Am I spending too much on golf?

[dsc123]

[dave67az]

I'm not sure how you can play a couple of times a month and then hit the range a couple of times a month and spend less than $2000 a year.  I realize when I was a kid green fees were only like $15 at my "home" public course, but these days I'm doing good to find a course under $40 a round.  Add a few drinks (not cocktails...just water and gatorade even) and a tip for the cart/bag guys and now we're up to about $50-60.  Do it twice, we're up to $120 for the month.

Valley Golf, 5 minutes from my house, is a nice automated range but I imagine the prices aren't all that different from the courses around here.  150 balls for $15.  Do it twice a month and it's $30.

So now we're up to $150.

Buy a couple of dozen balls per season and we're talking another $50 or so (I buy cheap balls because I've never hit a bad shot that was the ball's fault).

So we're talking $150 a month, plus another $50 per season for balls, and whatever you spend on spikes, etc.

Yeah...I'm thinking $2000 a year isn't bad.  Honestly when I first saw your post I thought it was WAY too high.  How sad is it that I didn't realize how much my hobby was costing me because I enjoy it so much?!  I guess that's a good sign.

The BIG question that will answer YOUR question is this:  Do YOU think you're getting $2000 worth of enjoyment out of it?  Because if you're spending $2000 and you're NOT, then you're spending too much.  You either need to figure out how to enjoy it more, or you need to spend less or maybe even find a new recreational activity that you'll actually enjoy.  Ya know?

[Impinhigh]

Oh HELL no!

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by liveeel

Excuse my grammer. South Carolina nuff said

Edited for truth.

[el shanko]

dude, you all got me to calculate some beer money i spend, holy crap! 6 pack  6.50 a day, (yea i have some mouchers that drink mine also cheap ba$@

[ApocG10]

Oh, I didn't want to think of this.

I spend about 3200$ on membership and green fees. Say ~500 on balls. No need for gloves this year, as I bought a 100 pair box of my faves last year at a closing sale of a nearby golfshop not long after Golf Town moved in. No plan to buy any clubs this year, as I already got the new Nike driver, Edel Wedges I bought last year (omg), Two new sets of irons last year, as well as hybrids and woods. New bag. I'm kinda sad that I have no golf equipment to shop for this year.

I have a range finder, but I may buy a golf gps. Perhaps a Callaway Upro.

But no, its not too much. Unless you can't afford it.

[fishontro]

Golf is one of my cheaper hobbies.

Jeep's and LandCrusier's cost way more.

Fishing adds up quick with fuel, food, beverages, equip/gear...Same goes with hunting, tags, ammo, gear...

Plus, I chip quite often in my backyard to un-wind, that's free.

[Parker0065]

Golf takes up 2% of my income for the year which includes golf and range memberships for both my son and I as well as balls, gloves, new clubs for the year, lessons for my son,,,,ect. That number would be lower if my son didn't have a Titleist fetish,,lol!

The percentage would be much higher if I didn't have a family, probably in the 8-10% range because I would have a membership at the most exclusive club in my area and waste money on equipment. So it really depends on where your at in life whether or not your spending too much on golf! Also you have to look at other hobbies besides golf? Although golf is my primary adventure that takes up the vast majority of my time I do have other hobbies that are much less expensive.

This is just one of those common sense things. If your buying R1's and having trouble paying your bills your probably spending too much!!!!!!

[golf55]

Originally Posted by fishontro

Golf is one of my cheaper hobbies.

Jeep's and LandCrusier's cost way more.

Fishing adds up quick with fuel, food, beverages, equip/gear...Same goes with hunting, tags, ammo, gear...

Plus, I chip quite often in my backyard to un-wind, that's free.

What is it you do if you don't mind me asking and how much do you make? PM if you want to keep it a private.

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by golf55

I spend about 2,000-2,500 on golf every year! Green fees, range buckets, new balls, new glove, new spikes. Too much?

Obviously not clubs or anything I didn't listed.

