How Much Does a Golf Trip to England Cost?

If you’ve spent any amount of time researching your overseas golf trip on our website, you’ve likely arrived here with a variety of unanswered questions.

Perhaps you were inspired by The Open at Royal Liverpool, or are hoping to visit before it returns to Royal Birkdale, but are unsure of where else you should play golf in England.

Maybe you’re trying to decide who to invite, when to go, or you’re comparing golf travel companies and are struggling to tell us all apart. Eventually, all of these questions lead to yet another…

How much does an England golf trip cost?

If you’re looking for answers to these and other questions, you’ll find in-depth guides to them all at the H&B Yardage Book. But on the topic of cost, as you peruse the pages of our website, you’ll notice that there’s no pricing.

And for very good reason.

At Haversham & Baker, we believe that the best golf travel experience is one that’s custom tailored to the desires and expectations of your group. You won’t find pricing here because a trip that’s uniquely yours can never come wrapped in the same pre-packaged, standardized itinerary that’s taken by everyone else.

When it comes to the cost of England golf trips, this approach has a major advantage working in its favor...

The H&B Forces from Fieldstone Golf Club enjoy at Royal Liverpool

As any experienced traveler knows well, price is only one half of the equation. The other, more important half, is value.

By first learning about you, your group, and your goals for the trip, our Expedition Planning Managers will craft an itinerary that is built solely around the places and experiences that bring value to all of the above.

Wherever your overall cost falls, you can rest assured knowing that every minute of your trip and every dollar out of your wallet is invested in the things that are important to you.

Put another way...

When you travel with Haversham & Baker, the first and most important factor that will influence the cost of your golf trip to England is… You.

So why would we write a guide on the cost of an England golf trip if there’s no pricing and every trip is unique?

Throughout our over 30 years of sending golfers across the pond, we’ve learned that most in the early phase of planning aren’t looking for an exact price. Instead, they seek to understand all of the factors and decisions that will drive their final total.

If you’re wondering what separates the $5,000 Expedition from the $10,000 variety, here are the important factors which will influence your cost of a golf trip to England.

The H&B Forces from Hamilton Farm Golf Club enjoy at Royal Birkdale

Where You Play

With 10 members of the current GOLF World Top 100 list, four of which are Open Championship venues, choosing where to play golf in England is no easy task. Yet this decision is certain to drive the overall cost of your England golf trip. If your itinerary is chocked full of bucket-list worthy golf courses, your price is sure to reflect it. But there’s so much more to golf in England than just the names featured in a magazine.

For example, St. George’s Hill near London garners far less praise than the New Course at Sunningdale Golf Club, even though both courses were designed by Harry Colt and are world-ranked. The former also happens to cost about 30% less than the latter. Along the Channel Coast, Royal Cinque Ports is a two-time host of The Open Championship with a green fee that’s about 40% less than this year’s venue, Royal St. George’s Golf Club. Then there’s England’s Golf Coast, where numerous historic, yet off the beaten path golf courses will provide more bang for your buck.

None of this is to say that the marquee venues like Royal Liverpool aren’t worth the price of admission. Quite the opposite. But before you fill the itinerary with nothing but marquee golf courses, it helps to lean on the advice of an expert. Someone who can help you strike the right balance of courses and maybe even suggest a less-heralded option that’s a better fit for your group than the world-ranked course nearby.

The H&B Forces from Triple Crown Country Club enjoy a sunny day at Royal St. George's

Where You Stay

When it comes to the cost of an England golf trip, several decisions related to accommodations will influence your overall figure. Of course, the caliber of the hotel is one factor. The five-star estate in the English countryside will naturally cost more than the comfortable four-star property near the golf course. The same is true for that room with a view or the spacious suite. But of all the decisions related to your accommodations, nothing will impact the cost of your England golf trip more than the choice of single versus double occupancy.

This is where the expertise of your H&B Expedition Planning Manager can really pay dividends. By first gaining an understanding of the dynamic of your group, they’ll be able to guide you to the accommodations which best align with your expectations. For example, The Dormy House at Royal Lytham is a unique option for golfers, but the value of that experience is likely lost for those on a couples golf trip to England.

Our advice… If you intend to stay in the good graces of your travel companions, ensure that your accommodations of choice match with the group first and the budget second.

The H&B Forces from Scotts Bluff Country Club at Swinley Forest

When You Go

As you’d expect with any kind of travel, when you take your England golf trip is certain to influence its final cost. Generally speaking, the golf travel season in England runs from April through October. Thanks to more inviting weather, this is typically the best time of year to play golf in England. Of course, this is when every other golfer wants to visit England, say nothing of tourists in general, so both the green fees and accommodations are priced accordingly.

Like every other decision, the key here is to simply strike the balance between cost and timing that’s right for you. If you’re looking to capture some extra value, give some consideration to the shoulder months of April and October. The temperatures may be a little lower than the rest of the season, but the impact on the cost of your trip could be significant.

The H&B Forces from Hazeltine National Golf Club at Royal Liverpool

How You Get Around

Without question, the most important decision you’ll make when planning your England golf trip is whether to self-drive or hire a Driver-Host. As explained here, there are many benefits to hiring a Driver-Host, and most of the H&B Forces do exactly that. They simply prefer to have a local behind the wheel showing them around England as opposed to navigating the country on their own.

Hiring a Driver-Host will naturally come at a premium versus a self-drive trip, but the cost difference between the two is minimal, if any, when you’re traveling with eight or more. The impact of a Driver-Host on your overall experience, however, just can’t be measured.

Additional Cost Considerations

London Time

London is one of the iconic destinations in the world for travel. If you’re planning a trip to the Channel Coast or the heathland nearby, you should absolutely set aside some time for sightseeing. Just know that everything carries a premium the closer you are to His Majesty’s backyard.

Airfare

Your flight across the pond is naturally an important cost consideration. Thankfully, there’s numerous non-stop options from the United States to both London and Manchester. Plan early and consult our Flight FAQs for additional tips.

Caddies

Unless you’ve played the courses before and are comfortable navigating them on your own, our suggestion is to always take a caddie if possible. Caddie fees usually average about £50+ gratuity. Approximately $100 per caddie would be a good guideline to add to your budget. Of course, cost is just one thing to consider when taking a caddie. We’ve covered the rest in our Caddie FAQs.

“How much does a golf trip to England cost?” is far from a straightforward question. Everything from when you travel and where you stay to your accommodation and golf course choices will drive the overall cost of your Expedition.

It’s important to keep in mind, however, the difference between cost and value. If there’s a feature that will bring more value to your overall experience and, in turn, create more meaningful memories in the process, then by all means…

Book it.