Golf Travel Guide 2026 — Trips, Resorts & Major Event Packages

Q: How do you book a tee time at the Old Course at St Andrews?

There are three main routes: the Old Course ballot (a daily lottery, applications open 48 hours in advance), the Old Course Experience and other authorised tour operators who hold guaranteed tee times bundled with accommodation, or staying at the Old Course Hotel and using the hotel's package allocation. Singles can also walk on as a fourth player without booking.

Q: How much does a Masters Tournament hospitality package cost?

Masters hospitality packages typically range from around $5,000 per person for a single tournament day in a hospitality venue, up to $25,000+ for full-week experiences with on-course chalet access, ground transportation and luxury hotel accommodation in Augusta. Practice round packages are significantly cheaper, often starting around $1,500.

Where Golf Meets Travel

A great golf trip is more than a tee time. It is the dawn ferry to a links course tucked behind dunes, the long drive between sandbelt holes in Melbourne, the practice-round Wednesday at Augusta with a pimento cheese in hand. This editorial guide brings together the destinations, resorts and major-event hospitality packages worth planning a 2026 trip around.

Coverage is curated rather than commercial — links open in a new tab, and any sponsored or affiliate placements are clearly disclosed at the bottom of the page.

Top Golf Travel Destinations

Eight destinations that consistently top traveller and player polls. Each entry is a multi-course region rather than a single resort, so a week's itinerary is built in.

St Andrews, Scotland The Home of Golf. The Old Course is the headline, but the New, Jubilee, Castle Course, Kingsbarns and Crail are all within a short drive. May and September are the value sweet spot.
Pebble Beach, California, USA Pacific cliffside golf along 17-Mile Drive. Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay anchor a multi-night resort stay at The Lodge or The Inn at Spanish Bay.
County Down & Antrim, Northern Ireland Royal County Down and Royal Portrush — two of the world's top-five links courses, both in Rory McIlroy's home country. Combine with Ardglass and Castlerock for a full week.
Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA Pinehurst Resort's nine courses, headlined by the Donald Ross-designed No. 2. The "Cradle" par-3 course is one of the most fun loops in American golf.
Algarve, Portugal Year-round golf along Portugal's southern coast. Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, Monte Rei and San Lorenzo within thirty minutes of Faro airport.
Costa del Sol, Spain Valderrama, Real Club Sotogrande and Finca Cortesin — a Ryder Cup-quality cluster on the Mediterranean coast, with Marbella and Sotogrande as the resort bases.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Emirates Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Creek. Winter golf with luxury resort stays at Atlantis, Bulgari Resort or One&Only Royal Mirage.
Melbourne Sandbelt, Australia Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Metropolitan and Yarra Yarra — the densest cluster of top-100 courses anywhere in the world. Ideally paired with a Tasmanian leg at Barnbougle and Cape Wickham.

2026 Major Championship Hospitality

The four men's majors and a Ryder Cup build-up to plan around. Hospitality packages combine tournament tickets with on-course venues, concierge transport and resort accommodation.

The Masters Tournament April 9–12, 2026 Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia. Hospitality typically runs $5,000–$25,000+ per person depending on day, venue and package length. Practice-round Monday and Tuesday are the value entry point.
PGA Championship May 14–17, 2026 Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Hospitality packages bundle Philadelphia accommodation with shuttle transport and venue access.
U.S. Open June 18–21, 2026 Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Long Island, New York. Stay in the Hamptons or East End and combine with a side trip to National Golf Links of America and Sebonack.
The Open Championship July 16–19, 2026 Royal Birkdale, Southport, England. Liverpool, Manchester and Lake District accommodation all within a 90-minute reach. Pair with a links day at Hillside or Formby next door.
Ryder Cup 2027 — Adare Manor September 17–19, 2027 Early-bird hospitality is already on sale. The 2026 calendar year is the booking window for premium accommodation in County Limerick and the surrounding region.

