How Much Does It Cost To Play A Round Of 18 Holes Of Golf?
No matter how much you are looking to spend on a round of golf, there is a course that you can play. Public courses tend to be more affordable, ranging from around $15 to $100, while private courses usually require an annual fee anywhere from $800 to over $100,000.
Public Courses
The average golf player will play on a public course. Public courses are available for anyone to play. 21% of all public golf courses are owned by municipalities, and are referred to as municipal courses. Courses that are owned by a municipality typically do not operate to make a profit.
The median cost for an 18-hole round of golf at a public course is $49. This also includes renting a golf cart for the round. Without a cart, the price is usually around $10 cheaper.
Public courses tend to not be as well-kept as private courses. Due to this, avid golfers will decide to opt for membership to a private golf club.
Private Courses
Private courses are owned by a golf club and therefore tend to be of higher quality. These clubs will hire more renowned golf course architects and maintain the course at a much higher level than a public course. Private courses provide extra benefits to their members as well, such as driving ranges, putting or chipping areas, clubhouses, dining options, and more.
Many private courses will allow their members to extend limited guest invitations for prospective members to play the course. You may also be able to play on a private golf course without a membership if they are hosting a tournament event.
Membership Fees
Private courses also tend to be exclusive: for most private courses you can only play with a membership to the course, which can be pricey. The costs of membership to a private golf club typically ranges from $1,000 to $10,000 annually, but can be more.
Initiation Fee
In addition to a membership fee, clubs will often charge initiation fees, which are much higher than annual dues. For example, the famous Augusta National Golf Club is extremely exclusive, only having 300 members. Their initiation fees can be as high as $500,000. Augusta National’s Golf Course is the host of The Masters Tournament and is widely regarded as one of the nicest courses in the world.
Guest Fees
If a member of a private club wishes to bring a non-member out on the golf course for a round, the non-member usually has to pay a guest fee. Guest fees at a private golf course usually range from around $50 to $175.
Summary
If you’re just looking to play a round of golf on the weekend, your local public course can provide you with a decent course for under $50. If you’re an avid golfer looking for a more luxurious place to play, joining a private course will be well worth the money.