You can start golfing in the Netherlands for roughly €500 to €700 in your first year. That covers a baanpermissie course, a secondhand set of clubs, a budget handicap registration, and a handful of rounds on a real course. Golf has a reputation for being expensive. When you look at the actual numbers, most beginners are pleasantly surprised.
A lot of beginners tell me the same thing once they finally check the prices. They expected a rich-person hobby, and instead they found a starter course that costs less than a weekend away. Let me show you where the money really goes. If you want the bigger picture first, my guide on how to start golf in the Netherlands walks you through the whole path.
What is the GVB (baanpermissie), and how much does it cost?
The GVB is your golf skills certificate, and the standard national route costs €109.
GVB stands for Golfvaardigheidsbewijs. Many people call it “baanpermissie”, which means course permission. Both words describe the same thing: proof that you know the basic swing and the etiquette, so a course is happy to let you play. The national NGF Golfstart programme has one fixed price of €109 and gives you six hours of lessons spread over at least three days. Your clubs are borrowed for free during those lessons, so you do not need to own anything yet.
Some clubs sell larger group packages that go further, with five or more lessons and full practice-center access, often around €400 to €525. Those are fuller commercial courses, not the same product as the €109 minimum route. Good to know the difference so you can compare fairly.
I teach the GVB path myself at Chi Chi Golf in Utrecht and at Golfschool Hoenderdaal in Driebergen. If you prefer learning one-to-one, a trial lesson is about €20 and a regular private lesson is around €50 for 50 minutes. You can see all my lesson prices and choose what fits you. One detail that puts expats at ease: almost every instructor here speaks fluent English, so no Dutch is needed to learn. There is more on that in learning golf as an expat in Utrecht .
Do you need to buy clubs before your first lesson?
No. You do not need your own clubs to start.
During the Golfstart course the clubs are free to borrow. For private lessons most places rent you a set for about €10 a session, or roughly €50 for a whole course period. So you can take your first swings, feel whether the game grabs you, and only buy clubs once you know you love it.
When you are ready, a new beginner set runs €200 to €600. A solid secondhand starter set costs around €200, and used clubs are easy to find here on Marktplaats, Golfclubtrader.nl and SecondChanceGolf.nl. One honest warning: convincing fakes turn up on Amazon and Marktplaats, so buy carefully or bring someone who knows clubs. Then add shoes at €60 to €200, a glove from €15, and small extras like a bag, balls and tees for another €50 to €100. My guide on whether you need your own clubs goes deeper if you want it.
What does a golf membership cost per year?
A full club membership in the Netherlands cost €1,121 per year on average in 2025, but you have much cheaper options as a beginner.
That average hides a wide range. The cheapest playing rights sat around €150 a year, while the most expensive club asked €4,500. For someone just starting, a full membership is usually not where you begin.
A popular budget route is a “club zonder thuisbaan”, a virtual club with no home course. These register your NGF handicap for €37 to €84 a year, and then you pay a green fee each time you play. If you are not yet sure how often you will golf, this is a smart, low-risk choice. Your NGF Pass lives in the Golf.nl app on your phone, since there has been no plastic card since 2021.
How much are green fees for a single round?
A round of 18 holes costs €74.23 on average in 2026, and nine holes usually run €25 to €50.
Prices swing a lot by course and by time of day. Weekday and twilight rates are meaningfully cheaper, which is worth knowing when you are counting euros. At the budget end, Golfbaan De Vlietlanden charges €45 for a weekend 18-hole round, and Golfbaan Sloten in Amsterdam offers a €17 day pass. At the luxury end, Bernardus Golf asks €255, which includes full facilities for the whole day. With more than 250 courses across the country, there is always one near you to match your budget.
What is the cheapest realistic way into golf?
The cheapest honest path is roughly €500 to €700 for your entire first year.
Here is how that adds up: the €109 Golfstart course, a secondhand set near €200, a virtual-club membership of €50 to €80, three to five green fees at €100 to €200 total, and a glove plus balls for about €40. Real golf, real course, for the price of a good winter coat and a few nights out.
And you can taste the game even before spending on a GVB. Pay-and-play courses, par-3 courses and driving ranges need no permit at all, so a complete beginner can use them from day one. Golfbaan Amsteldijk near Amsterdam, for example, sells a €22.50 day pass for its practice center and 9-hole par-3 course, with no GVB required. A gentle, low-pressure way to swing a club for the very first time. When you are ready for that proper first lesson, your first golf lesson tells you exactly what to expect.
So the money is friendlier than the myth. Start small, borrow clubs, take a trial lesson, and see how it feels. If you enjoy it, come find me on the range in Utrecht or Driebergen. I would love to help you take your first proper swing.