The best golf holidays in Europe and the UK

Telegraph

2 days ago

A great golf holiday is the defining event of any golfer's year. Whether you're embarking on an intrepid jaunt through the wild, rolling contours of the UK's finest seaside links courses or strolling your way round a classic, pristine European resort, it's what we live for.
Accommodation can vary from a modest B&B to the luxury of a five-star resort. But, for most, it doesn't really matter where you stay. The only thing that truly matters is that there is a high-quality – and if you're lucky – world-class golf course waiting for you each morning.
This list of golfing gems encapsulates all of the above. Get ready to drool, golfers.
1. Dundonald Links, Scotland
Located in the heart of this coastal golfing mecca, Dundonald Links is a spectacular venue, host to both the Women's Scottish Open and Final Qualifying for the Open Championship. The layout is known for its imaginative greens and challenging bunkers, earning a place among the star names of western Scotland.
Under the owners Darwin Escapes, heavy investment has seen Dundonald Links evolve into a fully-fledged resort. Guests can stay in either the premium rooms or a collection of luxurious, self-catering lodges with putting greens out front.
Dundonald Links (01294 314000) offers packages from £175 per person per night, including two rounds of golf and breakfast. Fly to Glasgow with easyJet from £60 one way.
2. Costa Navarino, Greece
Offering an outstanding combination of world-class golf, five-star accommodation and numerous leisure and lifestyle facilities, Costa Navarino is regarded as one of the world's premier luxury golfing venues.
Situated in Greece's south-west Peloponnese, the destination features four signature 18-hole courses and was named as the World's Best Golf Venue at last year's World Golf Awards.
Away from the fairways, guests have a choice of four five-star hotels – including Greece's first Mandarin Oriental – as well as more than 40 dining and entertainment venues, state-of-the-art sports facilities, world-class spa centres and a wealth of experiences engaging with the region's culture, history and nature.
Costa Navarino (0030 272 309 7000) offers five nights at the Westin Resort from £955 per person, including breakfast and three rounds on any course. Fly to Kalamata with British Airways from £221 return.
3. The Dunas Course, Terras da Comporta, Portugal
Occupying a secluded setting on the edge of the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, the par-71 layout has been created over 84 hectares of natural, sandy terrain and has the look and feel of a course much, much older.
The venue will open its second 18-hole championship course, The Torre Course, in summer 2025. Designed by Sergio Garcia and inspired by the 2017 Masters champion's favourite track, Valderrama, the course will be the first major layout that the Spaniard has held overall design responsibility for and is already being tipped to become a future star of European golf.
Terras da Comporta (00351 269 096 583) offers green fees on The Dunas Course from £200 per person. Quinta Da Comporta (00351 265 112 390) has junior suites from €395 (£332) per night, for two people. Fly to Lisbon with TAP from £200 return.
4. Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland
If it's good enough for Tiger Woods, it's good enough for us. When the 15-time major winner first walked onto the 12 th tee at Old Head his reaction was priceless: 'Holy crap!' he gasped. He was faced with a monstrous vision – 564-yards on a tightrope adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.
You play this hole by aiming, not at the fairway, but out to sea at a 90-degree angle. If you hit a good one, the ball will dutifully sail back from the middle of the ocean and onto the fairway. No wonder Old Head has been called 'Pebble Beach on steroids' – a breathtaking, must-visit golf destination.
YourGolfTravel.com (0800 043 6644) offers a night's stay at Kinsale Hotel and Spa from £383 per person, including breakfast, one round at Old Head Golf Links and one round at Castlemartyr Resort. Fly to Cork with Aer Lingus from £83 one way
5. Les Bordes, France
Featuring 46 holes of world-class golf, as well as a collection of luxury private and contemporary accommodation and extensive lifestyle facilities, Les Bordes is regarded among the game's most prestigious golf venues. The site provided the ideal setting for world number one Scottie Scheffler to put the finishing touches to his game on his way to gold medal glory at last summer's Olympics.
