How Much Does It Cost to Play Golf? Golf Cost Chart 2026

Many people still think golf is an aristocratic sport reserved for the upper class, but in reality in Vietnam 2026, the cost of playing golf has become much more accessible. An 18-hole round at typical courses ranges from about 2,000,000 VND to 6,500,000 VND/person depending on the area, day of play, and time slot. For beginners, only about 15 million VND is needed for the first 3 months of approaching the sport. This article breaks down each actual expense — from driving range fees, green fees, caddie fees, tips, club rentals to the price list of prominent golf courses — so you can confidently plan a suitable financial roadmap.

Is golf expensive? The reality of golf playing costs in Vietnam 2026

Golf used to be labeled a "sport for the rich" because of high initial investment barriers — a new set of clubs can cost hundreds of millions of dong. But in the last 5 years, numerous driving ranges have opened in central Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City at prices comparable to a gym session, along with individual club rental services and daily shoe rentals. Combined with the fact that booking agents like Wingolf have agent pricing policies 15% – 30% lower than walk-in prices, the actual cost to play 1 round of 18 holes has approached the level of common urban weekend spending.

How much does it cost to play golf for 1 hour? Distinguishing driving range and grass course

Need to clearly distinguish between the two types to avoid confusing costs. 

Driving range is charged by balls hit or by hour, beginners only spend 60,000 – 450,000 VND for 1 session of 100 balls. Meanwhile, the 18-hole course is charged by round — one round usually lasts 4-5 hours and the price always includes green fee + caddie + electric cart, ranging from 2,000,000 VND and up. The detailed driving range fee comparison table is in the golf driving range prices section below.

Golf playing costs for beginners: A-Z financial roadmap

Beginners shouldn't rush to buy a 50 million VND set of clubs and then go straight to the 18-hole course. The standard way is to divide it into 3 phases, total investment ranges from 15 – 90 million depending on commitment level. Detailed allocation table:

Money-saving tips from Wingolf: register for group classes of 2-3 people to get 10% – 15% off combo tuition. Don't rush to buy new clubs yet — an authentic used set from easy-to-hit lines (TaylorMade, Ping, Callaway) priced at 15-25 million is enough for the first 3-5 years. For green fees, book tee times through booking agents like Wingolf to enjoy 15% – 30% discount compared to walk-in prices.

Basic golf course costs and coach hire

Vietnamese coaches with PGA/VGAC certification range from 1,000,000 – 1,800,000 VND/hour. 10-session combo tuition is 10,000,000 – 22,000,000 VND. Foreign coaches (mainly Korean/Japanese) charge higher, from 2,500,000 VND/hour. Beginners should choose group class combos of 2-3 people — getting timely posture corrections while sharing costs.

Costs of attire, equipment, and initial accessories

• Leather gloves: from 250,000 VND — required, buy 2 pairs to rotate
• Spiked shoes: from 3,000,000 VND — most important after clubs, don't go cheap
• Golf shirt: 400,000 – 1,500,000 VND, choose moisture-wicking fabric
• Golf pants: 500,000 – 1,500,000 VND
• Cap/sunglasses: 300,000 – 800,000 VND

Golf club rental prices and on-course support equipment

If you don't want to invest in a club set yet, both driving ranges and 18-hole courses offer rental services. 

Individual club rental at range: 15,000 – 40,000 VND/club. 

Full club set rental at 18-hole course: 200,000 – 500,000 VND/set/day, depending on the course and club type. Some premium courses rent out new-line clubs (TaylorMade Stealth, Callaway Paradym) at 800,000 – 1,200,000 VND — suitable for foreign golfers on tour who don't bring a golf-travel case.

Mandatory fees when playing an 18-hole golf course

When booking an 18-hole tee time, the listed price usually already includes fixed costs. You need to understand each component to know what you're paying for.

