How to get into golf without going broke

NEW YORK — Golfing isn’t only for the rich. Just ask Lee Trevino.

The legendary Mexican-American golfer was born on a cotton farm in Texas to a single mother who worked as a housekeeper. He honed his game hitting balls into cow pastures and sneaking onto private courses.

One reason golf is thought to be so expensive is that people get hung up in appearances, said the 69-year-old, two-time U.S Open winner.

“They’re spending $2,000 or $3,000 on the visor, the shoes, the shirt and the best clubs,” he said.

For those just getting started in the game, however, he said none of that is necessary. While pricey clubs and balls can boost performance, the cheaper options are just fine for beginners, Trevino said.

“If you don’t like it, then you didn’t lose a lot of money,” he said.

These days, you won’t need to go to the extremes Trevino did to get some tee time.

To attract players amid the recession, public courses and even high-end resorts across the country are offering discounts on green fees. Big name brands such as Callaway and TaylorMade are slashing prices on equipment, and PGA programs are helping make the game more accessible.

Here’s how you can avoid golf’s biggest money pitfalls — equipment, practice and green fees.

Trap one: Equipment

There’s no need to wade into ponds to collect lost golf balls, as Trevino recalls doing in his youth. The options for affordable equipment have multiplied dramatically in recent years.

A quality box set — which usually includes a set of clubs and a bag — will cost between $99 and $399, said the PGA’s Leigh Bader.

In the past, clubs from such sets were of lesser quality and might have cracked when swung with too much force. Now clubs from one of these starter sets should last as long you play the game, Bader said.

The offerings have really blossomed in terms of quality and variety, Bader said.

Equipment prices are falling across the board as manufacturers struggle in the recession. Even big name brands such as Callaway and TaylorMade have rolled out buy-one-get-one-free promotions in the past few months to drive up flagging sales.

As for golf balls, Titleist is knocking $5 off its popular NXT packs of 12 balls, bringing the cost down to between $20 and $25, depending on the specific model. But even cheaper packs of about 12 to 21 balls should be easy to find for about $15, Bader said.

There are ways seasoned players can save. For instance, Bader runs the PGA Trade-In Network, which has 6,000 locations across the country. Golfers can bring in old clubs for credit toward new equipment. The value of used equipment can be found online on the PGA’s Web site.

As for looking the part on the green, that’s a personal choice.

“It doesn’t have to be a fashion game,” Trevino said. “You see a guy out there wearing a beautiful shirt, but you could’ve just gone to Sports Authority or J.C. Penney.”

Trap two: Practice and instruction

As much as you might aspire to be like Tiger Woods, you don’t have to break the bank.

A bucket of balls at a driving range typically costs between $5 and $10, according to Dave Dusek, deputy editor of Golf.com. Ranges typically have free putting greens as well.

While it’s bad form to simply practice your put and leave without spending a dime, there’s nothing wrong with spending an hour or so on the green after hitting some balls on the range, Dusek said.

Online lessons are another option. Golf.com has free instruction photos and videos that show players how to hit “almost every conceivable shot,” according to Dusek.

Another option is the Get Golf Ready program, which costs $99 for five lessons from a PGA or LPGA professional at select facilities.

Clubs also often offer special promotion packages that include lessons

Trap three: Fees

The median green fee with cart at 18-hole public courses is $42, according to the National Golf Foundation, an industry group based in Florida. But not all facilities require carts and most offer 9-hole games at about half the rate.

Of the approximately 16,000 golf facilities in the U.S. last year, 11,600 were open to the public, according to the foundation.

Many clubs are running promotions now to boost attendance in the recession. As part of the PGA’s Play Golf America campaign, facilities across the country offer free clinics and other programs on select days.

There are ways to save at the posh end of the spectrum, too.

You can find bargains at struggling resorts, including package deals at up to 30 percent off regular prices, said Golf.com’s Dusek. Packages typically include hotel rooms, food and a set number of rounds.

“There are opportunities all over the place for people interested in taking up the game,” said Dusek.