Tl;dr: Rental golf clubs are a good choice if you are playing golf for the first time or traveling and don't want to bring your gear. However, if you are serious about the game and want to get more involved, rental clubs could become more expensive (renting time after time) and not a great fit for your golf game.

Golf shops almost always carry rental clubs for players who don't have them. Most rental clubs are relatively new and have decent technology. The problem with them is you don't get to take them home with you. If you are new to the sport and wondering whether or not it makes sense to rent or buy, we have you covered. As a golf professional, I can tell you that there are absolutely times when it makes sense to invest in golf clubs and other times when a golf club rental is potentially the best choice. Feel free to reach out to any Curated Golf Expert with questions.

What Are Rental Golf Clubs?

Rental golf clubs are clubs that facilities have available that you can use for a round or two of golf while you are on the premises. The clubs are often full sets or clubs, and they are likely used many times throughout the week by other golfers.

Rent or Buy Golf Clubs: The Things To Consider

Determining what grind you need on a TaylorMade wedge or what loft to use on a Callaway hybrid is much more complicated than the rent vs. buy decision for golf clubs. You won't have to do too much outside of the box thinking here. However, if you decide to purchase, that’s when you will need the help of an expert. Here are the questions to consider on this journey.

How often do you play golf?

If this is your first day of play on a golf course and you need to rent a set of clubs, that is completely acceptable. However, if you are an avid golfer, make sure you invest in your own clubs. You will note that the performance difference between rental and custom fitted golf clubs will be quite substantial.

What are your plans for the game?

Even if you have just started and you are still getting used to how golf is going to play into your life, the rental selection available at most golf clubs will eventually not be enough for your game. You will need a complete golf bag with all of the clubs necessary to excel in the game.

Are you traveling? Have you considered shipping?

Some golfers travel for work or pleasure and end up in a place where the schedule allows them to get out and play a few rounds of golf. If you are afraid to ship your golf clubs, you may want to call the concierge or the golf shop and see if there are golf club sets available. It's always worth getting a quote and additional information on shipping prices.

What are you willing to pay?

I've found some golfers are very surprised by the costs of rental clubs. At the end of your rental, you may find that the total is hundreds of dollars. It's a lot, but some of these clubs are premium rentals with the latest release technology. Think about how many business days you will need to use the rental clubs and then make a smart decision about buying vs. renting.

What Are The Different Types of Golf Rental Clubs?

If you decide to rent clubs, call the front desk of the golf shop or resort and ask them about the types of golf rental clubs they have available. Most will be complete sets, but some are just demo clubs from the shop that they put together for you. Here are a few things to know.

Beginner Complete Sets

The beginner complete sets, something like a Callaway Strata set or even the TaylorMade Kalea, are popular rental sets. The clubs offer a mix of forgiveness and distance, a solid putter, and a wedge or two to help you get around the course.

However, if you are a lower handicap player who is used to playing with a stiff flex and having premium distance technology and spin in your clubs, this may not be the best choice.

Benefits:

• Can be a great solution for a new golfer
• Makes a smaller initial investment than a complete brand new set

Be Aware:

• Not made for all levels of golfer
• Will offer the most forgiveness - not something everyone needs

Single Club Rentals/Demo's

Some golf courses may not have complete beginner sets. Instead, they will have fairways or an individual set of irons. If you want to try a new driver or something, this isn't a bad way to go about it, but you could be left with some gaps in your bag.

Again, when you try to rent clubs, always ask about the set description. See if it's reg flex, stiff flex, or senior flex etc.

Benefits:

• Sometimes no cost is involved
• Great way to test out new golf clubs before purchasing

Be Aware:

• You may find that it's not enough clubs for you
• Consider shipping fees if you send some clubs and rent/demo others

Left Handed/Women's/Junior Clubs

Left handed golfers often have to take extensive measures to ensure they have a set of golf clubs they can use. The key is to either work on shipping your clubs ahead of time with a UPS pickup or similar service or travel with the clubs. Women and junior clubs can also be difficult to find; always call ahead.

Benefits:

• Can make it so traveling with clubs isn't necessary
• Great for new players

Be Aware:

• Might be hard to find call ahead of time to check availability
• May not be the latest releases

Features to Look for When Renting Golf Clubs

If you have decided that renting clubs is the best option for you, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Shaft

You might be able to get away with a golf shaft in a driver or fairway that isn't a perfect match for you if it’s just for one round. However, if you are dealing with something like a senior shaft 4-PW set of irons, and you have swing speeds of 100mph, you won't have a fun time out there. The grams of weight and the flex of the shaft should be considered as part of this process of renting clubs.

Club Set Makeup

You may not get everything from a driver to an AW to a 4 iron to a lob wedge in a golf rental set, but that's understandable. Take, for instance, the Kalea clubs sets. They have about 10 clubs in them. It's certainly enough to get through a round.

Cleanliness/Quality/Availability

With more and more golfers using AirBnB and Vrbo properties when they go away on golf trips, you may get lucky and find that your rental has a set of premium Callaway Club rentals or something similar.

Most courses keep their rental clubs in great shape, but if you find something that's beat up or very outdated technology, it's probably time to search for another option.

How To Choose The Right Golf Clubs (Instead of Renting Clubs)

Let's say renting is not the best choice for you. I have to admit there are very few times when renting makes sense. Usually, I'll recommend shipping the clubs through a trusted staffed business location or traveling with them. Here are a few options you can consider instead of renting.

Joe

Joe is an avid golfer; he typically plays with the TaylorMade SIM Max OS Steel KBS Max irons and the TaylorMade SIM 2 Max driver with a Ventus Blue shaft. He's traveling more now because he bought a second property and wants a set of clubs to leave there. He wants something similar but not necessarily the latest and most expensive technology.

Features Joe should look for:

• A similar stiff shaft and grip in the clubs for consistency
• Last year's model to save a few dollars

Examples: TaylorMade SIM 2 Irons, TaylorMade M4 Combo, TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Driver

Shane

Shane is a brand new golfer and has been using his friend's clubs to play. They are playing in a golf outing together later this month, and instead of renting a set, Shane wants to bring his brand new set of clubs.

Features Shane should look for:

• Forgiveness and lightweight technology
• Affordability
• A complete set with everything and the bag included

Examples: Callaway Strata Complete Set, Tour Edge Bazooka 370, STIX 12 Piece Set

Mila

Mila is thinking about getting into golf. She has rented clubs to play a few times but never felt like she really got into it. She wants something that is really easy to hit and can help her decide if she actually has the golf bug.

Features Mila should look for:

• Golf club sets made specifically for women
• Lightweight technology
• High launching golf clubs

Examples: Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Complete, TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite, TaylorMade Kalea Premier

Find the Best Golf Clubs For You

The key to finding the best golf clubs for you is to work with an expert. If you have always used rental clubs because you struggle with what lofts you need, how much this all should cost, and whether or not it makes sense for your life, an expert can help. In the end, owning your golf clubs will be cheaper than renting, as it's very expensive to be an avid golfer and rent the clubs each time you go out.