Top 100 Best Value

[AussieKB]

Have played 30 on the list......most a long time ago when they were VFM.

 

[Imurg]

The question I'm asking is, simply,....why?
With a couple of exceptions you're paying stupid money to play golf - which means you can afford or justify the cost..
Which means VFM doesn't really enter the equation.
You really want to play, say St George's Hill
Are you really going to swap to West Hill because, according to this list, it's 27p cheaper (VFM)....??
It does make me wonder if they're running out of ideas and are just throwing things out there for the sake of it....

 

[Hobbit]

Not having played in the U.K. for 7 years the level green fees has risen to came as a shock. This led me to search the green fees at a number of clubs outside of the list that I’ve played. Some are very reasonable but some are quoting numbers similar to what you see on the list. It puts a different slant on where I might visit.

Back to the list; there’s a couple of bucket list courses I’d play, irrespective of where they are on the list, and there’s a couple I’d happily revisit. Beyond that I’ve no desire to visit 95% of what’s on the list. No doubt they’re exceptional courses but they don’t appeal.

Okay, let’s plan a trip. My bucket list course is about 140 miles away from what used to be home. Ideally, I don’t want to play by myself and would prefer one of my golfing buddies. Drive up the day before. Beer & curry. Play the course. Beer & curry. Overnight stay then play something on the way back. Getting £750 past my treasurer for a trip like that would be an interesting exercise.

Again, looking at the list, it’s irrelevant to all those golfers who don’t like links golf. Yes they can pick the bones out of the rest of them but…

 

[PNWokingham]

the VFM calculation is madness and no relevance or use whatsoever. Another stupid list, of which have played 35. I have lost appetite for these top 100 lists after being very interested for last 20 years and am more interested in finding some of the gems that get little attention - Cleve Hill last year a good example

 

[Voyager EMH]

I've played two on the list.

In the very early 1980s I played 3 rounds at Ganton in a universities team championship. This was at no personal financial cost to me.
Practice round the day before and then 36 hole comp.
Very pleased to see that I got £585 worth of golf in today's terms.

I was a junior member at Pennard 1971/72.
Don't recall exactly what my membership cost my dad. Usual sort of figure in those days was an extra £10 or £20 for your son.
Extremely pleased to see that I must have had over £3,000 worth of golf in today's terms.

That is about as far as my interest goes with regard to this list. At least that is some interest.

All those clubs have successfully kept me off their courses by their exorbitant prices.
But I've never considered myself to be a golfing tourist - so no loss to me at all.

 

[Hobbit]

I've played two on the list.

In the very early 1980s I played 3 rounds at Ganton in a universities team championship. This was at no personal financial cost to me.
Practice round the day before and then 36 hole comp.
Very pleased to see that I got £585 worth of golf in today's terms.

I was a junior member at Pennard 1971/72.
Don't recall exactly what my membership cost my dad. Usual sort of figure in those days was an extra £10 or £20 for your son.
Extremely pleased to see that I must have had over £3,000 worth of golf in today's terms.

That is about as far as my interest goes with regard to this list. At least that is some interest.

All those clubs have successfully kept me off their courses by their exorbitant prices.
But I've never considered myself to be a golfing tourist - so no loss to me at all.

But… as a collector of old clubs do you not have a similar feel for courses that come with a great history of the game?

Personally, I appreciate that the Old Course isn’t perhaps the best test of golf, and the double greens can be annoying but I love the place, including the town.

We each get our buzz in different ways. For me it’s also hitting a shot from where Nichlaus, Watson et al have played from.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Played 14 of them.
Really don't get the VFM index, who makes up this rubbish

 

[Crow]

As a regular moaner at today's ridiculous green fees, I was surprised to find that I've played 23 of them, many with thanks to the organisational skills of certain members of the forum.

But if I was just setting out on my golfing odyssey I doubt I'd play many of the courses at all, which is a shame as they provide a fantastic experience, but sadly one that can't be afforded by the majority of golfers today, even with such great VFM.

 

[Voyager EMH]

But… as a collector of old clubs do you not have a similar feel for courses that come with a great history of the game?

Personally, I appreciate that the Old Course isn’t perhaps the best test of golf, and the double greens can be annoying but I love the place, including the town.

We each get our buzz in different ways. For me it’s also hitting a shot from where Nichlaus, Watson et al have played from.

Collecting old bats is very recent.
Throughout my playing-of-golf life, I've considered myself to be a competitor not a sentimentalist.
I like the competition part of the sport. And I like the sport itself.
As long as the course is OK, I enjoy the game.
Very few courses have repulsed me. I do not accept a scale of value-for-money from £20 to £250. They are not that different to me.

But I could be tempted by a round at the Old Course St Andrews. I'm at that age where the can't-take-it-with-you approach to costs is becoming appropriate.

