Watching Shane Lowry lead the field a merry dance at Royal Portrush’s undulating Dunluce Link Course will undoubtedly have left many amateur golfers wishing they could test their mettle at the dauntingly beautiful Northern Irish course.
The reality is, it’s not a far-fetched idea. With the venue for the 148th Open Championship open for visitors and not closed off behind a membership everyone could have their chance to follow in Lowry’s footsteps.
But playing some of the country’s most prestigious courses cost a fortune to play, right? Not necessarily!
Since the turn of the century 33 courses in the UK have hosted a European Tour event. And of those 33, all but four are open for visitors and you might be surprised at how cheap you can get a round in.
The average price you can get a round at the 29 non-members-only courses comes in at around £115. The most recent Tour venue, Portrush comes in somewhere around the middle in the green fee league table, with a winter round on the Dunluce Course setting you back £80.
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The cheapest European tour courses to play
If you want to follow in the footsteps of some of the biggest names in golf you don’t need to be made of money either. Two European Tour golf courses stand out as particular bargains, but here are the three courses that make the podium of cheap tee times.
3. Portstewart
European Tour event hosted: Irish Open (2017)
Cheapest round: £60
Shortly before becoming one of the biggest talents in world golf John Rahm landed his very first European Tour victory at Portstewart when the event brought crowds of 92,000 people to the County Londonderry course.
Located just five miles along the Northern Irish coast from Portrush, Portstewart boasts “one of the most spectacular open nines in golf”, according to Golf Monthly.
Set amongst the dunes that look out to the Atlantic, the course has a mix of the old and new. The original design which dates back to the 19th century has been tinkered with here and there, including the addition of seven new holes during development in the late 1980s.
From teeing off at the downhill and downright frightening first, to the short-but-by-no-means-sweet 140 yard sixth, this cause poses untold challenges. But at £60 for a round between November and March, it could be one of the cheapest championship quality Links courses in the country.
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2. Slaley Hall
European Tour event hosted: Great North Open (1996 – 2002)
Cheapest round: £25
OK, we accept that the Great North Open might not be first title that comes to mind when you think of European Tour Events but give Slaley Hall a chance. The venue saw the likes of Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie and Retief Goosen land the relatively short-lived tournament around the turn of the Millennium.
So not only can you attempt to recreate the round of some big names in golf on the venue’s Hunting Course, but more importantly, you can play a Championship level venue for just £25!
Rolling moorland, an abundance of rhododendrons and an altogether pleasing aesthetics are somewhat misgiving though. Tricky greens and fiendishly placed bunkers provide a stern challenge to anyone wishing to try their luck here.
As well as the course known as the ‘Augusta of the North’, Slaley Hall is also home to the Priestman Course, which, at £15 a round is equally outstanding value for golfers.
The perfect excuse to show off our very own #Augusta of the North – it’s #Masters weekend! Who will be taking home the #GreenJacket this year? We’ll be showing live Masters coverage in The Claret Jug all weekend Thursday – Sunday along with drinks promotions and pool! pic.twitter.com/e72gvTO23j
— Slaley Hall (@SlaleyHall) April 11, 2019
1. Celtic Manor (Roman Road Course)
European Tour event hosted: Wales Open (2005 – 2007)
Cheapest round: £24
It may not be Celtic Manor’s number one course (you can play that for £80 in the winter), but the Roman Road is by no means a sub-standard alternative either. Home to the Wales Open for three years when the venue’s The Montgomerie Course was being developed, the Par 70 teaser has its own attractions and quirks.
It’s undulating fairways and well-guarded greens mean you certainly have your work cut out if you are escape here with a decent score. That’s not to say it’s impossible – Sweden’s Robert Karlsson broke a European Tour record when completing his first two Wales Open rounds in 124 back in 2006!
Named as Wales’ ‘top in-land course’ by Golf Monthly, the Roman Road Course sits proudly as Celtic Manor’s original Championship level course. And for less than the price of cheap pair of golf shoes for a round, it’s almost impossible to say no!
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So there you have it, the three cheapest European Tour golf courses you can play in the UK! Ready to tee off? Make sure you are fully protected with SportsCover Direct’s Golf Insurance.