Do Golf Courses Earn a Bonus?
How golf spending codes
A public golf course rings up under a golf or recreation category code, and a private country club under a membership-club code, neither of which is a standard bonus bucket like dining or travel. So most cards earn their base rate on greens fees and dues. The pro shop and any on-site restaurant may code separately, as retail or dining. The framework is in what is a bonus category.
Perks instead of a category
Rather than a golf earning bonus, some premium and business cards offer golf-related perks, like discounted tee times or a statement credit toward a golf membership or an app. Those benefits can be worth more than any earn rate if you golf often, so check your card’s benefits before assuming there is nothing there.
The best card for golfers
Since greens fees rarely earn extra, a solid flat-rate card is the most reliable earner across the course, the range, and the pro shop. Value the points at a flat 1 cent and compare the all-purpose options in our best cash back cards guide. On-course dining still earns a dining bonus if the restaurant codes separately.
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