Golf Green Fees Have Now Become Even More Ridiculous

We have covered extensively the rising cost of green fees at the most celebrated golf courses in the UK & Ireland, but even we were caught off guard when we saw the price to play the legendary Ailsa Course at Turnberry in 2025.

Highlighted by Scottish-based golf travel expert David Jones (@UKGolfGuy on Twitter), it's now been revealed that the non-resident rate to play the Ailsa Course at peak times next year will set you back £1,000.

Yes, you heard that right, in 2025, there will in theory be people spending four figures on a round of golf.

This ultra-premium rate applies for green fees before 1pm, with those later in the day costing £545 during summertime, 

You could secure a tee time for the *comparatively* paltry £425, but you would have to be staying at the resort to be eligible for that price. Having researched 12 months in advance, a one-night stay in August 2025 would cost £783, meaning that you could enjoy a brief stay at Turnberry with a round on the Ailsa for £1,208.

Should you not wish to take advantage of the absolute luxury of the deluxe rooms, then four golfers could book a self-catering lodge or villa, which for next August, can be booked for somewhere between £600 and £900, which, when split evenly across the group, is one less expensive way to get your hands on a residential tee time rate.

Speaking to Bunkered, Turnberry’s general manager Nic Oldham, provided some additional insight into the reasoning behind the £1,000 green fee, citing difficulties being experienced by hotel residents and Turnberry members in securing peak season tee times.

"We were finding that a lot of people were booking up tee times during the peak times of the year but only came to play golf and then left.

"In many instances, people were choosing to play the Ailsa but stay somewhere else nearby. That meant our hotel guests were able to stay in the hotel but couldn’t get access to the course.

"By blocking out these peak tee times, we are able to offer greater playing opportunities to our best customers."

If you want to look at equivalent layouts across Scotland, in 2025, Kingsbarns will cost £448, Carnoustie £321, Muirfield £365, and Prestwick £310.

This staggering inflation has priced out so many golfers from accessing these jewels, but clearly, there remains sufficient demand from international visitors and "bucket-listers" that makes it viable to continue cashing in at this level.

Turnberry has now raised the bar to an extraordinary degree, something that is likely engineered to encourage more bookings at the hotel itself, but even with that balance considered, there won't be many rushing from these shores to experience the Ailsa.

There is no doubt that the Ailsa is one of the finest layouts on the planet - as members of the Golfshake Team can attest - but enough people have already been put off by the venue's association with owner Donald Trump without these new prices making the place even more inaccessible to the majority.

However, thankfully, Scottish golf is not just about the exclusive and appealing to those with deep pockets, as there are many bargains available. 

Instead of heading to Turnberry, why not skip past there and take the ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick and the Isle of Arran, where you can take full advantage of the island's golf pass that costs just £140 for seven courses.

The main attraction, Shiskine, can be played for just £34. 

So, instead of forking out a potential £1,000 for one round at Turnberry, you could play the magical 12 holes at Shiskine on Arran roughly 30 times.

That sounds like a far better deal to us.

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