Those of us living in Europe are blessed that access to our finest golf courses is pretty straightforward. All courses on The Open rota are available to be played by anyone with a handicap and there are only a few courses where access is nigh on impossible for the average golfer.
This is in huge contrast to many of the best courses in the USA where access is often only with a member’s introduction or a with a member present.
Nonetheless, there are several courses in the UK and Europe that have a reputation for being hard or impossible to play. There remains a handful of truly exclusive courses in Europe where there are few, if any, known ways to get a tee time which I’ll cover next time. But, with a bit of digging, there are routes in to some. This article covers how to play these courses. I must warn you though, the costs can be eye-wateringly expensive.
This list features some of the most spectacular golf in the continent so, even if you don’t think you’ll ever make it there to to play, enjoy the photos!
ARDFIN (click on title for my review)
For some time after the retired hedge fund owner, Greg Coffey, built his fantasy golf course on the Isle of Jura, off the west coast of Scotland, it was unclear whether anyone would see the course other than him and his friends. But in early 2020 it was announced that the course would be available to the public.
The Course
Australian architect Bob Harrison has created a cliff top course on a spectacular piece of land which thrills from beginning to end. It has yet to establish itself in the world rankings because it’s been played by so few, but those who have been are raving about the experience. Expect to see it appearing in the World Top 100 lists soon.
How to play Ardfin
In order to play at Ardfin you need to stay in the onsite accommodation. The ‘cheapest’ way to do that is to book one of the 13 rooms at arorund £1,600, which includes all of your golf.
There are other options as well if you fancy pushing the boat out. For small groups wanting a little more privacy, 4-bedroom apartments are available for £6,000 a night. For the ultimate though why not book Jura House? It has 10 bedrooms and a swimming pool, shooting gallery and golf simulator. The only catch is the three night minimum stay which will set you back a mere £72,000…!!
Ardfin is clearly a high-end experience but the standard of both accommodation and golf appears to be something pretty special. I was lucky enough to get to Ardfin last year so you can my review and see my video here.
CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO
The stunning Castiglion del Bosco project is the brainchild of Italian fashion scion, Massimo Ferragamo. It sits at the heart of a luxuriously restored Tuscan wine estate built on a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Italy may not be famed for its golf but this is one of the very highest quality, and most exclusive, golf resorts anywhere in the world.
The Course
The course was designed by American Tom Weiskopf who has form designing golf courses for the rich and famous – Loch Lomond being another in his portfolio. Those who have played here talk about the sheer beauty and serenity of the setting, with the course presented immaculately. By all reports this isn’t a course that will beat you up but rather one to be enjoyed by golfers of all standards. Having said that, it does feature the longest hole in Europe – the 685 yard (!) par 5 13th – which will test even the longest hitters in the world.
How to Play Castiglion del Bosco
Castiglion del Bosco is only played by around 40 golfers a day. It is open to members, their guests and residents at the spectacular onsite accommodation. There are a 20 suites and 14 villas available and the reviews of the lodgings are pretty phenomenal. Expect to pay around €1,100 a night for the entry level accommodation with another €250 on top for the golf.
LOCH LOMOND
Loch Lomond is a private members course which can lay claim to being the only truly exclusive club in Scotland. To play here you need to be accompanied by a member, and with a joining fee of £100,000 they are few and far between.
The Course
I've been lucky enough to play Loch Lomond twice and was blown away by the setting and the quality of the experience. I don’t think I have ever played a parkland golf course with a more inspiring setting than Loch Lomond. The front 9 is largely set by the loch before turning to a more parkland area for most of the back 9, returning to the water for the spectacular finish. For me, Loch Lomond offers the best non-links golf in Scotland.
How to Play Loch Lomond
If you don’t know a member then I have only found one other way onto Loch Lomond. Every year the charity Variety has a golf event here – usually at the beginning of September. There are limited places but expect to pay around £5,000 for three of you. For that you will have a round at Loch Lomond with a rugby legend, a night’s accommodation and all catering, including an awards dinner. It’s clearly expensive but this course is well worth seeing and you will be raising some money for charity at the same time.
