There's always somewhere in the world with perfect golf weather. The trick is knowing where to go each month: winter sun destinations when it's cold at home, northern links and mountain courses in midsummer, and the shoulder-season favourites in spring and autumn. Here's a month-by-month guide to help you plan.
Month by month
| Month | Great places to play |
|---|---|
| January | Canary Islands, Arizona, Florida, Dubai, South Africa, Thailand, Mauritius (hot), Australia |
| February | Arizona, Florida, Caribbean, Mexico, Dubai, Morocco, Canary Islands, Hawaii |
| March | Algarve, southern Spain, Morocco, Arizona, Carolinas, Texas, Thailand |
| April | Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Turkey, Carolinas, Georgia, California, Japan |
| May | Ireland, England, Wales, France, Italy, Virginia, Pacific Northwest |
| June | Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Canada, Great Lakes, Colorado, New England |
| July | Scotland, Scandinavia, Iceland, Canada, Rockies, Pacific Northwest, Mauritius |
| August | Scotland, Ireland, Northern Europe, mountains, Canada, Great Lakes |
| September | Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Portugal, New England, Carolinas |
| October | Portugal, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Virginia, Texas, Australia, New Zealand |
| November | Canary Islands, Algarve, Morocco, Arizona, Florida, South Africa, Thailand |
| December | Dubai, Canary Islands, Florida, Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand |
Winter sun (December to February)
- Canary Islands and Egypt for warmth within reach of Europe. Read winter sun golf destinations.
- Arizona, Florida and the Caribbean for North American winter golf. Read golf in Arizona and golf in Florida.
- The Gulf: read golf in Dubai and the Middle East.
- The southern hemisphere's summer: read golf in South Africa, golf in Australia and golf in New Zealand.
Spring (March to May)
- Iberia: read golf holidays in Spain and Portugal.
- The US Southeast: read golf in the Carolinas and golf in Georgia.
- North Africa: read golf in Morocco.
Summer (June to August)
- Links season: read golf in Scotland, golf in Ireland and golf in Wales.
- The Nordic countries: read golf in Scandinavia.
- Mountains and the north: read golf in Canada, golf in Colorado and Utah and golf in the Pacific Northwest.
Autumn (September to November)
- Mediterranean: read golf in Italy and golf in Greece.
- Autumn colour: read golf in New England and golf in Virginia.
Tips for timing your trip
- Shoulder seasons offer better value and availability.
- Check local holidays and big events, which raise prices.
- Consider daylight: northern winters have short days; summers have long evenings.
- Hurricane and monsoon seasons: check the risks. Read golf travel insurance.
- Course maintenance: aeration and overseeding can affect conditions. Read golf course maintenance explained.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I play golf in January?
The Canary Islands, Arizona, Florida, the Gulf, South Africa, Thailand and Australia.
Where is the best summer golf?
Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Canada and mountain destinations.
When is the best time for a golf trip to Europe?
Spring and autumn for southern Europe; summer for northern Europe.
What is a shoulder season?
The period between peak and off-peak seasons, often with good weather and lower prices.
The bottom line
With the right planning, you can play great golf every month of the year. Chase the sun in winter, head north in summer and enjoy the shoulder seasons for value. For help planning, read how to plan a golf trip.