New golf promo: Use Choice points to pay for tee times, earn points and more
If you're a duffer, you're probably always on the lookout for ways to maximize points and miles for your golf outings and earn loyalty currency to use on future trips. Choice Privileges may have just what you've been looking for in its Golf by Choice program. You can earn and use points on gear for your game as well as tee times and even earn points for using a golf-training app.
Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more travel tips
Here's what you need to know about Golf by Choice.
Book a tee time on points or earn points
Since you're golfing anyway, why not earn points for each tee time? Just log into Golf by Choice using your Choice Privileges credentials and you can book tee times at local courses or just about anywhere in the world.
You can earn up to 10 Choice Privileges points for each booking. When you see a course and tee time option that you like, click to add it to your cart and you'll then see the number of points you'll earn. For example, when I selected an $89 tee time at the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort in Palm Springs, the shopping cart indicated I'd earn 7 points. I also checked a $29 tee time at the same course and the number of points earned would also be 7.
So, unless you golf all the time, you won't earn a landslide of points but even a handful is better than none and can add up and be useful for future redemptions. Don't forget that Choice Hotels has some attractive all-inclusive resorts starting at 25,000 points per night. You may be able to find one close to your favorite golf courses.
Alternatively, you can use your Choice points to pay for your tee times. At the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort, the pay with points option ranges from 9,667 to 29,667 points, depending on tee time. In this case, afternoon golfing is cheaper than late-morning bookings.
Earn or use points on golf gear
At the Golf by Choice website, you also have the option of purchasing a variety of items that are essential to up your golf game.
You can buy golf clubs and balls, shoes, bags, clothes and accessories, like a cute golden doodle golf head cover. You can earn thousands of points for things like complete golf club sets (5,000 Choice Privileges points for an 11-piece Callaway Solaire women's set, for example) or earn 120 points for that head cover.
Or, use your Choice points to pay for merchandise. That same head cover costs 9,997 Choice points.
Use an app to improve your golf skills and earn points
Finally, you can earn 1,000 Choice Privileges points when you buy an annual membership to the Tathata Golf Training Courses app. The annual membership costs $200 when billed annually. TPG values Choice Privileges points at 0.6 cents each, so the bonus points are worth $60. It probably only makes sense to invest in the app if you are interested in actually using it to improve your game.
The annual subscription offers 200 hours of coaching from a variety of golf professionals. The training program includes tips for both your mind and body. The app includes unlimited streaming of all video content, the ability to download videos for offline viewing and access to live online training.
Bottom line
Choice is a program that TPG considers undervalued. You can often buy discounted Choice points directly through the hotelier or during special events like the U.S. Travel Association's annual Daily Getaways promotion. Or, you can sign up for the Choice Privileges Visa Card to get a 32,000-point bonus for spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. (The information for the Choice Privileges Visa Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.)
If you're planning a golf trip -- especially somewhere with pricey tee times -- it might make sense to stock up on Choice points and then use them to book your games. You will need to crunch the numbers in your specific case to determine if you'll save money going this route.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.