Golf, unfortunately, has earned a reputation for being expensive to learn and to play, and while the costs can add up there are ways to find gear and equipment, get lessons, and play the game more affordably--you just have to know where to look.
Golf clubs are often one of the largest investments families make for their kids. For a player under the age of five or six, a new set of peewee clubs may cost $150 or more while a full set of name brand clubs for your teenager could run up to $2,000. While golf clubs are typically sturdy and last a long time the moment your child grows an inch or two taller their clubs unfortunately no longer fit their height.
We’ve put together a few tips to help with stretching your dollar that will keep you and your kids enjoying more golf, without the sticker shock:
Here are a few tips for finding the right golf clubs for your kids and your budget:
Search Online - Apps like Offer Up or on Facebook Marketplace are a great place to find pre-owned golf clubs for kids at any age. Before you begin your search however, be sure to consult a golf professional to determine out what length and weight specifications you should look for, then do your best to find something comparable to their recommendations.
Trade-in or Trade Up - Online golf retailers like PGA Tour Superstore or manufacturers like TaylorMade have trade-in/trade-up programs that offer a credit or cash for your used clubs that can be applied towards the purchase of new equipment. Some golf pros even offer similar programs and many courses collect and sell used clubs in their Pro shop, making them a
Buy Clubs that Grow With You - EPEC is a new golf equipment company that recently hit the marketing place and offers a unique solution to the issue of kids quickly outgrowing their clubs. They’ve figured out a way for a young person’s set of golf clubs to actually grow as they do. EPEC’s clubs have an interchangeable weight and shaft system that’s based on your junior’s height (with suggested ages ranging from 4 to 14). It’s an economical choice of golf clubs that can save more than 40% over their lifetime compared to traditional sets of clubs.
Buy Clubs Designed for Pros but Priced for Everyday Players - Robin Golf has discovered how to manufacture clubs that strike the perfect balance between performance and usability and come with a price tag that won't break the bank. They're manufactured with the same materials as the industry's top-of-the-line brands and have been thoroughly tested by pros and beginners alike. Beyond their reduced price tag what gives Robin Golf clubs an edge is their clubfaces' large sweet spots which are designed to give the widest range of players the most success playing golf. In other words, the ball is more likely to go in the right direction.
Buy Just a Few Clubs at a Time - Keep in mind that you don’t have to purchase a full set of clubs for your kids all at once, especially when they’re just starting out. Take a page out of LPGA Player Annika Sorenstam’s book whose parents split a set of clubs between Annika and her sister. Annika got all of the odd-numbered clubs, and her sister Charlotta got the evens.
Make Some DIY Adjustments - "As your junior player grows, add an extension plug to the butt end of the shaft, when you need to change the grips. Also, you can reuse the shafts. Driver shafts can become a 3-wood shaft. 3-wood shafts can become a hybrid shaft. This also allows you to reuse the heads, as long as the weighting is still ok. You can do this with irons too, and just buy heavier heads from Flynn Golf. It’s all about the junior’s preference, in terms of swing weight and feel. Junior club fitting is very difficult as your player improves. We can only try our best." - Jason, YOC Parent
While these are a few simple tips for saving money on golf clubs, they’re certainly not the only tricks in the book. What other ways are you finding to cut costs on golf clubs for your family? Email us your advice at contact@youthoncourse.org and you may see us add it right here.