Your guide to the best value amateur golf competitions in 2025

Royal Porthcawl is the standout course for the South Wales Coast Championship at the end of March.

Feeling competitive? Here are the best amateur golf competitions, tours and team championships that are worth the expense.

Whoever said you can’t live the life of a tour pro is lying. No matter your age, gender or handicap, there are hundreds of amateur golf competitions and tours taking place this year throughout the UK and beyond. All that’s left for you to do is enter them.

With the help of Golf Empire, I’ve picked out more than a dozen events which are offering the best value for money, alongside some seriously good perks and prizes if you play well…

TPC TWOS
Dates: March to October.
Format: Aggregated Pairs Stableford.
Why we like it? It’s the only pairs event in the UK which offers handicap-counting events. There are nine qualifiers in Scotland and each one has a £1,500 purse, split between the top five pairs. The top four from each event head to the national final at Auchterarder Golf Club on September 1, where the grand prize is a five-night stay at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort, plus 18 holes at the Players Stadium Course (pictured), Dye’s Valley Course and St Johns Golf & Country Club.
Entry fee: From £95 (must be a member of a golf club with an official handicap).
Age: 16+.
Sign up: Click here.

NATIONAL OPEN PAIRS KNOCKOUT
Dates: From April.
Courses: Matches are drawn home or away.
Format: Knock-out Betterball Matchplay.
Why we like it? It’s open to all golfers across England, Scotland and Wales and you share
the costs of any green fees with your opponents. There are four weeks between each round, six in total, and two regional finals in the north and south. The winning pair then compete in a final at Barcelo Montecastillo Golf Resort in Spain and receive a five-night DB&B stay, with additional golf included.
Entry fee: Free.
Max handicap: 24 men, 36 women. Age: 18+.
Sign up: Click here.

US MASTERS TEXAS SCRAMBLE
Dates: April to September.
Format: Strokeplay.
Why we like it? You’re only ever two rounds from a trip to Augusta National (pictured). There are 97 Texas Scramble Qualifiers running across England, Wales and Scotland and the best part is there’s no limit on how many you can enter. The team with the best strokeplay score over 18 holes from each qualifier will then go through to contest one of two National Finals – either at Carus Green, in Cumbria on September 13, or Deer Park in West Lothian on September 28. Win either and you and your mates will fly off to Georgia for five nights next April. B&B, car hire and two rounds of golf are included, plus you get tickets to watch the Masters.
Entry fee: £20-£80pp.
Max handicap: 28 men, 36 women. Age: 16+.
Sign up: Click here.

NATIONAL GOLF CLUB TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Dates: May to September.
Courses: Forest Pines, Wokefield Estate, The Vale Resort, MacDonald Portal and Forest of Arden.
Format: Singles Stableford / Betterball Pairs Stableford.
Why we like it? It’s a glorified golf weekend with eight mates and a competitive edge.You can choose from one of five qualifiers, which entitle you to a one-night DB&B stay ata 4-star hotel, with two rounds of golf included. The top two teams advance to a grand final at MacDonald Hill Valley in Shropshire on September 15, where the winning team prize is a golf break, worth £10,000, to Costa Navarino in Greece for four days.
Entry fee: From £219pp.
Max handicap: 24 for men and women. Age: N/A.
Sign up: Click here.

MIZUNO GOLF PAIRS SUMMER MATCHPLAY
Dates: May to October.
Format: Betterball Pairs Matchplay.
Why we like it? There are no long journeys involved or restrictions on male, female, mixed or junior pairs. You play a maximum of four knockout matches between May and October, and proximity is prioritised. The winning teams in each bracket across England, Wales and Scotland receive a £400 voucher, which can be redeemed on any Mizuno Golf Pairs event.
Entry fee: £49.99pp.
Max handicap: 24 men, 28 women. Age: 14+.
Sign up: Click here.

BACK ON BLACK
Dates: May to October.
Course: The Grove.
Format: Individual Medal – Nett.
Why we like it? This is the ultimate test of golf at The Grove, set up as it was for the British Masters in 2016. Men play from the tips, which stretches the course to 7,160 yards. There are five qualifiers this year and the top five players and ties from each event advance to the grand final on October 12. Prizes are offered for up to third place.
Entry fee: £175, includes breakfast.
Max handicap: 18.4. Age: N/A.
Sign up: Click here.

