Playing the most esteemed golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland during the summer season typically demands a significant investment. However, savvy golfers can still find excellent value, even during peak times. This comprehensive guide reveals how to identify and access more favorable prices, ensuring a premium golfing experience doesn’t necessarily mean a hefty price tag.
Building on previous analyses of maximum green fees, this report delves into publicly available pricing for the top 250 courses across Great Britain and Ireland. Our aim is to benchmark courses based on their value, considering both their standing in our rankings and the most accessible individual green fees.
Our methodology focuses on green fees available to individuals between May and September, including twilight rates. Excluded are special offers such as resident, county-specific, open competition, or group rates. For instance, a course might offer a reduced rate for local residents, but such restricted pricing is not factored into this list.
To quantify ‘value’, we combine the lowest obtainable green fee with the course’s position in our top 250 list to generate an overall score. A lower score indicates better value. For example, Cleveland, ranked 247th, offers an off-peak rate of £40 after 2 pm, resulting in an overall score of 287. Euro prices for Irish courses were converted to British Pounds using recent exchange rates, rounded to the nearest 50p. Our goal is to blend attractive pricing with the expert assessment of our panel.
In cases where multiple courses share the same overall score, the course with the lower green fee is ranked higher, aligning with our focus on helping you save money.
Key Insights from the Value Golf Courses List
The top spot for value in our GB&I rankings goes to the East course at Saunton. Its twilight rate of £105, available after 4 pm, represents a substantial £70 saving compared to its peak season green fee of £175. This price, combined with its high ranking of 41st, gives it an impressive overall score of 146, making it the leader in our value standings.
Ganton secured the second position with a score of 148, offering a twilight price of £120 after 4 pm (ranked 28th), a significant reduction from its usual £235. Royal Worlington & Newmarket, at 93rd in our rankings, came in third with a score of 153, allowing golfers to play 18 holes for £60 after 4 pm, half its standard rate.
Rounding out the top five are Burnham and Berrow (ranked 45th, best green fee £110, score 155) and Seaton Carew (ranked 92nd, best green fee £65, score 157). Seaton Carew’s pricing exemplifies the remarkable affordability still found among highly-regarded courses in Great Britain & Ireland.
The lowest green fee identified across all 250 courses is at Kington, priced at just £26. Even its peak weekend or Bank Holiday visitor fee is a modest £45, for a course ranked 145th. Many other affordable options exist for flexible golfers, such as Yelverton’s twilight rate of £30, matching Bull Bay and Peterhead. Other notable mentions for great value include Shiskine (£32), Elgin (£35), Tain (£40), Cleveland (£40), Seascale (£42), Headfort New (£44), Askernish (£47.50), Borth & Ynyslas (£49), Clyne, and Perranporth (£50).
Notably, Bull Bay, ranked 165th, offers its £30 green fee all week except Saturdays, when it increases by just £5, demonstrating that exceptional value isn’t always limited to twilight hours.
GB&I Value List 2026
Scoring: Course, Green Fee (£s) + Position in GB&I 250 = Overall Score
Saunton (East): £105 + 41 = 146
Ganton: £120+ 28 = 148
Royal Worlington & Newmarket: £60 + 93 = 153
