There are several ways to make money with golf, and it’s actually really simple.
You get some golf lessons, practice as if your life depended on it, grab your tour card, and let the big bucks roll in.
Doesn’t that sound like an amazing dream that anyone can attain?
Yeah, if your first name was that of an animal and your last name rhymed with goods.
We aren’t all that fortunate, though, and that’s something we have to deal with.
Not all of us have our dads throw a golf club in our hands at the age of 3 with the idea that we will someday become the world’s best golfer.
The odds of that happening are not likely, and yeah, you’re better off buying a lottery ticket.
However, that is not the only way for people like you and me to make money with something that we find enjoyment in.
In this case, it just so happens to be the wonderful game of golf.
I picked up the game in the middle of the pandemic, and I am beyond hooked.
I might not be the next Tiger Woods, but I have a serious passion for the sport.
What I do have, is the knowledge of what it takes to make money with a hobby and something I would like to share with you today.
How Do You Make Money With Golf?
Golf is as complicated as it gets, and I’m sure every single one of you that has played it (or at least tried to) can agree.
You can shoot an 80 today and be back in the 100s tomorrow, and yes, it’s expected with the most humbling sport in the world.
Everything needs to be firing on all cylinders, and as a golfer, that happens only when you’re sleeping.
The best part about it, though, is the fact that you are able to talk to others, overload your brain with countless amounts of YouTube videos, and still go back onto the course to do it all again.
You might be better, or you might even get worse, but the idea of improving, learning, and becoming good at the sport will keep you around for as long as you live.
On top of all those wonderful benefits comes the opportunity for one to make a living.
So how do you make money with golf?
I’m glad you asked, and that’s exactly what you will learn from this post.
So, let’s get to it, shall we?
1. Get Your Tour Card
There’s no easier way to make money with golf than to become really good at it and play in the good old Professional Golfer’s Association or the PGA.
Yeah, right.
If only it were that easy.
If it were, then we would all be doing it and living life, all while cracking jokes at some of the best golfers in the world.
That’s not the case, but does that mean you can’t make it to the big leagues?
If you’re a scratch golfer and you feel that you can improve (why wouldn’t you?), I believe you have what it takes to be a tour pro.
Just because you’re not placing in the top 10 does not mean you can’t make money with golf.
There are many tour players that never win, but they are always making money regardless.
And not just money but a really decent amount of it.
So, if you have what it takes and you’re obviously better than your playing partners, you should seriously consider opting to get your tour card.
You’ll be surprised at what a pro golfer’s handicap index looks like and how you aren’t far off, if not better.
Earning Potential
There are two sides to an individual’s earnings, and it can be confusing to most.
On one side, you have what you see on TV and how much the top guns are making.
On the other side, you have the average of what everyone as a whole makes.
The two can be very misleading, so do a little thinking on your own, and you will see if things are really worth it.
As a PGA Tour pro, you can make money with golf and earn anywhere from $30k/year to exactly what you see on TV.
According to Ziprecruiter.com, the average tour pro earns $36,921 a year.
You might think that that’s not worth it, but remember that you are looking at the average of what everyone makes.
Some make a lot more, and some make even less.
Do remember that this is about $16/hour, and it’s all doing something you actually enjoy.
That sure beats any J-O-B, in my opinion, as I have to sneak out of my house just to get some practice strokes in.
2. Sell Golf Stuff
Golf gear is one of the reasons some of you play the game, to begin with, and that’s okay.
The look, feel, and design of golf equipment are amazing.
Whether it be an old set or the newest clubs to hit the market, golf clubs are always something very pleasing to the eye.
The problem with these great-looking pieces is that they come with a nice little price tag.
Regardless of the price, golfers are willing to spend thousands on something they feel will make them play better or look cooler on the course, just like the putters and gear that Scotty Cameron makes.
I mean, who would think that a putter cover would cost more than most putters?
Sounds crazy, but that’s the reality of what comes with the golfing territory.
I’ll admit that most of my rookie buying decisions were based on the looks of a club but all that changed when I realized that those clubs weren’t for me.
However, if it looks great, feels great, and makes you play better, why the heck not?
I’ve built my golf set with Titleist because I absolutely love the way their gear looks and feels.
Who wants to use something that they aren’t even happy with?
So what does all this talk mean for you as one looking to make money with golf?
How about getting paid a nice commission just to sell those clubs?
Just like those retail stores, you frequent, you can do exactly what they’re doing.
You’ll be surprised at how many commissions these guys are making.
And you don’t always have to set up shop immediately.
