It is not often I find myself drinking 12-year-old Glenfiddich whisky before starting a round of golf but today feels as good a time as any to make an exception.
The complimentary shot of Speyside single malt is offered to all golfers when they arrive at the starter’s hut of La Reserve Golf Links at Heritage Golf Club in Mauritius.
Perched high in the hills, at the far end of the Bel Ombre Estate and surrounded by a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the opening tee box is reached after a 10-minute buggy car ride from the clubhouse and offers views that run all the way down to the shimmering Indian Ocean.
Three friends and I gratefully accept the whisky, which is offered to all golfers who sign up for a round on this stunning links course, and toast the round that is ahead of us.
Perhaps invigorated by the Scotch, I hit my opening drive straight and true down the middle of the fairway. But that excellent start doesn’t last and, as the round continues and the wind picks up, my game falls away almost as steeply as the “links-style” dunes which frame the fairways.
By the time I walk off the 18th, a stunning downhill par-5 that ends in front of a clubhouse patio packed with golfers enjoying lunch, I feel a little broken by the toughness of the course but high on those sea views.
I am ready for another whisky, but this time I make it a double.
Commission opportunities
For agents, golf holidays can prove a rich commission stream with golfers typically being older and having more disposable income to play with.
Also, many golfers take more than one golf holiday a year and often travel in groups, which ups the commission levels considerably. And agents don’t need to be a golfer or have much knowledge about the sport as there are experts who can guide them.
Trade-only Tee The World started working with travel agents 10 years ago and provides tailored quotes.
Says the operator’s Carolyn Park: “We hear from agents who are wary of selling golf, but we offer three-way video calls with them and their clients on the more complicated trips. These also serve as training for the agent.
“The message is don’t be scared of golf – you may be missing out on a load of lovely bookings!”
She adds: “Although we are always asked for the popular destinations like Portugal, Spain, Turkey & Morrocco, we do offer many other destinations that feature amazing golf courses like Cyprus, South Africa, Vietnam, the Caribbean, Dubai, France, Iceland and New Zealand.”
Tee The World recently added a second brand, Golf to Tee, which offers hosted and coaching trips around the world – and these work particularly well for solo golfers, says Park.
Another operator that nurtures partnerships with agents is Africa Golf Safari, which specialises in golf holidays to Mauritius, South Africa, Kenya and other African destinations.
“When it comes to our agents, we typically spend a while with them building relationships and advising how and what to sell their guests,” said the company’s Carolynne Higgins.
“Our consultants are based in South Africa and offer 24/7 support, along with experience built up over the last 30 years.”
A world of choice
There are so many great golf destinations closer to home – after all, the game was invented in Scotland – that it can be difficult for agents to sell the idea of a golf holiday in more distant parts.
However, they should stress that the quality and affordability on offer often more than makes up for the long flight and other added costs.
For example, in Mauritius guests staying at many of the island’s leading hotels benefit from complimentary golf on top golf courses that compare with the best anywhere.
La Reserve – with or without that whisky shot – is nothing if not dramatic but is a bruising challenge for most average golfers. However, owner Heritage Resorts, part of Rogers Hospitality, offers another fine course, Le Chateau, a beautifully maintained parkland-style layout that is more “playable” for most.
Also in Mauritius, Sunlife has five luxury resorts: Sugar Beach, Long Beach, La Pirogue, Ambre and The Bay Club at Anahita, home of Anahita Golf with an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Ernie Els.
Sunlife guests can play for “free” on three of the island’s signature golf courses.
The stunning Île aux Cerfs Golf Club was built on an island on the east coast, with omnipresent views of the Indian Ocean, while and on the west coast Tamarina Golf Club, a course just 10 minutes from Sugar Beach via the hotel’s free shuttle service, is blessed with tropical foliage and views of Rempart Mountain in the Black River area.
For those on a Mauritius golf safari, other courses include Mont Choisy, in the north or the island, and two 18-hole championship courses on the east coast operated by Constance Belle Mare Plage: The Legend and The Links, with both featuring scenic water hazards and coastal views. Again, Constance guests enjoy complimentary green fees on both courses.
Also in the Indian Ocean, Constance Lemuria is a five-star eco-friendly resort on Praslin Island, Seychelles, known for its secluded location and stunning beaches – Anse Kerlan and Anse Georgette. The resort features the only 18-hole championship golf course in the Seychelles.
In the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic leads the way, with its flagship property Casa de Campo Resort & Villas. Set over 7,000 acres of tropical grounds it features three magnificent golf courses, including the Teeth of the Dog course. With its mix of oceanfront, cliffside, and inland holes, it is regularly ranked the best golf course in the Caribbean.
A Leading Hotel of the World, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas also offers a host of family-friendly facilities – and guests are given a private golf cart for exploring the extensive resort grounds.
Other golf options in ‘Dom Rep’ include Punta Espada and Corales.
