With spring approaching, avid golfers are planning trips to some of the best golf courses in the UK and Ireland, but which sites are the best value for money?
Keen to find out, experts at golfsupport.com conducted research into the UK and Ireland’s top 30 golf courses, establishing a value score for each golf course based on average price and Tripadvisor reviews.
Results
| Rank | Golf course | Country | Tripadvisor rating (out of 5) | Average adult visitor price per 18-hole round (£) | Ranking score (out of 10) |
| 1 | North Berwick | Scotland | 5 | 135 | 9.2 |
| 2 | St Andrews – Old | Scotland | 5 | 166 | 8.3 |
| 3 | St George’s Hill – Red & Blue | England | 5 | 225 | 6.3 |
| 4 | Woodhall Spa Hotchkin | England | 4.5 | 93 | 5.2 |
| 5 | Royal Aberdeen – Balgownie | Scotland | 4.5 | 143 | 4.8 |
| 6 | Burnham & Berrow – Championship | England | 4.5 | 143 | 4.6 |
| =7 | Kingsbarns | Scotland | 5 | 320 | 4.4 |
| =7 | Royal Porthcawl | Wales | 4.5 | 144 | 4.3 |
| 9 | The European Club | Ireland | 4.5 | 166 | 4.0 |
| 10 | Royal Portrush – Dunluce | Northern Ireland | 4.5 | 172 | 3.8 |
In top spot is North Berwick golf course in Scotland with a ranking score of 9.2 out of 10. With the course scoring a 5 out of 5 Tripadvisor rating and costing £135 per person, it offers the best value for money out of the top 30 golf courses in the UK and Ireland.
The course is the 13th oldest golf course in the world, founded in 1832 and provides stunning coastal golf a stone’s throw away from Edinburgh.
In second place is St Andrews golf course with a ranking score of 8.3. The course is thought of as one of the best in the world, and is considered to be the home of golf as it was first played here in the early 15th century. It is also the largest public golf complex in Europe.
Coming in third is the St George’s Hill – Red & Blue course with a ranking score of 6.3.
Home of the rich and famous (stars like Elton John live nearby), the course provides wonderful scenery in which to play some top golf on a top course.
Following are Woodhall Spa Hotchkin (rank score of 5.2), Royal Aberdeen – Balgownie (rank score of 4.8) and Burnham & Berrow – Championship (rank score of 4.6), respectively ranking fourth, fifth and sixth.
From this study you can plan the ultimate UK and Ireland summer golf road trip for you and your friends, playing on the top courses to a budget that suits you.
*Exclusion criteria: 5 courses were excluded due to the unavailability of data.