South West England Aims to Become Alternative Golf Tourist Destination

Could the South West of England become an alternative destination for American golfers travelling over to the United Kingdom and Ireland? That's exactly what Golf Tourism England is hoping to accomplish.

Andrew Cooke, chief executive of Golf Tourism England, issued a rallying call to Devon and Cornwall’s golf clubs, accommodation providers and attractions, after organising a trip for leading American travel bookers to visit the region.

"Following the pandemic, the American golf tourism market has rebounded positively and England’s South West is uniquely placed to benefit as green fees soar in line with unprecedented demand to play golf in the British Isles.

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"This is a unique moment in time. An elite Scottish club announced the first-ever green fee in excess of £1,000 for the 2025 season and many Americans are missing out on tee times at courses where The Open has been played. Devon and Cornwall offers world-class links golf for less," said Cooke.

Golf Tourism England has teamed up with South West golf tourism specialists, Golf South West, to target the American inbound market and capitalise on the region’s mild climate, accessible transport connections via London and Bristol and world-class links golf courses.

The trip, called the Southwest Premier Links Golf Tour, was developed to establish Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, as a credible alternative to golf holidays in Scotland and Ireland for international travellers.

Sam Bray, managing director, Golf South West, said: "As part of this month’s fam trip, we’ve showcased seven leading links courses to our American friends, including two in the World’s Top-100 and three in the UK and Ireland’s Top-100, alongside postcard-perfect coastal villages, luxury hotels and our laidback way of life."

The group visited Burnham and Berrow, Royal North Devon, Saunton, Trevose, St Enodoc and Perranporth golf clubs and stayed at leading hotels in Bristol, Saunton, Trevose and Newquay during the seven-day tour.

As well as playing England’s oldest golf course, Royal North Devon - founded 1864 - the group experienced a cask ale tasting with Sharp’s Brewing Co. and spent time in the luxury spa at The Headland Hotel, Newquay.

David Reid, managing partner at Fairways to Heaven Golf Travel in Connecticut, said: "I’m very excited about Devon and Cornwall as a destination. We’ve experienced unbelievable accommodations and from a golf perspective, there are some of the best links courses in the world here in the South West. The scenery and coastline are truly special and planning trips here would represent great value for money for my clients."

Golf travel expert David Jones (a.k.a UK Golf Guy) has tracked green fee prices at the UK’s Top-100 courses for the past decade and says green fee prices are now rising at four times the rate of inflation.

Prices rose 10.7% this year and the average green fee to play a Top-25 UK course is £352, up from £318 last year, and the average cost to play a UK Top-100 course is £237.

A new study by Sporting Insights for the IGTOA (Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association) has revealed that American golf tourism is worth €93.9 million annually to the Irish economy, a figure Cooke says highlights the value of low-volume, high-yield golf tourism, such as the American market.

For more about Golf Tourism England, please visit: https://www.golftourismengland.com/.

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