This is the best value green fee in the whole of Great Britain and Ireland
Published:
Think you have to spend hundreds to play one of Britain’s best golf courses? Think again. Our expert panel has identified a golf club that offers one of the most memorable and enjoyable rounds you’ll ever experience – and you can play it for a bargain price.
If you look at the crème de la crème of golf courses in Great Britain & Ireland, you might think you need very deep pockets to experience good golf on these shores.
A round at this year’s Open venue, Royal Portrush, will set you back £420.
We rank Royal St George’s as the best golf course in England, but you’ll pay £350 for the privilege.
The Old Course at St Andrews is the best golf course in Scotland, and a pilgrimage for any golfer, but not a cheap one – it’s £340 (if you can get a tee time).
Royal Porthcawl, recent host of the AIG Women’s Open, is Wales’ best golf course – a round there is cheaper than the others, but will still set you back £250.
But there’s a hell of a lot of fantastic golf that can be played for considerably less than that. Our expert panel recently ranked the 100 best golf courses in Great Britain & Ireland that you can play for £70 or less, and it’s littered with tremendous options that won’t break the bank.
It got me thinking: what’s the single best value green fee in GB&I?
Remember: best value doesn’t mean cheapest.
You could probably get 18 holes of golf somewhere for £10 or less, but best value isn’t just about the lowest price on the board. It’s about how much quality, enjoyment, and memorability you get in return for your money. A cheap round isn’t much good if the greens are patchy, the layout forgettable, and you leave wondering why you bothered.
Value, on the other hand, is when the experience you get far outweighs what you’ve paid. It’s when you walk off the 18th green feeling you’ve almost robbed the place for what they charged you.
So, with all that said, what’s the best value green fee in Great Britain & Ireland?
The honor has to go to Kington Golf Club in Leominster, Herefordshire.
It ranked second of all 100 courses in our £70 and under list – based purely on quality – and it’s one of the very cheapest.
On weekends and bank holidays, you’re looking at:
- £39 Peak
- £32 Standard
- £27 Off Peak
On weekdays, it’s cheaper still:
- £32 Peak
- £27 Standard
- £22 Off Peak
Go in a fourball and you’ll each save a further chunk on those prices.
And those are in the high season. In the winter, you’re looking at:
- Weekdays: £31 peak, £26 standard
- Weekends and bank holidays: £34 peak, £29 standard
OK, so it’s cheap, but what makes Kington so special that it’s the best value-for-money green fee going?
Set at 1,284 feet above sea level, it’s the highest golf course in England and affords views over seven counties.
But the biggest allure is Cecil Hutchison’s intriguing design and how adeptly he fitted the holes – especially the greens – into the natural shape of the land.
Major Hutchison was a big fan of North Berwick, one of the best golf courses in Scotland, and you can sense that inspiration in Kington’s quirky contours and strategic subtleties. The course takes full advantage of its glorious natural National Trust land, traversed by the historic Offa’s Dyke Path.
Its fast-draining heathland terrain means the condition is always excellent – temporary greens simply don’t exist here – and the panoramic views across the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Black Mountains and beyond are breathtaking.
Though it’s miles inland, there’s a definite links feel in the shapes and challenges of the holes, even if the turf and lack of bunkers (there are none) make it unlike any seaside course you’ve played. You also won’t find any water hazards, but you certainly won’t miss them.
In the list of England’s best golf courses, Kington sits 61st, between Trevose and East Devon. Trevose costs £125 a round in summer, East Devon £110. Both are terrific courses at fair prices – but it just underlines how remarkable it is that you can enjoy a course of Kington’s stature for as little as £39 or less.
If you’re looking for the best pound-for-pound golfing experience in Great Britain and Ireland, I don’t think you’ll find a better deal than this. If you think of one, please let me know!
-
Is this the best value green fee in Britain?
