Best UK winter golf destinations & courses

When the nights begin to draw in, many of our customers look to our overseas Winter sun destinations for their golfing fix. However, with warmer winters than ever, and a plethora of fast-draining courses within our portfolio, there’s no need to hop on a plane for a late-in-the-year golf holiday.

The UK’s varied topography presents a myriad of options which hold up immensely well throughout the winter; from heathland gems to the sand-based coastal links. Check out some of our favourite destinations below…

The home of links-golf in England, Royal St George’s hosted the 2021 Open Championship with it’s much-lauded course laid out over some of the best golfing terrain in the whole of the UK. Immediately over the boundary fence of the iconic Par 5 14th hole at Royal St Georges’ lies Princes Golf Club. With 27-holes of fabulous links golf, including the newly renovated ‘Himalayas’ loop, it’s possibly our favourite winter getaway.

The Lodges at Princes are the perfect base from which you can explore this coastline and was a preferred accommodation for many of the players at The Open, including Collin Morikawa who went on to lift the Claret Jug. For a truly memorable trip, why not include Royal Cinque Ports? A true links course, in immaculate condition throughout the year.

Courses across the Home of Golf were traditionally built along the coastlines – close to the railway lines which brought visitors from England as well as members from Glasgow and Edinburgh. As a result, it has an abundance of fast-drying links layouts.

If you choose to head west, you can visit Open venues such as of Royal Troon, Trump Turnberry, or Prestwick on what is sure to be the trip of a lifetime. A new hotspot for golfers on the Ayrshire coast is Dundonald, with its newly opened onsite accommodation providing an incredible base for a group trip.

Those preferring the East Coast of Scotland will find unbelievable options across East Lothian, Fife, and Dundee. It’s easy to make a dent on your bucket-list of courses with the likes of St Andrews, Carnoustie and North Berwick, with favourable rates to be found, particularly on the shoulder seasons of late Autumn and Early Spring.

Although not immediately obvious as a winter golfing hotspot, Leeds offers some fantastic options for a break at first-class venues. A base in the centre of town gives easy access to the likes of Moortown, Moor Allerton, Fulford and Alwoodley – all of which are fabulously maintained throughout the year.

Moortown is the home of the first ever Ryder Cup on European soil, with Alwoodley recognised as one of Britain’s finest inland courses. Just a short skip down the A64 is Fulford, a former European Tour venue with its heathland terrain also handling whatever Mother Nature throws at it with ease.

We recommend Bournemouth A LOT, but it’s not without good reason. The heathland layouts at Broadstone and Parkstone are hugely popular with our customers 12 months a year, with the ball continuing to get plenty of bounce and roll even in the winter months. Both courses rank highly and offer a warm welcome to our golfers, in groups of all sizes.

Another obvious option down in Bournemouth is the spectacular Isle of Purbeck. Built on protected land, it’s arguably the most rugged course in our portfolio, with restrictions on chemicals and pesticides meaning that much of the grass maintenance is taken care of by the sheep! It’s location high on the cliffs overlooking the Solent is simply stunning with the course a perennial fixture in Top 100 rankings lists.

Another suggestion in the area is Remedy Oak. Despite being inland and having water coming into play on many of its iconic holes, the course plays extremely well throughout the year, thanks to investment in drainage and overall conditioning. If you’re looking to add an additional venue on your way to or from Bournemouth, we can’t think of anywhere better!

Looking for the feeling of ‘going away’ without needing to go away?! As part of the UK, travel to Northern Ireland is incredibly easy, either by ferry or plane. Like Scotland, the courses here are set up to handle the worst of the weather, demonstrated perfectly at the 2019 Open held at Royal Portrush.

Northern Ireland is flush with fabulous links layouts, including Ardglass, Portstewart and Royal County Down – often voted as the best course in the world! The off-season provides the perfect opportunity to take on these courses at more attractive rates, with some hugely attractive deals to be found outside of the usual high-tourism times!