Last year I wrote about the significant increase in green fee prices in the UK over the last 20 years, and questioned whether the lack of international visitors due to COVID would mean that clubs had to look again at their pricing structures. One year on, what has happened?
Well, let’s start with the question of green fees themselves. My hypothesis was that many domestic golfers just wouldn’t be willing to pay the high rates, so clubs would have to cut their prices to entice in those golfers to make up the lost international revenue. How naïve I was!
In fact, of the top 100 clubs, 60 of them have increased their green fees since last year - by an average of 9.8%. This is less a typical year would see though, in 2020 more than 90% increased their rates. Overall the cost of playing all of the top 100 has gone up 5.1% this year.
I have surveyed the top 100 courses in the UK where green fee play is possible (so no Loch Lomond etc) and for the first part of this analysis I have used the top rate - often the weekend charge.
There are a few new trends which should be noted this year.
Firstly, the biggest price hikes have come in the less high-profile clubs. The majority of the top-ranked courses have held their prices this year. This is probably because they are the ones that get the most international visitors and are therefore hurting the most.
However, the further down the list you go, the more increases you see. These courses are more likely to have a lot of member play meaning that they may not want too many visitors given the pressure on tee time availability. You get the impression that some of these courses don’t really want any visitors this year, but they’ll get every penny they can from those who do get through!
The highest risers are Brora (up 32% to £125), Southerness (up 29% to £90) and The Addington (up 25% to £125).
Another trend is the local discount. Kingsbarns started it a few years ago and it has really caught on, particularly in Scotland. Some places, like Castle Stuart and Dumbarnie, give discounts for Scottish players only, others like Prestwick and Brora include anyone from the UK.
Sometimes residency is enough, sometimes you need to be a member of a golf club. Panmure is an odd one. They have jacked the prices up by £40, to £145 a round, over the last 2 years but Scottish and English players get a discount. I wonder what the Welsh and Northern Irish did to upset them?!
Personally I think this approach isn’t great. It looks like clubs are fleecing tourists and that will leave a bad taste in the mouth. This was the model in Australia when I went there a few years ago, I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now!
Another trend is of some clubs charging a lower rate per player depending on how many players there are. For example, take Gailes Links, on the Ayrshire coast. If you book an afternoon tee time for one player, it’s £100, book for four players and it’s £220. As someone who plays quite a lot of singles golf that does feel a little unfair. The argument would be that singles bring less revenue than a fourball but, from what I can see, the tee sheet has plenty of times available, so I’m not sure that holds up.
However, 38 courses have held the prices with last year and two have actually cut them. Congrats to Machrihanish Dunes and Moray for that!
There has also been a significant increase in the number of special deals, aimed at bringing golfers in at a good rate without dropping the headline price.
But be warned. 2022 is already looking like a year of record increases. Several high profile clubs have already announced big rises. The supply of St Andrews tee times will also be limited as the course is closed for 6 weeks before the Open and times will be more scarce than ever. Combine that with so much pent up demand from international players - particularly Americans - and expect green fees to continue their inexorable rise this year.
But, for now, here is a list of all the deals I could find for the top 100 courses in 2021. This could be the summer to get out there before normal business is resumed!
1. ROYAL COUNTY DOWN (click for my review)
Green fee - £280 (same as 2020)
No special deals
2. TRUMP TURNBERRY
2021 Green fee - £395 (same as 2020)
Special Deals - £199 per person for tee times after 3pm, until end June
3. ST ANDREWS - THE OLD COURSE
2021 Green fee - £195 (same as 2020)
Special Deals - The Old Tom packages give guaranteed availability on The Old Course along with a meal and gifts. From £450 pp.
