Discover the World’s Best Golf Destinations – Find Golf Trip Ideas (2024)

From the historic links of Scotland to the sun-drenched fairways of the American Southwest, embark on an unforgettable golf adventure.

Whether you dream of challenging yourself on iconic championship courses or indulging in a luxurious resort experience, the perfect golf destination awaits.

The best golf trips offer more than just exceptional courses, we recommend destinations that have these three things:

  1. Luxurious resorts to stay in so you can indulge in first-class accommodations, fine dining, and rejuvenating spa treatments.
  2. Diverse course options so you can experience a variety of playing styles, from classic links to desert layouts.
  3. Off-course activities so that you can play tennis, enjoy water sports, or explore cultural locations.

Ready to elevate your golf getaway game?

Now is the time to plan your dream golf adventure.

Explore these amazing golf destinations and start planning the ultimate golf trip!

Here are the top golfing destinations for an excellent golf vacation this year.

#1 – Scotland 🥃

Experience the birthplace of golf – where windswept links like St. Andrews and Carnoustie test your skill and ignite your passion.

Best Golf Destinations in Scotland:

St. Andrews

The cradle of golf and home to the legendary Old Course.

The Old Course embodies the history and tradition of the game. Its iconic features like the Swilcan Bridge and the Road Hole demand respect and creativity.

Carnoustie Golf Links

Renowned for its brutal difficulty and unforgiving terrain.

A true test of skill and mental fortitude, Carnoustie has hosted numerous Open Championships and humbled even the best golfers in the world.

Royal Dornoch Golf Club

A majestic links course in the Scottish Highlands.

With its stunning natural beauty and challenging layout, Royal Dornoch consistently ranks among the world’s top courses.

Kingsbarns Golf Links

A modern masterpiece situated along the coastline.

Its breathtaking ocean views, innovative design, and impeccable course conditions make Kingsbarns a true gem.

North Berwick Golf Club

A timeless links course packed with character and quirks.

Featuring blind shots, stone walls, and unique greens, North Berwick provides a captivating and unforgettable golfing experience.

#2 – Florida 🌴

Tee off on world-class courses like PGA National’s Champion Course, home to legendary PGA Tour events.

Best Golf Destinations in Florida:

TPC Sawgrass

Home to the iconic island green 17th hole on the Stadium Course.

The Stadium Course, known for its intimidating design and challenging water hazards, hosts THE PLAYERS Championship annually. Test your skills on one of the most famous holes in golf!

Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Arnold Palmer’s beloved course and host to the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Walk in the footsteps of legends on a meticulously maintained course featuring challenging greens and strategic bunkering.

PGA National Resort & Spa

Features the formidable Champion Course, known for its “Bear Trap” stretch of holes.

Tackle the course that has tested the world’s best during the Honda Classic and past PGA Championships.

Streamsong Resort

Boasts three top-rated courses: Red, Blue, and Black.

Experience unique inland links-style golf with dramatic elevation changes, vast sandy waste areas, and world-class layouts.

Doral Golf Resort & Spa

Home to the legendary Blue Monster course.

Conquer a course renowned for its length, tricky water hazards, and demanding finishing holes.

#3 – California 😎

Soak in stunning coastal views at Pebble Beach Golf Links, renowned for its beauty and demanding holes.

Best Golf Destinations in California:

Pebble Beach Golf Links

One of the most iconic and beautiful courses in the world.

Hugging the rugged California coastline, Pebble Beach offers breathtaking ocean views, challenging holes like the par-3 7th, and the rich history of having hosted numerous U.S. Opens.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

A stunning cliffside course overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Hosts the annual Farmers Insurance Open and has witnessed dramatic finishes on the PGA Tour. Test yourself on this championship-caliber layout.

Spyglass Hill Golf Course

A demanding and picturesque course set amidst coastal dunes.

Part of the Pebble Beach Resorts, Spyglass Hill routinely ranks among the top public courses in the U.S. for its challenging layout and pristine beauty.

Pasatiempo Golf Club

A classic Alister Mackenzie design nestled in the hills of Santa Cruz.

Experience Mackenzie’s strategic bunkering, undulating greens, and the course’s Golden Age charm.

The Olympic Club

A historic championship venue with tree-lined fairways and demanding rough.

The Lake Course has hosted several U.S. Opens and showcases classic American golf course design.

#4 – Arizona 🌵

Conquer the desert landscape at courses like Troon North Golf Club, where picturesque scenery meets challenging play.

Best Golf Destinations in Arizona:

Troon North Golf Club

Set in the Sonoran Desert with dramatic boulder formations and stunning scenery.

Both the Pinnacle and Monument courses offer world-class desert golf with challenging layouts, elevation changes, and pristine desert landscapes.

TPC Scottsdale

Home to the raucous Waste Management Phoenix Open and its iconic par-3 16th hole.

Experience the thrill of the “loudest hole in golf,” test your nerves in the stadium atmosphere, and tackle a course designed for PGA Tour professionals.

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

Located on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation with picturesque desert and mountain views.

Both courses seamlessly blend with the natural surroundings, offering a serene yet challenging golf experience in a unique desert environment.

Grayhawk Golf Club

Features wide fairways and expansive greens in a desert setting.

Both courses provide a player-friendly experience with well-designed risk-reward opportunities, ideal for golfers of beginner skill level.

The Boulders Resort & Spa

Renowned for its dramatic boulder-strewn landscapes and desert beauty.

Immerse yourself in the Sonoran Desert’s unique beauty and test your game on two highly acclaimed layouts.

