How Much Does it Cost to Play The Best Golf Courses in Scotland

These days, if you want to play the most revered golf courses, it'll likely cost you an eye-watering sum. Green fee inflation at the most famous venues has skyrocketed over the years - and that frustrating trend is set to continue.

Several weeks ago, we took a closer look at the rates for the best layouts in England, so it was only right that we gazed north of the border to Scotland to discover just how expensive the spiritual home of the game can be.

Fortunately, there are still outstanding destinations that offer tremendous value for money, as we shared in this feature article on the spectacularly scenic places that can be found on the Isle of Bute. That might just be about as close as we have these days to a genuine hidden gem.

But for this exercise, we have picked out the top 25 courses that accept visitors from the Golfshake Top 100, which has been calculated by analysing reviews submitted by everyday golfers on this website.

Looking at the green fees, there are clearly some that are outrageous and unobtainable to most people. However, if you study closely, you may uncover a place and time of year that makes playing one of these undeniably fabulous courses more appealing.

Who knows, there could be a winter or springtime treat here for you to secure!

Castle Stuart Golf Links (Cabot Highlands)

Location: Highlands

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Summer Green Fees: £295

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £225

Review Comment: "Stunning scenery and a great golf course. Generous fairways but the greens are very tricky with lots of borrows."

Royal Troon Golf Club

Location: Ayrshire

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Summer Green Fees: £340

Review Comment: "I was really impressed with the quality of the course and the facilities. The practice facilities were amazing and the course was really enjoyable. I loved the history and the location."

Nairn Golf Club

Location: Highlands

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Summer Green Fees: £199

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £137

Winter Green Fees: £50

Review Comment: "Glorious setting for a lovely course. Beautiful lush fairways and excellent greens and a very comprehensive pre-round briefing from the starter made this a round to remember and we will certainly return."

Kingsbarns Golf Links

Location: Fife

Golfshake Rating: 4.96

Summer Green Fees: £418

Spring Green Fees: £352

Review Comment: "The quality of the course is exceptional, the design is stunning, and the playing experience is excellent both on and off the course. The layout, challenge, and tee time spacing are all superb, and the views are incredible. It's no wonder this course is considered one of the top three in Scotland."

Dumbarnie Links

Location: Fife

Golfshake Rating: 4.96

Summer Green Fees: £217

Review Comment: "Dumbarnie is a fabulous addition to Scotland's golf landscape; an intricately designed layout that makes the absolute most of its magnificent setting to deliver incredible views but also a smart challenge for players, requiring strategy and presenting options with shot selection."

Turnberry (Ailsa Course)

Location: Ayrshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.95

Summer Green Fees: £495

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £250

Winter Green Fees: £175

Review Comment: "It’s simply the best golf course in the world. Amazing!"

North Berwick Golf Club

Location: East Lothian

Golfshake Rating: 4.95

Summer Green Fees: £240

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £140

Winter Green Fees: £140

Review Comment: "Every hole different, fabulous condition, true greens, On a piece of land that has not been messed with. Amazing ever changing views."

Western Gailes Golf Club

Location: Ayrshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.95

Summer Green Fees: £265

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: From £145

Winter Green Fees: £80

Review Comment: "Western is in great condition and the greens were very slick. Always a challenging course to play."

Luffness New Golf Club

Location: East Lothian

Golfshake Rating: 4.94

Summer Green Fees: £175

Winter Green Fees: £110

Review Comment: "Beautiful links course. Course very dry and fiery playing like a true links. Greens in superb condition. Very friendly welcome from the staff and excellent food."

Dundonald Links

Location: Ayrshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.94

Summer Green Fees: £175

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £98

Winter Green Fees: £65

Review Comment: "From walking into reception to leaving the clubhouse after a great round and excellent meal, the guys at Dundonald Links didn’t put a foot wrong. Very friendly welcome in the pro shop and starter. The course was in excellent condition the layout is great and was a good test - playable but testing - a really enjoyable day and top quality at a fair price."

Prestwick Golf Club

Location: Ayrshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.94

Summer Green Fees: £240

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £195

Winter Green Fees: £120

Review Comment: "Would highly recommend, would head back in a flash and already planning a return with a friend who would absolutely love everything about this!"

Dunbar Golf Club

Location: East Lothian

Golfshake Rating: 4.93

Summer Green Fees: From £135

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: From £100

Review Comment: "Always presented in tip top condition. Try to play this course at least three times per year. Staff and members are always most welcoming."

The Golf House Club, Elie

Location: Fife

Golfshake Rating: 4.93

Summer Green Fees: £140

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £120

Winter Green Fees: £60

Review Comment: "Visually spectacular, the setting is breathtaking, and the holes are packed with character and intrigue. They don't make courses like this any more, because they simply can't be manufactured. Places like Elie are forged from the landscape and ooze soul."