MORFONTAINE
Morfontaine is unquestionably the number 1 golf course in Continental Europe. Within an hour of central Paris you will find one of the most exclusive and enchanting golf clubs anywhere in the world. It is famed for being one of the very hardest tee times to get in golf.
The Course
Morfontaine is home to 2 courses - the Valiere, a 9 hole course, and the Grand Parcours, opened in 1927. The courses are designed by the Englishman Tom Simpson and if you make it to Morfontaine you must play both. The architecture here is, in many ways, reminiscent of the great Surrey heathland courses, but with an intimacy due to the forest that you find in few places. It is simply a delight.
How to Play Morfontaine
This is one of the very toughest tee times to land. John Sabino, who has played the world’s top 100 courses, talks amusingly here of the challenges he had securing a time. Normally you can only play if accompanied by a member who are predominantly members of the French establishment.
However, there is a company which provides golf tours of the Paris area, including Morfontaine. There are several other really interesting courses to play in the area and Private Golf Key will sort out your golf, accommodation and fine dining. However, expect to pay several thousand Euros for a such a trip.
SKIBO CASTLE – THE CARNEGIE CLUB
The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle may be the biggest secret in British golf. Golf World have it ranked 21st in their UK & Ireland list, while the latest National Club Golfer ranking has it in position 13. Just think about that a minute, a course few have heard of and even fewer have played ranks above the likes of Sunningdale, Kingbarns and Ballybunion. At the heart of the uber-exclusive Skibo Castle estate, there is a way to play The Carnegie Club.
The Course
The Carnegie Club opened in 1995, a Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie creation. However, since the property changed hands in 2003 the course has been significantly changed. Gorse has been removed, bunkers rivetted and new holes added. The course plays as a traditional Scottish links, with the last eight holes all close to the nearby loch. At Skibo the exclusivity is matched only by the quality of the golf.
How to play Skibo Castle
Skibo Castle is a private members’ residence. The membership is largely international with members arriving by private jet from all over the world – it’s a millionaire’s playground and they like to keep it a secret. However, from the beginning of June until the end of September, there is one tee time at 9am every day reserved for a visitor’s fourball.
For £350 a person you can tee it up and have the millionaire experience. It may seem steep but your green-fee includes on course refreshments (from the steward’s cart as well as the well stocked half-way house) and a three course lunch of the very highest calibre.
THE RENAISSANCE CLUB
Building a modern course between Muirfield and North Berwick was quite an ask but one which Tom Doak relished when he created The Renaissance. This is an unashamed high-end experience. The American owners have created a club with a small membership and a high price tag. However, despite its reputation, getting tee times is relatively straightforward.
The Course
Doak was asked to build a course fit for modern tournament play and he delivered just that. This isn’t a quirky traditional-style Scottish Links course. Instead, expect to hit long carries from the tee with tricky greens in places. In recent years the farirways have been narrowed to add to the challenge. Nevertheless, the pros still ‘went low’ when the Scottish Open visited in 2019 as the benign conditions took away the normal defences.
How to Play The Renaissance Club
The Renaissance Club has a ‘One Time Experience’ which allows you to play the course (and stay if you would like). It’s all a bit convoluted but the cost is either £300 or £480 per person, depending which day of the week you book for. You can also stay at the lodging onsite which may include multiple plays in your package.
There is one other way for locals. As part of the deal to host the Scottish Open the club has made limited winter tee times available to Scottish golfers for a mere £70. If you are a member of a Scottish golf course then you can access these times on Monday and Wednesdays from November to March. Details are here.
TWO HONOURABLE MENTIONS
When canvassing on Twitter for exclusive, hard-to-play courses, two names came up several times - Swinley Forest and Muirfield. Both of these are open, and welcoming to visitors.
For Muirfield all of the information is on the website. You can book to play on Tuesdays and Thursdays and, from 2021, on Mondays too.
Swinley Forest used to be playable by interview only (!) but it’s a lot easier now and most the details are here apart from the price – expect to pay around £200 for your round.
So there you have it, some of the most exclusive golf courses in Europe which you can play with a little planning and a big bank balance. Next time I’ll be writing about the truly exclusive courses in the UK and Europe. Those may take a little more ingenuity to play!