Nearly a quarter of golfers said they had sacrificed spending on personal or family needs to fund their golf expenses.
And the depths to which they cherish their club membership was also made clear with the clear majority of respondents claiming they wouldn’t cancel it even to pay for a big-ticket housing expense.
The survey of NCG readers, filled in by thousands of golfers who receive our daily email newsletters sheds a valuable insight into the cost of the sport and the lengths to which avid players will go to fund their passion.
We wanted to explore the financial realities for ordinary players, while uncovering the spending priorities of modern golfers.
How much do we spend each year on golf? How is that made up – do memberships, travel or gear dominate spending? And we wanted to find out how that money was spent, whether golf or other life expenses took priority.
The data is enlightening so let’s look at what it reveals about the cost of golf in the UK…
The cost of golf in the UK
How much do you spend on golf annually?
It costs money to play golf. No surprises there, Sherlock. But the amounts of money survey respondents admitted to shelling out playing the game were still eye-wateringly budget-bashing – particularly in this time of high costs of living.
Just under half (49.2%) said their annual golf bill came to between £1,000 and £2,500, while just over a quarter (25.8%) revealed they were forking out more than £2,500 each year.
We’d like to know how the 6.6% who pay less than £500 are getting their fix, though. They might be benefiting from a real bargain!
What’s the biggest single expense you associate with golf?
No real surprises here. Membership of a golf club is by far the most expensive item for most players. Nearly 71% revealed it was their biggest single expensive, while 14.5% said gear and equipment topped their bill. With more than 11% opting for travel, we can only say they must be enjoying some fantastic trips!
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Have you ever sacrificed spending on personal or family needs to fund your golf expenses?
Now comes the big shock. Just under a quarter of those who answered this question (24.4%) admitted they had cut back spending on personal or family needs to fund golf expenses. A quarter! To play golf! They must really, really, love the game.
We’d be interested to know what their families think…
Would you cancel your golf membership if it meant you could afford a family holiday, a new car, or a big-ticket household expense?
Leading on from that, we thought we’d find out just how attached to their clubs golfers really were. So we put that commitment to the test, asking if they could consider cancelling their membership if it meant a) being able to afford a family holiday; b) buying a new car; and c) paying for big-ticket housing expense.
The latter option probably was the most surprise. Nearly three quarters of golfers (72.8%) said that not even a big-ticket expense for the house was enough to make them consider jettisoning their memberships.
We’re obviously clearly in the minority here, but it’s golf club membership or a new boiler; golf club membership or fixing the kitchen, then the golf is going.
But our survey respondents really value their golf. Four fifths of them (79.6%) would keep their membership over buying a new car but being able to go on a family holiday did split players – but only slightly.
Two thirds of those who answered this question would choose golf over a holiday but that did leave nearly one in five (18.6%) saying a break away with their nearest and dearest would mean giving up their annual subscription.
Are you spending more or less on golf in this climate?
Golf club membership is going up, golf equipment is getting ever more expensive, cost of living is really hitting people hard.
But at the coal face, just under two thirds of people who answered this question (62.5) said they were spending about the same as they usually did on golf. Nearly a quarter (23.5%) are forking out more but while household bills seem to be on inexorable upward curve, it does seem – from what we’re being told – that golf costs are remaining relatively stable.
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Now have your say on the cost of golf in the UK
What do you think of these latest survey results on the cost of golf in the UK? Have you ever put golf before the needs of your family? What would it take for you to cancel your golf club membership? Let us know by leaving a comment on X.
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