
In the post-Covid world, where green fees are soaring due to golf’s popularity boom and an ever-growing appetite among Americans to turn once-in-a-lifetime UK golf pilgrimages into twice-a-year rituals, the era of reasonably priced rounds at Britain’s best courses is, sadly, often a thing of the past.
To help combat this, Half Par Kid has compiled a list of Britain’s 20 best value green fees for the year ahead – 10 under £50 and 10 between £50-£100. From off-the-beaten-track 9-hole gems to Top 100 courses that refuse to follow their competitors into eye-watering territory, there’s plenty to explore. Plan your next trip around some of these beauties—you won’t regret it, and your wallet will thank you.
Words by Peter Handcock, aka Half Par Kid
A penny for your thoughts, £30 for a round
Ah, green fees. Once upon a time, you could trot up to an Open Championship rota course with £150 and still have enough change for a bacon roll. Those days? Gone. Blame it on the Americans (I jest) and golf’s post-Covid renaissance. With membership waiting lists bulging and joining fees climbing like a high-handicapper’s ball flight into the wind, the plight of the golf nomad grows ever more challenging.
But we’re here to help. With a bit of planning—and some tolerance for off-peak weather—there are still brilliant bargains to be found. From shoulder-season steals to twilight treasures and even the occasional county card hack, there’s a wealth of affordable golf to be enjoyed if you know where to look. So, here’s your guide to 2025’s best-value green fees.
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Under £50: The Charmers
Top 100 courses for under £50? I’m afraid Kevin Kisner has a better chance of leading Jupiter Links GC to glory in the TGL this year. But golf doesn’t have to be ranked to be brilliant. Sometimes, it’s about quirky greens, quick rounds, and an experience that leaves you grinning ear to ear. Narrowing it down to just 10 great value green fees for under £50 wasn’t easy, and while some crackers like Alnmouth Village and Windermere didn’t make the cut, here are my top picks for 2025:
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North Foreland (Northcliffe Course)
Broadstairs, Kent – https://www.northforeland.co.uk/
The only par-3 course on this list, but arguably the best in England. Proper greens, interesting contours, and views across the course make this place very special. A round here will set you back just £15, leaving plenty of change to pop into their no-frills, truck-stop-style café for a bacon roll and coffee before you tee off.
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Dunaverty
Cambletown, Argyll and Bute – https://www.dunavertygolfclub.com/
The course I fell head over heels for last year—and perhaps one of my all-time favourites. There’s an abundance of brilliant golf in Campbeltown, so hop on the ferry or buckle up for the long drive, and immerse yourself in it. Take another ferry to reach courses like Shiskine, where the experience feels equally spiritual. At just £25 in March or £55 in summer, Dunaverty deserves to be the centrepiece of one of any trip to one of the best-value regions in Britain.
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Cleeve Hill
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire – https://www.cleevehillgolfclub.co.uk/
Designed by legends Old Tom Morris and Alister MacKenzie, what was once a dying course is now a thriving club with excellent golf and a clubhouse to match. It drains brilliantly and offers sweeping views over Cheltenham, the Vale of Evesham, the Malverns, and even as far as the Black Mountains in Wales and the Shropshire Hills. Best of all, it can be played for as little as £25 in March.
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Reigate Heath
Reigate, Surrey – https://www.reigateheathgc.com/
Sometimes 18 holes feels like too much, and I firmly believe the UK could do with more 9-hole courses. Reigate Heath’s delightful 9-hole heathland layout is a perfect example of how less can be more. Fun to play, quick to get around, and ideal for a loop either before work or after dinner! For just £28—or a full twilight 18 for £30—what’s not to love?
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Appleby
Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria – https://www.applebygolfclub.co.uk/
Perched on Brackenber Moor, this 122-year-old course is surrounded by expansive moorland and offers stunning views of the Lakeland Fells. With no par 5s but several long par 4s, it’s more challenging than the scorecard might suggest. At just £30 in March, it’s a must play when heading north.
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Kington
Kington, Herefordshire – https://www.kingtongolf.co.uk/
England’s highest 18-hole course is compact, delightful, and offers amazing views along with unique green sites that make the round even more enjoyable. At £31 in summer, it’s a steal—but if that’s too much, go off-peak for just £21! It’s about as much fun as you can have doing anything for £30.
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Church Stretton
Church Stretton, Shropshire – https://churchstrettongolfclub.com/
Short? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely. A James Braid classic for just £35, with stunning views, quirky greens, and more fun than you’d expect from a course this size. It’s got plenty of character and will leave a lasting impression.
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Shiskine
Isle of Arran, Argyll and Bute – https://www.shiskinegolf.com/
Who needs 18 holes? This 12-hole wonder is £37 of electric fun, with blind shots galore, views for days, and plenty of quirk. You can whip round before breakfast or after dinner—perfect for a quick golden hour loop. The destination is incredible, but the journey to the Isle of Arran is worth it alone.