Details here
4. MUIRFIELD
2021 Green fee - £285 (£15 more than 2020)
Special Deals until end June -
£195 for a fourball round per person or £285 per person for 1* fourball and 1* foursome
£250 for a round at Muirfield and a round at Goswick
Juniors with a handicap 18 or under play free
Details here
5. ROYAL PORTRUSH
2021 Green fee - £240 (same as 2020)
Special deal - £500 a fourball, for Golf Ireland members
Details here
6. ROYAL DORNOCH
2021 Green fee - £210 (£15 more than 2020)
Special deals -
25% discount for Scottish Golf Club members
Twilight rates available at £125
Details here
7. CARNOUSTIE
2021 Green fee - £270 (£18 more than 2020)
Special deals - 50% off for Angus residents
8. ROYAL BIRKDALE
2021 Green fee - £275 (same as 2020)
Special deals - Meal packages available
9. ROYAL ST GEORGE’S
2021 Green fee - £250 (same as 2020)
No special deals
10 & 11 SUNNINGDALE OLD AND NEW
2021 Green fee - £275 (same as 2020)
Special deals - Play both courses for £425
Details here
12. KINGSBARNS
2021 Green fee - £328 (£16 more than 2020)
Special deal - 50% off for Scottish Golf Members
13. ROYAL LYTHAM & ST ANNES
2021 Green fee - £280 (£15 more than 2020)
No special deals
14. WOODHALL SPA
2021 Green fee - £114 (£15 more than 2020)
Special deals -
£110 for England Golf members
Twilight rates available at £80
Details here
15. NORTH BERWICK
2021 Green fee £175 (£15 more than 2020)
Special deal -
£130 for Scottish Golf members
Twilight rates available at £105
Details here
16. TRUMP INTERNATIONAL
2021 Green fee £305 (£10 more than 2020)
£25 discount for UK residents
17. ROYAL TROON
2021 Green fee £260 (same as 2020)
No special deals
18. ROYAL LIVERPOOL
2021 Green fee £250 (same as 2020)
Special deal - £151 to play on one of three ‘Open Days’. Play the Open course, with breakfast, refreshments and gift
Details here
19. CASTLE STUART
2021 Green fee £235 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - £120 for Scottish golf members
Details here
20. WALTON HEATH (OLD)
2021 Green fee £220 (same as 2020)
No special deals
21. ROYAL PORTHCAWL
2021 Green fee £165 (£5 more than 2020)
Special deals -
Weekday green fee (£150) includes breakfast or lunch
Twilight rate is £105
22. ROYAL ABERDEEN
2021 Green fee £195 (same as 2020)
No special deals
23. ST GEORGE’S HILL
2021 Green fee £195 (£10 more than 2020)
No special deals
24. GANTON
2021 Green fee £150 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deals -
£100 with English golf county card
Twilight rate is £80
25. GLENEAGLES (KING’S)
2021 Green fee £200 (£60 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight fourball rates £120 pp after 3pm, £72.50 pp after 4pm
Details here
26. ST ENODOC
2021 Green fee £110 (same as 2020)
No special deals
27. CRUDEN BAY
2021 Green fee £160 (same as 2020)
No special deals
28. WESTERN GAILES
2021 Green fee £185 (same as 2020)
Special deals -
£125pp or £460 for a fourball for Scottish residents
£145pp or £530 for a fourball for residents of the rest of the UK
Details here
29. WEST SUSSEX
2021 Green fee £110 (same as 2020)
No special deals
30. CARNEGIE CLUB AT SKIBO
2021 Green fee £350 (same as 2020)
31. ALWOODLEY
2021 Green fee £125 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Stay Sunday night in a hotel and play Alwoodley and Moortown for £230
32. PRESTWICK
2021 Green fee £240 (£20 more than 2020)
Special deals - £145 weekdays, £160 weekends for UK residents
Details here
33. ROYAL CINQUE PORTS
2021 Green fee £175 (£5 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate is £110
Details here
34. DUMBARNIE LINKS
2021 Green fee £258 (£23 more than 2020)
Special deal - £125 for Scottish residents
Details here
35. FORMBY
2021 Green fee £205 (£20 more than 2020)
No special deals
36. BURNHAM AND BERROW
2021 Green fee £155 (same as 2020)
Special deals -
£80 with County Card, midweek after 2:30pm
£260 for 1 night in the dormy house, dinner, breakfast and 2 rounds of golf
Details here
37. SAUNTON EAST
2021 Green Fee £110 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - twilight rate £70
Details here
38. HOLINWELL (NOTTS)
2021 Green Fee £130 (same as 2020)
No special deals
39. ROYAL WEST NORFOLK
2021 Green Fee £130
No special deals
40. HILLSIDE
2021 Green Fee £220 (£10 more than 2020)
No special deals
41. THE BERKSHIRE (RED)
2021 Green Fee £250 (£20 more than 2020)
No special deals
42. NAIRN
2021 Green fee £190 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deals -
UK rate - £380 per fourball
Weekday twilight rate - £160
Play Nairn and Nairn Dunbar for £210
Details here
43. SILLOTH
2021 Green Fee £75 (£5 more than 2020)
No special deals
44. HANKLEY COMMON
2021 Green fee £130 (£5 more than 2020)
Special deals - County card £110
45. RYE
2021 Green Fee £175 (£15 more than 2020)
No special deals
46. THE MACHRIE
2021 Green fee £160
Special deals -
Golf Union: £90 per round, £115 per day.
Hotel Resident: £80 per round, £100 per day
47. MACHRIHANISH
2021 Green fee £75 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate is £45
48. WOKING
2021 Green Fee £130 (£10 more than 2020)
No special deals
49. HUNSTANTON
2021 Green Fee £110 (£10 more than 2020)
No special deals
50. GULLANE 1
2021 Green fee £210 (£15 more than 2021)
No special deals
51. GLENEAGLES - QUEEN’S
2021 Green fee £200 (£60 more than 2020)
Special deal -
Twilight fourball rate £120 pp after 3pm £72.50 pp after 4pm
Details here
52. ROYAL ST DAVID’S
2021 Green fee £95 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate is £45
Details here
53. MACHRIHANISH DUNES
2021 Green fee £75 (£35 cheaper than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate is £45
Details here
54. WORPLESDON
2021 Green fee £150 (£10 more than 2020)
No special deals
55. ST ANDREWS - NEW COURSE
2021 Green fee £90 (£5 more than 2020)
No special deals
56. SOUTHPORT & AINSDALE
2021 Green fee £180 (£15 more than 2020)
Special deals -
Twilight rate - £420 for a fourball after 3pm, weekdays.