#5 – Ireland 🍀

Home to legendary links courses like Royal County Down, Ballybunion, and Portrush (host of the 2019 Open Championship). Its rugged beauty and challenging layouts are a golfer’s paradise.

Best Golf Destinations in Ireland:

Royal County Down Golf Club

A true links masterpiece nestled in the dunes of Newcastle, Northern Ireland.

Consistently ranked among the world’s best courses, its natural beauty, blind shots, and challenging bunkers will test every aspect of your game.

Ballybunion Golf Club

A wild and rugged links course on the southwest coast of Ireland.

Dunes towering over the fairways create an awe-inspiring and demanding round, demanding both power and precision.

Royal Portrush Golf Club

Host of the 2019 Open Championship, located along the scenic Antrim Coast.

Dramatic elevation changes, stunning ocean views, and a true test of links golf make this a bucket-list golf course.

Lahinch Golf Club

A classic links with quirky features and breathtaking views of the Atlantic.

Famous for its blind shots, unique dunes (including the “Dell” hole), and charming Irish atmosphere.

Waterville Golf Links

A breathtaking links course situated on a remote peninsula in County Kerry.

Offers a mix of stunning scenery, challenging holes, and a feeling of being at the edge of the world.

#6 – Canada 🍁

Offers stunning mountain courses in the Canadian Rockies, such as Banff Springs and Jasper Park Lodge, as well as top-tier links-style experiences on Cape Breton Island.

Best Golf Destinations in Canada:

Banff Springs Golf Course

Nestled within the majestic Banff National Park, this Stanley Thompson design offers breathtaking mountain views and a challenging yet beautiful layout.

Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course

Another Stanley Thompson gem, featuring stunning scenery, tree-lined fairways, and the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies.

Cabot Cliffs

A modern links masterpiece with dramatic elevation changes, ocean views, and some of the most unique holes in golf.

Cabot Links

Sister course to Cabot Cliffs, offering a similar links experience with stunning scenery and demanding holes.

Hamilton Golf & Country Club

A classic Harry Colt design that has hosted numerous Canadian Opens, known for its strategic bunkering and challenging greens.

St. George’s Golf & Country Club

Another renowned course in the Toronto area, featuring a mix of parkland and heathland styles designed by Stanley Thompson.

#7 – Australia 🦘

Boasts the renowned Sandbelt region near Melbourne, featuring world-class courses like Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath, renowned for their strategic design and pristine conditions.

Best Golf Destinations in Australia:

Royal Melbourne Golf Club

Consistently ranked among the world’s best, known for strategic design and pristine conditions.

Kingston Heath Golf Club

A masterpiece of course architecture with dramatic bunkering and fast greens.

Victoria Golf Club

Offers a challenging and beautiful layout renowned for its hosting of the Australian Open.

Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links

A rugged links course on the Tasmanian coast with breathtaking ocean views.

Offers a true test of links golf with challenging winds, rolling fairways, and dramatic scenery.

New South Wales Golf Club

A classic coastal course with stunning views of Botany Bay.

Experience a challenging layout designed by Alister MacKenzie, featuring cliffside holes and strategic bunkering.

The National Golf Club

Located on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne.

Features a demanding layout with dramatic elevation changes and stunning ocean views.

Cape Wickham Links

A modern masterpiece located on King Island off the coast of Tasmania.

Boasts breathtaking coastal scenery, dramatic sand dunes, and a world-class links golf experience.

#8 – South Africa 🦁

Blends world-class golf courses like Fancourt and Leopard Creek with the allure of safaris and breathtaking scenery for a truly unique golf adventure.

Best Golf Destinations in South Africa:

Fancourt Links

A Gary Player-designed course and premier South African venue, known for its challenging layout and pristine conditioning. Hosts the annual Dimension Data Pro-Am.

Leopard Creek Country Club

Borders the famous Kruger National Park offering thrilling views of wildlife while playing this demanding course.

Pinnacle Point Beach & Golf Resort

A stunning clifftop course with breathtaking ocean views, a true test for golfers of all levels, including beginners.

George Golf Club

A classic parkland layout set amongst rolling hills and known for its beautifully manicured fairways and greens.

Arabella Golf Club

Situated near Cape Town, offers a dramatic setting with mountain views and a challenging yet enjoyable layout.

Durban Country Club

A beachfront course with a rich history, known for its narrow fairways, strategic bunkering, and views of the Indian Ocean.

Sun City Resort

A world-renowned Gary Player resort course, host to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, featuring dramatic elevation changes and water hazards.

#9 – New Zealand 🥝

Home to dramatic layouts like Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs, offering jaw-dropping ocean views and challenging terrain that rewards both power and accuracy.

Best Golf Destinations in New Zealand:

Kauri Cliffs

Perched atop cliffs with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, this course features dramatic elevation changes and world-class holes.

Cape Kidnappers

Another visually stunning clifftop course with panoramic ocean vistas and a layout that rewards strategic play.

Tara Iti Golf Club

An exclusive private course set amongst towering sand dunes, offering an exceptionally pure links golf experience.

Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club

A historic links course considered one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere, having hosted numerous New Zealand Opens.

Jack’s Point Golf Course

Set against the backdrop of the Remarkables mountain range with stunning views of Lake Wakatipu.

Kinloch Club

Designed by Jack Nicklaus, this lakeside course offers a scenic and challenging layout.

Millbrook Resort

Boasts a beautiful 27-hole course nestled within an alpine landscape near Queenstown.