What’s the most important piece of equipment when you’re playing golf? The clubs. The quality of your clubs can determine how well you play, and if you’re a beginner, this could make or break your technique and determine whether or not you continue to play.
If you’ve ever taken a trip to your local golf store, you’ve probably already noticed that a set of decent clubs WON’T come cheap. That’s right. If you want a quality set of clubs, you need to be prepared to make the investment. So, how much will a decent set of golf clubs actually cost you? Stick around to find out.
Beginners, Experienced, Or Advanced Golfers: Should You Buy New Or Used?
Should your decision to buy new or used clubs depend on your golfing experience level? We’re here to help you figure it out.
Beginner
If you’re a beginner, you’ll need a complete set of clubs to hit the course with. For this reason, it’s probably easier to buy a new set rather than buying each club individually.
However, new sets are expensive, and they may come with lofts and stock shafts that don’t complement your swing, which can be a waste of money. Your new full set may also have a bit of a limited collection, such as a titanium driver and a 3-wood. Take this into consideration before buying a new set.
So, how much will it cost you? Well, depending on what’s in the bag, a new set can cost you anywhere between $150-$500. If you want to buy a complete set second-hand, you’ll probably pay between $150-$250.
Experienced/Mid-Handicapper
At this stage, you’ll probably already own a set of clubs. This means if you change equipment, you’ll usually do it in separate stages (like buying different irons, then wedges) rather than replacing your whole set.
Although this can definitely be cheaper than replacing the whole set, some clubs come with some pretty hefty price tags. For an experienced golfer, a quality new driver could set you back anywhere between $350-$600. Hybrid clubs can cost between $150-$300, and a set of irons can be the most expensive, costing anywhere between $400 to $1000.
Advanced
If you’ve been golfing for years and you take the sport very seriously, you’ll probably start spending even more on your clubs. The more you play (and the better you get), the more you come to appreciate different clubs.
More experienced golfers tend to prefer playing with more expensive irons – these can be one of the most expensive investments you’ll make as an advanced golfer.
If you include a pitching wedge (see also: A Wedge?)and a gap in your new set, you could pay between $1300-$2000 for a new set of irons.
By now, you’ll have a general idea of how much golf clubs cost you throughout your career. It might surprise you to know that you’ll probably spend less on golfing equipment as a beginner than you will as a more advanced player!
Want a more in-depth look at prices? Check out our table below, which includes the prices for new sets and individual clubs. We’ll include both cheaper and more expensive sets, so you can get a real taste of what’s what.
Complete Sets
| GOLFER | CLUBS | PRICE |
| Men | Strata Men’s Complete Set | $399.99 |
| Women | WILSON Women’s SGI Complete | $429.99 |
| Kids | Confidence Junior Set | $119.99 |
Drivers
| GOLFER | CLUBS | PRICE |
| Men | PXG 2021 Driver | $119.00 |
| Women | Pinemeadow Golf PGX Offset Driver | $56.59 |
| Kids | Orlimar ATS Individual Club | $24.99 |
Fairway Woods
| GOLFER | CLUBS | PRICE |
| Men’s | MW8 Moon Wood | $179.00 |
| Women’s | 2022 XXIO | $399.00 |
| Kid’s | Young Gun SGS | $39.99 |
Hybrid Clubs
| GOLFER | CLUBS | PRICE |
| Men’s | Lazrus Hybrid | $54.97 |
| Women’s | Cobra Speedback Hybrid | $159.26 |
| Kid’s | Orlimar ATS | $39.95 |
Wedges
| GOLFER | CLUBS | PRICE |
| Men’s | C3i Wedge | $99.00 |
| Women’s | xE1 Sand Wedge | $69.99 |
| Kid’s | Fingerprints Junior Club | $47.95 |
Putters
| GOLFER | CLUBS | PRICE |
| Men’s | PXG Hellcat Putter | $149.00 |
| Women’s | Pinemeadow PGX Putter | $59.95 |
| Kid’s | Wassteel Kids Putter | $28.99 |
Irons
| GOLFER | CLUBS | PRICE |
| Men’s | POSSOT Individual Irons | $49.99 |
| Women’s | Callaway Big Bertha | $142.86 |
| Kid’s | Young Gun ZAAP | $29.99 |
What Affects The Price Of Clubs?
Golf is definitely not a cheap sport. The equipment and clothing is notoriously expensive, and if you’re paying to play at a course, you can rack up the extra costs pretty quickly.
However, you’ll notice from our tables above that the prices of golf clubs can vary pretty drastically. Golf is by no means cheap, but some clubs are pretty affordable.
We’ve seen a steady increase in the variety of golf clubs on offer over the past 30 years, but what exactly is happening to the cost, and what factors determine how much you’ll pay for your equipment?
Manufacturing and Materials: It’s estimated that almost 35% of the price of a golf club relates to its materials and how much it costs to create. So, high-end clubs will inevitably cost you more than those made from cheaper materials.
Sales/Marketing Expenses: Approximately 25% of the cost of your golf club relates to how much money was spent on sales, marketing, and other corporate costs. So, the bigger the brand (such as Callaway, for example), the higher the price tag.
Taxes: The companies that manufacture your golf clubs will also have to pay tax, and around 3% of the cost of your club accounts for how much tax they have to pay.
Profit: Of course, we have profit. Every manufacturer needs to make a profit; it’s just how business works. A huge percentage of the cost of your golf club will be the profit your manufacturer makes.
Some other decisive factors include:
- The brand you’re buying
- The gender of the club
- Hand Orientation
Some clubs are also just more expensive than others, and this is largely due to materials and the manufacturing process.
If your clubs are made from stainless steel, they’ll probably be closer to the market average. However, the more expensive clubs often use a combination of string and thin steel mixed with titanium, which can raise the price significantly. In other words, if you want cheaper clubs, search for pure stainless steel options!
The manufacturing process for different types of clubs will also affect the cost. Some clubs, such as forged clubs, have a more complex process. Their steel heads are beaten into shape, which makes them more expensive than cast clubs – these heads are made by pouring molten metal into a mold to create the head.
The Bottom Line
There are many factors that can affect the cost of your clubs. However, if you’re a beginner, we have good news for you – even if you need to buy a complete set, you’ll probably be paying less than more experienced golfers!
However, this does mean that if you become a more advanced player, you can expect to pay far more for your equipment. Don’t let this deter you from playing golf, though. Although this is by no means a cheap sport, it’s definitely one of the most rewarding!
Hi, my name is Garratt Shmidt and I have been playing golf in my spare time for almost a decade.
Before I found a passion for golf, I didn’t see the appeal. I thought it was slow, repetitive, and quite frankly boring.
- Can You Bring Your Own Clubs To Topgolf? - November 15, 2022
- How Wide Is A Golf Cart? - November 15, 2022
- How Long Does 9 Holes Of Golf Take? - November 15, 2022