There is this one moment on every good golf trip. The first tee shot in the morning, the air still cool, the fairway still in dew and you know you are in exactly the right place. Where that place lies is a matter of taste. One person seeks the postcard light of the Algarve, another the wind and the history of the Scottish links. Both are wonderful, just very different.
So that you choose your destination by character and not by chance, I go through the most important golf countries here. No fixed green-fee prices carved in stone, those vary strongly depending on course, season and booking route, but a clear classification of what awaits you.
The essentials up front
- For sun in winter and spring: Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Dubai.
- For golf romance and history: Scotland and Ireland, the home of the game.
- For the big stage: the USA with its legendary resorts.
- For the short trip: Germany and Austria, often reached faster than you think.
Spain: the classic with two faces
For many people Spain is the first big golf trip and for good reason. Short flight times, reliable weather and a density of courses that hardly any other country in Europe offers.
Two regions stand out. Andalusia with the Costa del Sol, often also called the Costa del Golf, is the heart of Spanish golf tourism: well-kept resort facilities, the sea within sight, the mountains in the background. Here the courses line up so closely that you can play a whole week without seeing the same tee twice. Mallorca is the more relaxed sibling, shorter distances, an island you will love beyond the golf too, and courses that nestle charmingly into pine forests and olive groves.
For whom? For everyone who wants reliable conditions, good infrastructure and a short journey. Green-fee level: broadly spread, from affordable to premium, in the low season you do considerably better here than in spring and autumn.
Portugal and the Algarve: golf straight out of a picture book
If one destination has the reputation of having the most beautiful golf light in Europe, it is the Algarve. The south of Portugal has been one of the most renowned golf regions in the world for decades, red cliffs, Atlantic breeze, cork oaks and courses that regularly appear in the best-of lists.
The lovely thing about the Algarve is the mix. You have championship courses that challenge ambitious players, and more relaxed facilities for the leisure golfer right next door. Add a region that, with fishing villages, long beaches and good cuisine, also makes the accompanying travel companion happy.
For whom? For those who want to combine high-quality golf with a holiday feeling. Green-fee level: upmarket, many top courses are in the higher range depending on the season, but you visibly get quality for it.
Turkey and Belek: all-inclusive meets championship golf
Belek on the Turkish Riviera is the efficiency wonder among golf destinations. Here golf tourism was thought big from the start: resorts and courses often lie directly next to each other, you practically stay at the first tee, and the all-inclusive principle takes all the planning off your hands.
The courses are modern, in immaculate condition and partly designed by big names. Anyone who wants a carefree golf week with a full programme and a calculable budget is in the right place.
For whom? For package lovers and groups who want a lot of golf at a plannable price. Green-fee level: often attractive by international comparison, especially in packages with hotel and several rounds.
Scotland and Ireland: the home of golf
At some point everyone who loves golf should have played once where it all began. Scotland is the cradle of the game, St Andrews, the Old Course, links courses on which the wind is a fellow player in its own right. Ireland is in no way inferior, with dramatic coastal courses lying between dunes and the Atlantic.
This is golf in its most original form. Not well-kept resort comfort, but nature, weather and character. A single day can give you four seasons, and that is exactly what makes the appeal. Anyone who has once holed out on a links in wind and drizzle understands why this game was invented here.
For whom? For purists, traditionalists and everyone who sees golf as an experience and not just a sport. Green-fee level: high at the icons such as the Old Course and booked out early, away from those there are wonderful links at fair prices.
Dubai and the UAE: golf as a wow experience
The United Arab Emirates, above all Dubai, play in a league of their own, in the literal sense. Here golf was made out of desert, and with a consistency that impresses: flawless facilities, spectacular skyline backdrops and courses that are played on into the evening under floodlights.
This is golf as a staging. Anyone who seeks luxury, winter sun and a certain sense of amazement will find it here. Around it there is a city that leaves hardly any wishes unfulfilled in terms of hotels, cuisine and experiences.
For whom? For everyone who wants sun plus a premium experience in winter and brings the budget. Green-fee level: high, especially on the showcase courses, but you get a show for it.
USA: the big golf adventure
The USA are a continent full of possibilities for golfers. From the desert courses in Arizona, through Florida which is playable all year, to the legendary coastal courses of California, the range is huge. Here lie resorts whose names every golfer has heard at some point.
America thinks golf in big dimensions: vast facilities, thoroughly organised service, often a cart requirement and a matter-of-factness in dealing with the game that is infectious. A US golf trip is more the big adventure than the quick short break, but it stays in the memory.
For whom? For the travel-keen who combine golf with a bigger holiday and don't shy away from the journey. Green-fee level: extremely broad, from the cheap public course to resorts in the absolute premium segment.
Germany and Austria: the short trip on your doorstep
You don't always have to fly far. Germany has around 700 golf facilities, and some regions are excellent for an extended golf weekend, from the Baltic seaside resort, through the Allgäu, to Lake Constance. Austria scores with mountain panoramas: in Tyrol, Salzburg or Carinthia you play against a backdrop you otherwise know from your ski holiday.
The big advantage is the accessibility. No flight, no long packing, off on Friday afternoon and three rounds played by Sunday. For the season you are flexible and can deliberately use the weather window.
For whom? For everyone who needs a few good rounds spontaneously and without much effort. Green-fee level: solid and plannable, with fair weekend and multi-day offers.
The destinations at a quick glance
| Destination | Character | Best travel season | Green-fee level (rough) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain (Andalusia, Mallorca) | sunny, dense choice of courses | spring, autumn, mild winter | affordable to premium |
| Portugal (Algarve) | picture-book golf, top courses | October to May | upmarket |
| Turkey (Belek) | all-inclusive, modern | spring, autumn, mild winter | often attractive in a package |
| Scotland, Ireland | links, history, wind | May to September | fair to high (icons) |
| Dubai, UAE | luxury, wow backdrop | November to April | high |
| USA | big adventure, broad choice | depends on region | very broad |
| Germany, Austria | short trip, panorama | April to October | solid, plannable |
How to plan your golf trip properly
A good destination is half the battle, the other half is the planning. When do you book most cheaply, how do you combine several courses sensibly, when is a package worth it and when an individual booking? These questions decide whether a good idea becomes a wonderful trip.
How to tackle that I have written down for you step by step: planning a golf trip, how to go about it. And anyone who wants to go deeper into what happens behind the scenes of golf tourism finds the bigger picture here: the golf tourism industry at a glance.
Frequently asked questions
Which golf destination is the cheapest?
That cannot be said across the board, because the costs depend strongly on season and booking route. Anyone who looks at the overall package often does most cheaply with all-inclusive destinations such as Belek or with the Spanish low season. At links icons or premium courses in Dubai, by contrast, you pay considerably more.
When is the best travel season for a golf trip?
For the southern European destinations, spring and autumn are usually ideal, the mild winter is the sun escape for Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Dubai. Scotland, Ireland and the lower mountain ranges you play best between May and September.
Is a golf trip also suitable for beginners?
Yes, very much so. Resort regions such as the Costa del Sol, the Algarve or Belek offer courses for every level and often training options too. For getting started, sunny, well-organised destinations are more relaxed than the demanding links in the wind.
Do I need a certain playing standard for a golf trip?
Most courses require a "Platzreife" (course permission), some top facilities a proven handicap. Ask about the requirements of the respective course before booking, that way you avoid surprises at the first tee.