Golf Trip Planner
A week of golf in Scotland costs about $10,377 per golfer on the famous links, and a week on Ireland's famous links about $6,295, including flights from the US. Set your nights, rounds and group below. Every price comes from a club, tour operator or fare page we checked on 30 October 2026.
By the Golfonaut team · Updated
Estimated cost per golfer
$9,447
$37,787 in total for 4 golfers, 7 nights and 5 rounds
- Green fees
- $2,1765 × $435, the average of 16 published peak fees
- Hotels, breakfast and transport
- $6,2647 × $895 a night
- Flights
- $1,007KAYAK 12-month average round trip
Want an exact price for your dates?
Get a quote from GolfbreaksWhat a golf trip costs: four examples
In Scotland, hotels and getting around cost more than the golf. In Ireland, green fees can be up to half the bill. All four examples are for a group of 8 in 4-star hotels with self-drive and no caddies.
| Trip | Green fees | Hotels and transport | Flights | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland, 5 nights, 4 classic links, into Glasgow | $1,410 | $4,474 | $909 | $6,794 |
| Scotland, 7 nights, 6 championship links, into Edinburgh | $3,106 | $6,264 | $1,007 | $10,377 |
| Ireland, 5 nights, 4 classic links, into Dublin | $1,467 | $1,684 | $735 | $3,886 |
| Ireland, 7 nights, 6 championship links, into Shannon | $3,158 | $2,357 | $780 | $6,295 |
Scotland golf trip: green fees in 2026
The famous Scottish links average $518 a round in peak season and the classic links $353. Fees below are each club's published visitor fee for one 18-hole round, converted at the ECB rate of 30 October 2026.
| Course | Fee | In USD | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Andrews Old Course | £355 | $476 | 21 Apr to 18 Oct 2026 |
| Carnoustie Championship | £360 | $482 | May to Oct 2026 |
| Royal Dornoch Championship | £360 | $482 | Apr to Oct 2026 |
| Kingsbarns | £486 | $651 | May to Nov 2026 |
| Muirfield | £395 | $529 | 2026, 18 holes |
| North Berwick West | £320 | $429 | Apr to Oct 2026, Sun to Thu |
| Castle Stuart | £385 | $516 | May to Oct 2026 |
| Royal Troon Old | £430 | $576 | 2027 (only year shown) |
| St Andrews New | £155 | $208 | 20 Apr to 18 Oct 2026 · classic links |
| Gullane No.1 | £285 | $382 | 2026, weekday · classic links |
| Nairn | £350 | $469 | Apr to Oct 2026 · classic links |
| Prestwick | £360 | $482 | May to Sep 2027, Mon to Thu · classic links |
| Western Gailes | £335 | $449 | May to Oct 2027, weekdays · classic links |
| Cruden Bay Championship | £245 | $328 | May to Oct 2027, weekday · classic links |
| Panmure | £195 | $261 | May to Oct 2027 · classic links |
| Crail Balcomie | £180 | $241 | May to Sep 2027 · classic links |
Not published on the pages we read: Trump Turnberry (prices only inside its booking engine) and Montrose (site did not respond). Royal Troon shows only 2027.
Ireland golf trip: green fees in 2026
The famous Irish links average $526 a round in peak season and the classic links $367. Fees below are each club's published visitor fee for one 18-hole round, converted at the ECB rate of 30 October 2026.
| Course | Fee | In USD | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballybunion Old | €450 | $503 | May to Oct 2026 |
| Lahinch Old | €450 | $503 | Apr to Oct 2026 |
| Old Head | €500 | $559 | Apr to Oct 2026 |
| Tralee | €450 | $503 | Apr to Oct 2026 |
| Waterville | €400 | $447 | Apr to Oct 2026, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri |
| Portmarnock | €475 | $531 | 2026, 18 holes |
| Royal County Down | £450 | $603 | Apr to Oct 2026 |
| Royal Portrush Dunluce | £420 | $563 | Apr to Oct 2026 |
| Portstewart Strand | £335 | $449 | May to Sep 2026 · classic links |
| Ballyliffin Old Links | €300 | $335 | 2026 · classic links |
| Enniscrone Dunes | €290 | $324 | Mar to Oct (year not stated) · classic links |
| Rosapenna St Patrick’s Links | €380 | $425 | Apr to Oct 2027 · classic links |
| Rosapenna Sandy Hills | €270 | $302 | 2027 · classic links |
Not published on the pages we read: County Sligo, Carne and The European Club. Royal County Down, Royal Portrush and Portstewart are in Northern Ireland and charge in pounds.
