The prices of green fees for Ireland’s top golf courses have soared in the past four years and will rise again for 2027 as the golf industry continues to benefit from US tourism.
When the newly redesigned Adare Manor launched in 2018, it was as the most expensive green fee in Ireland, at €340 in peak season. By 2022, it had risen to €430, with Old Head in Kinsale and Royal County Down the only other two to cost more than €300 for standard green fees in the high season. Now, several of the island’s top courses plan to charge more than €500 to play in 2027.
Every course in Irish Golfer magazine’s top 10 best courses for 2026 will increase its price next year, capitalising on increased interest from the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor and the Open Championship at St Andrews, from where many tour groups are sent to Ireland instead of Scotland when St Andrews closes.
[ Lahinch Golf Club hikes green fees by 20% for visitorsOpens in new window ]
Royal County Down will cost £495 (€577) in 2027, up from £255 in 2022 and £450 (€525) last year, as it continues to enjoy its place on top of Golf Digest’s list of the best courses in the world. Open Championship venue Royal Portrush is not far behind, at £475 (€554) for 2027, and both are already booked out. Royal County Down sold its allocation of tee times in just seven hours, showing the demand of Ireland’s top courses.
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Some top clubs offer Golf Ireland four-ball rates at limited times during the year, Portrush for a comparatively reasonable £600 (€700) for a four-ball, at £150pp (€175pp).
The Golf Course at Adare Manor costs €550 to play in 2026, although that was dependent on being a resident of the hotel, with room rates of well over €1,000 per night for the golf season. Next year will be atypical, with the Ryder Cup being hosted there and the only golf being offered on its website in the months leading up to the tournament is an “Exclusive Golf Experience” with a luxury stay-and-play package for €7,500.
Old Head Golf Links, where Kerry-born former owner John O’Connor was unapologetic about its exclusivity, maintains its spot as one of the most expensive in the country at €550 for next year. Portmarnock Golf Club is Dublin’s most expensive green fee at €530 for 2027, which includes lunch, while Lahinch (Old Course), Ballybunion (Old Course), Waterville and Tralee Golf Club are all €500.
County Louth Golf Club at Baltray will increase its fees for next year from €365 to €385 – and it may increase further “due to limited availability” and high demand. For Irish golfers, Baltray has a Golf Ireland rate of €200. The Island in Dublin will rise by €50 from €325 to €375 for next year.
Irish Open venue Trump Doonbeg has dynamic pricing on its website, where you can play for €225 at certain twilight times, but rises to as high as €645 at peak weekend times.
Many of these golf courses require a caddie, which generally costs €90 to €120.
The increase of golf fees follows similar rises in the UK, where the average top 25 course costs €475 in 2026. Trump Turnberry costs an eye-watering £1,000 (€1,167) for a round, where to follow in the footsteps of Tom Watson and others, you must pay the most expensive green fee in the world.
The best value way for Irish golfers to play the top courses in Ireland remains to play in open competitions or to know a member. For example, Lahinch Golf Club costs €50 for the first 10 times a member takes out a guest, before rising to €100. County Sligo (Rosses Point), which makes the top 10 Irish courses in some rankings, can be played for €80 in such competitions.
