Budget-friendly golf travel hacks

Got the golf travel bug? Here are some ideas for satisfying your wanderlust while minding your budget.

Credit: Wix AI Image Creator

'Tis the off-season

If you don't have to play during perfect weather, avoid peak-season golf. In moderate climates, that means travel and play golf in the spring, fall, and even winter. For hot climates like Florida and Arizona, play in the summer for the best deals (assuming you book tee times early in the morning), as well as winter, when you'll pay a bit less than peak season spring and fall.

Be an early or late bird

You typically can pay lower greens fees by booking tee times very early in the mornings, or very late afternoons.

Buy a golf discount book before you travel

Try not to pay rack rates at the courses you plan to play on your golf vacation. Buy a golf discount book for the area you're visiting. The Frugal Golfer has a database of golf discount books and cards, so use it before you travel.

Avoid the overpriced status courses

Is it really worth it to you to play a famous course (like, say, Pebble Beach) when that round alone will blow up your vacation budget? Just about anywhere you travel, you'll find outstanding golf courses that won't break the bank. Check out our database of the best affordable courses in the U.S. that you can play for under $200.

Play like the locals

If you ditch the overpriced tourist-trap golf courses, and rather play the best courses that the locals play, you'll save big. Many such courses are included in the affordable courses database.

Take you clubs, don't rent them

This will save you a bunch of green.

If you fly, book on Southwest

It's not that Southwest is the best U.S. domestic airline, but it has the best baggage policy. You get 2 free checked bags, and one of them can be your (properly packed) golf clubs. You can learn more about other airlines' charges for golf clubs at this article we published earlier.

Don't overstuff your golf bag before flying

Most airlines have weight limits for golf bags (including Southwest). Go over and you'll get hit with a hefty overweight fee.

Bundle up

When planning your golf vacation, look for package deals that include greens fees and lodging. A simple Google search, or using an AI service, will turn up golf package deals for where you're headed. For example, the Perplexity AI service pointed me to this list of packages in Michigan. Try UnderPar.com for listings of package golf deals.

Search for discounts and deals on websites and apps

Rather than booking directly at courses you plan to play on your golf trip, see if you can get discounted greens fees on websites and apps that specialize in tee-time deals.

• GolfNow

• TeeOff.com

• SupremeGolf.com

• UnderPar.com

Avoid on-course snacks

While most golf courses don't like you to bring your own food when you play – encouraging you to buy from their overpriced restaurants and roving snack carts – there's no reason not to put some good snacks in your golf bag in order to save money.

Stay nearby

Rather than getting a room at a resort's hotel, you probably can save money by staying at a less-expensive hotel or AIrBNB/Verbo nearby. Just make sure that the resort doesn't have a golf+lodging package deal that's a better deal.