Why Golf Clubs Are Expensive?

What is the key item you must have while playing golf? If you said golf club, you are absolutely correct.

Many people have turned to golf as a lifestyle rather than a sport. After all, golf is among the most opulent games, and of course, it also depicts the quality of life.

This fancy game’s club can also become pretty expensive.

We have paid money in the range of hundreds and thousands of dollars for this one piece of golf equipment.

Do you really need expensive golf clubs? Why are they priced high? Does everyone need expensive gold clubs?

All of these questions will be explained in this article.

What are golf clubs?

A club is a bat used to strike a golf ball. There is indeed a shaft with a grip and head in each club.

Usually, a typical golfer’s bag contains several different types of golf clubs.

Woods (including the driver), irons, hybrids, wedges, and putters are the five types of clubs used today.

Likewise, woods are employed primarily for fairway long haul or tee shots. Irons are the most versatile class for several shots.

Hybrids that combine wood and iron design components have become more and more fashionable.

Also, putters are usually used for rolling the ball into the hole of the green.

Any golfers’ bag usually covers these clubs, and their price also varies accordingly.

However, the choice of the type of golf club is subjective and depends on the individual player.

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What determines the quality of golf clubs?

Various factors determine the quality of golf clubs.

However, regardless of your budget, you may look for some factors to ensure that your golf clubs are good quality.

• Materials used:

Stainless steel, carbon steel, or beta titanium are the best materials for club heads.

Likewise, clubs made of zinc or a steel-and-aluminum composite will not survive the rigors of play for very long and are best used as junior sets.

• Quality of Manufacturing Process:

You have to stick with established brands in a price range you can afford.

It is because brand name manufacturers are said to keep closer control over their quality.

If you don’t want to spend the money on the costlier brands, seek brands that are less expensive yet come with a warranty.

But, it is tough to find a cheap and quality club nowadays.

• Method of manufacture:

Clubs that are forged are often more expensive and of higher quality than those that are molded.

In general, you get what you paid for, but you must question yourself if you really need it.

Price Range of Golf Clubs

The cost of a complete set of golf clubs for the average player can range from $100 to $1,200.

If you buy golf clubs made by the industry’s best manufacturers, the cost increases even more.

Similarly, the good news is that your average beginner to an advanced player can still play a nice game for $250 to $350.

Moreover, there’s more to the distinction between men’s and women’s clubs than just the color of the bag.

Women’s golf clubs are designed with shorter heights and lighter body weights in mind.

These clubs also have shorter shafts to accommodate their smaller hands.

Men’s clubs will cost more than women’s clubs compared to the same brand.

Reasons for expensive golf clubs

Well, if you think that you are paying only for the quality of golf clubs, then you may not be completely right.

The reason for this is that the manufacturer even adds the cost of marketing to its price. Moreover, the research and development cost of the production is also heavy.

Research, brainpower, experimentation, computer analysis, material procurement, marketing, and skillful artisans all go into the manufacturing of golf clubs.

It is undeniable that clubs made exclusively for advanced players have a longer lifespan. Professional clubs, unlike starter clubs, are specifically designed to meet the demands and expectations of expert players.

When all is said and done, it’s hardly surprising that golf clubs are so pricey.

We will now see the main reasons behind the high price of golf clubs.

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1. Costs of Marketing

This is MASSIVE!

Elite businesses pay top players six-figure or even seven-figure sums to perform their charm.

Less well-known pros receive complimentary clubs, which are factored into the price of clubs brought by others.

Hence, the expense of marketing surely adds to the overall cost of golf clubs.

The firms that create the clubs invest thousands of dollars in marketing campaigns in letting consumers know that these new golf clubs are available.

Some of the examples of marketing strategies that golf clubs companies undertake are:

• Spending money on TV commercials during televised golf events
• Online advertisements
• Full-page ads in printed golf magazines

In any case, marketing costs money, and businesses must recoup their marketing expenses.

2. Materials used in the club

Have you ever noticed that a simple graphite club is more expensive than a steel club?

Graphite clubs are lightweight and more flexible. Therefore, they strike the ball more precisely than other material clubs.

In many ways, a good set of graphite golf clubs may outperform a good set of steel golf clubs.

You’ll get more whip out of the shaft, and your golf ball will fly farther than usual.

When using graphite models, you’ll feel less vibration when you make good contact with the ball.

Moreover, when you use graphite clubs instead of steel clubs, you should expect a 5 to 10 yards gain.

Hence, graphite clubs are 50 to 100 percent more expensive than steel clubs.

These models are reserved mostly for wealthy or serious players.

Thus, premium materials like these are used in many of the most expensive golf clubs, which drives up the price.

Knowing the advantages of the more expensive materials, it’s simpler to see why some people prefer to use them.

