If watching this year’s Open Championship has you salivating at the idea of playing Royal St. George’s, well you’re in luck! In the U.K., it’s far less common for courses to be completely shut away from public play, and as such you can walk in the footsteps of the game’s greatest golfers.
Royal St. George’s has served as Open host 15 times now dating back to 1894. The course may look largely the same, but the greens fees have swollen somewhat.
Royal St. George’s Greens Fees
The course welcomes visitors, who are charged between 160 GBP and 250 GBP (approximately $220-$345) per person for 18 holes, depending on the time of year.
Through October 2021, fees are listed at 250 GBP, while in the winter they drop to 160 GBP.
Visitors were also welcomed to play the course in the lead-up to the 2021 Open, but did so largely in a “play off mats” policy to protect the sanctity of the turf. In the lead-up to the Open, visitor play was also limited to 18-hole bookings.
How St. George’s brings back memories of bounces, Watson and Dino’s
Rules for Royal St. George’s Visitors
One particularly intriguing regulation: for a golfer to play Royal St. George, that golfer must show proof of an 18.4 handicap or below.
Royal St. George’s website also provides others rules for visitors, which covers things like golfing attire, use of mobile phones and more.
When can you play Royal St. George’s?
The course also offers a visitor timetable, which lays out when outside play is allowed. Visitor two-balls are allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. onwards. Tuesdays are more open, with visitor play allowed in three- and four-balls available from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Weekends are typically reserved for members and their guests. Visitors are recommended and in some cases required to take a caddie.
For more information on Royal St. George’s rates, click here, and to look into booking your own tee time, click here.
