Is There Value to Being a Nomadic Golfer

I make no secret of the fact that I am a huge fan of golf club membership. As somebody who plays at least twice a week, for me it is an utter no-brainer.

But I do accept that paying an annual subscription is not for everybody. Many people have no desire to play the same course again and again. They want fresh challenges.

Quite apart from anything else, a large number of golfers have no wish or desire to play during the winter months. They do not want to have to wear three layers of clothing to keep warm and they have no desire to have to don waterproofs almost every time they take to the golf course.

Most club members will struggle to understand why there are so many golfing nomads but I do get it.

For me, being a club member represents great value for money. But then again, I am one of the number who are prepared to freeze our parts off, hit shots off icy, rock-hard fairways and regularly have to put on my rainwear. And as somebody who plays at least twice a week, club membership represents great value for money for me - and tens of thousands of others like me.

However, I can also see the benefits of being able to pick and choose where you would want to play your golf.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

There is a perception that paying a regular green fee makes for expensive golf but that need not necessarily be true.

If you choose to visit the most famous courses in the UK then yes, you will be forking out a not-so-small fortune for the privilege. 

But as you will know, here at Golfshake we are at the front and centre of pointing you all in the right direction. And we have analysed review data from the Golfshake Course Section across recent years to uncover some of the very best layouts that you can play for a bargain price - each of them Highly Recommended by the Golfshake Community.

These are courses you have visited and been impressed with. 

Yes, you can easily pay upwards of £100 for 18 holes but there are many, many courses where you will see plenty of change from £50. And just because a course does not charge you a small fortune it does not follow that it should be any less of a challenge than courses charging many times more.

There are some advantages to being a nomad. For starters, you can pick and choose where you want to play. 

Golfshake is, of course, a wonderful tool but an internet search of the area in which you live will also help you to pick and choose.

Golf club websites will always tell you a great deal about the course. 

If it does not have a prominent section for visitors it is probably one to avoid. Take some time to look at the hole by hole guide  - if there is a flyover you will get a great idea of exactly what the course is like, and that could well be a determining factor when it comes to deciding whether or not you want to play.

When it comes to booking, how many slots are there for visitors? If you are on a budget, does the green fee fall if you are prepared to tee off a bit later in the day? If you are teeing off in the afternoon, will the clubhouse still be open when you finish? Will you be able to get a drink and a bite to eat? Speaking of food, does the website show you a menu? Is the food home-made? How much does it cost?

Are there eat-and-play deals? Do not be frightened to give the course a call to ask what they can offer you.

Nomads will also be the most likely to properly check out course reviews. If lots of people go to the trouble of praising a course and its facilities then it is almost certainly worth a visit. It goes without saying that the converse also applies.

Related Content

Are You Getting Value For Money From Your Golf Membership

Why You Shouldn't Give Up Your Golf Club Membership

The Benefits of Being a Nomadic Golfer

8 Reasons Why You Should Join a Golf Club in 2024

Will You Be Renewing Your Golf Club Membership in 2024