When you are thinking of holidays that can help you relax and unwind, you can opt for golf holidays that can help you enjoy the outdoors without having to stress physically. Whether you are looking for outdoor activities or just a time to unwind, the UK and Ireland offer some of the finest golf courses in the world.
From the historic links of St Andrews to the rugged charm of Royal County Down, each course blends sporting prestige with jaw-dropping scenery. These aren’t just places to play; they’re destinations to experience, especially when you have time to spare. With all the amenities and facilities available, these golf courses can offer you a great time to improve your golfing skills or just make a lasting impression on others.
With Halcyon Golf Travel, you can have a great time with bespoke golf trips that let you venture off the beaten track, nurture friendships, and craft memorable stories and moments together. If you’re ready for a truly unforgettable golf holiday, these seven iconic courses in the UK and Ireland should be at the top of your list.
St Andrews-, Scotland
If you are already interested in golf, you would have heard of the legendary Old Course at St Andrews. This course is widely regarded as the ‘Home of Golf’ as this is where the game began over six centuries ago. Those who want to make the most of the golf’s history and heritage and enjoy some challenges can make the most of this course. Here you get to pose at the iconic Swilcan Bridge and try your skills to beat the fearsome Road Hole.
For many golfers and golf enthusiasts, this course is a lot more than just an open space, it’s a rite of passage. While you are here, you can pair your trip to this iconic golf course with a stay in a historic inn and even enjoy some of the Scottish coastline. With plenty of things to do in Scotland, golfing being one, you can have a great time when you are in Scotland.
Royal County Down, Northern Ireland
Over the years, Northern Ireland has been a great place for golfers looking for a lovely time outdoors. Located in the town of Newcastle, Royal County Down ranks consistently among the top in global golf rankings. As you enjoy the views of the Mourne Mountains, you can have a great time trying your golfing skills, whether you are with friends or business colleagues.
While its natural beauty is simply staggering, with fairways winding through gorse-covered dunes and fast, sloping greens that challenge even the steadiest hand. The 9th hole, a breathtaking par 4 played from an elevated tee, is worth the trip alone. To make it even better, the exclusivity of tailored tee times and boutique accommodations nearby, and Royal County Down, becomes more than a round that you can experience.
Sunningdale Golf Club ( Britain )
When it comes to history and grandeur, then the place to practice golf will be Sunningdale Old. The course was designed in 1901 and is generally referred to as the most attractive inland course of England; it is an inland heathland course at Berkshire. Towering pines, blooming heather, and lightly sloping fairways which can give you a stunning background of your golf holidays are the things you can marvel as you walk through the course.
Sunningdale is surrounded by a countryside atmosphere, with an ivy-clad clubhouse and top-notch hospitality; one can be forgiven to think he is in the heart of the countryside yet so close to London. The luxury passengers enjoy the ease of access thus making it the perfect mixture of convenience and exclusivity. Thus, it is among the best places near London where one can have a good game of golf over the weekend.
The Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Scotland
The other golf course you would add to your schedule in Scotland is the Royal Dornoch golf Club which is the one greatly loved across the world by purists. This fantastic golf course is hidden away in the wilds of Sutherland and challenges with the joys that the golf game provides you with. It is possible to benefit of the panorama views at the Dornoch Firth and receive their advantage of the naturally flowing layout at the rugged linksland.
The best thing about Royal Dornoch is that this course concentrates about old school manner of taking shots and gives that soulful solitude that can only be found in the Highlands. To the visitor who wants luxury and authenticity, the journey is enhanced by stays in castles, occasions of hidden whisky tastings, and an authentic delving into the golf history of Scotland, dotting windblown flag after windblown flag.
Ballybunion Golf Club, Ireland
Nestled on Ireland’s southwest coast, Ballybunion’s Old Course offers a thrilling encounter with the raw power of nature. If you are interested in challenges combined with spectacular ocean views, this is one of the top golf courses that you should add to your itinerary. With sweeping dunes, towering cliffs, and unpredictable Atlantic winds, every hole here is a unique challenge, rewarding creativity and precision.
Apart from its stunning views, amazing course, there’s plenty of history associated with it which adds to the experience. While you are exploring the course, you can look around and enjoy the wild Irish shoreline. This allows you to unwind in style and also explore some of the best beaches in Ireland to help you have a great coastal holiday.
Royal Birkdale, Golf Club, England
The Royal Birkdale Golf Club is among the best golf suites in England that you certainly do not want to miss it. The Royal Birkdale was constructed in the dunes of Southport and ranked as it is the best championship course in England. It has already been the host of The Open ten times and still serves as a powerhouse that amazes golfers by its wide fairways, outstanding conditioning and fair-but-firm test. This is where you can test your golfing talent and enjoy to the maximum as well.
Birkdale is unique in the way that it has a certain balance; it is not too difficult to challenge the professionals yet is considerably playable to the amateur golfers attempting their capabilities. At the same time you are here in Southport, you can take advantage of Victorian architecture, tasty sea side cuisine and luxurious hotels that contribute to the entire experience.
Muirfield, E Lothian, Scotland
Muirfield is an excellent choice of golf courses to people who are seeking golf courts that have lots of history and scenic nature. The home course of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, this is a legendary East Lothian links that has played host to The Open Championship on 16 occasions, creating the legends of the golf world. The arrangement of this course looks like two rings where you can test your body and mind and use the best of you.
It has few tee-times, and it is much steeped in tradition (you still have to wear jackets and ties in the dining room). Therefore, when you are seeking an experience coupled with golfing holidays, you would prefer this one. Just across the road, the luxury travellers will be able to escape into some exquisite manors, have a special tour of the Isowhillast distillery, and relax along the dramatic East Lothian coast in high style.