Here’s my annual look at UK summer green fee increases - Average top 100 green fees are ⬆️11.4% - over 3X the rate of inflation - The average top 25 course is now £407 (up 15% on 2025) Here's a thread with some thoughts. You can read it all on my blog too. 🧵1/12

ST ANDREWS - LEADING THE WAY The Links Trust, the organisation who manage the 8 courses in St Andrews, run an increasingly meaningful initiative, The Drive. Scottish residents can apply for heavily discounted tee times across a range of Links Trust courses, including The Old Course. Outgoing Chief Executive, Neil Coulson, said about the initiative ‘Our vision for The Drive is not only to provide a bucket-list experience to thousands of people across Scotland, but to widen access to golf and encourage people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences to play’, When they debuted it in 2025 it was well received , though there was a little cynicism about the number of tee times on offer. But the good news is it appears they were just testing the water last year. The 2026 initiative takes it to another level. The Links Trust have tripled the number of places this year - there are 496 tee times available in total (for 1,984 players) including 56 (224 people) on the Old Course. The rates are incredible, so if you are lucky enough to get a place it is in the reach of everyone to play. Applications close 6 weeks before each date so if you are a Scottish resident you can still get your application in for this year. This is exactly the kind of initiative I have been banging on for several years that I wish clubs would offer. At this kind of volume it becomes more than a PR initiative, but a genuine attempt to allow the local golfer to play our classic courses. 🧵11/12