The green fees of golf clubs are absurdly high. We are challenging you

The coronavirus pandemic has been a global disaster and lockdowns around the world have caused untold suffering and stress, but there is no doubt that golf has benefited unexpectedly.

The outdoor game, which of course maintains social distancing, was one of the first pastimes to resume when the situation became a little less precarious, with hundreds of thousands of people flocking to the game either for the first time or dusting off their golf clubs after a long break.

Meanwhile, club members and regular players could hardly wait to return to the fairways once restrictions were lifted.

The result has been a healthy and much-needed boost for golf clubs around the world. While it is difficult to create a completely accurate picture, several data points suggest that interest in golf has declined over the first two decades of the 21st century.

Covid has changed all that – and things continue to look rosy. According to the R&A's Global Participation Report 2023: “Global participation figures show that ten million additional adult golfers have taken up the sport worldwide since 2016. According to a new study by the governing body, there are now 39.6 million golfers on golf courses (9 and 18 holes) in the R&A's affiliated markets.

“Research figures show that the growth trend began before the Covid-19 outbreak and continued during the pandemic – a 34% increase from 29.6 million golfers on the golf course in 2016. The sport's popularity has continued to grow even after the pandemic, a 15% increase from 34.5 million golfers on the golf course in 2020.”

This is of course good news. However, the biggest downside is cost. Golf clubs and facilities continue to drive up their prices to capitalise on post-Covid demand. I fear that greed and short-term thinking will counteract the windfall the industry has received and contribute to declining numbers in the future.

Golfers celebrate on the green

In May 2020, golfers flocked back to the fairways in large numbers

(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

Short-term thinking

It is a case of “strike while the sun shines”. But the better option is to make sure the sun continues to shine for a long time to come. Many will argue that you can have it both ways; price is determined by demand – the reason something costs a certain amount is because people are willing to pay it.

That's true. And it's also true that fluctuations in global prices caused by sociopolitical factors and inflation – which affect everything from the cost of machinery and fuel to cooking oil and seeds – have led to cost increases at golf clubs around the world.

But were the price increases reasonable or is there an element of greed in the clubs' pricing structure? I would argue the latter. Demand can be fickle, especially in a world where hobbies abound and attention spans continue to shrink.

I share this concern with my golfing friends, and we have received letters at Golf Monthly from people criticising the cost of green fees in 2024. I suspect more golfers are standing up and taking notice, and some part-time golfers may have already decided to put their clubs back in the garage. I certainly would have played more golf this year if it had been more affordable.

I'm not just talking about the elite courses here – although many top 100 courses cost comfortably over £200 and Turnberry recently announced a £1,000 green fee for non-hotel guests during the summer peak season. No, courses that would be described as average and mediocre now regularly cost comfortably over £50.

Before the pandemic, I regularly played at four golf courses that shall not be named here. These courses are public pay-and-play courses and, if I'm honest, they are not exactly exciting. Golf snobs would probably despise them.

One has kept its prices roughly the same since then, and I've played about three-quarters of my rounds there since then. The other three are all around £50 at peak now – an increase of between 50% and 100% since pre-Covid – and I've played fewer than ten rounds in total since 2020. One course I visited once, and another I haven't visited since 2019.

Often the only affordable way to play golf is to take a one or half day holiday during the week because weekends are simply not feasible. You shouldn't have to take your annual holiday to play an affordable round of golf.

Golf ball lying on a stack of dollar bills

Golf is becoming more and more expensive

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A warning letter

Visiting a members' club is a different story entirely. Many clubs well outside the top 100 in the UK and Ireland will barely give you change from £150 (and you'll have to play during the week too).

It makes me worry about the future. We live in volatile times and I'm not sure charging as much as you can afford is a wise strategy. A letter from Marlon Davies to Golf Monthly, published in the August issue of the magazine, sums up my feelings on the subject quite well:

“I wanted to write to express my concern that some – perhaps many – golf clubs are now becoming more than a little greedy when it comes to visitor green fees. I fully understand that it is entirely up to them what they charge and whether or not they really want visitors, but since Covid prices seem to have gone through the roof, not just at the top courses which have always been premium priced, but also at many courses further down the pecking order which are now charging prices which, quite frankly, they are not really worth.

“I know that Covid has had a big impact. Previously struggling clubs suddenly found themselves in a much healthier position with full memberships and waiting lists. And also that the cost of living crisis has had a big impact on clubs' bills and expenses in many areas. But I have also seen decidedly average clubs charging £70, £80 or more, whereas before Covid they were desperately 'giving away' green fees for £20 just to get people in.

“It would be sad if golf were to revert to the old days when many golfers were confined to the municipal golf course because members' clubs put up barriers by either not accepting visitors or effectively pricing them out of the market through their prices. I know that supply and demand will play a big role here as always and that clubs will have higher bills to pay, but what worries me is how easily and eagerly private members' golf clubs seem to have reverted to their old ways.”

This is really food for thought. I just hope that in ten years time some golf clubs won't look back with regret.

The green fees of golf clubs are absurdly high. We are challenging you

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