Best Places for a Winter Golf Holiday

As the nights draw in and the weather turns frosty and cold, options for a round of golf are limited across the UK. Particularly inland where greens and fairways need to be protected from footfall after cold and wet periods of weather. However, just because it’s harder to play doesn’t mean you need to stop.

We’ve compiled some ideas for winter golf both home and abroad that should make sure your game doesn’t stall over the winter months.

St Annes Old Links, England

If you don’t fancy catching a flight abroad then why not think a little closer to home. Located in the seaside town of Lytham St Annes, Old Links is one of the Fylde Coast’s premier golf courses. The huge draw is the fact it’s a links course that is so well kept and maintained that it’s usually open all winter round. Provided you don’t mind a battle with the wind, this immaculate course is challenging but playable for all levels.

Lytham St Annes is a great seaside town to visit with plenty of accommodation and dining options here and in neighbouring Blackpool a few miles up the road.

Sheraton Salobre, Gran Canaria

Located in the southern countryside of Gran Canaria, this 5 star resort is nestled neatly between the sea and the stunning mountains of the island. There are regular flights to Gran Canaria all year round and due to the warm climate, even in the winter months, this is the destination to go to if you’re missing the warmth of the sun.

The resort has two fantastic 18 hole golf courses (the only with two courses on the island) and impeccable greens. The hotel itself boasts 300+ rooms with balconies, bars, restaurants, swimming pools and a full Spa with a roof-top infinity pool.

Belek, Antalya, Turkey

For those looking for a moderate climate to play in over the winter (12-20 degrees) then Antalya in Turkey is a good option. The Antalya Golf Club, Belek is by far one of the most scenic and outstanding golf courses in the country with the PGA Sultan being a challenging course reminiscent of Wentworth. With expectations of high standards, this course isn’t for the faint hearted but presents a real challenge for a low handicapper.

The local area is full of reasonably priced and well equipped hotels and restaurants – with the Voyage Belek being one of our favourites. It’s a modern hotel with a 24 hour bar, patisserie, separate adult pool and restaurants (9 in total) and full top of the range sports and spa centre.

Real Club Valderrama

Host to the legendary 1997 Ryder Cup, Real Club Valderrama is one of Europe’s greatest golf clubs and the best in Spain. The perfect lush greens, pristine white sanded bunkers and challenging layout mean that Valderrama is quite rightly known as the “Augusta of Europe”. A course for serious golf lovers, this should be on every golfers bucket list.

Located nearby to both Malaga and Gibraltar, the Hotel Almenara is one of the top golf resorts in Spain, making is a popular destination for winter golf. Unlike other hotels, the setup of the resort is 145 bedrooms set in villa-style bungalows around the main building looking onto the golf course or towards the coast. This style makes the resort more intimate and with greater privacy. Located just 10km from the beach and 15 minutes from the marina, there’s plenty to see and do should the golf courses, spa, restaurant, bars, gym and main hotel get too familiar to you.