Green Fees Keep Rising at Golf Courses But Are They Worth It

The overwhelming majority of golfers relish the opportunity to visit a wide variety of courses (46% of you play more than eight each year) and experience different layouts aside from their home club, but it has often become an increasingly expensive venture as green fees have risen dramatically in recent years - many of them far beyond the rate of inflation.

How Much Are Golfers Paying For Green Fees And Are They Worth It?

Surveying 1,200 golfers in June 2025, we wanted to gain a greater understanding of what everyday players feel about the rising costs and how that has impacted their consumer habits and relationship with the game.

• Golfers Aged Over 65

26% Are Paying £25-£40 For Visitor Green Fees

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61% Feel Green Fees Are About Right, 37% Too Expensive, Only 2% Too Cheap

• Golfers Aged 55-64

35% Are Paying £25-£40 For Visitor Green Fees

57% Feel Green Fees Are About Right, 40% Too Expensive, Only 3% Too Cheap

• Golfers Aged Under 55

35% Are Paying £25-£40 For Visitor Green Fees

54% Feel Green Fees Are About Right, 46% Too Expensive

Green Fees Are Rising Significantly

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

The data above has shown that the majority of green fees are above £40, but how much is too much? When we polled golfers on social media last year, 30.04% of them said that they wouldn't pay above £50 for a round of golf, with 64.06% unwilling to part with over £100.

Golfers who responded to our recent survey were frustrated that green fees have increased steeply since the pandemic, with many of them reporting price hikes of 40-50%. Inflation and the cost of living crisis have undoubtedly raised operational costs for golf clubs, but despite those pressures, the sheer extent of the green fee increases has resulted in accusations that some venues are engaging in profiteering.

Famous Championship Golf Courses Are Overpriced

One of the great things about golf in the UK & Ireland is that golfers have the opportunity to play the most revered locations in the game, whether it be Open Championship stages or Ryder Cup hosts, meaning that you can walk in the footsteps of the greatest players in history and take on the best courses on the planet.

That said, it's a costly endeavour, which may reflect the quality of what you're paying for, but the green fee rises at the finest courses have arguably been the starkest of all. Golf travel industry expert David Jones (UK Golf Guy) has carefully studied the price of green fees and he reported that across the leading 20 golf courses in the UK, the required fees to play these iconic venues have jumped up by 105% since 2015, more than doubling the price in a decade, well above what they would have been had costs risen in line with inflation.

What Makes a Green Free Value For Money?

Value for money is a subjective thing and what constitutes that will differ from person to person. Studying the comments we received from golfers in the survey, many of them remarked that the cost must match the quality of the course, with some courses not being worthy of the high fees they charge. The condition of the course, the standard of its maintenance and the level of facilities were cited as important factors when it comes to judging whether a fee is seen as fair or not.

There is also often a significant disparity in green fees between courses of a similar stature depending on where the venue is located.

How to Find Better Green Fee Deals

Given the price increases, it won't come as a surprise that golfers are now seeking pathways to make savings. Fortunately, there are options for you to consider, including County Cards, reciprocal arrangements, twilight deals, entering club opens, society days, or taking advantage of member guest rates. Pensioners and older players commented to us that they’ve stopped playing in opens or visiting courses due to the price, desiring more senior discounts to be introduced.

While not available everywhere, these are potential routes to play outstanding golf courses for less than the peak green fee. Golfers now have to spend more time searching for alternative methods if they wish to reduce the cost of playing different courses.

Are Rising Green Fees a Concern?

There is a lot said about the inclusivity of golf and the desire to make the game welcoming to all, but could the rising cost of green fees jeopardize that endeavour? That is certainly what some of the respondents to our survey believed as they expressed to us concerns that newcomers, families, and less affluent players could be discouraged due to these prices.

Despite that, the enthusiasm is still there among golfers to travel and play a variety of courses each season, but should the cost continue to increase in the manner that it has in recent years, some venues may find themselves becoming unaffordable or unappealing to a wider range of visitors, which would certainly be playing with fire.

Providing the quality that golfers expect without charging too much is a difficult balance to find, but it's essential that clubs get that right to ensure that they remain popular with visitors into the future.

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