The Best Golf Destinations in January
January is the heart of the winter escape. With the northern hemisphere frozen and the home courses closed or sodden, the Gulf, southern Africa, Mexico, the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia deliver dependable sun and courses in peak trim, while the southern hemisphere basks in high summer. Here are the ten destinations we send golfers to in January, ranked, with our verdict on the weather, the value and what to play.
Photo: Emirates Golf Club, Majlis Course, via Google. Credit Zsolt Sasdi.
How we ranked them
This list weighs the things that actually matter in January: guaranteed warmth at the coldest point of the northern winter, the quality and depth of the courses, the experience around the golf, and how easy the trip is to run. We have leaned toward the dependable sun of the Gulf, the southern hemisphere summer and the tropics, where January is close to perfect, while giving Arizona, Florida and the Canary Islands their due as the safest milder options. Every destination here links through to our fuller guide so you can go deeper, and every fee is a guide only, always to be confirmed directly before booking.
The 10 best January golf destinations
Dubai and the UAE
January is the sweet spot in the Emirates. Daytime temperatures settle into the mid twenties Celsius, the skies are reliably clear, and the championship courses, the Emirates Majlis, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Yas Links over in Abu Dhabi, are in flawless winter condition. The Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour lands at the Majlis this month, and around the golf sit world class hotels, beach clubs and dining. It is the most dependable warm golf trip on earth in deep winter. Book early, as this is peak season.
Verdict: the surest winter sun, championship golf in flawless trim.Cape Town and the Garden Route, South Africa
January is the height of the South African summer, with long, warm days and the courses at their lush best. Play Fancourt's three layouts inland at George, the dramatic Pinnacle Point and Pezula on the coast, and the parkland around Cape Town, then add the winelands, a safari and Table Mountain for one of the great combined trips. The flights are long and from Europe it is an overnight, but the value and the sheer variety are outstanding, and the rand stretches a long way.
Verdict: superb high summer golf and a trip of a lifetime around it.Los Cabos, Mexico
January in Los Cabos is warm, dry and gloriously sunny, the peak of the high season at the tip of the Baja peninsula. The Nicklaus, Norman, Weiskopf and Tom Fazio layouts at Cabo del Sol, Quivira, Diamante and Querencia are among the most spectacular in the Americas, tumbling between cactus and the Sea of Cortez. Pair the golf with a beach resort week and the short hop from the western United States and it is a knockout January pick, with the honest caveat that this is the priciest season.
Verdict: dramatic ocean desert golf in peak winter form.Mauritius
For a long haul beach and golf escape, January is warm tropical summer in Mauritius, with the championship courses in good order between the occasional passing shower. Play the layouts at Anahita, Heritage Le Telfair and Ile aux Cerfs, then retreat to a five star lagoon resort for the afternoons. It ranks this high on the sheer quality of the golf and the guarantee of warmth, tempered by the distance, the price of a proper Indian Ocean holiday, and the small chance of summer rain.
Verdict: world class resort golf wrapped in a tropical holiday.Hua Hin and Phuket, Thailand
January falls squarely in Thailand's cool, dry season, the best time of year to play, and the resort towns of Hua Hin and Phuket are among the most rewarding warm weather trips going. The courses, Black Mountain and Banyan at Hua Hin, Blue Canyon and Red Mountain in Phuket, are excellent and superb value, the caddies are part of the charm, and the beaches, the food and the spas round out a relaxed week. Long haul from Europe but a comfortable hop within Asia, it is a value champion in its prime month.
Verdict: outstanding value golf in Thailand's finest season.Scottsdale and Arizona, United States
For warm, dry winter golf without leaving the country, Scottsdale is the American answer. January days are mild and sunny, and the marquee desert courses, the TPC Stadium, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa and Grayhawk, are in fine winter condition just before the WM Phoenix Open rolls into town in February. The golf is dramatic target play through saguaro and boulder, the resorts and dining are first class, and it ranks here, rather than higher, only because January nights are cold and the peak rates are steep.