In Barbados, Apes Hill has wasted no time in adding to the island’s golfing credentials. It includes a world-class golf course and accommodation.
Other island golf options include the ultra-exclusive Sandy Lane Green Monkey and Sandy Lane Country Club.
In St. Kitts the Royal St. Kitts Golf course is an 18-hole Championship Golf Course that is one of the most scenic course in the Caribbean as it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. There are also seven lakes on the course.
Neighbouring Nevis has the eye-catching Four Seasons course, that features a challenging, narrow layout, regular sea views, and dramatic elevation changes.
Birdies and Leopards
South Africa is another value-for-money long haul golf destination
Says Africa Golf Safari’s Carolynne Higgins: “South Africa is exceptionally diverse, offering everything from safari landscapes to winelands, vibrant cities, and coastal splendour.
“For those wanting to combine safari with golf, we typically add Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, and the Kruger region. Kruger is home to the spectacular Leopard Creek Golf Course, as well as Skukuza Golf Course, known for frequent lion and leopard sightings — which is why golfers must ride in a golf cart.
“Elsewhere, the Cape Winelands offers scenic championship courses, some of which are adjacent to wine estates – such as Erinvale Golf Club and Steenberg Golf Club – creating the perfect opportunity to include wine tastings and gourmet lunches.
“And The Garden Route — often described as a Garden of Eden — features dramatic cliffs with courses such as Pezula and Pinnacle Point perched above the ocean, while just a few hours inland, you’ll find the three championship courses at Fancourt close to malaria-free Big Five game reserves.”
Heading Stateside
In the USA, a holiday spent mostly on the fairways is available in just about every state, from Alaska to Maine.
Florida and the Carolinas are the best known and most popular destinations for UK golfers.
From coast to coast, north to south the Sunshine State is blessed with fabulous golf courses. A popular choice for UK golfers is the St. Pete-Clearwater area, which has several renowned courses including Innisbrook, while Mangrove Bay is a par-72 championship course frequently cited as one of Florida’s best municipal courses and the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club s a beautifully-maintained par-71 course with scenic Tampa Bay views. Another area course, Tarpon Springs, is a storied gem celebrating its 120th anniversary next year.
In central Florida, Kissimmee’s golfing jewel is Reunion Resort’s three signature golf courses: Reunion is the only destination in the world featuring courses designed by iconic legends Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and Jack Nicklaus, all in the same place.
Reunion Resort & Club is within 10 kilometres of the Walt Disney World Resort. It features 11 outdoor pools, including a children’s water park, and seven on-site restaurants.
In North Carolina, top golf spots include the multi-course Pinehurst resort in the Pinehurst/Sandhills area. The main, historic hotel at Pinehurst Resort is The Carolina Hotel, often called “Queen of the South”. With a classic Southern vibe, it features 230 Four-Diamond rooms. Various villas and houses also offer high-end lodging for golfers.
Elsewhere in the state, the coastal region and Brunswick islands – with courses such as Bald Head Island GC and Leopard’s Chase GC – the courses in the west near Asheville and along the Blue Ridge Parkway are both scenic and challenging. These include The Omni Grove Inn & Spa, Mt. Mitchell GC, Linville GC.
Kiawah Island, Hilton Head and the 80 or so championship golf courses along Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand are the standout choices in South Carolina.
But for a top-quality golf holiday at affordable prices, the courses of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (RTJ) in Alabama are hard to beat. Eleven golf sites link The Shoals in the north, close to the Tennessee state line, to Magnolia Grove on the Gulf Shores in the south.
The average green fee on the Trail is around $125, but higher in the spring and fall and lower in the winter and summer. The most affordable way to play multiple rounds on the Trail is by booking through the RTJ Reservations department (rtjgolf.com/reservations) and taking advantage of the advertised specials.
Elsewhere in the U.S. Maine is highlighting its golf offering in 2026. Named last year as the “Golfiest State” in the northeast by the United States Golf Association (USGA), more than 130 golf courses cover everything from seaside links to mountain vistas.
For a coastal getaway along Maine’s mid-coast, golfers can enjoy luxury cottage accommodations steps from the green and the ocean at The Samoset Resort, the Sebasco Harbor Resort and the Boothbay Harbor Summer Cottages, which offers golf at the Boothbay Habor Country Club.
Further south, Virginia is another state whose golfing credentials go under the radar, with over 200 courses to choose from.
For example, the Homestead Resort – Old Course – A historic mountain course dating back to 1892, is often called the “Pebble Beach of the East.”
Elsewhere, there are coastal holes along Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay, mountain courses in Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains and rolling farmland and river courses in central Virginia.
European fairways
In Europe, Portugal, Spain and Turkey are top golfing choices, but other destinations such as Austria and Greece are also worth considering.
After opening The Dunas Course to worldwide acclaim in 2023, Terras da Comporta in Portugal launched its second 18-hole course last year with the opening of The Torre Course.
