Top 5 Golf Holiday Destinations in Europe

Spring has sprung, the birds are chirping, and the sun is shining. After a long, cold, dreary winter, golfers across Europe, and beyond, are dusting off their clubs and hitting the links. With longer days and warmer weather, now is the perfect time to start planning your next golf Holiday.

The hard-working folks at Golf Travel Centre have been scouring the continent and looking for the best summer golf destinations for 2023. Not only are the following some of the most highly revered properties in Europe, Golf Travel Centre has worked closely with each one to cultivate close relationships and ensure the very best in price, service, and accommodations for Golf Travel Centre clients.

Elba Palace Golf and Vita Hotel

In the post-Covid era, Spain has quickly become a golf destination on par with British Isles. With so many iconic golf destinations, it’s hard to pick just one.

But Hotel Elba Palace Golf on Canary Island just might take the cake.

Decorated in the trendiest of modern design features, Hotel Elba is a boutique hotel with 51 rooms and 10 suites. All accommodations have the creature comforts of home, and the latest technological capabilities so you’ll never have to worry about losing touch with the outside world, unless you want to, of course.

The hotel’s leisure centre boasts a large outdoor pool for adults, a play pool for kids, salon, Roman-style sauna, and jacuzzi. This is a great place to bask in the sun and relax for a day away from the course.

If you enjoy a hearty breakfast, you won’t want to miss Hoyo 19 where an extensive buffet is served daily.

For casual lunch and snack options, St. Andrews Restaurant is conveniently located.

In the evening, be sure to start with Happy Hour at Majorero where local cheeses and world-class wines will satisfy your palate.

For the main course, La Bodega has a substantial menu of locally inspired dishes that won’t leave you hungry.

Even though Fuerteventura Golf Club isn’t the longest course in the world, it’s sure to test every aspect of your game.

Measuring just over 6,000 yards, precision and accuracy are the keys off the tee. Densely tree lined fairways spell trouble for wayward tee shots. Three large lakes come into play as well. Approach shots not struck solidly could end up in a watery grave.

Throughout, you’ll be treated to incredible views of the deep blue Atlantic.

Arguably the best option in all of the Canaries, a trip to Elba Palace Golf won’t disappoint.

Palmares Beach and Hotel Resort

It’s no secret that Spain has fast become one of the premier golf destinations in Europe. The number and variety of courses and resorts is remarkable. Unfortunately, with increased popularity has come more crowded courses and increased prices in some cases.

The good news is that Portugal, Spain’s neighbour to the West, has just as many first-class golf courses and properties to choose from, and many of them have yet to become world-famous.

One of the most picturesque and highly touted properties in all of Portugal is the Palmares Beach House Hotel.

If you’re looking for an intimate stay far away from the bustling crowds at other resorts, this is the place to come. With just 20 rooms (two of which are suites), guests can count on personalised customer service, top-notch amenities and plenty of privacy.

All rooms offer guests breath-taking panoramas of Lagos Bay, clear to Meia Praia Beach and beyond. There might not be a better place in Portugal to take in a westerly sunset.

You’d best come to Palmares with an appetite too. The Restaurant’s menu boasts freshly caught local seafood and a cocktail and wine menu that’s to die for. Just like everything else here, your dining experience will be intimate with no detail overlooked.

For a day away from the course, be sure to explore Alvor and Lagos Beaches. Long expanses of pristine crystalline water provide countless recreational activities and extensive views.

While the entire experience at Palmares is one you’ll remember, the golf course is the heart and soul of the property. Three separate nine-hole loops allow golfers to experience the course in a variety of routings.

Voted the Best Golf Course in Portugal for the last three years, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. design will keep you on your toes. You’ll need to hit every club in your bag and the five-hole stretch along the coast will be something you’ll remember forever.

For the very best that Portugal has to offer, look no further than the Palmares Beach House and Hotel.

Maxx Royal Golf Resort

For decades, western Europe has been the region that comes to mind when we think about destination golf. That’s changed recently; however the courses and resorts are being built throughout the eastern part of the continent, maybe most notably in Turkey.

The country’s flagship property is Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort.

This modern hotel features optimally appointed rooms complete with all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay.

International cuisine is highlighted at Maxx Royal Belek too. Creations from Japan, Greece, Turkey and the Mediterranean can all be found on extensive menus that offer plenty of choices.

Make sure you come thirsty! There are no less than 13 bars on site with the Azur Bar being open 24 hours a day.

Colin Montgomerie was the genius behind the course design at his namesake Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Course. Here, golfers will find a blend of modern target golf with elements of links. The fairways and greens are sizable, but water hazards and expansive bunkers flank most holes.

