Green Fees in England: What It Costs to Play in 2026
England runs the full range, from Open Championship links above 400 pounds and the polished Surrey heathland of Wentworth and Sunningdale, down to a vast field of superb courses you can play for under 100. Here is what golf actually costs in England in 2026, the marquee names by figure, and where the value lies.
Photograph: Wentworth Club, via Google
The short answer
Plan on roughly 80 to 150 pounds for a very good English course and anywhere from 300 to more than 400 for the flagship links and the marquee Surrey heathland. The average green fee across the top 100 courses in Britain is about 265 pounds in 2026, and forty two of those hundred now cost 300 pounds or more. At the top, Royal St George's at Sandwich sits above 400 in peak season, Wentworth West climbs to about 360 in summer with a caddie included, and Sunningdale charges around 300 pounds for each of the Old and New courses.
Below the headline names the country is full of excellent golf at fair money. The cheapest courses in the top 100, the Cumbrian links of Silloth and Goswick on the Northumberland coast, cost around 120 pounds, and the wider network of heathland, downland and links courses runs from 60 to 130. The figures below are indicative high season rates for 2026 and they fall sharply in winter and the shoulder months, so treat them as a guide and always confirm directly before booking.
England green fees by course, 2026
| Course | Region | Indicative 2026 green fee |
|---|---|---|
| Wentworth, West Course | Surrey, Virginia Water | Around 195 pounds winter to roughly 360 in summer, caddie included |
| Sunningdale, Old and New | Berkshire | Around 300 pounds each course, or roughly 500 to play both in a day |
| Royal St George's | Kent, Sandwich | Above 400 pounds high season; winter Tuesday rounds with lunch around 215 |
| Open and championship links | Hoylake, Lytham, Birkdale | Generally the 350 to 400 pounds plus tier; confirm directly |
| Value courses in the top 100 | Silloth, Goswick and similar | Around 120 pounds, the lowest fees on the national list |
| Typical good English course | Nationwide heathland and links | Around 60 to 130 pounds; many municipals far less |
Green fees verified in June 2026 from course listings and the National Club Golfer 2026 top 100 survey; they vary by season, day and tee time and change without notice, so always confirm current rates directly with the course or your trip planner before booking. Check tee time availability.
The marquee names, and the catch
England's most coveted golf falls into two camps. The first is the Open Championship rota, the great links of Royal St George's, Royal Liverpool at Hoylake, Royal Lytham and St Annes and Royal Birkdale, all of which welcome visitors at a price and on set days, and all of which sit in the upper tier near or above 400 pounds in season. The second is the Surrey and Berkshire heathland, the sandy belt south west of London where Harry Colt and Willie Park Junior laid out Wentworth, Sunningdale, Walton Heath, St George's Hill and The Berkshire. These are some of the finest inland courses on earth, and the prices reflect it.
A handful of the very best are difficult or impossible to book as a casual visitor. Several of the elite heathland clubs admit guests only on weekdays and with a member, so build a trip around the courses you can actually reserve and treat access to the most private as a bonus your planner may be able to arrange.
Where the value lies
England rewards the golfer who looks past the headline names. The same heathland belt that holds Wentworth and Sunningdale is dotted with superb member courses that visitors can play for a fraction of the flagship fees. The links coasts of Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Cumbria and the north east offer genuine seaside golf, from Hunstanton and Brancaster to Seacroft and Silloth, mostly between 90 and 150 pounds. And Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, long the home of England Golf, pairs the brutal Hotchkin links with the gentler Bracken at fair money. Build a week around one or two flagship rounds and four or five excellent value courses, add a stay and play deal, and England delivers world class golf without paying 400 pounds a day. That is how we plan it.
Plan an England golf trip
We secure the marquee tee times, time the flagship links to the season and weather, and build the rest of the week around the best value heathland and links and a base that suits the golf. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
England green fee questions
How much are green fees in England in 2026?
It depends entirely on the course. The famous names are dear: Wentworth West runs up to about 360 pounds in summer with a caddie included, Sunningdale Old and New are around 300 pounds each, and the Open venue Royal St George's sits above 400 pounds in peak season. The average top 100 course in Britain costs about 265 pounds in 2026. But England is also full of excellent heathland and links you can play for 60 to 130 pounds, and the cheapest courses in the top 100 such as Silloth and Goswick cost around 120. Always confirm current fees directly before booking.
What is the most expensive course to play in England?
The Open Championship links and the marquee Surrey heathland sit at the top. Royal St George's at Sandwich is among the courses charging more than 400 pounds in 2026, and Wentworth West reaches about 360 pounds in summer. Sunningdale charges around 300 pounds for each of the Old and New courses, or roughly 500 to play both in a day. Always confirm current fees directly before booking.
Is golf cheaper in England than in Scotland or Ireland?
At the very top the prices are similar, with England's marquee links and heathland matching the dearest Scottish and Irish rounds. The difference is the depth of affordable golf below that. England has a vast network of fine heathland, downland and links courses you can play for 60 to 130 pounds, so a week built around one or two flagship rounds and a string of value courses keeps the average down nicely.
When are green fees cheapest in England?
In the winter and shoulder months, roughly November to March. Wentworth West for example drops to about 195 pounds in winter against 360 in summer, and Royal St George's offers winter Tuesday rounds with lunch for around 215 pounds. Twilight rates and stay and play packages cut the cost further. The trade off is shorter days and softer turf. Always confirm current seasonal rates directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.