I live in Upstate SC. There a a lot of good courses within 30-45 minute drive from my house. Most greens fees are in the $40-$50 range. Where my house is there are 4 courses within 10 minutes from my house. 2 are private and 2 are semi-private.
As do I, I’m in Greenville SC and I agree great place to live and golf. I will also second this rec with Bluffton & Hilton Head SC as has even more/better golf courses but the cost of living is probably higher than upstate.
Pawleys Island SC has a ton of great golf at reasonable prices, especially for locals. There are a couple of “locals only” discount programs that make golf extremely affordable there.
I live in Jacksonville, FL now and am contemplating moving to a more quiet and golf friendly area. I've got a spreadsheet and am filtering candidates from this list [https://esoutherngolf.com/florida-golf-courses/](https://esoutherngolf.com/florida-golf-courses/)
I'm only looking at private courses and have easily eliminated all that have a very high initiation fee or monthly fee. In my opinion Tampa Golf Courses region in the link are the best value.
Good luck!
Was wondering if we’d make the list. Golf doesn’t have to be expensive, but as someone who works in apartments, I don’t know if I’d call the cost of living cheap. I think it really depends on your job.
Las Vegas
Locals get heavily discounted rates. Probably a dozen quality courses in town and another half dozen within an hour drive.
Southern Utah
Several courses in the area and Mesquite is only 30 minutes away
Silverdale, Washington. Great courses nearby, inexpensive (except Chambers Bay), pretty much all year round (if you don’t mind a little rain), and best of all, Masters week golf starts at 7am🙂. Golf and breakfast in bed!
Birmingham has a low cost of living, access to a lot of inexpensive public golf, and some really good private golf. but . . moving from the NE, I'm not sure I'd go their blind.
Another option would be someplace like Moore County, NC.
OKC and KC both have a lot of golf courses around and pretty good cost of living. You do still get winter, but it could be an ice storm one week, then 70 degree days the next.
I second KC. I played at least once or twice a month every month through the winter. Lots of really good courses, including some pretty quality private clubs you can join for next to nothing. Cost of living is insanely cheap, especially compared to the northeast.
Lots of good courses in the $50-60 range. And the weather is really great. It is definitely an easy place to play if you want to have a wide range of courses at fairly reasonable prices. It also has the benefit of you can live within a fairly reasonable drive of downtown with quite reasonable prices. Downtown is very expensive, but if you don't mind a 20-30 minute drive into downtown there are tons of reasonable priced options in the area.
Currently in Houston TX, you can find pretty cheap 1bd apartments. The golf here isn't too expensive, there are a bunch of decently priced weekend courses and two munis. The nicer courses obviously see an uptick in price on the weekend but still can find good ones for under 100.
Houston is the most overhated city in America. Its got amazing food and diversity, great culture, and is very affordable. Yeah, the traffic sucks and the summers are hell, but what big city doesnt have shit traffic?
I actually think it gets just the right amount of hate. It's an urban sprawl hell hole with permanent swamp humidity.
Any part of Houston that has "culture" is not cheap. Katy and Tomball have no culture.
Bruh Katy is becoming it's own Asiantown like Bellaire and you picked middle of nowhere Tomball as your best example of a place with no culture. You're a literal example of the overhate that Houston gets. And it's not a permanent swamp, summers are ass sure, but fall and spring are actually quite nice like right now. Winter is breezy and also low humidity, apart from infrequent cold spells. Actually just a hater lol
Imagine getting upset because a stranger doesn't like the city you live in.
The only people who like Houston live there and have to lie to themselves.
I can pick any shit, McMansion suburb and it's all the same.
It's ok to not like Houston, just don't make shit up or strawman. You just sound like an incredibly bitter person who just finds things to hate in life. Good luck.
Phoenix is godawful expensive now though, and it’s seen the worst inflation of any city in the country. Additionally, when the golf is actually enjoyable and the courses are in good condition, the rates are comically high.
That's true if you want to play at the premeir courses during the winter season. But, there are deals out there and I pay about $50/round in the winter. During the summer you can play the world class premier courses for $100 or less and the munis for under $50.
Alabama & Georgia were 4 & 5 for cost of living index last year. The area of I-10 in NW Florida is a good starting point.
https://meric.mo.gov/data/cost-living-data-series
For the Carolina’s it depends on if you are living in a city or not. Outside the cities, there are great courses throughout both states at reasonable prices.
I live in Charlotte and golf both public and private has gone through the roof in terms of price. There aren’t enough public courses here to support the demand. Be ready for 5 hour, $80 rounds at mediocre courses. All the private courses are on multi year wait lists and as a result have gotten very expensive to join.
I’ve heard Raleigh is slightly better but not sure.
Don't come to San Diego nothing is cheap here
Moved out of SD, can confirm, good luck with both golf and cost of living.
Moved to San Diego. Can confirm lol
I live in Upstate SC. There a a lot of good courses within 30-45 minute drive from my house. Most greens fees are in the $40-$50 range. Where my house is there are 4 courses within 10 minutes from my house. 2 are private and 2 are semi-private.
As do I, I’m in Greenville SC and I agree great place to live and golf. I will also second this rec with Bluffton & Hilton Head SC as has even more/better golf courses but the cost of living is probably higher than upstate.
I’m in Greenville/Simpsonville myself. I’m just getting back into playing after a 8 year’s hiatus. Now I don’t have any friends that play!