The back nine offers a special experience all on its own. After dark, the course is lit, so you can play golf in the middle of the night if you like.
One of Europe’s trendiest up-and-coming golf destinations, a holiday to Maxx Belek Royal Golf Resort should be on your list.

The Belfry Hotel and Resort

Anyone that’s long been a fan of golf knows that the Belfry is synonymous with some of the most iconic moments in the game. Having hosted the Ryder Cup in 1985, 1989, 1993, and 2002, this property is steeped in history with some of the game’s greatest players having walked its fairways.

But the experience starts with the hotel and all the first-class amenities the resort offers.

Guests can choose from a variety of rooms and suites, all designed to handle small or large groups of people. All are centrally located and appointed with modern amenities for maximum comfort.

The Belfry is set in the Warwickshire countryside and provides the perfect place to get away and relax. That experience is only enhanced with a visit to the Belfry Spa. Guests can treat themselves to anything from a full-day spa experience to a specialised wellness treatment or massage. One thing is certain, you’ll feel rejuvenated after a visit.

Variety is the spice of life and that’s exactly what the culinary experience at the Belfry provides.

For casual a la carte dining, the Ryder Grill is a great option.

Rocca’s serves up delectable Italian fare, while Sam’s Club and Brabazon Bar are the perfect spots to grab a post round drink.

Like the rest of our properties on the list, golf is what really defines the Belfry. No less than three world-class courses can be found here.

The Derby is a parkland design that plays to a par of 70. Not long, accuracy and sound course management are the keys to playing well. Designed by Peter Allis and Dave Thomas, this course offers a unique experience for golfers of all abilities.

The PGA National Course also plays to a par of 70 but is significantly longer than the Derby Course. Every aspect of your game will be tested around here. The fairways are firm and fast and the greens undulating. If you miss a green, you’ll be challenged too. Closely mown runoffs give you plenty of options but aren’t easy. Having hosted two European Tour events, this course will test your mettle.

The flagship track at the Belfry is the Brabazon Course. This track has played host to no less than four Ryder Cups. A classic parkland design, this course’s tight fairways demand accuracy off the tee. The greens are surrounded by penal bunkers and hazards and therefore require precise club selection.

There might not be a more all-inclusive golf destination in the UK than the Belfry.

Carton House

Much like the UK, Ireland is littered with world-class golf destinations. Sitting at the top of the list in the minds of many golfers, however, is Carton House.

History, elegance and great golf are the words visitors use to describe the Carton House, located in County Kildare.

Elegance is perhaps most realisable in the Fairmont Hotel’s guest rooms. Whether you stay in a stateroom or suite, 18th century décor and modern amenities await. You’ll feel like royalty as you step back in time but still have all the necessary modern amenities at your fingertips.

Dining options are met with equal opulence as the guestrooms and fare fit for a king. Kathleen’s serves traditional food with a modern twist.
The Carriage House has the ambiance of a quintessential Irish pub and a gastro-inspired menu that won’t leave you hungry when you’re done.

For a happy hour you won’t forget, check out the Courtyard Bar. Here you’ll find a fine selection of Irish spirits and appetizers to match.

If you need a break from the daily grind, there’s no finer place to relax and be pampered than the Carton House Spa. Situated in an 18th century mill building, the Spa offers a wide array of massage, beauty and relaxation treatments that can be customised to your liking.

The state-of-the-art wellness centre features an 18-meter swimming pool, children’s pool, cardio gym, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.

Yet again, golf is the primary reason people keep coming to Carton House. The O’Meara Parkland Course and Montgomerie Links Course are two of Ireland’s best.

Designed by 1998 Open Champion Mark O’Meara, the Parkland Course is a classic layout that measures more than 7,100 yards from the back tees.

Meandering through ancient woodlands on the flanks of the river Rye, the course asks you to strategically plot your way around from point A to point B. Even though most holes are straightforward, the course is anything but short on character. Perhaps most memorable is the iconic 18th hole whose backdrop features a frontage view of the centuries-old Palladian Manor House, a reflective lake and a view of the Boat House which was built for Queen Victoria.

The Montgomerie Links Course has three times played host to the Irish Open. Though the fairways are wide, cavernous bunkers stand guard and quickly swallow up errant shots. In traditional links fashion, you can expect some quirky bounces off the humps and bumps that characterise the course’s terrain.

Once you make a trip to Carton House, chances are it won’t be your last.

Final Thoughts

Golf has never been as popular as it is now across the entirety of Europe. As a result, there are more and more world-class golf destinations catering to the needs of both golfers and discerning travellers.

If you’re looking to book your next golf holiday, save yourself the stress and strain of having to work out all the details yourself. Instead, get in touch with the knowledgeable and friendly staff at Golf Travel Centre. They’re the go-team group to book all your golf holiday travel and activities, at a price you can afford.