Crazy golf prices!
The Daily Mail has revealed that to play 18 holes at the most expensive golf club in the world will set you back £400/€456 in the peak season and £364/€415 at other times!
This special course is the US Open and Ryder Cup venue of Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.
It will cost you £385/€439 to play 18 holes at the Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada, but this payment gives you something extra – limousine transport to and from the course, as well as personal caddie.
The most expensive golf course (one round) in the UK is the Ailsa Course at Turnberry, Ayrshire, which is owned by US President Donald Trump. Here the price for 18 holes between mid-May and mid-October, is £325/€371 or you can buy an all-day ticket for £575/€656.
The dearest course in Ireland, for one round, is at the Old Head Links near Cork where the price for 18 holes is £265/€302.
England’s most expensive courses are at Royal Birkdale, Merseyside (£255/€290), Sunningdale, Berkshire (£230/€262) and Royal St. George’s, Kent (£225/€256).
However, the best value-formoney course in the UK is Royal St. David’s in Harlech, Wales - £75/€85 for 18 holes at peak times, cheaper out of season.
According to the KPMG's "Golf Study" report, there are 349 ‘top notch’ courses here in Spain. These cater, not only for visiting golfers but also for the 300,000+ members who are registered with Spanish clubs. The dearest is the ‘best’ – Valderamma – where you’ll pay £325/€370 for a round (FridaySaturday) and £308/€350 for other days.
* The 2018 Andalucian Masters is now taking place at this venue until Sunday.
Here are details of the estimated weekday green fees at 12 other courses here in Espana…
■ Real Sociedad Hipica Espanda Club de Campo: £87/€100
■ Finca Cortesin Golf Club: £253/€290
■ Club de Golf La Reserva Sotogrande: £236/€270
■ Real Golf de Pedrena: £140/€160
■ Abama £236/€270
■ Aloha Club de £153/€175
■ Golf £118/€1135
■ Club de Golf Alcanda: £131/€150
■ PGA Catalunya Resort: £96/€110
■ Club de Bonmont Terres Noves: £61/€70
■ Club de Golf Montampo: £66/€76
■ Los Colinos Country Club: £83/€95
The price for 18 holes at La Manga is between €98/£86 and €116/£102 (depending on the season)… at Desert Springs it’s €77/£67 (€120/£105 for two)… and at Valle Del Este prices ranges from €54/£48 to €62/£54.
We have several more courses in Almeria Province – all excellent and good value for money: Aguilón, Alborán (from £35/€40 per round), Golf Almerimar (from £50/€57), Country Club La Envia (on request, varies £40/€45+) and Marina Golf on Mojacar Playa.
NB: There are several private Golf San Resort: Golf: Gual: Golf & members’ golf clubs worldwide, some of which have quite staggering entry fees.
To join Surrey’s Queenswood Club, you have to pay £200,000/€228,000 for starters! And if you want membership of Japan’s Koganel Country club you have to fork out a staggering £1.5m (€1.7m).
Oh well, I’ll stick to playing locally, where and when I please.
Many years ago I had the pleasure of participating in several charity golf competitions on some wonderful UK courses… and I had the honour of playing alongside Texan Lee Trevino (at The Belfrey), Brian Barnes, Peter Baker, Peter Butler and New Zealand left-hander Bob Charles who gave me two of his clubs and a ball-marker stud which I have since auctioned off for charity. Great days.