So You’re Going on a Golf Bachelor Party. Here’s Everything You Need to Know

The social pressure to attend a group gathering and participate in its stated activity can be quite anxiety-inducing. If you aren’t a golfer but find yourself invited to a bachelor party where golf is set to feature heavily in the daily agenda (there’s not much else to do in Scottsdale but golf, eat, and drink), you’re likely twitching at the thought of positing yourself into a culture that from the outside appears staunch and quite exclusive – not to mention expensive as hell. To be sure, golf can be all of those things. But it doesn’t have to be, and whether or not you’re tight with the rest of the bachelor group, the good news is that planning for and participating in a golf-themed bachelor party is actually much easier than it appears.

Heading on a golf trip? Check out Matador’s guides to golf travel:

• Golf Fan? The Indoor TGL League and Its SoFi Center Make for a Great Trip
• A Lit Course and Glowing Golf Balls Make Arizona the Country’s Top Night Golf Destination
• The Coolest Airbnbs in Scottsdale for a Golf-Themed Bachelor Party
• 14 Scottsdale Airbnbs With Pools for a Southwestern Escape
• This Stunning Hotel Couples Luxury With Community at the Base of Scottsdale’s Camelback Mountain
• The Best Airbnbs in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a Bachelorette Party
• 9 Audubon Golf Courses That Prove Golf Can Be Sustainable
• A Golf Guide to Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches, and Neighborhoods

It’s easier to dress for the golf course than you think

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If you’ve watched golf on TV, you know the wardrobe – flexy, sporty polo shirt, khakis or Bermuda shorts, golf shoes, and a hat embroidered with the logo of a super-expensive course or a famous golf brand. Non-golfers certainly don’t own a pair of golf shoes or likely even a typical “golf polo.” Calloway hat? No chance. The good news is you may not need to rush out to the nearest Dick’s Sporting Goods to get set up.

Any polo or button-down shirt will do, as the golf dress code generally calls only for a “collared shirt.” Tennis shoes or other athletic shoes will walk the course as well as golf shoes – just don’t bring your football cleats as the goal is to keep the grassy green and fairway nice and pretty. That boat hat sitting in the back of your closet – or really any hat with a brim to block the sun – outta do just fine.

One thing to note is that your pants or shorts should feature large pockets. You’ll want to carry two or three golf balls in there throughout the round in case you lose your shot. Tees are also necessary at the start of each hole. Golf involves a lot of twisting at the waist, so don’t wear overly-tight pants – but most anything that looks decent and isn’t a pair of jeans or cargo shorts will be welcome.

You can rent or borrow everything you need

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Another thing to note about golf is that it’s an expensive hobby. Greens fees – the cost to play a round – can run anywhere from $20 at a small par 3 course to north of $100 at higher-end public courses. If your crew is “fortunate” enough to gain access to a private or country club course, expect to pay even more than that.

Those prices are before equipment like clubs, tees, and golf balls are considered. It’s not uncommon to spend more than $800 on a set of clubs. Fortunately, this is where you can get a break. Unless you plan to make golf a continued part of your life once this bachelor party is over, there’s no need to drop that kind of money. You can typically rent clubs from the course(s) you play at or from a local retailer for between $15 and $50 per round, or a bit more if you playing multiple rounds. If the bachelor party is in Scottsdale, for example, Traveling Caddy rents clubs that you can keep for the duration of your trip. In South Florida, Florida Golf Club Rental does the same thing. These rentals can include golf balls, tees, and greens repair tools, so you can literally show up to the trip empty handed without having to worry.

If your crew is playing a Par 3 course where the holes are short and a full set of clubs isn’t required, all you really need is a nine iron, a wedge (like a pitching wedge or sand wedge) or “chipper” as they’re often called, and a putter. Many exclusively Par 3 courses have these available for golfers to use – call ahead to make sure. While you may be able to borrow these clubs from a buddy, most courses have a policy stating that each golfer has their own equipment, so unless your buddy has extras they can bring, you may be out of luck.

It’s more about the camaraderie than the actual golfing

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Lastly, while golf can be an intimidating sport to jump into – especially when you’re surrounded by experienced players – in the context of a bachelor party it’s mostly a social activity. There’s plenty of time for banter, side bets, beer drinking, and general camaraderie on the course. Only about half of golfers ever play under 100 strokes in a round, despite the stated par for an 18-hole course generally being 72.

You’re there to celebrate your buddy getting married – and that should remain the priority. Don’t stress over the golf. You’re going to make some bad shots, but so is everyone else. Laugh it off and raise a toast.