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Fact check: How much does it cost to golf at a Trump-owned course?
Executive Summary
The cost to play at Trump-owned golf properties varies dramatically by course, time of day, and whether a player is a member, with single-round green fees reported from roughly €495 (~$520) in Scotland to more than $1,200 at premium tee times, while membership initiation and annual dues at select Trump clubs range from five-figure to six-figure sums and beyond. Published pricing from 2024–2025 shows a pattern: resort flagship courses and peak tee times command the highest public green fees, mandatory add-ons (caddies/forecaddies) and package pricing further increase the out-of-pocket cost, and private club membership models create a separate, much larger expense category that can exceed $1 million at exclusive properties [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6].
1. A striking spread: Public green fees vary from hundreds to over a thousand dollars
Reported public green fees at Trump-branded resorts show substantial variation by venue and tee time, with several high-profile figures cited across sources. In Scotland, Golfweek reported rounds at Trump International Golf Links priced at €495 per person for the old or new course, with hotel-plus-golf packages starting at €1,070 for single occupancy, indicating resort-driven package pricing [1]. At Trump National Doral in Miami the Blue Monster green fees were reported at a floor of $566 and up to $714 per person, with additional mandatory forecaddie costs noted, showing course-specific premium pricing for signature layouts [3]. Another Scotland flagship, Turnberry’s Ailsa Course, was reported charging $1,296 for rounds before 1 pm and $706 after 1 pm, an explicit dynamic pricing strategy to prioritize resort guests and peak-time revenue [2]. These figures demonstrate that a “typical” green fee at a Trump-owned property cannot be stated as a single number; public rates depend on course prestige, time of day, and whether lodging or caddies are bundled.
2. Membership is a different universe: initiation fees and annual dues can eclipse green fees
Membership models at Trump properties place costs in a separate bracket from daily green fees, with initiations and dues often reaching into five- and six-figure ranges. A 2025 membership overview cited initiation fees spanning roughly $50,001 to $75,000 with annual dues of $5,001 to $10,000 at Trump National locations, while certain spots like Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C. were reported to approach $100,000 initiation with monthly charges calculated at high levels—figures that convert routine play into an exclusive, subscription-style expense [5]. Mar-a-Lago was reported to have raised an entry fee to $1 million with annual dues around $14,000 as of August 2024, illustrating how private club status and elite branding transform access into a luxury good [6]. These membership claims underscore that for frequent players or those seeking the social cachet of membership, the long-term cost far exceeds single-round fees.
3. Packages, mandatory services, and hidden add-ons change the bottom line
Multiple sources emphasize that advertised green fees often do not capture the full cost of a round. Resorts commonly sell packages that combine lodging, transportation, and tee times—Golfweek cited package pricing for Scotland that begins at €1,070 for single occupancy including golf, indicating the bundled cost model used to market destination golf [1]. At Doral, mandatory forecaddies and variable per-course rates mean a listed fee for the Blue Monster may understate the actual customer outlay by several hundred dollars per round [3]. Directory and access guides also warn that green fees can fluctuate by day, time, and last-minute changes, advising direct clubhouse confirmation—this highlights the volatile and opaque nature of golf pricing at resort and private courses [4] [7]. The presence of mandatory services and dynamic packaging demonstrates that comparing “price to play” across properties requires accounting for ancillary costs.
4. Conflicting figures and the need to call the clubhouse: why prices differ across sources
The dataset contains inconsistencies and very wide ranges: one directory listed Trump National green fees from $110 to $1,095 depending on day/time, while other outlets reported specific high-end daily rates and separate membership price lists [4] [3] [2]. These discrepancies arise because some sources capture public retail rates for single rounds, others report resort package pricing, and still others disclose membership initiation and dues—three distinct economic models. Publication dates matter: reports from mid-2024 through late 2025 show shifting advertised prices and occasional promotional packages, suggesting seasonality, management strategy, and local market conditions influence published rates [2] [1] [7]. Given this variability, the most reliable action for a prospective golfer is to contact the specific clubhouse or check the resort’s current rate page for the exact date and service level desired.
5. Bottom line: short-term play is expensive; permanent access costs far more
Across the sources, a clear two-tier pattern emerges: pay-per-play at Trump resort courses often means hundreds to over a thousand dollars for a single premium round, especially at world-renowned layouts and peak times [1] [3] [2]. In contrast, membership transforms the economic calculus—initiation fees and dues reported in 2024–2025 place lifelong or annual access well into five- and six-figure territory for top-tier clubs, with Mar-a-Lago explicitly cited as charging $1 million entry as of August 2024 [6] [5]. The available data therefore support two conclusions: casual visitors face high but bounded per-round costs, while those seeking ongoing access confront substantially larger, sometimes opaque financial commitments that depend on the club’s membership model.