Golf Business News – Leading Courses launches ‘Green Fee Value Index’

Independent golf course review website LeadingCourses.com has introduced the Green Fee Value Index (GVI), a new data-driven metric that evaluates where price and quality align most effectively across Europe’s most popular golf destinations.

The GVI measures the true value of a golfer’s experience at any given venue by dividing a club’s green fee by its verified golfer rating. The result is a clear benchmark for value, enabling golfers, clubs, and destinations to assess performance and pricing power with unprecedented transparency.

Covering 360 golf courses across Spain and Portugal with verified ratings of 7.0 or higher, the GVI combines September peak-season green fees with golfer reviews to establish a consistent value-for-money score. This allows for fair comparison across markets and price levels, providing both golfers and course operators with reliable insights into where satisfaction and cost are best balanced.

Early findings highlight the Spanish regions of Murcia and Valencia, along with courses in Northern Portugal, stand out for their ability to combine affordability with excellent course standards, while Andalusia and the Algarve continue to define the luxury segment — proving that premium pricing can still represent good value when service and conditioning meet expectations.

The research identifies clear market dynamics: every additional point in golfer rating corresponds to roughly €75–€100 more in green fee price, yet many mid-market venues deliver satisfaction levels comparable to elite resorts. This balance between accessibility and aspiration defines the strength of Europe’s golf landscape.

For golf tourism professionals, course managers, and investors, the GVI provides a data-backed foundation for strategic decision-making – informing marketing, pricing, and investment strategies based on real golfer sentiment rather than perception alone.

Marc Sleenhoff, Country Manager at Leading Courses, said: “The GVI turns reputation into measurable reality. It helps golfers identify true value and gives clubs the insight to benchmark their performance objectively.”

To obtain a copy of the report, email Marc Sleenhoff at m.sleenhoff@leadingcourses.com, or for more information visit www.leadingcourses.com.