How Much Does a Scotland Golf Trip Cost?

What we’ve learned over the past 30 years is that most travelers in the early stages of planning aren’t looking for a specific price. Instead, they seek to understand all of the decisions and variables which will impact their final figure.

So what separates a $5,000 Scotland golf trip from the $10,000 variety

What follows are some of the important factors which will influence the cost of your trip.

For additional insight, the topic of cost was covered in-detail on the Golf and the Good Life podcast. Tune-in below or wherever you get your podcasts.

When You Go

Just as you’d expect with other types of travel, the dates of your golf trip to Scotland will certainly have a big impact on your total cost.

The golf travel season typically runs from April to October. This is generally the best time of year to play golf in Scotland. Supply and demand for the peak months of June through August naturally drives prices higher during this period.

Believe it or not, there’s many reasons people visit Scotland beyond golf, some of which may affect rates and availability around the country. For example, August is always a busy time in Edinburgh thanks to a pair of highly attended festivals and the performances of the Military Tattoo.

Those looking to capture some savings will find it in the shoulder months of April and October. Depending on your destination, hotel rates are often significantly lower in these months.

Again, depending upon your choice of accommodations, the savings could easily hit four figures per person. The trade-off is that the temperatures usually average about 10-15 degrees cooler compared to the heart of the season.

The members of Muirfield Village with the Claret Jug in The Home of Golf

Where You Play

The decision of where to play on your Scotland golf trip will have a significant impact on its overall cost.

For example, thanks to a concentration of bucket list courses, golf trips to St. Andrews and Ayrshire will generally run much higher than a trip of similar length to The Highlands and Aberdeen.

Although we believe that every golf traveler should play the best courses in Scotland at least once, if your itinerary is stocked with nothing but bucket list experiences, your price will reflect it.

On the other hand, Scotland is home to an abundance of outstanding, but less-heralded, links golf courses. The green fees at these courses are significantly less than their illustrious neighbors, yet our travelers often find them to be among the most memorable rounds of the trip.

If you’re looking to capture some savings and value, your H&B Expedition Planning Manager can guide you to the courses which might be a better fit versus a round at the headliner up the street.

In addition to being The Home of Golf, St. Andrews also happens to be one of the primary drivers of the cost of a Scotland golf tour. The simple supply and demand of guaranteed Old Course tee times means that their inclusion on the itinerary will certainly hit your pocketbook. There are, however, other less costly ways to play the Old Course as outlined at the link above.

The members of Ridgewood Country Club at Turnberry

What You Book

The wide-range of accommodation options for a Scotland golf trip brings with it an equally wide-range of pricing. From private cottages and quality lodgings near the course to award-winning landmark hotels in the heart of Edinburgh, the available choices and price points are almost endless.

By enlisting the expertise of an H&B Planning Manager, you’ve not only saved yourself the time and hassle of endless hotel rate searches, you’ve also ensured that the final choice is the right one for your group.

By getting to know you and your travel companions first, our Planning Managers can match the property that’s best for not only the logistics of your trip, but also the dynamic of your group and, most importantly, your budget.

Besides the quality of the property itself, your room category will also have an influence on the cost of your trip.

This is, again, where the expertise of your Expedition Planning Manager may prove invaluable. They’ll be able to tell you when a particular room type may be too small for two people, perhaps offsetting the savings it presents. Or if the oddly configured Junior Suites at a certain hotel aren’t worth the premium over their Deluxe Rooms.

Of course, rooms with a view will also impact your final tally. And although watching the sunrise over The Old Course from your private balcony is a truly surreal experience, it’s important to know that it may wind up costing you more than the green fee itself.

The members of Palos Verdes Golf Club enjoy the Good Life at Gleneagles

Who is Your Roommate

A decision which may have the largest impact on the cost of a golf trip to Scotland is single vs double occupancy.

Because Scotland golf tours are traditionally priced based on double occupancy, opting to have a room to yourself will increase the lodging aspect of your trip by approximately 50%. Over the course of a weeklong trip, this could put a severe dent in your souvenir budget.

Depending upon your destination, however, this may not be an either/or proposition. There are many options around Scotland where multi-bedroom accommodations are available.

If you’re traveling on a buddies trip, you may appreciate the privacy of your own bedroom and en suite bathroom, combined with the added space and amenities found in the shared living areas. Perhaps most importantly, these options may fall in-between the single and double occupancy price points.

Again, this is where the expertise of your H&B Expedition Planning Manager shines through, as they’ll be able to share where opportunities like this, which also fit into your budget, may be available.

The members of Kalamazoo Country Club at Muirfield

How You Get Around

One of the last things many people take into account when planning a Scotland golf trip is the Point A to Point B. There are many things to consider when choosing whether to self drive or hire an H&B Driver-Host for your Expedition.

The majority of our travelers opt for the latter, understanding the benefits of an H&B Driver-Host far outweigh the additional cost.

The size of your group will largely determine the cost difference between the two and perhaps influence your decision. Generally speaking, groups of four or fewer travelers are more likely to opt to self-drive vs hiring a Driver-Host.

When you get to the magic number of 8 travelers, however, the cost difference is so minimal that almost none of our groups choose to drive themselves.

Once they’ve experienced the added value of traveling around the country with a local behind the wheel rather than wandering Scotland on their own, groups of all sizes quickly realize that it’s the only way to fly.

H&B Driver-Host Joe Sutherland awaits his travelers at Prestwick

Additional Tips

Caddies: If you plan on taking caddies during your trip, fees typically average about £50+ gratuity. Approximately $100 per caddie would be a good guideline to add to your budget.

Airfare: Naturally, airfare will constitute a large portion of your overall cost. Plan early and don’t forget this important factor when considering When You Go above.

Book Early: When you book your trip can have a significant impact on its final cost. The longer you wait to begin the planning process, the more it is likely to cost you.

As you can see, “How much does a golf trip to Scotland cost?” is not exactly a straightforward question. There are many factors, from accommodations and transportation to date of travel and courses played, which will impact the final cost of your trip.

By first getting to know you and your group, our Expedition Planning Managers can share what’s possible and what isn’t within the confines of your budget, while crafting a trip that precisely meets the rest of your expectations.

In the end, our travelers understand better than most that, to paraphrase a famous quote by Benjamin Franklin, the value of the memories made lingers long after the temporary discomfort of price is forgotten.