Located one hour south of Lisbon, with five-star hotels and leisure facilities set to follow, Comporta is one of Europe’s most exciting new premium golf destinations.
In Turkey, Belek near Anatalya is a favourite among groups as several hotels are located on or close to championship courses.
These include Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort, Gloria Golf Resort, Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa and Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort.
The Dalaman Golf Club, Turkey, is set to be unveiled in June 2026. The course will be the first to open in the Dalaman region.
In Greece, Costa Navarino is one of Europe’s top golf break choices, with its offering including four 18-hole courses and four five-star hotels.
Luxury golf holidays in Gran Canaria combine year-round sunshine with championship courses such as Anfi Tauro Golf, Maspalomas and Meloneras Golf, set against dramatic Atlantic backdrops. Paired with five-star resorts, private transfers and curated concierge experiences, it delivers a seamless blend of elite golf and refined island living
In Austria, Kitzbühel is known for its ski resort, but the mountain town is a “secret gem”’ when it comes to golf, with four very different golf courses located directly in the town’s environs.
Lying between the Wilder Kaiser and Hohe Tauern mountains, the Eichenheim Kitzbühel-Aurach golf course is widely regarded as one of Austria’s finest and is known for its aesthetic variety, dramatic rock faces and picturesque deciduous forests. Many golfers stay at the adjacent Grand Tirolia Hotel Kitzbühel. In Greece, Costa Navarino is one of Europe’s top golf break choices, with its offering including four 18-hole courses and four five-star hotels.
Golfers in Madeira can experience three world-class golf venues – Palheiro Golf, Clube de Golf Santo da Serra and Porto Santo Golfe – through the Madeira Golf Passport. Priced from €290pp, the pass provides three rounds of golf but can be upgraded to include extra rounds.
Ireland
Closer to home, Ireland is blessed with “must-play” courses from coast to coast. Short breaks are feasible for those flying into Dublin, with several courses within an hour or less of Dublin’s airport.
These include Royal Dublin, Portmarnock, Druid’s Glen, the K Club, The Island and the two courses of the Fairmont-managed Carton House, originally an 18th-century Palladian mansion that now features 169 rooms, two championship golf courses, a spa, and multiple dining options, including the fine-dining Morrison Room.
The Hawthorn by Galway Bay, a new 114-room luxury hotel, will open in late spring. It is the first five-star hotel to open in Galway for 20 years.
Cruise and golf
Cruise lines are also introducing itineraries where golf is the focus.
Cultural expedition cruise company Swan Hellenic has a new golf cruise excursion package that transforms its six-night Lisbon to Fuerteventura voyage aboard SH Diana, departing September 7, 2026.
Guests will play on five of the most prestigious and desirable, champion-designed golf courses in the world, from Portugal to Morocco and the Canary Islands, enjoying fully curated visits.
The courses are Palmares Golf Resort, Algarve (Lagos, Portugal), The Tony Jacklin Casablanca (Casablanca, Morocco), Golf de Mogador (Safi/Essaouira, Morocco), Golf du Soleil (Agadir, Morocco) and Costa Teguise Golf (Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands).
Swan Hellenic has negotiated a special per-person price of £275 per course or£1,095 for the complete five-course package.
And golfing legend Colin Montgomerie, OBE, will join Hebridean Island Cruises’ seven-night Golf in Argyll and Ayrshire cruise, departing September 15, 2026.
Priced from £5,465pp, the round-trip cruise out of Oban will feature golf on top courses such The Machrie, Machrihanish Dunes and Portpatrick Dunskey.
Where to book it…
If Only: A seven-night deal at Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort in Mauritius costs £5,310, based on two adults sharing. The deal, based on a June 10 2026 departure, is for a deluxe suite on a half-board basis. It includes economy return flights from London Gatwick with Air Mauritius, private round-trip transfers, two rounds of golf per person at La Reserve Course and unlimited daily green fees at Le Chateau Golf Course. Note: this price includes taxes payable in resort of €42/£37.50, based on an exchange rate of 1.12. ifonly.net
Inghams: A seven-night stay at the Q Hotel Maria Theresia in Kitzbühel, on a half-board basis, arriving May 23, 2026, is priced from £1,239pp based on two sharing. Includes return flights from London Gatwick to Salzburg and transfers. inghams.co.uk
Africa Golf Safari: The 10-day four-star Cape Town, Winelands, Golf and Safari package, with four rounds of golf, costs £2,975pp. The deal includes three nights in Cape Town, a night in Stellenbosch and three nights at Gondwana Game Reserve. africagolfsafari.com
Tee the World: The operator has a four-night package to the Costa Dorada Region of Spain. The flight-inclusive deal, which sees clients flying into Reus, includes accommodation on a half- board basis, four rounds of golf with buggies and all the transfers. Prices start from just over £1000pp, based on travel in October 2026. Flights from regional UK airports are available with EasyJet and Jet 2. teetheworld.co.uk
