One website states that ‘joining means becoming part of a top-tier community’. There is an initial fee of £1,500 due up front, and then £900 per year
A view of Malone Golf Course(Image: Malone Golf Course)
There has been an explosion of interest in golf in the wake of Rory McIlroy’s magical Masters triumph and career grand slam achievement. While the sport has been on the crest of a wave on these shores since stars like Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry achieved major success, McIlroy’s exploits this year have taken that to a whole new level.
The scenes on the final day of the Irish Open at The K Club were like nothing ever seen in golf. Hordes of young fans roared home McIlroy as he holed an eagle putt on the 72nd hole to take the event to a play-off, which he eventually won.
All year, golf clubs and driving ranges have been inundated with young would-be Rory McIlroys, drawn to the sport for the first time. We are blessed with some of the finest golf courses anywhere in the world and thankfully there are plenty of more manageable courses where the skills of the game can be learned and refined.
The most expensive golf membership in the UK is reportedly for Beaverbrook Golf Club in Surrey, with a joining fee estimated at £305,000.
We have taken a look at membership and green fee costs for golf clubs in Northern Ireland to analyse the range and quality on offer.
The eyes of the golfing world focused on Royal Portrush this summer for the 153rd Open. It regularly ranks among the best courses in the world and demand for membership there is high.
There is a waiting list to become a member, and there’s also a fee. However, it’s nowhere near as costly as the likes of Beaverbrook in England or some of the exclusive clubs in the United States.
The annual fee for a membership at Royal Portrush is £2,000. There is also a one-off joining charge that is also pretty hefty but is undisclosed until you contact the club.
In 2026, you can play the Dunluce Links for £420 between April 1 and October 31, if you fancy a one-off round. Playing the Valley Links will cost £200 per person in the same date range, with caddies also available to hire.
The Claret Jug at Royal Portrush Golf Club(Image: David Cannon/Getty Images)
Royal County Down, set against the magnificent backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne, has been voted as the world’s finest course and poses a seriously difficult challenge for even the most elite golfers.
The RCD club does not publicly list its membership fees because it is a private club. Information on membership is typically provided only upon direct inquiry with the club.
You can play at various times from mid April to October 2026 for a sum of £450 per round and concessionary rates are available throughout the summer to golfers who are members of Golf Ireland.
Rory McIlroy plays a shot on the eighth hole at Royal County Down, Newcastle(Image: ©INPHO/Ben Brady)
Portstewart Golf Club is another one of Northern Ireland’s gems. Their 2026 green fees are £335 for 18 holes during summer (May-September) and £195 in the shoulder months (April & October). For membership, the fees vary by category, and applications are currently closed, though you can contact the club office to inquire about future opportunities.
With two championship golf courses, state-of-the-art practice facilities and a host of resort experiences, the Lough Erne resort is also popular for golfers
There is currently a waiting list for memberships with packages available on enquiry.. Green fees for the Faldo Course are available on GolfNow, ranging from £100 to 150.
Ardglass Golf Club has several membership tiers with associated costs for 2025: a 7 Day Membership costs £932 with a £1,000 entrance fee, a 6 Day Membership costs £812 with a £1,000 entrance fee, a 5 Day Membership costs £681 with a £1,000 entrance fee, and an Under 25 Membership costs £305 with a £130 entrance fee. These fees are annual subscriptions, plus a one-time entrance fee for most categories.
Visitors with GUI (Golf Union Ireland) membership can play 18 holes at Ardglass for £80. If you are not a GUI member, it’s £200.
Castlerock is another sublime course on the north coast and the annual membership there costs £785 plus fees. Student membership is £250. Green fees range from £85-270 depending on time of year and membership of GUI
Malone Golf Club is a stunning 27-hole facility located in south Belfast around a lake. You can play Malone for £65 as a GUI member, otherwise it’s around £120. Membership is much more expensive, with the website stating that ‘Joining Malone Golf Club means becoming part of a top-tier community’.
There is an initial fee of £1,500 due up front and then £900 per year. For junior members, that figure is £500 and £300.
While those fees and opulent surroundings may frighten off some potential stars of the future, there are countless courses scattered around the country with green fees as low as £5 per person. That is the charge at Fivemiletown Golf Club on the Tyrone-Fermanagh border. For adults it’s just £20, with generous membership packages available.
The City of Belfast course offer memberships for £415 for 30-64 year olds. For other adults it’s £300. For kids U14 it’s £75 for the year. Green fees range from £13-£18.
Many golf clubs offer twilight deals for rounds in the late afternoon, while driving ranges are more popular than ever for those refining their game or looking to take up the sport for the first time. The range at Lough Erne in Enniskillen is the latest to add TrackMan technology to all bays at the range, with every stat possible on each shot taken and a broad selection of games to play.