Brora Golf Club

Location: Highlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.93

Summer Green Fees: £95 (UK Golf Club Member)

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £80

Winter Green Fees: £50

Review Comment: "What a fantastic course, beautiful greens which are sometimes tricky adding to the enjoyment of this great course. Stunning views - loved this course from the 1st to the 18th! Beware of the tricky par 3 18th. Special mention to the staff who greet you with the warmest of welcomes - looking forward to retuning next year!"

St Andrews Links (The Old Course)

Location: Fife

Golfshake Rating: 4.93

Summer Green Fees: £320

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £210

Winter Green Fees: £150

Review Comment: "The course was a joy to play and offered a nice mix of fun, challenging and unique holes and we were aided in our round by the benefit of playing with a local who provided valuable insight in where to aim, what to avoid and the hazards you couldn't see - like the seven sisters on the 5th which make up over 100 bunkers which are best to be avoided! I've no doubt when the wind gets up this can be an extremely tough course but the course isn't there to destroy your game, but there to let you know what a great game this is if you play the course as you find it and give it the respect it deserves."

Murcar Links Golf Club

Location: Aberdeenshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.92

Summer Green Fees: From £140

Review Comment: "Murcar Links is just a true links golf course. Dunes, heather, gorse, hard burnt fairways, pot bunkers to collect your ball, and fantastic greens to putt on. What else can you ask for, nothing other than to take your A game. This is a toughie, fair but tough. Lots of challenges, a must for any links enthusiast."

Gullane Golf Club (No. 1 Course)

Location: East Lothian

Golfshake Rating: 4.92

Summer Green Fees: From £230

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: From £150

Winter Green Fees: £115

Review Comment: "An amazing golfing experience. Gullane is one of the every best in the UK. All three courses should be played by everyone."

Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course)

Location: Angus

Golfshake Rating: 4.91

Summer Green Fees: £300

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £210

Review Comment: "Like a carpet. What a course, worth every penny we paid although we got to play with a member which is far less than the usual rates."

Machrihanish Golf Club

Location: Argyll & Bute

Golfshake Rating: 4.91

Summer Green Fees: £120

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £95

Winter Green Fees: £75

Review Comment: "Machrihanish is full of history and romance, after all it was designed by Old Tom Morris himself! I was soaked, but happy with my experience of this magical links course. I will definitely return when it is warmer and calmer."

Royal Dornoch Golf Club

Location: Highlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.90

Summer Green Fees: £280

Winter Green Fees: £155

Review Comment: "The par 3s are some of the best I've ever played. The design of the course offers a great challenge, while also being enjoyable to play. The natural links style of the course add to the beauty of the course. Overall, the quality of this course is outstanding with amazing scenery."

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

Location: Aberdeenshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.90

Summer Green Fees: £215

Review Comment: "An incredible course with the first nine in amazing dunes and the back nine into the wind on a plateau. Simply a must play."

Panmure Golf Club

Location: Angus

Golfshake Rating: 4.89

Summer Green Fees: £125 (UK Golf Club Member)

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £90

Review Comment: "Thought it was a pretty good layout with some spectacular holes once you get through the first few. Great history with Hogan, and clubhouse is very cute with good catering."

Moray Golf Club (Old Course)

Location: Highlands

Golfshake Rating: 4.89

Summer Green Fees: From £100

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: £90

Winter Green Fees: £40

Review Comment: "The first four holes before crossing the road and the final stretch from 11-18 that gets progressively closer to the sea were the standout holes."

Cruden Bay Golf Club

Location: Aberdeenshire

Golfshake Rating: 4.88

Summer Green Fees: From £165

Spring/Autumn Green Fees: From £110

Review Comment: "What makes this place special is the fabulous course, both challenging and beautiful. Old Tom Morris has built a masterpiece; no two holes the same, just enough heavy rough and gorse to help keep you focused on those well laid out fairways."

Muirfield

Location: East Lothian

Golfshake Rating: 4.86

Summer Green Fees: £340

Winter Green Fees: £150

Review Comment: "I played in November 2022, on a cold but crisp day with a gentle breeze - shoulder season prices are definitely value for money. The overall experience was excellent. the course requires you to hit good golf shots at every turn - the design is a great test of golf for your average golfers."

Related Content

How Much Does it Cost to Play The Best Golf Courses in England

The Isle of Bute Offers The Best Value Golf in Scotland

10 of The Best Twilight Golf Green Fees in 2023

How Much Does it Cost to Play The Best Golf Courses in America

How Much Would it Cost to Live Near a Famous Golf Course

How Much Does it Cost to Play The Open Championship Golf Courses

The Best Golf Courses to Play For Under £100