What do you do with your old clubs after you get new ones?

[IAGolfDad]

What do you do with your old clubs after you get new ones? Do you keep them? Put them in a "retired" bag in the office or den? Sell them and put that money towards your new set?

Me personally I don't know what to do, my current set is my first set that really got me into golf and passionate about the sport again so I feel a weird attachment to them and don't want to let them go. But then again its money I could put towards a new set when I go get fitted. Am I alone or do you do the same? Curious to see everyone's thoughts.

Edited February 1 by IAGolfDad
Additional thoughts

[DiscipleofPenick]

I have my first set of irons from when I started golfing - MacGregor Muirfields, my dad's old persimmon MacGregor driver, and a Bullseye putter. My plan is to build a display cabinet for this set at some point. 

Otherwise, I never get rid of a putter, but everything else finds its way to eBay.

[barney_bogey]

My stepson wants to get into golf so he gets them. It was a selling point when I told the wife I wanted new sticks. If not for that, they'd be on Facebook marketplace right now.

B

[IAGolfDad]

24 minutes ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

I have my first set of irons from when I started golfing - MacGregor Muirfields, my dad's old persimmon MacGregor driver, and a Bullseye putter. My plan is to build a display cabinet for this set at some point. 

Otherwise, I never get rid of a putter, but everything else finds its way to eBay.

I like this idea! I have my first putter that I hope to eventually add to and build a collection over the years to display in my office.

[TSauer]

If I'm upgrading, I will typically just sell the current item and use those funds for the new items. I still have my first two putters and first fairway wood, but anything like irons, drivers, or wedges I will usually sell unless they have some sentimental value. I also tend to hoard putters if a new one ever makes its way into my hands. 

[IAGolfDad]

8 minutes ago, barney_bogey said:

My stepson wants to get into golf so he gets them. It was a selling point when I told the wife I wanted new sticks. If not for that, they'd be on Facebook marketplace right now.

B

That definitely helps! I feel like if I tell my wife Im selling my old clubs it will make the conversation easier for the new clubs 

[barney_bogey]

That definitely helps! I feel like if I tell my wife Im selling my old clubs it will make the conversation easier for the new clubs 

I'll tell you what really made it easy! I showed her the T200 prices and the P790 prices. When I decided on the Takomos, she saw the price and thought it a steal.

Jokes on her, the difference goes to wedges and lessons.

[IAGolfDad]

9 minutes ago, TSauer said:

If I'm upgrading, I will typically just sell the current item and use those funds for the new items. I still have my first two putters and first fairway wood, but anything like irons, drivers, or wedges I will usually sell unless they have some sentimental value. I also tend to hoard putters if a new one ever makes its way into my hands. 

I think thats the way Im going to have to go. Especially with the prices of new clubs now a days and I should still be able to get a decent return on my old PXGs considering I got them for $200 on marketplace cause a guy just didnt like them after a few rounds.

[Wib081]

2 hours ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

I have my first set of irons from when I started golfing - MacGregor Muirfields, my dad's old persimmon MacGregor driver, and a Bullseye putter. My plan is to build a display cabinet for this set at some point. 

Otherwise, I never get rid of a putter, but everything else finds its way to eBay.

My aunt has my Spaulding Tour Editions from the early 90’s. Steel shafted Burner tour preferred 5 wood is at my in-laws condo in Florida and gets broken out every spring break, and I also have my bullseye still. Heavy Flange was the model my dad gave me and I still use it once in a while when the mood strikes me 

[Bossfan]

I keep a backup/ travel bag. When I replace something in my gamer bag that goes in my backup bag and whatever gets knocked out of the backup bag gets traded in.

[Dweed]

My first was a set of Ram's I bought when I was on my first assignment after getting commissioned.  I gave that set to my step son. Next set I gave to my nephew. I have a back up set for travel and my gamers. At my age not sure it is worth buying a new set. If I need to get rid of any I've been donating to 1st Tee or other local junior golf groups.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I am a gifter. I will usually hold on to my current and the set that was before it. If a new set comes in then my son (22) gets set 3 and his set goes to my daughter (20). She is an athlete, on the taller side and plays men’s clubs. Her old set usually gets donated to someone looking to get into golf. 
I have probably given away 6 or 7 sets over the years. 
Clubs depreciate so quickly that it’s usually not worth trying to sell them. I rather give them to someone less fortunate.

[CFreddie]

Same @Tom the Golf Nut - I’ve got friends and family that are starting to learn the game, so I’m usually giving away any extra clubs to them.  My dad did the same for me - in fact, I never bought a club until 2021

[ParFore74x]

The set that I’m currently using is my third set. I still have my first set and traded my second set in towards the current ones. Assuming that there are no emotional attachments to a set of clubs, selling or trading them in seems logical. Although, I do like the way that @Tom the Golf Nut approaches past sets. That’s a cool idea. 