What is a green fee? How course fees are calculated by time slot

Green fee is the mandatory fee for using the 18-hole course when playing. This accounts for 60-70% of the total cost per round. The fee varies greatly based on 4 factors:

• Weekdays (Mon–Fri): cheapest, always with promotional pricing
• Weekends (Sat, Sun) and holidays: 30-60% higher
• Twilight time slot (after 2:00 PM): 20-40% deep discount, cooler weather
• Night game: some courses have lighting, discounted price but only 9-12 holes playable

What is a caddie fee? Electric cart rental regulations and caddie fees

Caddie fee is the mandatory service fee paid to staff who carry clubs, help with directions, read greens, and clean balls. This fee is usually included in the course booking package (approximately 200,000 – 350,000 VND/round). Buggy/electric cart: Vietnamese courses require renting a buggy (150,000 – 400,000 VND/round), which can be shared between 2 people or used individually — individual use doubles the price. Most tee times at Wingolf already include caddie + buggy.

How much is a reasonable caddie tip in Vietnam?

Tipping caddies is a voluntary practice but in reality it's a de facto mandatory expense. According to current Vietnamese golf culture:

• 18-hole round on weekdays: 300,000 VND
• 18-hole round on weekends: 350,000 – 500,000 VND
• Thai caddie/VIP guests: 500,000 – 700,000 VND
• 9-hole round: 150,000 – 200,000 VND

Tip in cash, placed directly into the caddie's hand or in an envelope after the round ends. Avoid tipping via bank transfer as caddies don't receive it immediately.

Food and beverage costs at the Clubhouse and additional services

F&B at the clubhouse is always 30-50% higher than outside (e.g., soft drinks 50,000 VND, lunch 180,000 – 350,000 VND). 

Note: some golf course systems prohibit bringing outside food and drinks — violations incur a surcharge of 220,000 – 270,000 VND per item. Other fees: locker 50,000 VND, hot shower free, foot massage 200,000 – 400,000 VND if available.

Featured Golf Course Prices in Vietnam 2026

Below is a comparison table of 18-hole tee time booking prices at representative courses — divided by 3 regions and comparing walk-in prices vs. prices booked through an agent. All prices can be booked for tee time directly through Wingolf.

The table above only lists representative courses — Wingolf currently offers booking for 40+ golf courses nationwide, including Thanh Lanh Valley, Tam Dao, Long Bien, BRG Legend Hill, BRG Legend Da Nang, FLC Quy Nhon, Hoiana Shores. Contact the hotline +84 985 092 088 to receive today's tee-time quote.

How much does a golf driving range cost?

This is the "lightest" expense to start playing golf — comparable to a single gym session. Comparison table of driving range fees at typical facilities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City:

Don't miss the article Handbook for choosing a driving range for beginners and the list of driving ranges in Hanoi for a more comprehensive view.

Handbook for optimizing golf playing costs

Hunt for prime time and twilight tee-times

Teeing off after 2:00 PM twilight is always 20-40% cheaper than early morning, plus you get to play in cooler weather. Some courses offer night games under floodlights — priced at only 50% of weekday rates but limited to 9-12 holes. The early morning "prime" time slot (6:00 AM – 7:30 AM) is usually at standard rates, not cheap but comes with many perks from agents.

Benefits of booking through Wingolf booking agent

Wingolf commits to a large number of tee times with courses, so it benefits from agent rates that are 15% – 30% lower than walk-in rates. Individual customers booking through Wingolf enjoy this discount directly, plus additional services:

• Real-time tee-time availability support, no need to call the course in advance
• All-inclusive pricing: green fee + caddie + buggy + lunch
• Stay & play combo with hotels near the course
• Golf course shuttle from the city center (Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet areas)
• Assistance in choosing a course suitable for the golfer's skill level

Maximum savings with Stay & Play golf vacation combo

If you're planning a long-distance golf trip combined with a vacation, all-inclusive stay & play packages are typically 25-35% cheaper than booking each service separately. For example: the Tam Dao 2N1D or Hoiana Shores 2N1D combo — which includes 4-5 star hotel room + green fee + buggy + breakfast + airport transfer.