You can sell them from home and build them into a full-blown store when the time is right.
Don’t forget that affiliate marketing is always an option if you’re interested in running an online business.
Earning Potential
As a golf gear enthusiast, the earning potential can vary.
Depending on many factors, your earnings can be at
For example, during the pandemic, golf equipment sales surged as people like me picked up the sport.
I mean, what else could you do during the pandemic?
Depending on the economy, the interest of other humans, and most especially, your work ethic will decide on your potential earnings.
Do keep this in mind.
One golf club can possibly earn you a couple of hundred dollars in commission.
Sell a few of them a day, and you are in business.
The best part about golf gear is the value they hold over the years.
Just because a driver is two years old does not mean it loses its value.
These clubs are resold for top dollar, and yes, they will sell.
And, if you saw how much Tiger Wood’s backup putter sold for, you’ll see that there are collectors out there that will spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on a single golf club.
I’m sure you can agree that $393,000 for a club is quite the ROI, even if that type of money is far-fetched.
But hey, you can at least know the potential of buying and selling golf clubs.
3. Start a Blog
This is one of my favorite ways to make money with golf or even as a human.
Blogging is my main source of income, and it’s exactly what you’re on right now.
Yup, I make money talking about things I enjoy and do it all from wherever I want.
Right now, I’m actually in a visual communications class, and I’m sitting here talking about the different ways you can make money with golf.
How cool is that?
Well, you can do the same, and I can even show you how.
I did a full post on how to make money blogging, so you can check that out for a better breakdown of how everything is done.
Blogging is nothing more than talking about something you are interested in, all while sharing it with others, just like you see on this site.
Earning Potential
Just like every other way how to make money with golf on this list, the pay will vary.
Depending on how much work you put in (or little) will ultimately determine how much money you will make.
Golfdrives.com has a great list of blogs to follow, and there are bloggers on that list who are making millions.
Again, that’s just an example, but the potential to make a good chunk of change is there.
Personally, I think this is one of the best ways to make money with golf and I also have my personal blog that belongs to this niche.
4. Become a Golf Influencer
Becoming an influencer in any niche, topic, or genre is one of the better ways to make money, period.
What’s a better way to make money with golf if you’re not playing it?
Talking about it!
That’s what an influencer does, and you have many platforms that you can do it from.
There are TikTok, IG, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms that you can use, but I recommend you use Youtube or create a podcast.
You can take nice photos, create videos, or talk on a podcast.
Gain a nice following, and you can make boatloads of money.
Earning Potential
There are many golf influencers making way more than full-time incomes but the average influencer rakes in around $3,000/month.
That’s average!
Can you imagine how many are making around $10k per month?
Not many people know this, but running a YouTube channel can make you more money than you can think of if you know what you’re doing.
And to make money with golf from YouTube very much sounds like a dream job to me.
5. Become a Golf Instructor
Everyone and their mothers are instructing golf these days.
Most of them are doing it and they are probably worse than you. They have discovered a passion for teaching and have made it a way to make money with golf.
They try to use the fact that they’re old, and it obviously works with the many students they have.
Then, of course, there are those who are actually good but can’t make you better thanks to their awkward approach to playing golf.
If you can hit that little white ball straight down the fairway or put those irons better than anyone in your group, why not tell others how to do it?
Golf is no doubt one frustrating sport, and if a golfer in need sees you hit that ball with awesome consistency, what makes you think they won’t want your advice?
Earning Potential
There are instructors in my area that charge a good amount, and I know they are absolutely killing it.
Some charge $100/hr, and others charge as little as $50/hr.
WAt $50/hr, imagine how much you can make with just a couple of students a day.
How about two students a day for a whole month?
The opportunities as a golf instructor are mind-blowing, and you can be next in line.
Hey, you can also do it online, so keep that in mind.
Conclusion – Go and Make Money With Golf
Golf is great, and making money is even greater, as you will need a lot of it to play the game.
Put the two together, and you have quite the occupation and income generator.
Too bad for me, I’m too busy trying to work on undoing the golf swing YouTube created for me.
So now that I told you how to make money with golf, maybe one of you scratch golfers can help me get to at least swinging the club before I start trying to “fix” things.
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Hi John, loved the article. I’m a golfer myself and played Division 1 in college and have played competitively my whole life. Since college, I have moved to coaching and am looking to enter the online/blogging space to create a platform to help golfers. Please let me know if you’d like to connect, love what you’re doing.
Hi Bran, I definitely would love to connect. Shoot me an email at john.v.cruz@gmail.com, and we can go from there.
– John