Serious golf aficionados can follow in Scheffler's footsteps this summer with the recent launch of Les Bordes' Once in a Lifetime experiences, which provide a limited one-time chance to immerse themselves in daily life on the 1,400-acre private estate.
Les Bordes (0033 219 390 033) offers a Once In A Lifetime experience from £1,510 per room per night, including full board and daily golf on the Old Course or spa activities for two people. Fly to Paris Orly with British Airways from £140 return.
6. Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, Portugal
If you talk to a golfer who has played at Monte Rei, you will notice they all have a quiet, confident assertion that the Jack Nicklaus-designed Signature Course – the North Course – is the best golf course they have ever played.
Situated among the picturesque foothills of the Eastern Algarve, Monte Rei has become one of Portugal's most famous names – many people regard it as the number one golf venue in the Algarve, such is the quality of its facilities.
Monte Rei has also begun construction on a second 18-hole layout, with the South Course also being designed by 18-time Major winner, Nicklaus.
Monte Rei (00351 281 950 950) offers three nights from £580 per person, in a three-bedroom Miradouro Linked Villa based on six guests sharing, including breakfast, two rounds of golf and access to leisure facilities. Fly to Faro with easyJet from £110 return.
7. Camiral Golf & Wellness, Spain
There is a beguiling calm about Camiral. Set among the rolling contours and pine forests of Catalonia, Camiral Golf & Wellness is synonymous with tournament-quality golf courses and luxury accommodation, including a range of beautifully designed villas, townhouses and apartments.
With two acclaimed golf courses, including the Stadium Course ranked among the best in Europe, first-class sports facilities and wellness offerings, Camiral provides everything you'd need for an active (or relaxing) break. Located 10 minutes from the historic city of Girona and an hour from bustling Barcelona, Camiral offers something to suit all tastes in a truly exceptional setting.
Camiral Golf & Wellness (0034 972 472 249) offers three nights from £1,000, including breakfast, one round at the Stadium Golf Course and two rounds at Tour Golf Course for two people. Fly to Barcelona or Girona with Ryanair from £85 return.
8. Portmarnock Resort and Jameson Golf Links, Ireland
If you're thinking about heading to Dublin for a stay-and-play golf trip, Portmarnock Resort and Jameson Golf Links is the place to go.
Various modifications have been made to Bernhard Langer's original 1995 design, including the elevation of tee boxes and greens to bring the sea closer to the course and create stunning panoramic views of north Dublin's Velvet Strand, and the famous island known locally as Ireland's Eye.
This is the perfect base for golfers looking to explore the array of world-class links courses along the north Dublin coast – including Portmarnock Golf Club, The Island and Royal Dublin.
Portmarnock Resort (00353 1846 0611) offers packages from £325 per person for one night between April and October and £160 from November to March, including breakfast and one round of golf. Fly to Dublin with Ryanair from £34 one way.
9. Praia D'El Rey Golf & Beach Resort, Portugal
Situated on Portugal's majestic Silver Coast and just 50 minutes from Lisbon, Praia D'El Rey Golf & Beach Resort is home to miles of golden beaches, a five-star hotel, villas, leisure facilities and a pair of acclaimed 18-hole golf courses. The two layouts can arguably claim to offer the best 36-hole combination on offer anywhere in the country.
Praia D'El Rey provides a remarkable mix of parkland and links-style golf, offering a unique experience and spectacular views over the Atlantic and the Berlengas Islands beyond.
Praia D'El Rey (00351 262 905 100) offers two-night packages from £210 per person with breakfast, including two rounds on Praia D'El Rey and West Cliffs golf courses. Fly to Lisbon with easyJet from £78 one way.
10. Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Ireland, Doonbeg, Ireland
When you arrive at Doonbeg, you are immediately gripped with a delightful sense of isolation. In the middle of nowhere, you can feel the weight of life sliding off your shoulders and into the Atlantic.
