Golf without a membership: where is it possible and what does it cost?

Yes, you can play golf in Germany without being a member of a club. The keyword is pay & play: you pay the green fee per round without being a club member.

Where can you play without a membership?

Around 400 public courses in Germany can be played without a membership (source: vcg.de). These are dedicated pay & play facilities and courses that are open to everyone.

Pay & play means: you book a tee time, pay the green fee, play your round. No application, no annual fee, no waiting time.

On top of that come the classic club facilities. Guests are welcome at many courses there too. However, the guest rules differ from course to course.

Typical points you should clarify beforehand:

This information is shown for each course in its GolfRanger listing. That way you know before you set off whether you can play at the facility.

By the way: you don't need a DGV membership for this. The DGV (German Golf Association) is an association of clubs, not of players.

How much does golf without a membership cost?

The green fee is your main cost item. On average you pay around 64 euros on weekdays. At the weekend the average is around 74 euros (source: golfsportmagazin.de, as of 2026).

These are average values. The spread between individual facilities is wide. Short courses and 9-hole rounds are usually below that.

Compare the price against how often you play. If you play only a few rounds a year, green fees are often cheaper than an annual membership fee.

Do you need the course certificate?

That depends on the course. Some facilities require a course certificate or a handicap, many pay & play courses do not. [check status]

Check the requirements in the GolfRanger listing of the respective course before you book. You can find more on this topic in the course certificate guide.

VcG: the association for golfers without a club

The VcG is the association of independent golfers. It is the association for golfers without a home club.

A membership brings, among other things, an official handicap and access to partner facilities. That covers two things that would otherwise run through a club.

Whether it is worth it for you depends on how often you play. And on whether the courses near you require a handicap. You can find details and terms directly from the VcG (vcg.de).

And in Austria and Switzerland?

Similar to Germany. Pay & play is common there too – you pay per round.

Each facility sets its own specific guest rules. Check them before you travel, especially at club courses.

Frequently asked questions

Can you play golf without a membership?

Yes. Around 400 public courses in Germany can be played without a membership (source: vcg.de). On top of that come club courses that admit guests.

How much does golf without a membership cost?

The green fee averages about 64 euros on weekdays. At the weekend it is around 74 euros (source: golfsportmagazin.de, as of 2026).

Do I need the course certificate?

Some courses require it, many pay & play facilities do not. [check status] The requirements are shown in the listing of the respective course.

What is the VcG?

The association of independent golfers, the association for golfers without a home club. Membership brings, among other things, an official handicap and access to partner facilities.

Does it also work abroad?

In Austria and Switzerland it works in a similar way. Pay & play is common there as well.

Find your course

In the GolfRanger directory you can filter specifically for pay & play courses. For every facility you can see the guest rules: handicap limit, weekdays, quotas.

The search is free. You don't need an account.