It wasn’t exactly cheap in the first place. But if you want to tee it up at Turnberry next summer you could end up shelling out four figures.
The Ayrshire resort, owned by former US president Donald Trump, have hiked the green fees they’re charging non-residents to play the world-renowned Ailsa course. To call them eye-watering is an understatement.
From June 1, the price for those who don’t stay in the Turnberry hotel is a wallet-shredding £1,000 per person before 1pm.
It drops to £545 for those prepared to wait for a later afternoon spot, while hotel residents pay £425 all day.
Turnberry green fees: One of the world’s most expensive courses?
It’s believed the move is aimed at protecting tee times for members and residents as well as trying to drive more hotel occupancy.
Depending on when golfers want to play, that shock headline rack rate price can also drop further. A weekend time in May next year weighs in at £320.
It currently costs between £425 and £595 to book the Ailsa in high season.
Turnberry’s four figure green fee was highlighted on X by David Jones, also known as UK Golf Guy, who has written extensively about the increasing costs of playing the best courses in Great Britain and Ireland.
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He said in 2013, before the Trump Organization bought the property and the Ailsa was redesigned by Martin Ebert, it was £176.
But while that price surely makes the Ailsa the most expensive course to play in GB&I for those who just rock up and put their money down, it also catapults Turnberry up the world ladder as well.
A spot at TPC Sawgrass starts at $700 and is currently $840 for a September time. A precious berth at Pebble Beach is $675, and it’s $595 in peak season to walk round recent US Open venue Pinehurst No. 2.
Shadow Creek, which hosted the infamous match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in 2018, is reported to charge $1,250 to those looking for a game.
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Last month, Turnberry – which hasn’t hosted The Open since 2009 – appealed for the championship to return, with club chiefs arguing it would be a fitting location for the 2027 event.
Nic Oldham, Trump Turnberry general manager, said: “There is no doubt the Ailsa remains one of the world’s most iconic layouts, and it remains a rite of passage for many golfers who want to tread in the footsteps of those who have graced our four Open Championships – which have been some of the most thrilling in the tournament’s history.
“We continue to invest in the course and Martin Ebert’s redesign raised the bar even higher. There has never been a better time to play the Ailsa and it would be great if The R&A would consider returning the Open to Turnberry, perhaps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the famous ‘Duel in the Sun’ in 2027.”
The R&A’s position since 2021 has been that The Open will not go back “until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course.”
With the ex-president currently running to return to the White House, that might be unlikely anytime soon.
Now have your say
What do you make of the Turnberry green fee rates being advertised? Is there ever a situation where you’d pay £1,000 for a tee time? Let me know by leaving a comment on X.