CARMARTHENSHIRE GOLF FESTIVAL
Dates: May 23-25.
Courses: Glynhir, Carmarthen and Garnant Park.
Format: 4BBBStableford.
Why we like it? The vibe isn’t too serious, plus it works out at just £15pp for 18 holes. Any combination is eligible for the pairs competition, meaning you can make the most of the bank holiday weekend with your other half. Daily and overall prizes are included.
Entry fee: £90 per pair.
Max handicap: 28 men, 36 women. Age: N/A.
Sign up: Click here.

COUNTY DURHAM GOLF TRAIL
Dates: June 30-July 31.
Courses: Beamish, South Moor, Blackwell Grange and Brancepeth Castle.
Format: Pairs 4BBB Stableford.
Why we like it? You’re not tied to the competition dates. Though you would miss out on any prizes, you can purchase a passport for £180 per pair which lets you play the four courses at your own convenience on any weekday in 2025.
Entry fee: £220 per pair.
Max handicap: 28 men, 36 women. Age: N/A.
Sign up: Click here.

LANCASHIRE CLASSIC
Dates: July 7-10.
Courses: Penwortham, Fairhaven, Preston and St Annes Old Links.
Format: 4BBB Men’s Stableford.
Why we like it? You’re saving £145 on green fees, plus the winning team recoups the entry fee. There are 28 prizes to be won in total, and with only two of the four scores counting during the final round, you don’t even have to play well to win!
Entry fee: £800 per team of four.
Max handicap: 20. Age: N/A.
Sign up: Click here.

PRINCE’S OPEN WEEK
July 28: 4-Ball Betterball Pairs.
July 29: Prince’s 27.
July 30: 4-Ball Betterball Pairs.
July 31: Prince’s Silver Salvers Mixed Greensomes.
August 1: Prince’s Shingle End Trophy Mixed 4-Ball BetterBall Pairs.
Courses: Shore, Dunes and Himalayas.
Why we like it? The variety of formats, net prizes and three brilliant courses make this an Open week to remember. Competitions vary from 18 to 27 holes, plus you can take advantage of reduced B&B rates in The Lodge from just £70pp. Get in quick to secure your place.
Entry fee: £90-£120pp.
Max handicap: N/A. Age: N/A.
Sign up: Click here.

SCOTTISH GOLF PAIRS CHALLENGE
Dates: September 1-5.
Courses: Blairgowrie Rosemount, Alyth, Forfar, Kirriemuir and Strathmore.
Format: 4BBB Strokeplay.
Why we like it? The value for money is unbeatable. You pay £44 a round and there are close to £4,500 worth of prizes to be won. Overall scratch and handicap prizes for the top three are included, plus there’s a separate category for ladies and over 55s.
Entry fee: £440 per pair.
Max handicap: 24 men, 32 women. Age: 16+.
Sign up: Click here.

WIRRAL GOLF CLASSIC
Dates: September 14-16.
Courses: Caldy, Heswall and Wallasey.
Format: Individual Stableford.
Why we like it? England’s Golf Coast is fantastic and Srixon, Cleveland, Bushnell and Lexus are providing the prizes worth over £2,500. There are individual competitions for men and women, plus team and over 65s categories. Discounted B&B rates at Thornton Hall Hotel are also offered, from £69.50pp per night, based on two sharing.
Entry fee: From £350pp.
Max handicap: 24 men, 36 women. Age: 18+.
Sign up: Click here.

MIZUNO GOLF TOUR
Dates: February to October; can join anytime.
Format: Scramble / Individual or Pairs Stableford.
Why we like it? You don’t need a handicap to take your place on tour. We counted 168 single or
multi-day events taking place across the UK and overseas, with live scoring, extra side competitions and some seriously lucrative prizes up for grabs. You can also pick your own tee time and purchase a bundle which gives you a discount on entering multiple events in consecutive days.
Entry fee: From £24.99pp.
Max handicap: 24 men, 28 women. Age: 14+.
Sign up: Click here.

GLOBAL AMATEUR GOLF TOUR
Dates: Ongoing until December; can join anytime.
Format: Individual Stableford.
Why we like it? The courses are amazing and this is as close as you’re going to get to experiencing the life of a tour pro. There are 36 competitions in 12 different countries on the schedule, with five separate Order of Merit. You can enter as many or as few events as you wish, though to be eligible for the Tour Finals, you have to pay a £40 membership.
Entry fee: From £156pp.
Max handicap: 24 men, 30 women. Age: N/A.
Sign up: Click here.