For many golfers, playing the finest courses in Great Britain and Ireland during the summer inevitably means high costs. However, is it still possible to find value during peak season? And how can golfers identify which courses offer the best price-to-quality ratio?
Research Methodology
We’ve analyzed golf prices across 250 leading courses in Great Britain and Ireland, as featured in our NCG Top 100s rankings. Our focus was on green fees available to individual players between May and September, including twilight rates. We excluded resident, county, specific country, open, or group prices. To assess a course’s “value,” we combined the best available green fee (in GBP) with its position in the NCG Top 250 list to create an overall score. For example, a course with a £40 green fee and a ranking of 247th received an overall score of 287. Euro prices for Irish courses were converted to pounds sterling using the latest exchange rates. In cases of identical overall scores, the course with the cheaper green fee was ranked higher to prioritize savings for golfers.
Key Findings from Our Value Golf Courses List
The best-value golf course in our Great Britain and Ireland rankings is Saunton’s East course. Its twilight rate of £105 (available after 4 pm) offers a significant reduction from the peak May-September green fee of £175. This, combined with its strong 41st position in our overall rankings, results in an overall score of 146, placing it at the top of our value standings. Ganton and Royal Worlington & Newmarket secured second and third places respectively, also offering attractive twilight prices. Burnham & Berrow and Seaton Carew complete the top five.
The lowest green fee uncovered across all 250 courses was just £26 at Kington, a course our panel ranks 145th. Many other courses demonstrate remarkable affordability if golfers are flexible with their playing times. For example, you can play Yelverton, Bull Bay, and Peterhead for £30. Other great fees include Shiskine (£32), Elgin (£35), Tain (£40), Cleveland (£40), Seascale (£42), Headfort New (£44), Askernish (£47.50), Borth & Ynyslas (£49), Clyne, and Perranporth (£50).
In Bull Bay’s case, the £30 green fee isn’t even a twilight price. That’s what the North Wales course – ranked 165th in our GB&I list – charges every day except Saturday, when the price rises by just £5.
GB&I Golf Value List 2026
Scoring: Course, Green Fee (£s) + Position in GB&I Top 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
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 ask golfers to apply for green fee prices, don’t offer visitor tee times, are being redeveloped, or had yet to publish their summer 2026 prices when the list was compiled and checked on March 10. 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).
Insights from the Study
This exercise provides significant insight into how green fees operate in 2026. Highly-ranked courses willing to offer twilight or afternoon green fees, such as Saunton (East) and Ganton, perform exceptionally well in terms of value. However, a broader trend, particularly among elite Top 100 courses, is the scarcity of such discounted options. This is largely due to high demand, which diminishes the commercial incentive for discounts. Instead, many clubs are focusing on day-rate options, encouraging golfers to stay longer on-site, as seen with examples like Muirfield (where an 18-hole rate is £395, but 36 holes with lunch is £605), Huntercombe (a round for £145, but an all-day play for just £30 more), and Gullane No. 2 (a single round for £100, or an all-day pass for £130).
The study also highlighted inconsistencies in how clubs define seasons and issues with price transparency. While we used fixed dates of May to September for our price comparisons, some still treat May as off-peak or shoulder, while others define peak pricing as running from April until the end of October. Some clubs had not published 2026 rates, while others required direct inquiries, creating inconvenience for golfers planning visits and making it difficult to uncover relevant prices without clicking around booking engines or contacting them directly. This can feel inconvenient in an increasingly online and cashless world.
It’s no surprise that the biggest courses, with expensive green fees and little need for discounting, sit towards the bottom of a value-based list. But just as interesting are courses that perform ‘poorly’ despite being ranked outside the top tier, largely because they offer limited flexibility on price.
Overall, the message remains positive: numerous opportunities exist to play some of Great Britain and Ireland’s best courses without exorbitant costs. As many as 69 courses (over 25% of the total list) can be played for £100 or less. Many are much less than £100. By being flexible with timings and actively searching for deals, golfers can find significant savings and rewarding experiences.