That serenity may be challenged somewhat when you're standing on the famous 111-yard, par-3 14 th hole, where you'll be playing anything from a wedge to a driver depending on the wind.
Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg is a coastal haven, hidden on a sheltered corner of the Wild Atlantic Way where world-class golf meets an intimate spa, amazing food and access to the best activities, culture and heritage on offer in West Clare.
(00353 6590 55600) offers a one-night stay from £850 per room, including breakfast and one round of Championship Links Golf. Fly to Shannon Airport with Aer Lingus from £40 return.
11. Sotogrande, Spain
Three elite golf courses within one destination – that's hard to beat. Known for its quiet luxury, Sotogrande, situated on the spectacular Andalusian coast, offers an idyllic mix of world-class golf, Mediterranean beaches, fine dining, and wellness.
And the golf courses? How does Real Club Valderrama, La Reserva Club and Real Club Sotogrande sound? To access them all stay at the Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort a chic, five-star resort known for its holistic wellness offering and panoramic views of the Mediterranean.
Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort offers three nights from €604 (£508) per person, including one round at Almenara Golf Club and one round at La Reserva Golf Club. Fly to either Malaga (from £100 return) or Gibraltar (from £160) with easyJet.
12. Royal Porthcawl, Wales
Widely regarded as the finest golf course in Wales (Masters champion Freddy Couples is a huge fan), Royal Porthcawl is a dramatic test of your links golfing prowess. The opening few holes are breathtaking – running fairways, deep bunkers and raised greens that are hard to hit and difficult to hold.
Most importantly, there are sea views aplenty. Not every links course gives you a good look at the sea and the beach, which are often shielded by large dunes. One of Royal Porthcawl's claims to fame is that you can see the sea from every hole on the course.
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club (01656 782251) offers rooms in the on-site dorm-style accommodation from £145 per night for two in a twin room, including breakfast. Golf passes cost £225 in off season (October to April) and £250 during peak season. Trains from Cardiff to Bridgend run regularly.
13. Lofoten Links, Norway
There can be no more mesmerising or magical place for a golf holiday than Lofoten Links. Located above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway and set against dramatic backdrops of ocean, fjords, mountains, and beaches, experience the midnight sun in summer and even potential views of the Northern Lights in early or late season.
Lofoten Links is a spectacular 18-hole seaside course combining wild, rugged scenery with pure links play. This pristine golf course is a true bucket-list experience for golfers around the world, offering 24-hour daylight golf during summer.
Lofoten Links (0047 7607 2002) offers three nights from £640 per person, including accommodation in on-site lodges and three rounds. Fly to Bodø via Oslo with SAS from £191.
14. Princes, England
Ah, Princes. What a gem. Nestled along the stunning Kent coastline, Prince's Golf Club offers an authentic links golf experience steeped in history and challenge. Once host to The Open Championship in 1932 (won by Gene Sarazen), this 27-hole championship venue combines the character of traditional links with modern refinement, including on-site top-class accommodation, restaurant and bar.
It has recently been announced that Princes will host the 2030 Walker Cup for the first time. Popular with both seasoned golfers and links enthusiasts, the course offers year-round playability with its sandy soil and sea breeze.
Princes Golf Club (01304 611118) offers a night's stay in The Lodge from £325 per person, including half board and two rounds. Trains from Charing Cross to Sandwich run every hour.
15. Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort, Italy
Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort, Autograph Collection is nestled in a verdant valley on Monte Argentario, one of the most exclusive locations in Tuscany's wild territory of Maremma.
The resort is surrounded by cork-oak woods and centuries-old olive trees, home to hares, deer, squirrels, wild boars, and various bird species. The private estate extends across 77 hectares, protected by environmental certification. It's a pristine paradise with no cars, just electric golf carts.
The resort's PGA National golf course is one of the finest in Europe, and will host this year's Italian Open on June 26.