Verdict: dramatic desert golf and reliable winter sun at home.Florida, United States
January is high season in Florida for good reason, with mild, settled days across the peninsula and an unrivaled depth of golf, from the resort courses of Orlando and Naples to the famous TPC Sawgrass up at Ponte Vedra. It is the easiest warm winter trip from the eastern United States and a comfortable one from Europe, with endless courses, resorts and value at every level. It ranks here because the south Florida winter, while mild, is cooler and less certain than the tropics or the Gulf.
Verdict: enormous depth of golf and an easy winter escape.The Canary Islands, Spain
The Canaries are Europe's most reliable winter warmth, and January is firmly in season. Tenerife leads the way with Abama, Buenavista and Costa Adeje, with more golf on Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, all volcanic backdrops, ocean views and a near guarantee of low to mid twenties Celsius. Short flights, plenty of resort choice and dependable sun make it a banker for a winter golf week when you do not want a long haul or a gamble on the weather.
Verdict: Europe's safest winter sun, easy and dependable.New Zealand
For something completely different, January is high summer in New Zealand, with long days and the country's spectacular courses at their best. Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs on the North Island are among the most dramatic clifftop layouts on earth, with more world class golf at Tara Iti and Jack's Point. This is a bucket list, once in a lifetime trip rather than a quick break, ranking here purely on the distance and cost, never on the quality, which is as high as golf travel goes.
Verdict: bucket list clifftop golf in the southern summer.Vietnam
Vietnam has become one of Asia's most exciting golf destinations, and January brings the cooler, drier weather of the northern and central regions. Play the Greg Norman links style course at The Bluffs Ho Tram, the Luke Donald layout at Ba Na Hills near Da Nang and the Robert Trent Jones II design at Hoiana, then enjoy the food, the coastline and the value. It ranks last here only on golfing depth and the patchier January weather in the north, not on quality, which is rising fast.
Verdict: emerging, excellent value golf along a beautiful coast.Indicative conditions and seasonal value for January. Weather, green fees and tee sheets change, so always confirm directly before booking. Check January tee time availability.
Plan your January golf trip
Tell us where on this list appeals and we will match it to your dates, secure the tee times in peak season and sort the stay and the transfers. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head, with no obligation.
January golf questions
Where is the best golf in January?
January is deep winter sun season, and our pick is Dubai and the wider UAE, where warm, dry days in the mid twenties Celsius meet championship courses in flawless condition. Cape Town, Los Cabos and Mauritius run it close in the southern and tropical summer, while Thailand, Arizona, Florida, the Canary Islands, New Zealand and Vietnam all offer dependable warmth as the northern winter bites. Always confirm current fees and conditions directly before booking.
Is January a good time for a golf trip?
January is one of the best months of the year for a warm weather golf trip, precisely because so much of the northern hemisphere is frozen. The Gulf, southern Africa, Mexico, the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia all deliver reliable sun and courses in fine condition, and the southern hemisphere is in high summer. The trade off is that January sits in the peak winter season at most of these destinations, so book early and expect peak rates.
Where is guaranteed golf sunshine in January?
For the most dependable January sunshine, look to Dubai and the UAE, where the winter season is at its best, and to Cape Town, Los Cabos and Mauritius, all in warm summer form. Thailand is in its cool dry season, Arizona and Florida are mild and settled, and the Canary Islands are Europe's safest winter warmth. New Zealand offers a very different option, links golf in the long days of the southern summer. Always confirm current conditions directly before booking.
How far ahead should you book a January golf trip?
Book four to six months ahead, and earlier for the marquee UAE courses, Cape Town in peak summer, or a large group travelling together. January is high season at almost every winter sun destination, so the best resorts and tee times fill well in advance and rates sit at their yearly peak. A trip planner can lock the courses, the rooms and the rounds in a single brief before availability tightens.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Seasonal conditions and destination notes verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.