Resort Categories

Links & Coastal

Old Course Hotel (St Andrews), Slieve Donard (Royal County Down), The Lodge at Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes Lodging (Oregon), Trump International Doonbeg (Ireland).

Multi-Course Destination Resorts

Pinehurst Resort (North Carolina), Streamsong (Florida), PGA National (Florida), Sea Island (Georgia), Pinnacle Point (South Africa).

Luxury & Wellness

Cap Rocat (Mallorca), Verdura Resort (Sicily), Six Senses Fiji, Jumeirah Al Naseem (Dubai), Aman Le Mélézin (with day trips to Évian).

Family Golf

Quinta do Lago (Algarve), Mission Hills Haikou (China), Constance Belle Mare Plage (Mauritius), Pinehurst's Cradle & Thistle Dhu putting course.

Booking & Planning Tips

Book 9–12 months ahead for headline tee times in peak season — the Old Course ballot, Pebble Beach and Augusta-week accommodation all clear early.
Use the shoulder season. Late April–May and September deliver the best price-to-condition ratio in the UK, Ireland and Pacific Northwest.
Ship your clubs door-to-door on transatlantic trips. Ship Sticks and Luggage Forward eliminate airport oversize fees and lost-bag risk.
Pack two pairs of golf shoes for any links trip. One dries overnight while you wear the other.
Read the local rule sheet. Several top-tier links courses have caddie-mandatory policies, dress codes and walking-only rules that catch first-timers out.
Travel insurance with a golf rider covers club damage, lost equipment and round cancellation due to weather.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best golf travel destination in the world?

St Andrews in Scotland is widely considered the best single destination thanks to the Old Course and the cluster of championship links within thirty minutes' drive — the New Course, Jubilee, Castle Course, Kingsbarns and Crail. Pebble Beach and Pinehurst are the leading multi-course resort destinations in the United States.

How do you book a tee time at the Old Course at St Andrews?

Three main routes: the Old Course ballot (a daily lottery, applications open 48 hours in advance), the Old Course Experience and other authorised tour operators who hold guaranteed tee times bundled with accommodation, or staying at the Old Course Hotel and using their package allocation. Singles can also walk on as a fourth player without booking.

How much does a Masters Tournament hospitality package cost?

Masters hospitality typically ranges from around $5,000 per person for a single tournament day in a hospitality venue, up to $25,000+ for full-week experiences with on-course chalet access, ground transportation and luxury hotel accommodation in Augusta. Practice round packages are significantly cheaper, often starting around $1,500.

What is the best month for a golf trip to Scotland or Ireland?

Late May through early September offers the best combination of long daylight hours and reasonable weather. June and July see the most stable conditions but also the highest green fees and busiest tee sheets. May and September are the value sweet spot — full-day light, lower prices, and links courses in firm summer condition.

Are golf clubs included on flights or do you have to ship them?

Most major airlines accept a golf bag as one piece of checked luggage subject to standard weight limits, but rules vary by carrier and route. Many regular golf travellers use door-to-door shipping services such as Ship Sticks or Luggage Forward to avoid airport handling and oversize fees, particularly on transatlantic trips.

Can you play Augusta National as a regular golfer?

No. Augusta National Golf Club is strictly private and tee times are reserved for members and their personal guests. The only public access is during Masters week, and that is for spectators rather than players. Pinehurst, Pebble Beach and Bandon Dunes are the leading public-access alternatives in the United States.

What should you pack for a links golf trip?

Layered waterproofs are essential — a Gore-Tex jacket and trousers, a windproof mid-layer, a warm beanie and waterproof gloves. Bring two pairs of golf shoes so one pair can dry overnight. A low-spin ball helps in the wind, and a few extra dozen balls cover the lost-ball reality of fescue rough and revetted bunkers.

Disclosure

This page is editorial and independently written. It may include sponsored or affiliate placements in future updates; any such links will be clearly marked. Tournament dates, venues and pricing ranges are accurate as of April 2026 and may change — always confirm directly with the host club, resort or official hospitality provider before booking.

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