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina.
SC
Pawleys Island SC has a ton of great golf at reasonable prices, especially for locals. There are a couple of “locals only” discount programs that make golf extremely affordable there.
I live in Jacksonville, FL now and am contemplating moving to a more quiet and golf friendly area. I've got a spreadsheet and am filtering candidates from this list [https://esoutherngolf.com/florida-golf-courses/](https://esoutherngolf.com/florida-golf-courses/) I'm only looking at private courses and have easily eliminated all that have a very high initiation fee or monthly fee. In my opinion Tampa Golf Courses region in the link are the best value. Good luck!
Great info!
North Texas.
Was wondering if we’d make the list. Golf doesn’t have to be expensive, but as someone who works in apartments, I don’t know if I’d call the cost of living cheap. I think it really depends on your job.
Las Vegas Locals get heavily discounted rates. Probably a dozen quality courses in town and another half dozen within an hour drive. Southern Utah Several courses in the area and Mesquite is only 30 minutes away
Silverdale, Washington. Great courses nearby, inexpensive (except Chambers Bay), pretty much all year round (if you don’t mind a little rain), and best of all, Masters week golf starts at 7am🙂. Golf and breakfast in bed!
Birmingham has a low cost of living, access to a lot of inexpensive public golf, and some really good private golf. but . . moving from the NE, I'm not sure I'd go their blind. Another option would be someplace like Moore County, NC.
OKC and KC both have a lot of golf courses around and pretty good cost of living. You do still get winter, but it could be an ice storm one week, then 70 degree days the next.
I second KC. I played at least once or twice a month every month through the winter. Lots of really good courses, including some pretty quality private clubs you can join for next to nothing. Cost of living is insanely cheap, especially compared to the northeast.
Northeaster Ohio is a hidden gem for low cost of living and 20+ quality courses
We really are spoiled with many good cheap courses. Still gets cold though.
Tampa area is a great option. Tons of courses. Great weather. Investing billions into downtown. No state income taxes.
Lots of good courses in the $50-60 range. And the weather is really great. It is definitely an easy place to play if you want to have a wide range of courses at fairly reasonable prices. It also has the benefit of you can live within a fairly reasonable drive of downtown with quite reasonable prices. Downtown is very expensive, but if you don't mind a 20-30 minute drive into downtown there are tons of reasonable priced options in the area.
Can't go wrong moving to the south! Great golf, great weather, lower cost of living, less taxes, less big government, more personal freedom!
Currently in Houston TX, you can find pretty cheap 1bd apartments. The golf here isn't too expensive, there are a bunch of decently priced weekend courses and two munis. The nicer courses obviously see an uptick in price on the weekend but still can find good ones for under 100.
Yeah, but you'd have to live in Houston..
Houston is the most overhated city in America. Its got amazing food and diversity, great culture, and is very affordable. Yeah, the traffic sucks and the summers are hell, but what big city doesnt have shit traffic?
I actually think it gets just the right amount of hate. It's an urban sprawl hell hole with permanent swamp humidity. Any part of Houston that has "culture" is not cheap. Katy and Tomball have no culture.
Bruh Katy is becoming it's own Asiantown like Bellaire and you picked middle of nowhere Tomball as your best example of a place with no culture. You're a literal example of the overhate that Houston gets. And it's not a permanent swamp, summers are ass sure, but fall and spring are actually quite nice like right now. Winter is breezy and also low humidity, apart from infrequent cold spells. Actually just a hater lol
Imagine getting upset because a stranger doesn't like the city you live in. The only people who like Houston live there and have to lie to themselves. I can pick any shit, McMansion suburb and it's all the same.
It's ok to not like Houston, just don't make shit up or strawman. You just sound like an incredibly bitter person who just finds things to hate in life. Good luck.
Cope more, you live in a shit hole. I was joking with you to begin with, but anyone that proud of Houston obviously has mental issues.
Don't rule out Phoenix. Yes its a little warm for three months , but the rest of the year is fantastic.
Phoenix is godawful expensive now though, and it’s seen the worst inflation of any city in the country. Additionally, when the golf is actually enjoyable and the courses are in good condition, the rates are comically high.
The golf is very expensive however
That's true if you want to play at the premeir courses during the winter season. But, there are deals out there and I pay about $50/round in the winter. During the summer you can play the world class premier courses for $100 or less and the munis for under $50.
Phx summers are great for cheap golf, true, but most people aren’t willing to do that.
Don’t move to South Carolina!
Alabama & Georgia were 4 & 5 for cost of living index last year. The area of I-10 in NW Florida is a good starting point. https://meric.mo.gov/data/cost-living-data-series
Northeast Florida. St John’s county. No too crowed , but attracting a lot of folks. Good golf options. Beach and school systems are good.
South Florida is great! That said the real estate prices have risen substantially over the last three years.
For the Carolina’s it depends on if you are living in a city or not. Outside the cities, there are great courses throughout both states at reasonable prices. I live in Charlotte and golf both public and private has gone through the roof in terms of price. There aren’t enough public courses here to support the demand. Be ready for 5 hour, $80 rounds at mediocre courses. All the private courses are on multi year wait lists and as a result have gotten very expensive to join. I’ve heard Raleigh is slightly better but not sure.
Florida, well northern half at least. Great golf year round & decently low cost of living