-3 course rounds throughout the year will deduct some cost off your green fee spending.

And, not for nothing, most of us could use the wedge practice.

5. Take advantage of golf discount books/memberships in your area

This is an old-school one not many people know about.

Here in Tennessee, we have a “Tennessee Golf Pass” book that our PGA section offers for $55.

You might think, “There is no way I’m buying some discount book for $55 like we are living in 1998.”

Think again. That book is brimming with discounted green fee rates and you can even use that “member rate” multiple times at some courses.

An avid player would quickly recoup the $55 investment and then some.

And a lot of times there are also city-wide membership programs where you pay an annual fee for lower green fees throughout the year.

Check with your local PGA section to see if there are similar offers.

6. Take buddy trips during shoulder seasons

There is nuance to this one but hear me out.

A lot of people want to take buddy trips to resorts like Bandon Dunes, Streamsong or wherever else. And they immediately think about how to book during the absolute best times to visit those places like in the summer for Bandon or in the winter for Streamsong.

But in a lot of cases, the cost of playing goes down if you move that trip to a shoulder season. And the difference in temperature or condition of the course might be negligible.

What about a fall golf trip instead of the spring or summer? There are some really cool places you can go in the fall and it will likely be cheaper—especially if you are playing several rounds in that trip.

7. Consider a membership or seasonal package

This one is admittedly not for everyone but it’s worth thinking about for the avid player.

Many courses have summer memberships. Some quick math can tell you how many rounds you would need to play to make it worth the investment.

And if you are someone who is playing a couple of times per week at good courses, you might find that a full membership somewhere could be worth the cost.

A lot of private clubs will allow you to play once in a test round to see if you enjoy the course and amenities.

If it works, joining somewhere seasonally or permanently could make financial sense.

Do you have any other ideas for how to spend less money on green fees? Comment below to share with the MGS community.