How Much Does a Golf Trip to Scotland Cost?

Of all the golf destinations in the world, few locales find themselves at number one on more bucket lists than Scotland. The birthplace of modern golf, the game has been played in Scotland for over five centuries. Even in its early days, golf was played so obsessively by Scotsmen that King James II banned golf because his citizens were so busy working on their game that they were neglecting their mandatory military training. Maybe we haven’t come that far from our ancestors at all — we’re still just as obsessed with fine-tuning our skills. 

Luckily, the ban was overturned and, from there, things really took off. The first official rules of golf were created by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers for a tournament at their local course, Leith Links in Edinburgh. Those so-called “Thirteen Articles” were soon adopted by clubs throughout the country. (We can even thank a Leith native for bringing golf to America some time later.) Over a hundred years after this first drafting of golf rules, St Andrews, what we now know as the Home of Golf, came up with its own standardized set of rules and thus the modern age of golf had begun. 

Today, the spirit of golf lives on in Scotland, with hundreds of courses covering the country’s beautiful landscapes, making it an easy choice for those looking to hop across the pond for the golf trip of their dreams. 

But how much does it really cost to get there in 2024?

We caught up with the founder of Halcyon Golf Travel, Jack Sallis, to find out what it takes to plan, execute and, most importantly, pay for the perfect Scottish golf trip. Jack whipped up three similar itineraries for us, each of which explores the vibrant golf scene of the Scottish Highlands and Aberdeenshire, with price points ranging from US $4,000 to $8,000.

On the surface, the trips seem similar — same location, some of the same courses — but the nitty-gritty details are what really make the difference.

Read on to see just how far your money will go (and where it will go) when you decide to pull the trigger on your dream trip. Jack also gave us some insight as to why you should go with a tour operator rather than planning the whole thing by yourself and a bit of insider information on the current green fee pricing in the UK and Ireland.  

Halcyon Sample Itineraries

Jack and his team put together the following itineraries to give you a better idea of where you can play and what is included in the price. Each itinerary features five rounds of golf, including at least two world 100 courses. While green fees are certainly a factor, the real price differences are related to accommodations and travel throughout the country — the more affordable options include stays at three- and four-star hotels and a rental car for you to drive yourself, while the most expensive Platinum option includes stays at five-star accommodations and a dedicated driver to take you wherever you want to go throughout the duration of your trip. 

Scottish Highlands – Silver: $4,000

Trip Details: 

Three-star accommodation  Shared rooms Self-drive vehicle  Two World Top 100 Courses (Royal Dornoch and Royal Aberdeen)

Scottish Highlands – Gold: $6,000

Trip Details: 

Four-star accommodation Shared rooms Self-drive vehicle Five World Top 100 Courses

Scottish Highlands – Platinum: $8,000

Trip Details:

Five-star accommodation Shared rooms  Driver guide for trip duration Five World Top 100 Courses

Why Hire A Tour Operator Like Halcyon? 

Hiring a tour operator will add approximately 25 percent above the cost of a DIY-style trip. But before you balk at the price, you need to take a look at the benefits, which, in our opinion, are well worth the extra price up front. 

Save yourself time. Each of the itineraries above involves at least 10 separate bookings, all of which are time-sensitive. Different clubs open their diaries at different times and have multiple communication points just to get your group on the first tee. That is all before dialing in dinner reservations and sightseeing reservations are considered. It’s a time-consuming process, which is easily eradicated by using an expert tour operator like the team at Halcyon.  Expert local advice. Tour operators also have first-hand knowledge of when courses allow visitors to play, when they perform course maintenance, what “hidden gems” are worth playing, which courses are worth taking a caddie and where the best local restaurants are. No amount of time spent on Trip Advisor will replace the knowledge you get from someone who lives and breathes the Scottish golf scene.  Sightseeing and off-course activities. A tour operator like Halcyon can assist with planning a separate sightseeing itinerary for non-golfers in the group or on rest days. Want to catch a Premier League game? They can help get you there. Want to see Stonehenge? They can do that, too.  Logistics. Expertly planned itineraries will mean you spend less time in the car and more time on the links or in the pub! (Believe it or not, five miles takes a lot longer to drive in the UK than in the U.S.). Local point of contact. Using a tour operator also means you’ll have a local point of contact for the duration of your trip so you’ll never be stuck in an emergency situation and you’ll always have the best local recommendations right at your fingertips. When booking with Halcyon Golf Travel, you’ll get the personal phone number of your dedicated trip planner whom you can message at any time. Quick and clear communication is something Halcyon Golf Travel prides itself on. 

Tips to Bring Down the Cost of a Dream Golf Trip

As we mentioned, hiring a tour operator is going to be more expensive than planning the trip for yourself. But the benefits speak for themselves! The good news is, even if you do hire an operator like Halcyon to help plan the trip of your dreams, there are still ways to save. Here are some of the team at Halcyon’s top tips for saving yourself some cash: 

Self-drive vehicle rather than hiring a dedicated driver guide Stay in smaller and more remote towns/cities. For example, Edinburgh and St Andrews are the two most expensive places to stay in Scotland, whereas places like Aberdeen and Prestwick have hotels for half the price, all with world top 100 courses and traditional pubs right on your doorstep.  Play a couple of lesser-known “hidden gem” courses. You’ll be pleasantly surprised! High green fees do not always directly correlate with quality.  Stay in twin bedrooms. Play St Andrews or have a queen bed to yourself: you decide (we’ll take the former).  Travel during the shoulder season months (Late March/early April and October) Refer a friend. When you refer a friend to book a UK golf trip with Halcyon Golf Travel, you get five percent off your next golf trip. Who doesn’t like free money? Five percent is at least a few more drinks at the pub and maybe even an extra round of golf. 

In the end, traveling to Scotland for a golf trip is going to cost you, plain and simple. But booking with Halcyon or another tour operator will save you the headache of doing things yourself — nobody knows the area better than someone who actually lives there (and in the case of Halcyon, has been playing golf there for decades). No matter how much you spend, the trip is sure to be one of the best you’ll ever take. Just don’t forget a camera.

This article was written in partnership with Halcyon Travel.

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