 

[Golfnut1957]

the VFM calculation is madness and no relevance or use whatsoever. Another stupid list, of which have played 35. I have lost appetite for these top 100 lists after being very interested for last 20 years and am more interested in finding some of the gems that get little attention - Cleve Hill last year a good example

None of my golfing mates have ever played a course because it was on someone's list. Our annual 3 day golf trip has a target of £300 for everything, golf, accommodation, beer, food, travel. We generally get close to this.

A couple of years ago we played 36 holes at Silloth for about £50, we have had Seacroft, Cavendish, Goswick, The Glenn etc for similar prices. We had a day at Cleeve Hill earlier this year for about £50. It immediately jumped into my list of top 5 courses, so good I want to go back next, which is unusual as we don't often return anywhere.

Our supporting courses have mainly been a mixture of enjoyable, challenging and scenic with a few duck eggs thrown in, you can't get it right every time.

These are the true value for money courses. I suppose it is the difference between a Burberry coat and an M&S one. They'll both keep you dry, but one will make your eyes water.

 

[upsidedown]

Played 23 of them and will be 25 after March and a trip to St Andrews.
Would rather spend the money on a week's sun now than some of the green fees being quoted once we've done The Old Lady , oh can I say that

 

[Captainron]

It would be interesting if it were done by a year's membership cost as well as a one round green fee.

Woodhall Spa Membership is £1850 for 2025. (joining fee ontop for new applicants)

So for a current member that would be 8.4 rounds on the Hotchkin at full beans rate.

 

[AussieKB]

None of my golfing mates have ever played a course because it was on someone's list. Our annual 3 day golf trip has a target of £300 for everything, golf, accommodation, beer, food, travel. We generally get close to this.

A couple of years ago we played 36 holes at Silloth for about £50, we have had Seacroft, Cavendish, Goswick, The Glenn etc for similar prices. We had a day at Cleeve Hill earlier this year for about £50. It immediately jumped into my list of top 5 courses, so good I want to go back next, which is unusual as we don't often return anywhere.

Our supporting courses have mainly been a mixture of enjoyable, challenging and scenic with a few duck eggs thrown in, you can't get it right every time.

These are the true value for money courses. I suppose it is the difference between a Burberry coat and an M&S one. They'll both keep you dry, but one will make your eyes water.

300 quid including beer....are you all tee teetotalers ?

 

[Captainron]

300 quid including beer....are you all tee teetotalers ?

I thought that too. Wonder if they count the beers in town afterwards? 8 of us would do the £300 in beer alone easily over that time.

 

[Golfnut1957]

I thought that too. Wonder if they count the beers in town afterwards? 8 of us would do the £300 in beer alone easily over that time.

The lad who organised this year is known lovingly as Billy the Pig and drinking is the love of his life.
The golf which was 4 rounds at Cleeve Hill, Fulford Heath and Dudley, came in at well under £100 for the lot.
Two nights in a Premier Inn. It should have been a Wetherspoons but we were too slow with the booking.
Two nights away, starting both nights in the spoons and drinking in dives which is Billy's hostelry of choice means copious quantities of ale at minimal cost. The most expensive drinks were those in the clubhouse.
If Carlberg did pubs they would own the one we stayed at in Glossop.
Olde world, 6 rooms on the 2nd floor, Indian restaurant on the 1st and cheap beer on the ground floor. And they had a quiz on the Thursday night.
Brilliant.

 

[4LEX]

The lad who organised this year is known lovingly as Billy the Pig and drinking is the love of his life.
The golf which was 4 rounds at Cleeve Hill, Fulford Heath and Dudley, came in at well under £100 for the lot.
Two nights in a Premier Inn. It should have been a Wetherspoons but we were too slow with the booking.
Two nights away, starting both nights in the spoons and drinking in dives which is Billy's hostelry of choice means copious quantities of ale at minimal cost. The most expensive drinks were those in the clubhouse.
If Carlberg did pubs they would own the one we stayed at in Glossop.
Olde world, 6 rooms on the 2nd floor, Indian restaurant on the 1st and cheap beer on the ground floor. And they had a quiz on the Thursday night.
Brilliant.

Sounds like Billy needs to organise a few forum away days next year

 

[Crazyface]

That is one of the most tosh lists I've ever seen. Value for money ? No, no and no.

Maybe it's deliberate click bait? Otherwise, utter nonsense.

Agreed. Utter conkers!

 

[Golfnut1957]

Sounds like Billy needs to organise a few forum away days next year

It's holidays you need to get him on to, he has absolutely brilliant holidays/hotels at ridiculous prices.

He may drink in spoons, but he holidays in Malmaisons. I don't know how he does it.

 

[3offTheTee]

A guy at our place is also a member at Silloth. They took around 600k in 2024 in Green fees
hence the reason they keep the price relatively low. A few years years a coach load of Americans came and because the Green fees were under £50 they left! Lesson learned; think it was the reason for the rapid increase at North Berwick.

 

[KenL]

It's holidays you need to get him on to, he has absolutely brilliant holidays/hotels at ridiculous prices.

He may drink in spoons, but he holidays in Malmaisons. I don't know how he does it.

Nothing wrong with spoons.