Burnham & Berrow: £110 + 45 = 155
Seaton Carew: £65 + 92 = 157
Seacroft: £55 +109 = 164
Aberdovey: £85 + 80 = 165
Kington: £26 + 145 = 171
Royal St David’s: £100 +72 = 172
Royal North Devon: £70 +103 = 173
Silloth-on-Solway: £120 + 57 = 177
Machrihanish: £120 + 60 = 180
Ashburnham: £65 + 119 = 184
Ferndown: £90 + 95 = 185
Conwy: £90 + 99 = 189
Aldeburgh: £105 + 84 = 189
Southerness: £80 + 114 = 194
Goswick: £100 + 94 = 194
Bull Bay: £30 + 165 = 195
Perranporth: £60 + 136 = 196
Boat of Garten: £60 + 137 = 197
Tenby: £90 + 107 = 197
Pennard: £110 + 87 = 197
East Devon: £65 + 135 = 200
Hayling: £85 + 115 = 200
Ipswich (Purdis Heath): £90 + 110 = 200
Sherwood Forest: £125 + 76 = 201
Askernish: £47.50 + 157 = 204.50
Trump International Ireland (Doonbeg): £148 + 58 = 206
Liphook: £135 + 78 = 213
West Hill: £125 + 90 = 215
Alwoodley: £185 + 32 = 217
Thorpeness: £35 + 183 = 218
Cavendish: £65 + 153 = 218
Blairgowrie (Rosemount): £90 + 128 = 218
Southerndown: £95 + 124 = 219
Trevose: £130 + 89 = 219
Seascale: £42 + 179 = 221
Knole Park: £75 + 146 = 221
Broadstone: £120 + 101 = 221
Notts (Hollinwell): £175 + 46 = 221
Woodbridge (Heath): £80 + 142 = 222
St Enodoc: £175 + 47 = 222
Cruden Bay: £205 + 19 = 224
Royal Dornoch: £215+ 10 = 225
Elie: £165 + 61 = 226
Isle of Purbeck: £55 + 172 = 227
Pyle & Kenfig: £110 + 117 = 227
Royal Aberdeen: £189 + 40 = 229
Ladybank: £80 + 151 = 231
Piltdown: £90 + 141 = 231
Machynys Peninsula: £85 + 147 = 232
Gullane No 2: £100 + 132 = 232
Saunton (West): £105 + 129 = 234
St Andrews (New): £155 + 79 = 234
Dunbar: £145 + 91 = 236
Lanark: £60 + 178 = 238
Beau Desert: £120 + 118 = 238
Royal Porthcawl: £195 + 44 = 239
The Machrie: £185 + 55 = 240
Littlestone: £120 + 121 = 241
Yelverton: £30 + 212 = 242
West Sussex (Pulborough): £175 + 67 = 242
Cruit Island: £70 + 173 = 243
Leven Links: £80 + 163 = 243
Royal County Down (Annesley): £120 + 123 = 243
Hunstanton: £175 + 68 = 243
Prince’s: £175 + 71 = 246
Dunstanburgh Castle: £35 + 213 = 248
Clyne: £50 + 198 = 248
Dundonald: £150 + 98 = 248
Nairn: £195+ 54 = 249
Druids Glen: £79 + 171 = 250
Nefyn: £69 + 182 = 251
Mount Juliet: £83 + 168 = 251
The Addington: £155 + 96 = 251
Shiskine: £32 + 221 = 253
Carne: £171 + 85 = 256
Sheringham: £105 + 152 = 257
Stoneham: £120 + 139 = 259
St Annes Old Links: £105 + 155 = 260
Fortrose & Rosemarkie: £85 + 176 = 261
Brora: £120 + 143 = 263
Delamere Forest: £150 + 113 = 263
Gleneagles (King’s): £225 + 38 = 263
Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin): £245 + 18 = 263
Peterhead: £30 + 236 = 266
Blackmoor: £150 + 116 = 266
Elgin: £35 + 232 = 267
Castletown: £165 + 102 = 267
Parkstone: £185 + 82 = 267
Tain: £40 + 229 = 269
Hankley Common: £220 + 49 = 269
Woking: £200 + 69 = 269
Royal Cromer: £85 + 185 = 270
Panmure: £195 + 77 = 272
Duff House Royal: £55 + 218 = 273
Montrose (1562): £130 + 144 = 274
Murcar: £170 + 105 = 275
Headfort (New): £44 + 233 = 277
Huntercombe: £145 + 131 = 276
Moray (New): £70 + 207 = 277
Moray (Old): £150 + 127 = 277
Borth & Ynyslas: £49 + 230 = 279
Sutton Coldfield: £110 + 169 = 279
Royal Ashdown Forest (Old): £160 + 120 = 280
Prestwick St Nicholas: £90 + 191 = 281
St Andrews (Eden): £80 + 202 = 282
Little Aston: £180 + 104 = 284
Cleveland: £40 + 247 = 287
Kilmacolm: £65 + 222 = 287
Hindhead £180 + 108 = 288
Gleneagles (Queen’s): £225 + 63 = 288
Golspie: £95 + 195 = 290
Crowborough Beacon: £65 + 228 = 293
Formby Ladies: £80 + 214 = 294
Bude & North Cornwall: £60 + 235 = 295
Lough Erne: £125 + 174 = 299
Lundin Links: £120 + 180 = 300
West Kilbride: £125 + 175 = 300
Portsalon: £166 + 134 = 300
Spey Valley: £120 + 181 = 301
North West: £131 + 170 = 301
Blackwell: £140 + 161 = 301