[Josh Parker]

I trade mine in every time. Other than some wedges that fit different gaps, I don't have any spares. 

Currently I have an old 3 wood that I would give to someone because it's trade value is $15, I have a set of wedges and a couple driver shafts that I was trying out and plan to sell soon. 

[Wib081]

I wish I could trade in or sell of my old stuff to finance my club addiction but 2 of my boys that golf are righty’s so no trading for this guy 

[hadley435]

Considering the attachment dallas personal trainer you may have to your first set of golf clubs, how do you typically handle them when upgrading to a new set? Are you inclined to keep them as a memento or place them in a designated 'retired' bag, or do you opt to sell them to offset the expenses of acquiring a new, upgraded set?

Edited February 3 by hadley435

[WaffleHouseTour]

Give them to the pro at my club to be given to a coach or a kid on the high school teams who may need them. Have two high schools that practice at our course and though I complain about them beating up the range there is always a kid I’m sure can use something they otherwise can’t afford. 

[brogies]

It depends on the situation. I've given a few older wedges to friends just getting into golf. Donated some to First Tee where I volunteer. And then also trade them in when I get a new club. 

[Parshooter36]

I almost always sell or trade in whatever I am replacing to help fund the new purchace.  

[Hacker60521]

1 hour ago, Parshooter36 said:

I almost always sell or trade in whatever I am replacing to help fund the new purchace.  

@Parshooter36 do you trade in locally or use an online store like 2ndswing? 

[Parshooter36]

1 hour ago, Hacker60521 said:

@Parshooter36 do you trade in locally or use an online store like 2ndswing? 

I have traded in to 2nd Swing and Global Golf.  I try and wait till they run a promotion where they give you a bonus percentage on your trade.  Otherwise, the trade in values can be very low.  

[Emag315]

I keep 2 sets so I have a set for friends that come to visit if they don’t want to travel with their clubs. When I get a new set, 1 set is sold to someone in a group I play with  or sold on FB Marketplace

Edited February 5 by Emag315
Spelling

[Golf2Much]

I tend to keep a set of regular and senior irons and woods for when people come down to visit, want to play golf but don't want to bring their clubs.  I have my original set of original Ping Eye2 irons (square grooves and all 1 iron through lob wedge with a Be Cu sand wedge) that I keep for sentimental reasons.  I guess the same can be said about the original Callaway Big Bertha driver I have too (it seems so small by today's standards).   

I typically don't get rid of my putters.  I always tell my putter in play that they always could be replaced.  With having eight around, it knows I'm serious. 

Other than the above, I give clubs to people who want to learn to play.  

[ButchE]

On 2/1/2024 at 7:48 PM, Dweed said:

My first was a set of Ram's I bought when I was on my first assignment after getting commissioned.  I gave that set to my step son. Next set I gave to my nephew. I have a back up set for travel and my gamers. At my age not sure it is worth buying a new set. If I need to get rid of any I've been donating to 1st Tee or other local junior golf groups.

Excellent. If you like working with your hands, you may like refurbishing clubs. I buy/ refurb/donate to 1st tee/ local tournaments. Its' a win/win for golf.

[Bluesman57]

+1 on clubs depreciating faster than a new car. 

When I was shopping for new clubs  4 years ago, I asked about how much the shop would offer me for trading in my old set.  I was insulted by a ridiculously low number, so much so, that I just walked out of the shop.  As I told the manager, I'd rather donate my clubs to a good cause than to you.  So they went to a local program, which is similar to First Tee in that it's goal is to open up the game of golf to kids that otherwise would not be able to afford their own clubs.  I also tried to sell some newer clubs here in the MGS forum, but didn't get a single reply in a couple of weeks.  Those also got donated.

Edited February 6 by Bluesman57

[Wu1f]

I would have liked to donate them to the local school, but they're just too old to be of much use, so probably one of the places that buy used clubs.

[cnosil]

I am typically a sell/trade to fund a new purchase.   

[russtopherb]

It depends on the club. I tend to give my son first dibs on pretty much everything that's leaving my bag. If it's a club that I've had success with, I'll hold onto it in my backup bag in case things go sideways with the newer club. If it's a club I'm replacing because I've found much better performance with it's replacement, it's usually sold or traded in. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Really depends, but it varies between keeping or selling. Depends on the club but there are several that I just keep to keep. I like golf clubs and some of the nostalgia or history with some of them. I have a bunch of Nike golf clubs back in Canada still.