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Seacroft
Skegness, Lincolnshire – https://www.seacroft-golfclub.co.uk/
Unlike many on this list, Seacroft is a full-length 18-hole course, offering a ‘proper’ round of golf without the need to rush. A links course so good it regularly gets name-checked in “best value” lists. £40 in April or £70 in summer? Both are excellent value and will leave you enough change to hit the infamous Skegness Arcades afterwards.
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Sunningdale Heath
Sunningdale, Surrey – https://www.sunningdaleheathgolf.co.uk/
A Harry Colt heathland gem, sitting on the doorstep of Swinley, Sunningdale and The Berkshire. Top-class catering and a “Short Course of the Year” accolade to its name, it’s perfect for a quick but memorable round. You can loop it in just two hours, and at £45 in summer—with twilight rates available for an evening knock—it’s a bargain in prime golfing territory.
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£50–£100: Still a steal
Here we’re into “proper” courses—those that turn heads and still offer good value. Whether it’s a March deal or a summer twilight round, these courses punch well above their price tags. Here’s my top 10 for 2025:
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Seaton Carew
Hartlepool, Durham – https://www.seatoncarewgolfclub.co.uk/
At £50 in February (special four-ball rate) or £55 in March, this rugged links comes with an industrial backdrop so striking it inspired Blade Runner. Designed by Alister MacKenzie, it’s a must-visit for anyone making the drive between England and Scotland.
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Cavendish
Buxton, Derbyshire – https://www.cavendishgolfclub.com/
An Alister MacKenzie design for £55 in summer? You’d be mad to pass it up. Sub-6000 yards and a par 68, Cavendish embraces MacKenzie’s philosophy—effortlessly integrating man-made features into the natural surroundings and ensuring the course remains engaging for all players. It’s a compact yet captivating round, perfect for golfers looking for quality without the hefty price tag.
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Royal Worlington
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk – https://royalworlington.co.uk/
The revered 9-holer, nicknamed the Sacred Nine and home to the Cambridge University Golf Team and the infamous Pink Jug. A masterclass in strategic golf, packed with half-par intrigue. You can loop it twice for £60 after 4 pm in summer—small but mighty.
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Golf House Club, Elie
Elie, Fife – https://www.golfhouseclub.co.uk/
Charming and full of variety, this course has character in spades—from the periscope on the 1st tee to the long socks required on the course. A layout of 16 par 4s might sound repetitive, but it’s anything but. A perfect addition to any Fife trip, and at £60 in March, a bargain too.
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Perranporth
Perranporth, Cornwall – https://www.perranporthgolfclub.co.uk/
Quirky links, outrageous views, and golf that’s pure fun, with blind shots and unique holes that make it feel like you’re playing on the moon. Throw in fish and chips and a walk on the beach, and you’ve got a day to remember. All this for £60 in March—or £110 for a summer day ticket, still a bargain.
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Formby Ladies
Formby, Lancashire – https://www.formbyladiesgolfclub.co.uk/
Immaculate conditioning, stunning heathland, and cakes worth the trip alone. Short walks from tee to green make for an easy walk and the collection of short holes are worth the trip alone. £75 in March—and arguably more fun than any course charging twice the price.
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Glasgow Gailes
Irvine, Ayrshire – https://www.gaileslinks.co.uk/
The second course of Glasgow Golf Club—the world’s 10th oldest—but far removed from its city roots, sitting 37 miles away in Ayrshire. The clubhouse drips with history, while the course delivers a rare heathland-links blend that remains firm and fast throughout winter. £75 in March is a steal.
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Gullane No. 2 & No. 3
Gullane, East Lothian – https://gullanegolfclub.com/
Whilst Gullane No. 1 gets most of the attention, No. 2 and No. 3 are every bit worth your time. Twilight rounds on No. 2 are £75 in summer, while No. 3 comes in at £50—or even less in March and April. If you’re heading to East Lothian, it would be a shame to not take advantage of these rates. (And yes, I’m counting them as one for this list—sorry, not sorry.)
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Silloth on Solway
Silloth, Cumbria – https://www.sillothgolfclub.co.uk/
A regular in the Top 100 and arguably the best value course in the UK. With some of the finest greensites on any links course, it strikes the perfect balance of quirk to keep everyone entertained. £70 in March or £110 in summer—just go, it’s worth the journey.
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Cruden Bay
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire – https://crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk/
One of the best courses in the world, with some of the most unique holes you’ll find anywhere, built by the legendary Old Tom Morris. At £90 in March or £125 in April, including the St Olaf 9-holer, you get 27 holes of pure, joyous links golf—world Top 100 courses don’t come much better value than this.
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Final Thoughts
Golf doesn’t have to cost a fortune to be magical. Whether it’s a quirky short course on a misty morning or a twilight round that stretches into a summer evening, there are plenty of ways to enjoy world-class courses without draining your wallet. So, pack your clubs, plan your trips, and go find the joy in 2025’s best-value rounds.
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