What tour operators charge
Published package prices start around $1,000 for a short stay at one club and pass $6,000 for a 10-night tour. Check what is included: Golfbreaks prices are bed and breakfast without transport or flights, while the Golf Vacations tours include hotels, transport and a meet and greet.
| Package | Nights / rounds | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golfbreaks, Royal Dornoch Golf Club | 4 / 3 | from $1,049 | Bed and breakfast; no transport or flights |
| Golfbreaks, St Andrews Links | 4 / 3 | from $2,089 | Bed and breakfast; no transport or flights |
| Golfbreaks, Awesome Aberdeenshire & Highlands | 7 / 5 | from $3,429 | No transport or flights |
| Golfbreaks, Complete Scottish Coast to Coast | 10 / 8 | from $6,315 | No transport or flights |
| Golf Vacations Scotland, East Coast Gems | 7 / 6 | £6,545 to £7,425 | 4 or 5-star hotels, breakfast, self-drive or chauffeur; group of 8, summer 2026 |
| Golf Scotland, St Andrews East Coast Classic | 4 / 3 | $5,885 | Fairmont St Andrews, breakfast, transfers; Old Course via the ballot |
| Golfbreaks, Waterville Golf Links | 4 / 3 | from $2,109 | Bed and breakfast; no transport or flights |
| Golfbreaks, Ballybunion Golf Club | 4 / 3 | from $2,565 | Bed and breakfast; no transport or flights |
| Golfbreaks, Signature North West Ireland | 7 / 5 | from $3,385 | No transport or flights |
| Golfbreaks, Complete South West Ireland | 10 / 7 | from $6,589 | No transport or flights |
| Golf Vacations Ireland, SouthWest Wonders | 7 / 6 | €4,485 to €5,855 | 4 or 5-star hotels, breakfast, self-drive or chauffeur; group of 8, 2026 |
Prices move with dates and availability. Ask Golfbreaks for a quote for your dates
Caddies, the Old Course ballot and flights
Caddies: St Andrews Links: £80 a bag, and it suggests tips start at £35. In Ireland, Lahinch, Waterville and Portmarnock €100 a bag, Ballybunion and Tralee €110; tip at your discretion; Ballybunion and Lahinch require at least one caddie or fore-caddie per group.
The Old Course: Yes, through the daily ballot: enter 2 to 4 players before 2pm two days ahead, with a handicap of 36 or less. Guaranteed high-season times are sold by St Andrews Links’ Authorised Providers as part of packages.
Flights: KAYAK's 12-month average round trip from US airports is $1,007 to Edinburgh, $909 to Glasgow, $735 to Dublin and $780 to Shannon. The cheapest months are January, $759 (Edinburgh) and February, $559 (Shannon); August is the most expensive.
Before you go, work out your Handicap Index and Course Handicap: the Old Course asks for a handicap certificate of 36 or less, and Western Gailes sets a limit of 24 for men and 28 for women.
Common questions about golf trips
How much does a golf trip to Scotland cost?
About $6,794 per golfer for 5 nights and 4 rounds on classic links with self-drive, and about $10,377 for 7 nights and 6 rounds on the famous championship courses, flights from the US included. Green fees at the best-known links run £320 to £486 a round in 2026 (Old Course £355, Carnoustie £360, Kingsbarns £486).
How much does a golf trip to Ireland cost?
About $3,886 per golfer for 5 nights and 4 rounds, and about $6,295 for 7 nights and 6 rounds at Ballybunion, Lahinch, Old Head and the other famous links, flights included. Those courses charge €400 to €500 a round in peak season 2026.
Can you play the Old Course without a tour operator?
Yes, through the daily ballot: enter 2 to 4 players before 2pm two days ahead, with a handicap of 36 or less. Guaranteed high-season times are sold by St Andrews Links’ Authorised Providers as part of packages.
How the estimate is made
Green fees are the average of each tier's published peak-season visitor fees, times your rounds. Caddies use St Andrews' £80 plus its suggested £35 tip, and €100 a bag in Ireland with no tip added. Flights are KAYAK's 12-month average round trip from all US airports, a search average rather than a fare you can book.
Hotels and transport have no official average, so we work them out from one fully priced published tour per country: the tour price less the published green fees of its own courses, divided by its nights. Golf Vacations Scotland, East Coast Gems: 7 nights, 6 rounds, group of 8, summer 2026, with £1,870 of green fees. Golf Vacations Ireland, SouthWest Wonders: 7 nights, 6 rounds, group of 8, 2026, with €2,375 of green fees (Cashen at €125, the €575 Old and Cashen offer less the €450 Old fee). The Scottish figure is higher partly because tours with a guaranteed Old Course time cost more. Type your own hotel figure into the calculator if you have one.
Exchange rates: ECB reference rates of 30 October 2026, £1 = $1.3399 and €1 = $1.1172 (ECB). Fees, fares and package prices were read on 30 October 2026 from the pages linked in the tables and below.
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