3. Research and Development (R&D) costs

Engineers and designers must develop the cutting-edge technology that makes this week’s driver stronger than last week’s.

You’ll need someone to set up the production process, someone to administer payroll, a marketing specialist with an allowance.

The golf club’s engineering and design process have a significant impact on the final cost of the equipment.

Some golf clubs are challenging to manufacture, and you might be shocked at how much effort goes into producing a superb set of clubs.

Most popular high-end golf clubs have been precisely developed to achieve the greatest potential results.

When you offer so much time and effort on something, it’s crucial to get a return on your investment.

High-quality clubs that require a lot of time and work will always command a premium price.

It is not always necessary that only successful results add up to the costs of any product. It is said that it takes 10 long years for innovation.

Companies that give more priority to their R&Ds are more successful in the golf world.

4. Gold Clubs have to be durable.

Well, it is true that with experience you will get to know which club is better for you.

Once you get an idea of the perfect golf club for you, you may want to stick with the same type of club for a longer period of time.      

Besides. If you have one perfect club which lasts for more than 10-15 years would be perfect, isn’t it?

Therefore, the high price of golf clubs is also due to their durability.

Both irons and putters have a 10- to 15-year lifespan before becoming obsolete.

5. Profit for the Golf Company

Everyone understands that a business must make a profit to provide a high-quality set of golf clubs.

The golf club’s maker will profit roughly $250.00 from the sale of a driver.

Research, development, marketing, and other fees must be paid by the golf firm.

Even though the profit that the company makes from selling golf clubs is not very significant, they contribute to the high pricing of the golf clubs.

6. Performance Improvement

It’s critical to realize that better performance comes at a cost.

Many of the costliest golf clubs on the market are designed to provide customers with an all-encompassing premium experience.

New clubs are being developed to provide golfers greater precision and distance.

Those who play golf at a high level will appreciate the attention to detail that premium clubs provide.

Retailer Markup Breakdown

Now, let’s see what markup percentage does a golf club manufacturer company decides.

The breakdown of company expenses will give you a decent idea of why golf clubs are so expensive.

These markups often range from 30-35 percent of the entire club cost. This proportion appears large at first glance.

This is where the retailer’s expenses are paid.

It includes salespeople, sales facilities, merchandising, rent, cashiers, and other expenditures.

Between 2015 and 2017, we have broken down the price of golf clubs based on Callaways and Acushenet’s financial statements (parent firm of Title, FootJoy, and Pinnacle).

• Material and manufacturing costs account for roughly 33 percent of a club’s price.
• Research & development accounts for about 33 percent of the cost of golf clubs.
• Corporate, sales, and marketing expenses account for about 33 percent of the cost of a golf club.
• The manufacturer’s income tax accounts for about 3.3 percent (or 2.22 percent) of the overall cost of the club.
• This translates to a profit margin of 46 percent on the cost of a golf club.

Do we really need the expensive golf club for a brilliant game?

We may believe that pricey golf clubs make a difference in our swings or our scores.

Yes, high-priced golf clubs definitely make a difference.

The quality of golf clubs indeed makes a difference. A golfer’s ability level, on the other hand, must be considered.

However, the expensive golf clubs may not be worth it for beginners.

Golf skills will be continuously improving, and these golf clubs probably won’t last forever.

As a beginner, there is no need to splash the cash since you will outgrow them and need a new set in a span of few years.

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Which golf club will give you the right value of money?

Finding the right set of golf clubs for you can be overwhelming if you are just a beginner.

Wood generally costs more than irons, so think about the substance of your golf clubs before you buy them.

Most skilled players purchase their woods and irons individually, which can cost up to $1,000 for the full set.

Furthermore, you will come across a range of golf clubs while shopping for clubs, which may make it difficult for you to choose one.

A golfer can carry up to 14 clubs, each with its own set of uses and functions, according to the USGA.

The following are the components of a standard 14-club set:

• A single putter
• A single driver
• And, a single hybrid
• Wedges (two)
• 2 woods for the fairway
• Seven irons

If you’re new to golf, however, you don’t have to buy all 14 clubs straight away. Amateur golfers can start with a $60 or less driver, a $50 or less putter, a $1-200 iron set, $8 to $16 a dozen golf balls, and a $100 or less golf bag.

With all of this, you’ll have everything you need to start your golf journey for under $500!

Conclusion

Golf clubs are costly for a variety of reasons, including the necessity for marketing.

Golf club prices rise throughout time due to rising R&D expenses, branding, and the ongoing need to innovate.

Companies in the golf industry are constantly raising the bar and attempting to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of their products.

They understand that most customers are searching for design and greater distance in a new golf club.

Be aware that an excessively costly group of clubs are not necessary to improve your performance. 

Your budget and skill level will depend on the amount to be spent.