Worplesdon: £220 + 81 = 301
Porthmadog: £60 + 242 = 302
St Andrews (Castle): £190 + 112 = 302
County Sligo: £280 + 23 = 303
Malone: £100 + 206 = 306
Walton Heath (Old): £275 + 31 = 306
Royal Cinque Ports: £285 + 21 = 306
Gullane No. 3: £70 + 237 = 307
Ashridge: £115 + 192 = 307
Llandrindod Wells: £60 + 248 = 308
Moortown: £225 + 83 = 308
Prestbury: £150 + 159 = 309
Kilspindie: £120 + 190 = 310
Rosapenna (Sandy Hills): £210 + 100 = 310
Fraserburgh: £150 + 162 = 312
Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart): £285 + 27 = 312
Chart Hills: £90 + 223 = 313
West Lancs: £250 + 64 = 314
Fairmont St Andrews (Torrance): £90 + 225 = 315
St Andrews (Jubilee): £155 + 160 = 315
Formby: £285 + 30 = 315
Luffness New: £210 + 106 = 316
Camberley Heath: £150 + 167 = 317
The Island: £284 + 33 = 317
Carton House (Montgomerie): £114 + 204 = 318
Trump Turnberry (Ailsa): £315 + 3 = 318
Copt Heath: £75 + 245 = 320
Blairgowrie (Lansdowne): £90 + 231 = 321
Rosapenna (St Patrick’s): £306 + 15 = 321
Nairn Dunbar: £105 + 216 = 321
Celtic Manor (Twenty Ten): £97 + 227 = 324
Irvine: £125 + 199 = 324
Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris): £175 + 150 = 325
Gailes Links: £180 + 149 = 329
North Berwick: £320 + 9 = 329
Connemara: £192 + 138 = 330
Wallasey: £235 + 97 = 332
Lindrick: £130 + 203 = 333
County Louth: £285 + 48 = 333
Luffenham Heath: £90 + 244 = 334
Gullane No 1: £285 + 50 = 335
Fulford: £160 + 177 = 337
The Berkshire (Red): £275 + 62 = 337
Tandridge: £175 + 164 = 339 *only maximum midweek green fee shown
Southport & Ainsdale: £270 + 70 = 340
Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce): £145 + 197 = 342
St George’s Hill: £300 + 42 = 342
Dooks: £210 + 133 = 343
Downfield: £110 + 234 = 344
Royal Troon (Portland): £135 + 210 = 345
Western Gailes: £310 + 36 = 346
Ballyliffin (Old): £262 + 86 = 348
The Berkshire (Blue): £275 + 73 = 348
Monifieth (Medal): £160 + 189 = 349
Walton Heath (New): £275 + 75 = 350
Royal Dublin: £197 + 156 = 353
Ballyliffin (Glashedy): £288 + 66 = 354
Newmachar (Hawkshill): £110 + 246 = 356
Hillside: £300 + 56 = 356
St Andrews (Old): £355 + 2 = 357
North Hants: £120 + 239 = 359
Enville (Highgate): £120 + 240 = 360
Waterville: £349 + 20 = 369
Crail (Balcomie): £170 + 201 = 371
Carnoustie (Championship): £360 + 14 = 374
Ceann Sibeal: £175 + 200 = 375
Remedy Oak: £160 + 217 = 377
Enniscrone: £254 + 125 = 379
Prestwick: £340 + 39 = 379
Carnoustie (Burnside): £135 + 250 = 385
Strandhill: £170 + 215 = 385
Royal Portrush (Valley): £200 + 186 = 386
Cork: £170 + 220 = 390
Donegal: £245 + 148 = 393
The Belfry (Brabazon): £205 + 193 = 398
Muirfield: £395 + 4 = 399
Dumbarnie: £350 + 53 = 403
Royal St George’s: £400 + 6 = 406
Lahinch (Old): £393 + 13 = 406
The K Club (Palmer): £227 + 184 = 411
Royal Lytham & St Annes: £400 + 12 = 412
Killarney (Killeen): £196 + 219 = 415
Coombe Hill: £175 + 241 = 416
Castlerock (Mussenden): £250 + 166 = 416
Narin & Portnoo: £262 + 154 = 416
Ballybunion (Old): £393 + 24 = 417
Portmarnock: £415+ 7 = 422
Royal Portrush (Dunluce): £420 + 5 = 425
Royal Liverpool: £400 + 29 = 429
Royal Troon (Old): £395 +35 = 430
Gleneagles (PGA Centenary): £225 + 211 = 436
Jameson Golf Links: £300+ 140 = 440
Ardglass: £250 + 194 = 444
Scotscraig: £225 + 224 = 449
Trump International Scotland (Old Course): £425 + 25 = 450
Royal County Down: £450 + 1 = 451
Sunningdale (Old): £450 + 8 = 458
Portstewart (Strand): £335 + 126 = 461
Sunningdale (New): £450 + 16 = 466
Tralee: £393 + 74 = 467
Old Head of Kinsale: £437 + 51 = 488
Kingsbarns: £486 + 17 = 503
Royal Birkdale: £495 + 11 = 506
Adare Manor: £481 + 65 = 546
