If your concerned about $$$, then golf is not the past time for ya. See, Golf has this way of creating a "fever". 20 bucks for a driving range becomes 80 bucks because your going 4 or 5 times a week to get better. Then you find out you can't get better on your own so you take lessons, 1000 bucks. Beginner clubs 250 bucks, but then you gotta have the latest driver, 450 bucks. and better golf balls too, 30 bucks a dozen, 50 if your getting PRo V1, then you have to upgrade your irons, 800 bucks, and the bag, (gotta look good), 250 bucks, shoes are around 100 bucks, and then there is all the clothes you'll need. All this time you have to play at rel golf courses too, so thats 50 bucks each round, and that's for " ok" courses. Here in Florida, we have 1800 golf courses, Bay Hill will set you back 275 bucks, and that's with an invite, ( It's a private course.)
I haven't even mentioned going into custom clubs and practicing in a Launch monitor.
If you wanna play golf, go in it with the idea that it's just fun. I went for my PGA card 2 years ago. I missed it by 2 strokes. I play as often as I can, but after opening my shop, I haven't had alot of time lately to play. I got down to a +1 handicap. But now I haven't stepped foot on a golf course in about 3 months.
So remember, to play golf is fun, to be good at it is commitment, with lots of practice. LOTS of practice. If you can stay on top of the expenses, and not have to have the best equipment, and all that, then the costs can stay manageable.