I’m a Frugal Golfer: Here are Five Things I’d Never Waste Money On

I know I don’t come off this way but I’m actually pretty frugal.

The guy who reviewed $400 pants and consistently spends $200+ on shoes is going to tell you how to spend (and save) your money.

If I were you, I’d listen up. Golf is expensive and only getting worse for your wallet. The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice performance while pinching those pennies. I’ve come up with five surefire ways to save you cash without hurting your game.

Here are the five things I’d never waste money on as a golfer.

1. Full-Price Golf Balls

The first rule of thumb: Never buy golf balls at the golf course. Unless you want to pay $18 for a sleeve of Pro V1s, make sure you bring your own balls.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk about my favorite word: Clearance.

Golf retailers like PGA TOUR Superstore and Golf Galaxy as constantly running sales on golf balls. At any given time, you can save big money on “Tour-level” balls. Right now, you’ll find discounts on the TP5 and TP5x, Wilson Staff Model and even the Titleist AVX.

If you’re looking for a “Tour” golf ball that’s always a good deal, you should check out the Maxfli Tour line of golf balls. Right now, you can buy two dozen for just $65.

2. Fancy Golf Tees

If there ever was a piece of equipment that matters less in regards to performance, it’s probably the golf tee. The golf tee industry is full of outlandish claims about distance and performance. After putting those claims to the test in the MGS Lab, guess which tee came out on top?

The good ol’ wooden tee did. And guess what? It’s also the cheapest. Don’t waste money on unique golf tees that claim to add distance. Instead, save some cash, opt for wood and put that money into a lesson.

3. Expensive Sunglasses

After spending the better part of two years testing anything and everything in the soft goods category, no product has more parity than golf sunglasses. While a lot of the top-performing sunglasses can cost upwards of $200 or even $300, the bottom end of the price spectrum performs just as well in most cases.

My current favorite pair of golf sunnies is the Tifosi Swank. They cost just $30 and provide stellar performance.

4. Snacks

Stop buying snacks at the clubhouse. Seriously, you shouldn’t be paying five dollars for a Clif bar or nine dollars for an Uncrustable.

Packing your own snacks is a great way to save some extra cash for a drink or two when the cart girl makes it around to your group.

Might I suggest some protein from Oath Nutrition? It’s my current go-to golf course snack.

5. Brand-New Golf Clubs

Ah, this one might get me into some trouble. That said, I’m a big believer in shopping used whenever possible. Like a car, a golf club’d value drops dramatically after it’s been used. Unless a club is dented, cracked or otherwise deformed, a used golf club in good condition will offer the exact same performance as a brand-new one.

The moment you take your brand-new club to the range, it becomes a “used” club. With a little patience, you can find great deals on “like new” golf clubs that offer the same benefit as that one that’s still in the wrapper.

If you must shop brand-new, you can always find last year’s models on discount. More often than not, they still hold their own against the current stuff.

A Few More Money-Saving Hacks

Shop for golf apparel, shoes and accessories at discount stores like Ross or Marshalls. Learn to flip your old golf gear to earn money for a new “used” club. Sign up for our email newsletter to receive golf deals in your inbox each week.

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