£357 for 2 rounds of golf, one at S&A and one at Hillside including dinner, bed and breakfast
57. LIPHOOK
2021 Green fee £120 (£5 more than 2020)
Speical deals -
Twilight rate £70
Country Card £70
Details here
58. WEST LANCS
2021 Green fee £160 (£20 more than 2020)
No special deals
59. THE BERKSHIRE (BLUE)
2021 Green Fee £250 (£20 more than 2020)
No special deals
60. SAUNTON (WEST)
2021 Green Fee £110 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - twilight rate £70
Details here
61. ABERDOVEY
2021 Green fee £70 (£5 more than 2020)
Special deal - £55 after 2PM
62. MOORTOWN
2021 Green fee £115 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - Stay Sunday night in a hotel and play Alwoodley and Moortown for £230
63. PRINCES
2021 Green Fee £120 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - various accommodation offers including 2 rounds of golf, accommodation, dinner and breakfast from £220
Details here
64. PENNARD
2021 Green Fee £85 (same as 2020)
No special deals
65. WALTON HEATH (NEW)
2021 Green fee £220 (same as 2020)
No special deals
66. WEST HILL
2021 Green fee £140 (£15 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate £90
Details here
67. CASTLE COURSE - ST ANDREWS
2021 Green fee £125 (
No special deal
68. ROYAL NORTH DEVON
2021 Green fee £75 (same as 2020)
Twilight rate - £35
Details here
69. PARKSTONE
2021 Green fee £125 (£15 more than 2020)
No special deal
70. BROADSTONE
2021 Green fee £105 (same as 2020)
No special deal
71. MORAY (OLD)
2021 Green fee £95 (£25 lower than 2020)
Special deal - Sunrise and twilight rate £80 pp or £320 for a fourball
72 & 73 - WOBURN DUKE’S AND MARQUESS
2021 Green fee £195 (£16 higher than 2020)
No special deals
74. ALDEBURGH
2021 Green fee £150 (same as 2020)
Special deals -
£100 after 3pm
£100 County Card after 11am
Details here
75. SHERWOOD FOREST
2021 Green fee £100 (same as 2020)
Special deal - May offer - £70 after 1pm including light lunch and range balls
Details here
76. BLAIRGOWRIE (ROSEMOUNT)
2021 Green fee £95 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Pre-twilight rate £70, twilight rate £50
Details here
77. ROYAL WORLINGTON AND NEWMARKET
2021 Green fee £90 (same as 2020)
Special deals -
Twlight rate £37.50
County Card £65
Details here
78. ROYAL ASHDOWN
2021 Green fee £99 (same as 2020)
No special deals
79. FERNDOWN
2021 Green fee £140 (£20 higher than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate £70
Details here
80. TREVOSE
2021 Green fee £85 (£6 more than 2020)
No special deals
81. HINDHEAD
2021 Green fee £140 (£25 more than 2020)
No special deals
82. ELIE
2021 Green fee £130 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate £55
83. SOUTHERNESS
2021 Green fee £90 (£20 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight deal £60
84. PANMURE
2021 Green fee £145 (£20 more than 2020)
Special deal - Scottish/English golf members £125
85. LITTLE ASTON
2021 Green fee £115
86. BRORA
2021 Green fee £125 (£30 more than 2020)
Special deals -
UK residents £95
Twilight rate £55
Details here
87. DUNDONALD
2021 Green fee £160 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - Scottish resident fee £95
Details here
88. GAILES LINKS
2021 Green fee £100 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Fourballs £75 per person or £55 weekday afternoons
Details here
89. THE GROVE
2021 Green fee £179 (£20 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rates Monday - Wednesday £99, Thursday - Sunday £115
90. WOBURN (DUCHESS)
2021 Green fee £195 (£16 higher than 2020)
No special deal
91. BEAU DESERT
2021 Green fee £95 (£5 higher than 2020)
Special deal - £80 if playing in a fourball
92. DELAMERE FOREST
2021 Green fee £100 (£10 higher than 2020)
Special deals -
Twilight rate £50 weekday, £60 weekend
County card £50 weekdays
93. MURCAR LINKS
2021 Green fee £150 (£10 higher than 2020)
Special deal - £151 for midweek round at Murcar and Newburgh-on-Ythan
94. DUNBAR
2021 Green fee £125 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rates from £70 - £100
95. THE BELFRY (BRABAZON)
2021 Green fee £175 (£10 higher than 2020)
Special deal - Some hotel deals
96. THE ADDINGTON
2021 Green fee £125 (£25 higher than 2020)
No special deals
97. CASTLETOWN
2021 Green fee £80 (same as 2020)
No special deals
98. CLOSE HOUSE
2021 Green fee £200 (same as 2020)
Special deal - 1 night accommodation, dinner, B&B and 2 rounds of golf for £225
Details here
99. LUFFNESS
2021 Green fee £145 (£25 more than 2020)
No special deals
100. DUKE’S ST ANDREWS
2021 Green fee £125 (£25 more than 2020)
Special deal - Scottish residents £75
Details Here