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Carnoustie’s 2027 green‑fee hike is turning heads in Scotland’s golf trade, with a 25% jump in the peak‑season adult visitor rate on the Championship Course.
This year, a round of 18 holes on "The Champ" costs £360 at the height of the season. That is set to go up to £450 in 2027.
That compares to an extra £25 that visitors to Muirfield will pay in 2027, a 6.3% increase taking the total to £420. Other leading tourist destinations such as the Old Course at St Andrews, currently charging a standard high‑season visitor fee of £340, have yet to confirm their rack rates for 2027.
Of course, none of these approach the four‑figure sums now associated with Turnberry’s Ailsa Course, but insiders say Carnoustie’s move feels different because of what it represents.
After more than a century in public hands, Angus Council has now handed day‑to‑day control of the three courses to Carnoustie Golf Heritage and Hospitality Group, a privately‑owned company that already controls the adjacent hotel and will receive all golf income under a lease deal running to 2033.
Speaking privately, some tour operators have expressed concern that decisions on big hikes like the one at Carnoustie are being made with little consideration to the potential implications for the broader market across Scotland. For the moment the demand is still there, but the question is how far to push the limits of pricing.
Let chaos reign as Dye revels in Coach of the Year award
“It’s not the usual way of doing golf coaching,” says Linzie Dye of West Kilbride. “The general view people have of coaching beginners is folk standing in a row at a range, hitting balls and waiting to get on the course when they feel ready.
“But we get out on the course in the first session and adapt it to their needs. That’s the big hook of the programme. They are then able to put golf into context very early on in their journey. It takes away the pressure of the big build up towards actually going out on the course after weeks on a range."
Read the full interview by golf correspondent Nick Rodger here.
Digital flair drives visitor income as Lybster turns 100
Lybster Golf Club is marking its 100th anniversary with celebrations built around hickory clubs, Caithness slate and a very modern marketing story. On the eve of the club's Centenary Open, Magnus Ryrie explains how a volunteer‑run nine‑holer has used low‑cost digital tweaks to attract more visitors while keeping golf affordable for the local community.
Read the full story from Around the Greens here.
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