In the late 19th century, when the American golf scene was still in its infancy, a Scottish pro named Willie Campbell – who’d immigrated to Massachusetts to be a pro at the Country Club of Brookline – had a novel idea.
Make the sport accessible to the masses.
He successfully petitioned the city of Boston to build a course at Franklin Park, creating an affordable way for all the world and not just the upper class to fall in love with the sport.
If he could see us now. True, we have public courses aplenty, but the greens fees? We live in an age where a $100 round is considered average.
If only someone could do what Indy Pass (https://www.indyskipass.com/) has done for skiing. IndyPass has successfully taken on the huge hurdle of expense in skiing, offering skiers hundreds of ski days at spots around the world for under $400 a season. The result has been astonishing; IndyPass sells out fast each season, and the ski areas they partner with have experienced exponential increases in crowds and profits.
What say you, golf world?
Actually, there are programs like Indy Pass in the golf world. And while they may not (yet) have the breadth of offerings that Indy Pass has for skiing, they offer a more affordable way to get plenty of rounds of golf in each season.
Like Indy Pass, they require forward thinking (and spending; you are putting out cash for the ability to spend less as you play). Most sell out quickly, meaning you’ll need to set a calendar reminder to be ready to grab your deal when the new season’s programs open for sale.
But other than that, the programs seem solid. They offer you decent discounts on rounds and other golf needs, give you access to book tee times at spots you may not always get access to, and best of all, give you ideas for great golf courses to check out. It’s like an automated course-to-play bucket list.
Consider adding one or more of these to your future golf plans.
New England Golf Golden Passport: A super hot commodity, the Golden Passport goes on sale in the fall and sells out fast, for good reason.
Created and organized by the New England Golf Course Owners Association (https://www.negcoa.org/) the Golden Passport came in at $399 this season and offered golfers 27 discount coupons for play – and you can bring as many as four players total.
There are rules such as windows of time to book, and carts are not included in the discount price. Courses are all across Massachusetts along with a handful in abutting states participate.
The super cool part is how the association keeps it affordable: Each course donates a number of rounds for the program. That’s not just good for our wallets; it’s good for our sport.
Northeast Golf Club: How about a golf bundle that includes tickets to the annual Northeast Golf Show (March 13-15, 2026 at the Field House at Gillette Stadium), a subscription to Northeast Golf Magazine, a towel tag for your bag and access to deep discounts at dozens of regional courses, all for just $65?
The courses are all over New England, and your discount includes you and your partner or foursome. In some cases, you can play 18 for as little as $30.
You also get access to special events and contests. But with all the savings, you can spring for that fairway wood you’ve been pining for.
New England Golf Guide: It’s a guide! It’s a book! It’s a carry-with-you golf savings plan! The New England Golf Guide (https://www.newenglandgolfguide.com/) is a fantastic resource that every golfer should have.
You’ll find detailed and easy to understand (and trust!) course reviews, maps that not only help you on play day but are great to peruse pre-play, and all kinds of listings of all kinds of golf categories.
But best of all, the guide is chock full of deals with over $5,000 in coupons for play and products alike. It’s as vital a tool as your pitch mark repair tool. (You are repairing your green marks, right?)
For sure, golf isn’t cheap and access may not be as open to all as Campbell dreamed, but with products like this and a little planning, it’s doable.