The following clubs either require direct application for green fee prices, do not offer visitor tee times, are undergoing redevelopment, or had not yet published their summer 2026 rates as of March 10, when this list was compiled. They are listed by their ranking position only:
- Swinley Forest (22)
- Royal West Norfolk (26)
- Loch Lomond (34)
- Skibo Castle (37)
- Rye (43)
- The European (52)
- Ardfin (59)
- The Renaissance (88)
- New Zealand (111)
- JCB (122)
- Machrihanish Dunes (130)
- Archerfield (Fidra) (158)
- The Grove (187)
- Ballybunion (Cashen) (188)
- Archerfield (Dirleton) (196)
- Centurion (205)
- Cleeve Hill (208)
- Royal Wimbledon (209)
- Northants County (226)
- Berkhamsted (238)
- Ranfurly Castle (243)
- London Club (Heritage) (249)
What This Top Courses List Reveals: Our Verdict
Beyond the raw figures, this analysis offers significant insights into green fee trends for 2026. Courses that are highly ranked and amenable to offering twilight or afternoon green fees, such as Saunton (East) and Ganton, consistently deliver exceptional value.
However, a broader trend, especially among the elite courses within the Top 100, indicates a diminishing number of these flexible pricing options. This scarcity is unsurprising given the sustained high demand and minimal commercial incentive for top-tier clubs to offer discounts. For golfers who cherish an evening round on a magnificent course combined with a more accessible green fee, these opportunities are becoming increasingly rare.
Many clubs are shifting focus towards encouraging longer stays, promoting “all-day” rates. For instance, Muirfield’s 18-hole rate is £395, but playing 36 holes including their renowned lunch costs £605. Similarly, Huntercombe charges £145 for a round, with an all-day option for just an additional £30. Gullane No. 2 offers a single weekday round for £100, or an all-day pass for £130. While the uptake on these offers remains to be seen, they present clubs with additional revenue opportunities from food and beverage sales.
The definition of peak and off-peak seasons also lacks uniformity across clubs. While our price comparisons used a fixed May-September window, some courses categorize May as off-peak or shoulder season, while others extend peak pricing from April through October.
Another area for improvement lies in the transparency of green fee prices. Several clubs had not yet published their 2026 rates when this list was compiled, and others made prices difficult to find, often requiring visitors to navigate complex booking engines. This lack of clarity can be an inconvenience for golfers planning their visits. We encourage clubs to provide clearer pricing information, and we welcome any corrections to the prices listed here.
Some venues also prefer direct correspondence for green fee inquiries. While this might add a traditional or exclusive touch to historic locations, in an increasingly digital and cashless environment, it can be cumbersome for golfers seeking to arrange a visit.
It’s natural for the most prestigious courses, with their high fees and less need for discounts, to appear lower on a value-based list. More interestingly, some mid-ranked courses perform ‘poorly’ in terms of value due to their limited pricing flexibility.
Despite these observations, the overarching message remains positive. There are ample opportunities to experience some of Great Britain & Ireland’s finest courses without exorbitant costs. In fact, 69 courses—over a quarter of the entire list—can be played for £100 or less, with many even cheaper. While a bit of research and careful timing might be necessary, the rewards of playing these exceptional courses are undoubtedly worth the effort.
