Best Golf Breaks in the UK — Overnight and Weekend Trips

A golf break is one of the best things in the game. You arrive somewhere new, play courses you have never seen, eat well and do it all again the next day. Two or three rounds on the trot feel easy, since you are staying close to the first tee.

The UK is one of the finest golf destinations in the world, and most of it needs no flight. For example, you can play the old links of Fife, the cliffs of Cornwall or the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland. This guide covers the best regions, how to plan well and how to keep costs down.

Why golf breaks are worth the effort

Golf at your home club is comfortable. A break, however, gives you variety and the fun of somewhere new. It is also the best way to play bucket-list courses, since the trip justifies the travel.

There is a social side too. A break with friends builds shared stories in a way one round cannot. Those stories, from the last green to the dinner table, are what people remember.

Scotland: the home of golf breaks

Scotland is where golf began, and it is still the classic golf break. You can choose ancient links, remote Highland courses or parkland close to the cities. Our Scotland golf guide covers each region, and you can browse every course we list in Scotland.

St Andrews and the Fife coast

The Old Course takes many tee times through a daily ballot, so plan for a backup. The St Andrews Links Trust runs other courses on the same links, such as the New and the Jubilee. In addition, Crail, Elie and Lundin Links lie along the same coast. Two or three days around St Andrews is the classic Scottish trip.

Edinburgh and Glasgow

City breaks work well too. East Lothian’s links lie a short drive from Edinburgh, while Ayrshire’s coast is close to Glasgow. Our pages on golf courses near Edinburgh and golf courses near Glasgow cover both, with contact details for each club.

The Highlands

The Highlands suit golfers who want quiet links and big scenery. Royal Dornoch, Brora and Nairn are the famous names. Since Inverness has an airport, it makes a good base. Our Highlands golf guide covers the area, and the directory lists golf courses near Inverness.

Wales: underrated and outstanding

Wales is often overlooked for golf breaks. Yet the courses are excellent and the scenery is dramatic. You can browse every course we list in Wales.

South and west Wales

Royal Porthcawl is the big name on the south coast. Further west, Pembrokeshire mixes links and clifftop golf, with Tenby among the oldest clubs in Wales. Our Pembrokeshire golf guide covers the area, while our guide to golf courses near Cardiff suits a city break.

North Wales

The north coast has a string of fine links, including Conwy, Royal St David’s at Harlech, Nefyn and Aberdovey. A few nights near the coast lets you mix links golf with Snowdonia’s mountains. Our Wales golf guide has the full picture.

Ireland and Northern Ireland

The island of Ireland offers some of the wildest links golf in the world. In particular, the west coast is a true golf pilgrimage.

The west of Ireland

Lahinch, Ballybunion and Waterville are among the famous links on the Atlantic coast. A week along that coast, playing one course a day, is a trip many golfers plan for years. Our guide to golf in Ireland is the best place to start.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the easiest trips from Great Britain. Royal Portrush hosted the Open in 1951, 2019 and 2025, while Royal County Down sits under the Mourne Mountains. Portstewart, Castlerock and Ballycastle add more links nearby. Our Northern Ireland golf guide and our county-by-county guide to Northern Ireland golf cover the details.

England: more than the sum of its parts

England’s golf is huge and varied. So the challenge is not finding quality, but deciding where to go first. You can browse every course we list in England by county.

Surrey, Kent and the south-east

Surrey and Berkshire hold a famous belt of heathland golf, including Sunningdale, Walton Heath and Woking. Meanwhile, Kent has Open venue Royal St George’s and its links neighbours at Sandwich. Our guide to golf courses in Kent maps out a coastal trip there.

The north-west and north-east

The Lancashire coast holds three Open venues: Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and Royal Liverpool. Our page on golf courses near Liverpool covers that stretch. On the other side of the country, our page on golf courses near Newcastle covers Northumberland’s quiet links.

Yorkshire

Yorkshire’s golf ranges from moorland and heathland to the coast. Alwoodley, Moortown and Sand Moor sit close together in north Leeds, while Ganton lies near the coast. Our Yorkshire golf guide covers the county. York makes a handy base, and the directory lists golf courses near York.

Cornwall and Devon

The south-west offers clifftop and links golf with Atlantic views. Trevose, St Enodoc and West Cornwall are popular in Cornwall. Over the border, Devon has Saunton and Royal North Devon. Our guides to golf courses in Cornwall and golf courses in Devon cover both counties. If you want a base with good rail links, see golf courses near Exeter.

The Isle of Wight

For a short island break, the Isle of Wight has a handful of friendly clubs with sea views. Our Isle of Wight golf guide covers each of them.

How to plan a golf break

Book tee times before rooms. The most common mistake is booking the hotel first. Instead, secure tee times at the busy courses, then book rooms around them.

Allow travel time. Roads and breakfasts take longer than you expect. Aim to arrive half an hour or more before your tee time, so you can warm up calmly.

Think about the season. Spring and autumn often give good conditions, longer availability and lower prices. Links courses also play well when the ground is firm and the breeze is up.

Compare booking routes. Booking direct with the club often gives the most flexibility, especially for groups. Still, travel firms can offer good packages that bundle rooms and golf.

Check the club’s visitor rules. Some clubs ask for a handicap certificate or limit visitor days. Our guide to golf courses open to visitors explains what to expect.

Budget breaks or bucket-list trips?

Not every break needs a five-star hotel and a famous course. Some of the best trips are built around good-value courses. For instance, pairing pay and play courses with a pub with rooms gives you more golf for the same money.

At the other end, a championship trip is a once-in-a-lifetime treat. Our guide to championship golf courses in the UK explains which Open and Ryder Cup venues take visitors. Similarly, our guide to the best links courses helps you plan a coastal trip.

Planning a group or society trip

Groups need a little more planning, although the steps are the same. Agree dates early, book tee times first, then rooms. Our golf society day guide covers formats, prizes and handicaps. Finally, if you will walk 36 holes in two days, our electric golf trolley buyer’s guide explains when a trolley helps.

When choosing golf shoes for wet courses, our guide covers what to check.