Shopping
Expert Picks: The Best Places To Buy Golf Clubs, Online And In-Store
![Expert Picks: The Best Places To Buy Golf Clubs, Online And In-Store Expert Picks: The Best Places To Buy Golf Clubs, Online And In-Store](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/66966d1b26ce77ed1ffcdde6/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&height=900&width=1600&fit=bounds)
Whether you’re picking up your first set of golf clubs, adding a club to your bag or searching for a gift for the golfer in your life, knowing the best places to buy golf clubs can make all the difference. From specialty golf stores and big-box retailers to online shops and used marketplaces, each option offers a unique set of benefits and considerations. In this guide, you’ll find a series of key categories that we selected for golf club shopping to ensure you find the right equipment tailored to your needs, abilities and budget.
Pick up a complete set or add a club to your bag by shopping at the best places to buy golf clubs.
Best Places To Buy Golf Clubs: Online
From online storefronts to used marketplaces, there exists a vast selection of golf clubs for sale on the web, often at competitive prices. Chances are high that you’ll order a club or a set online at some point, but if you intend to buy secondhand equipment, make sure it’s in good condition.
Advantages:
- Extensive variety and availability
- Competitive pricing
- Convenient shopping from home
- User reviews and ratings
Tips:
- Read customer reviews carefully
- Verify seller ratings and return policies
- Compare prices across multiple sellers
Easily one of the biggest online retailers in the golf world, The Golf Warehouse (TGW) offers new clubs from all of the industry’s major brands as full sets or individual clubs to supplement your current collection. Stocking clubs for men, women, children and senior players, the size of TGW’s supply chain offers constant savings opportunities and sales every day.
The Golf Warehouse arranges its clubs into easy-to-navigate categories—adding more than just club type and arranging choices in groups such as flex, shaft type and review ratings. It’s a good policy for a golfer looking for bargains to hover around TGW’s online store from time to time to snag the best deal.
It might seem like a cop out to include Amazon in a golf club list. After all, you can buy (almost) anything at the online retailer nowadays. So what makes it a special stop for golf clubs? Well, it’s the overwhelming volume and selection that makes it a useful stop for the savvy shopper.
It’s possible to find most major brands available as new sets or individual clubs on Amazon. Still, the most interesting feature shopping online there is the inventory factor. You can locate 2024 clubs easily enough at any website, but Amazon holds new sets from the last couple of years in many brands at sale prices. If you can match your flex and other specs, you can save hundreds on clubs that are only a year or two old.
You’re going to save money on used golf clubs no matter where you buy them, but shopping for previously owned golf equipment presents challenges. What kind of shape are the clubs in after previous use? Do you have the required expertise to analyze the heads, grips and shafts? Can you find a complete set? And are you paying a used price that represents the clubs’ true competitive worth?
The selection at 2nd Swing Golf includes complete sets and individual clubs—with recent model years finding their way into the collection as well. A 30-day play guarantee at 2nd Swing means you can try out any purchase to make sure it fits your game and your quality expectations.
Callaway’s pre-owned club site offers an excellent opportunity to acquire top-quality clubs at a fraction of the cost of new ones. Naturally, purchasing used clubs online comes with inherent risks, but Callaway puts these to bed with a series of guarantees that protect you, the shopper and the golfer. The brand guarantees that the condition of the club you get will match what was represented online, but if you disagree, simply send it back for a full refund. And if you’re interested in parting ways with your clubs, the Trade In! Trade Up! program can lower your total cost to upgrade. Simply trade in your clubs to discover even bigger discounts.
Best Places To Buy Golf Clubs: Big-Box And Specialty Stores
Big-box and specialty retailers offer a wide range of golf clubs alongside other equipment, and they serve as a better in-person option if you’re looking to find discounted gear. With that said, it can be tough to determine how much training or experience big-box store staff have under their belt, so if you’re new to golf or don’t know what you’re looking for, consider paying a visit to a specialty store.
Advantages:
- Competitive prices and frequent discounts
- Convenient locations
- Availability of a variety of sporting goods
Tips:
- Look for seasonal sales
- Check return policies for flexibility
- Consider purchasing a starter set if you’re new to golf
- Take advantage of custom fitting services
- Test clubs in-store to find the best fit
From club fittings to shaft work to loft or lie adjustments, the PGA Tour Superstore serves as a one-stop-shop for golfers of all abilities. With over 50 locations in 22 states, there’s probably one in your neck of the woods, and it’s one of the first destinations we recommend beyond a specialty shop.
Quality equipment often goes on sale, and the retailer’s online store is also a great option if you know what you want, but would like some peace of mind to come with your purchase—the Performance Guarantee ensures that if you’re not 100% satisfied with your equipment, you have 90 days to bring it back and receive store credit for something else.
Often in a partnership with its co-owned Golf Galaxy stores, Dick’s Sporting Goods offers a large selection of golf clubs from 2024 and the most recent couple years’ releases. Its “big box store” sporting goods atmosphere gives plenty of options and offers ongoing sales and clearance offers on complete sets and individual clubs.
Dick’s includes a hearty pre-owned club section, only offering used items in functional condition while weeding out the rejects. Of course, buying new or used clubs at Dick’s also offers the convenience of walking a few steps to buy anything else you need from bags to balls to any other accessory.
You can think of Golf Galaxy as a Dick’s Sporting Goods equivalent that focuses solely on golf. They offer top brands in clubs, balls and gear to enhance your play. And in addition to their extensive product selection, they offer professional services such as custom club fitting, repairs and personalized lessons from certified instructors.
Scheels is a sporting goods retailer offering an extensive selection of golf equipment, apparel and accessories. Known for their customer service and expansive layouts, they provide top-tier brands and products to meet the needs of golfers trying to improve and those who simply wish to enjoy the game. Beyond their comprehensive equipment offerings, they also provide specialized services such as custom club fitting, repairs and expert advice from knowledgeable staff.
Best Places To Buy Golf Clubs: Pro Shops
Pro shops, often located at local golf courses and clubs, offer a curated selection of clubs and personalized service. While pro shops sell clubs, you’ll probably head to a pro shop for smaller last-minute items, like ball markers, tees or branded club apparel. Because pro shops can be found at many private and public courses, we recommend visiting the ones in your area to see how they compare.
Advantages:
- Professional advice from experienced golfers
- Opportunity to test clubs on the course
- Exclusive access to certain brands and models
Tips:
- Discuss your needs with the pro shop staff
- Take advantage of demo days and testing opportunities
- Ask about special orders for specific clubs or brands
How We Chose The Best Places To Buy Golf Clubs
Forbes Vetted’s resident product tester and avid golfer John Scott Lewinski rarely needs to shop for golf clubs because he gets so many sent to him for evaluation. Still, a mix of veteran consumer questioning and online research helped him pin down the best stores for new and used golf clubs. He considered the needs, abilities and budgets of different players to identify in-person and online shops, and the options presented here reflect an awareness of the game as its played today.
Keep in mind that the best places to buy golf clubs come in different forms—this list is by no means all-encompassing. From the pro shop at your local course to the used marketplaces on Facebook and Craigslist, options abound. If you’re new to the game, pay a visit to a store of any size for guidance. And if you know exactly what you’re looking for, find it online for a good deal.