Spending 50 a week seems reasonable if it is something you like. If you really want to drop some cash, try salt water fishing. You wouldn't even be able to buy the gas for 50 a week. So the way I look at it, golf is saving you money. Lol.

[Deryck Griffith]

The way I look at it, life is meant to be lived and if you truly love the game as we all do (which I'm sure you do), then $2000-$2500 per year seems very reasonable.  In fact, that amount sounds like it's on the low end of what most of us put towards the game in a year.

If you can pay your bills, take care of your family (if you have one) and put money away for the future, then you are good to go.  Live your life and spend away!

[Lefty-Golfer]

golf is cheaper then hunting trips, fishing (assuming you buy the boat) and gambling...heck 2000k can be a bad hand of poker depending where you play! assuming you have good income and finacial planning you are way on the low end - spend more seems obvious!!

[Meltdwhiskey]

I spend a similar amount per year - and I feel pretty good about it.  I definitely wish it was a little less.  I try to get a lot of golf in for that amount and and I try to very purposely save in other areas of life to justify it.  I think most people spend something like that on hobbies + entertainment + big screens, etc. As long as you can afford it.

[Crusher47]

Golf is way cheaper than my other hobby...... Music!  I have thousands tied up in Guitars, Amps, Drums, etc.

[walk18]

Originally Posted by jaysquared

You probably spend more money on golf than what you just listed.. Take into consideration the time spent playing golf as well! Time is money right??

Only if you're paid hourly..

Originally Posted by dpgator33

If you're getting 30 rounds a year or anything more than that, with all the ancillary costs adding up to the amount, I'd say it's a great value no matter what, aside from your family suffering financially because of it.  I am not a rich man, but I do OK and cost of living is average to maybe below average where I'm at, so I have no problem spending what I do, which is probably in the $6-8k range annually, counting membership dues (which cover more than golf, but if it weren't for golf I wouldn't be paying), occasionally riding in a cart, golfing on vacation or other travel, equipment, etc.  Golf is more than a hobby or something to do to stay active, or a way to be social for me.  It's a passion, a way of life, and I wouldn't do without it except in very severe situations.  Put it this way, if my wife ever (and she never would, but if she did) said I needed to cut back on or quit golfing for any other reason other than financial hardship, we would have a serious problem.

Seperate accounts! It will save your marriage.

[fishontro]

Originally Posted by golf55

What is it you do if you don't mind me asking and how much do you make? PM if you want to keep it a private.

I'm an Operator at a timber mill. I don't make make 6 figures, but enough to have a car/truck/house payments. I'm just a "high fivin' white guy" in nor-cal.

Jeep's, FJ's, boats...things I've built, used then sold. I wasted way to much money getting those the way I wanted, then a huge loss selling them. Wife and 2 kids helped me leave the off-road hobby.

It's just golf now, have not PLAYED since high school. Just a few rounds here and there, usually beer was involved.

Now, it's all about getting to single digits.

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by fishontro

I'm an Operator at a timber mill. I don't make make 6 figures, but enough to have a car/truck/house payments. I'm just a "high fivin' white guy" in nor-cal.

Jeep's, FJ's, boats...things I've built, used then sold. I wasted way to much money getting those the way I wanted, then a huge loss selling them. Wife and 2 kids helped me leave the off-road hobby.

It's just golf now, have not PLAYED since high school. Just a few rounds here and there, usually beer was involved.

Now, it's all about getting to single digits.

I have a few pairs of FJs in my FJ! I crack up every time I see the new Foot Joy commercial. I love all my FJs especially the Toy.

[Chas]

Spending 50 a week seems reasonable if it is something you like. If you really want to drop some cash, try salt water fishing. You wouldn't even be able to buy the gas for 50 a week. So the way I look at it, golf is saving you money. Lol.

Or flying. Aircraft rental rates (single-engine 2 or 4 seaters) are usually in the range $100-150 an hour and my typical local flight is 2 or 3 hours. The "$100 lunch" is a thing of the past. Golf is cheap unless you insist on playing Pebble regularly.