Is playing golf in Vietnam expensive compared to other countries?

Overall, golfing costs in Vietnam are significantly lower than in South Korea and Japan — the two main markets that send golf tourists to Vietnam:

Reasons Vietnam attracts Korean/Japanese golfers: year-round playable weather, green fees 50% cheaper, excellent caddies, fresh and affordable food. This is why Vietnam golf tours always have a stable international customer base.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the minimum cost to play golf for beginners?

The minimum budget is approximately 15,000,000 – 20,000,000 VND for the first 3 months. Including: 10-session course with a coach (10-18 million), driving range + ball rental fee (1-2 million/month), gloves, spiked shoes, and basic attire. This amount includes club rental at the driving range; no need to buy new clubs yet.

2. Does the green fee include the caddie?

Most courses in Vietnam and tee-times booked through Wingolf already include green fee + caddie fee + shared cart in the package. The caddie fee in the package is only the basic service fee; golfers still need to tip an additional 300,000 – 500,000 VND after the round.

3. What is a reasonable caddie tip in Vietnam?

Current practice: 300,000 VND/round on weekdays and 350,000 – 500,000 VND/round on weekends. Thai or full-service caddies can be tipped 500,000 – 700,000 VND. Tip in cash, handed directly after the round.

4. How much more expensive are weekend golf course rates compared to weekdays?

Weekend rates (Sat, Sun) and holidays are usually 30% – 60% higher than weekdays. For example, Montana is 2,250,000 VND on weekdays and 3,350,000 VND on weekends. Van Tri is 4,520,000 VND on weekdays and 6,370,000 VND on weekends. Resort courses like Vinpearl/FLC have smaller price differences; city courses have larger differences due to high demand.

5. Do beginners need to buy golf clubs?

Do not buy immediately. Beginners who have not yet established their swing strength and ball-striking habits may waste money purchasing new clubs for 50-100 million VND. It's best to start by renting clubs at the driving range (15,000 – 40,000 VND/club). After 2-3 months, once you're committed to the sport, buy a set of authentic used clubs from an easy-to-play line (TaylorMade, Ping, Callaway) priced at 7,000,000 – 20,000,000 VND.

6. How much does it cost to rent golf clubs?

At the driving range: 15,000 – 40,000 VND per individual club. At an 18-hole course: 200,000 – 500,000 VND per set per day (older line clubs). Premium courses with newer line clubs (TaylorMade Stealth, Callaway Paradym) charge 800,000 – 1,200,000 VND per set — suitable for foreign golfers on golf tours.

7. How is a driving range different from an 18-hole golf course?

A driving range is a place to hit balls toward flag poles/without actual holes, charged by ball or by hour, suitable for practicing swings. An 18-hole course is a real course with 18 holes, greens, fairways, and bunkers, charged per round and lasting 4-5 hours. Beginners should practice at the range for 2-3 months before playing 18 holes.

8. Should I register for a golf course membership?

Only invest in a membership if you play ≥ 2 times per week at the same course over many years. Memberships at FLC, BRG, Vinpearl range from 50,000,000 – 500,000,000 VND, in exchange for free or heavily discounted green fees. If you play 1-2 times per month, booking through an agency like Wingolf is much cheaper and offers the flexibility to switch courses.

9. Where can I book golf courses at good prices?

Book through an agency like Wingolf — enjoy agency rates 15-30% lower than walk-in, with real-time tee-time availability checks, all-inclusive quotes (green fee + caddie + cart), stay & play combos, and comprehensive golf tours. Hotline: +84 985 092 088.

10. Does Wingolf support tee time booking and provide quotes?

Yes. Wingolf supports checking tee-time availability, providing all-inclusive quotes, stay & play combos, transportation, and guidance on choosing a course suited to your skill level. Contact hotline/Zalo: +84 985 092 088 or email: booking@golfbookingtour.com.