Golf on a budget

What Most Golfers Don't Know About Saving Money And Enjoying the Game More

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The Budget Conscious Golfer
It's as simple as this: Golfers spend more money than they need to play their beloved game.

Too many of us end up paying full retail price for clubs at a pro shop when great deals on the same equipment are available online. Or we cheerfully pay the posted greens fee when with a little Internet research we can find discounts as much as 50% to play at terrific courses all over the world. Then there's the double mistake we make on a golf vacation: first we overpay for the hotel room and then compound the error by paying too much for golf.

A vast universe of savings for golfers is right there at our desktop computer. All we have to do is know how and where to look. Besides opening our eyes to savings, we can become much more educated golfing consumers. We can discover discount travel packages to some of the top golfing resort areas in the world, including South Carolina, Florida or Arizona. It is definitely possible to play the courses you've always dreamed up and not have to take a second mortgage out on your house. And you don't have to limit ourselves to golf in the United States. On the Internet we can learn, for example, that it's possible to book a golfing cruise-yes, you can golf on your Caribbean vacation! Or how about visiting great courses in Spain or the Mediterranean and still staying within budget. You can.

There are so many choices to save money on equipment that it's almost mind boggling. Besides discount retailers of brand name clubs, you can buy direct-from-the-manufacturer "clone" clubs that are nearly the same quality as the famous name clubs for a fraction of the price. You can visit auction sites and name your own price for the equipment you want to buy. You can sell your old clubs online and turn around and bid on new ones! It's even possible to have demo clubs delivered directly to your door, try them for 5 days and decide if you want to make a purchase. If you don't, just send the demo clubs back with no further obligation.

A lot of us have been conditioned to believe our passion for golf comes with a hefty price tag. With the Internet as our ally, that is not the case anymore. We can spend less, play more rounds of golf and have more fun.

Golf equipment is discounted on the Internet for a number of reasons. On-line golf equipment dealers are essentially eliminating the retailer's portion of the profit-there is no physical store with lease cost, utilities, sales staff, etc. Part two of the saving comes from efficiency: inventory that is overstocked can be moved quickly by advertising sales on the Internet.

But the biggest reason for all these savings being available is the Internet itself. It has brought about greater competition in the golf industry, and this has led to widespread discounting of prices in order to attract customers. There are more companies competing for our business in all areas: greens fees, equipment and travel. Golfers have the opportunity to become more informed consumers and locate the best possible deals, easily and quickly, on the Internet.

If it sounds like insanity to pay $500 for a driver from an upper-end brand name, don't worry, because you don't have to. The Internet abounds with opportunities for golfers to find good deals on golf equipment. Buying direct from a manufactures saves you the wholesaler's and retailer's profit that you would otherwise be paying. And an online store that sells clubs from a number of manufacturers still can offer good deals, because the company is not paying for the cost of a brick and mortar location. The big brand name manufacturers spend a fortune on advertising, promotion, sponsorship of golf events, etc. All these costs find their way into what you end up paying for the clubs. A golf club really doesn't cost that much to manufacture. It has simple components and simple assembly.

To enjoy these great Internet savings, you just have to get used to a new way of shopping for clubs. Golfers used to visit a sporting goods store or golf pro shop, look over the various kinds of clubs, then choose several to try out and get the feel for the club (most stores had an indoor net to hit balls into). With Internet shopping, you can't physically touch the club until you pay for it and have it delivered. This can cause some anxiety for golfers shopping online. It's one thing buy a dozen golf balls that way, but club selection is normally a more personal, individualistic experience. There is the alternative of course of visiting a retail store, looking at clubs and then going home and ordering the ones you

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