A green fee is the price you pay to play one round of golf at a course where you are not a member. Nine holes or eighteen, you pay once, you play, you go home. No yearly membership needed. This is how most golfers in the Netherlands play when they are starting out, and it is a lovely, free way to try many different courses. Let me explain what you get, what you pay, and how to pay less.
What does a green fee actually cover?
Your green fee buys you access to the course for one round: the tees, the fairways, the greens, and almost always the practice putting green near the clubhouse. That is it, and that is enough to have a wonderful afternoon.
Some things are usually not included, so it helps to know before you arrive. A motor buggy costs extra. A trolley (in Dutch, a loopkar) often costs a few euros. Club rental, range balls, and food or drink in the clubhouse are all separate. A good part of your money goes straight back into the grass — mowing the fairways, raking the bunkers, keeping the greens smooth and healthy. When you walk a course in beautiful condition, that is your green fee at work.
How much does a round of golf cost in the Netherlands?
For a weekend round in high season on a full 18-hole course, the Dutch average in 2026 is €74.23. The median is €71.25, and the single most common price is a round €70. In 2025 the average was €71.34, so prices climb slowly each year.
But averages hide the good news. Most regular 18-hole courses sit between €40 and €100, and €40 buys a proper full round at the friendlier clubs. Nine holes can start around €25. At the top end, Bernardus Golf asks €255 — but that is a whole day membership with gym, sauna, and swimming pool, not just golf. At the other end, Golfbaan Sloten in Amsterdam is €17 for a day on their short par-3 course.
Play on a weekday, or later in the day, and you pay less again. More on that below. If you want a clear picture of lesson and package prices with me, my [pricing page]({{% relref “/pricing/” %}}) keeps it simple.
Do you need a handicap card to play on green fee?
For most traditional 18-hole clubs, yes — you show a GVB (Golfvaardigheidsbewijs) or an NGF handicap registration before you tee off. Without proof that you can play safely, most classic clubs will kindly ask you to come back another time.
In the Netherlands there are three levels of proof. First, baanpermissie — a local permission from the club’s pro, valid only at that one course. Second, the GVB — a tested certificate accepted at any course nationally. Third, an NGF Handicap Registration of 54 or better, the full national card that works everywhere. If you already hold an EGA handicap from the UK, Germany, Belgium, or another European country, that is accepted here too. You do not need to sit a Dutch test again.
And here is the part I love to tell beginners: pay-and-play courses, par-3 courses, and modern city venues welcome you with no card at all. This is exactly why we teach at Chi Chi Golf in Utrecht — you can come on day one, no handicap, no fear. If you want the full path from zero to your first card, start with my guide to [getting your golf handicap and GVB in the Netherlands]({{% relref “/guides/netherlands-handicap/golf-handicap-gvb-netherlands.md” %}}), and see which [courses near Utrecht let you play with no card yet]({{% relref “/guides/netherlands-handicap/pay-and-play-near-utrecht.md” %}}).
What is the introducé rate, and when can you use it?
The introducé rate is a special guest price. When a member brings you along as their non-member guest, you pay a reduced fee instead of the full visitor green fee. An example is €25 for 9 holes — much less than a normal round at the same club.
There are two rules to remember. Usually a member can introduce the same guest only three or four times a year at one club, and the member must play in your group. So it is a warm way to try a lovely private club through a friend, not a permanent discount. If a golfing friend invites you, say yes.
When is the cheapest time to play?
Early morning and late afternoon. Many Dutch courses offer early bird deals before roughly 08:00–09:00, and twilight deals after about 17:00. Twilight prices can be around €29.50–€31.50 for 9 holes or €41–€43.50 for 18. A weekday round, especially in the afternoon, is almost always cheaper than a Saturday morning on the same course.
Honestly, an early tee time is my favourite. The grass is wet and shining, the course is quiet, the price is lower. You play, you finish, and your whole day is still ahead of you.
What cards and schemes save money on green fees?
If you play often but do not want a full membership, a few options really help:
- A rittenkaart — a prepaid punch card, usually 10 rounds — gives around 20–30% off single green fees. This is the smart choice for regular visitors.
- Golf4Holland membership gives 50% off green fees at more than 100 courses in the Netherlands and abroad.
- Golfamore costs €59 a year for half-price golf at 1,600 European courses, so it pays for itself after two or three rounds.
- Golfvouchers.nl offers 2-for-1 green fees at participating Dutch courses. Perfect for playing with a friend.
Are Dutch green fees good value?
Most golfers think so. In one large survey, 61% said green fees were priced fairly, 37% found them too expensive, and only a small few thought they were too cheap. Interestingly, non-members felt the pinch more than club members — no surprise, since a member’s yearly fee spreads across many rounds.
One thing comes up again and again in golfer surveys: it is not only the number that people remember, it is the welcome. Many golfers describe the same feeling — a club that makes visitors feel truly wanted earns them back round after round, whatever the price on the board. That is the golf I want for you. Warm, welcoming, worth every euro.
Come play a quiet nine holes with me some morning, and I will show you how far a small green fee can go.