The Best Golf Destinations in May
May might be the finest month in golf. The great northern links firm up and the days stretch long, the Mediterranean is warm but not yet baking, and the American spring is in full flow before the summer heat and humidity arrive. It sits in the sweet spot between the winter chill of the north and the high summer of the south, often with quieter tee sheets and gentler prices than peak. Here are the ten best places to play in May, ranked, with our verdict on the weather, the courses and the timing.
Photograph: Royal Dornoch Golf Club, via Google.
How we ranked them
This list answers one question: where is the golf at its best in May. We weighed the typical May weather and course condition, how well the month suits each destination's season, and how much the timing works in your favour on crowds and price. The northern links lead because May catches them firm, fast and bathed in long daylight, just before the summer peak, while the warm weather destinations earn their places as the spring high season delivers comfortable golf without the heat to come. Every destination links through to our fuller guide, and any seasonal pricing is a guide only, always to be confirmed directly before booking.
The 10 best golf destinations in May
Scotland, the links season opens
May is the month the home of golf wakes up. The great links of St Andrews, Fife, East Lothian, Ayrshire and the Highlands have firmed up after the spring, the fescue is coming good, and the daylight runs late enough for two rounds in a day. The summer crowds and the July and August peak prices are still weeks away, so the tee sheets breathe and the value is strong. The weather is the usual gamble, but a kind May week on the Scottish links, fast running and gloriously lit, is golf at its purest, and it takes top spot.
Verdict: the great links firm and golden, with the light long and the crowds gone.Southwest Ireland
The great Atlantic links of the southwest, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Tralee and Waterville, are in fine spring trim in May, the courses growing into their season and the days long and bright over the dunes. The famous Irish welcome is undimmed, the coastal drives are at their green and golden best, and the month falls before the summer rush. The wind off the ocean is the wild card on this exposed coast, but a settled May week here is romantic links golf at its very finest.
Verdict: the great Atlantic links in spring form, with the welcome at full warmth.The Algarve, Portugal
The Algarve in May is at its spring best, warm and settled before the high summer heat, the courses green and immaculate after the mild winter. The western Algarve names, Monte Rei, San Lorenzo and the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo courses, are in superb condition, the evenings are long and balmy, and the short flights make it an easy week. For a warm weather golf trip with comfortable temperatures rather than midsummer heat, the Algarve in May is hard to beat.
Verdict: warm, immaculate Algarve golf at its comfortable spring peak.Andalucia and the Costa del Sol, Spain
The Costa del Sol in May is warm, lush and a joy to play, the spring sun reliable and the courses along the Costa del Golf in beautiful condition. The great Andalucian names, Valderrama, Sotogrande, Finca Cortesin and the Marbella cluster, are at their best, the temperatures comfortable before the summer climbs, and the food, the towns and the short transfers make for an easy week. For dependable spring sun and a deep run of fine courses, Andalucia in May delivers.
Verdict: warm spring sun and a dense cluster of great courses.Pinehurst and the Carolina Sandhills, USA
Pinehurst and the surrounding Sandhills are at their spring best in May, the famous No. 2 and its sister courses warm and dry before the heavy summer humidity sets in. The sandy soil drains beautifully, the wiregrass and the restored natural areas frame the holes, and the resort village makes a comfortable, walkable base for a buddies trip. With a deep choice of courses on one site and spring conditions at their kindest, the home of American golf is a fine May call.
Verdict: the American golf capital warm and dry before the summer humidity.The Monterey Peninsula, California
Late spring is a lovely time on the Monterey Peninsula, the May skies often clearer than the foggy summer mornings to come, and the cool Pacific air keeping Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and their neighbours fresh and green. The coastal holes are at their photogenic best, the crowds lighter than peak summer, and a week here pairs the bucket list rounds with the 17 Mile Drive and the Carmel coast. Pack layers for the ocean breeze and May rewards you with golf and scenery in equal measure.
Verdict: bucket list coastal golf with clearer spring skies than summer.Surrey heathland and the Kent coast, England
May is glorious on the great English heathland, the heather and the silver birch coming alive at Wentworth, Sunningdale, Walton Heath and the St George's Hill cluster, the turf springy and the courses framed in fresh colour. Pair it with the Kent coast links of Royal St George's and Royal Cinque Ports for a contrast of heath and sea, all within easy reach of London. For a refined spring week of classic inland and seaside golf close to the capital, England in May is a quiet delight.
Verdict: the heather alive and the heathland at its spring best near London.Tuscany and Italy
Spring in Tuscany is warm, green and unhurried, the May light soft over the vineyards and the courses at their gentle best before the summer heat. Argentario on the coast, the Royal Golf La Bagnaia and the layouts around Florence and the Chianti hills play beautifully, and the wider trip is lifted by the food, the wine and the scenery. For golfers who want the round to share the bill with the table and the view, Tuscany in May is a relaxed, romantic week.
Verdict: mild, scenic spring golf wrapped in the Tuscan good life.Northern Ireland
The Causeway coast is magnificent in May, Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, two of the very best links in the world, coming into firm spring form with the days long and the dunes green. The drama of the Mourne Mountains behind Newcastle and the cliffs along the north coast make for some of the most beautiful golf anywhere, and the month falls before the summer peak. The weather is the gamble it always is here, but a settled May trip to the Northern Irish links is unforgettable.
Verdict: two of the world's great links in firm spring form.Bandon Dunes, Oregon
Bandon Dunes on the wild southern Oregon coast is at its spring best in late May, the run of world class links courses, Pacific Dunes, Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails and the rest, firm and fast above the ocean. This is pure, walking, caddie golf in the British tradition, transported to the American west coast, and the spring brings longer, often drier days before the summer. The weather is changeable and the location remote, but for a links purist it is one of the great pilgrimages, and May is a fine time to make it.
Verdict: world class Pacific links golf in its kinder spring window.Indicative May conditions and seasonal value. Weather, green fees, package rates and tee sheets change, so always confirm directly before booking. Check May tee time availability.
Plan your May golf trip
Tell us roughly where and when you want to travel and we will build the May week that catches the courses at their spring best, hold the tee times and the rooms, and cost the trip to the head, with no obligation.
May golf questions
Where is the best golf in May?
May is the sweet spot for the great northern links. Our pick is Scotland, where the courses come into firm, fast season, the days stretch long and the summer crowds and peak prices have not yet arrived. Southwest Ireland runs it close, with the Algarve, Andalucia, Pinehurst, the Monterey Peninsula, English heathland, Tuscany, Northern Ireland and Bandon Dunes all superb in May. It is one of the best all round months in golf. Always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Is May a good time for a links golf trip?
May is arguably the best month for a links trip. The turf has firmed up and the courses are running fast, the daylight reaches well into the evening for extra rounds, and the weather, while never guaranteed, is often settled and kind. Crucially it falls before the July and August peak, so tee sheets are quieter and prices sit below high season at many clubs. Pack for changeable conditions and you have the links at their best.
Where is warm enough for golf in May?
Plenty of places are warm and dry without the summer heat. The Algarve and Andalucia are at their spring best, Pinehurst and the Carolinas are warm before the summer humidity, the Monterey Peninsula and Tuscany are mild and pleasant, and even the northern links enjoy long, often gentle May days. May avoids both the winter chill of the north and the high summer heat of the south, which is what makes it such a strong month.
Is May cheaper than summer for golf?
Often, yes, particularly in the northern links destinations where May sits just before the July and August peak, so green fees and packages can be lower and tee sheets quieter. In the warm weather destinations May is the tail of the spring high season, still excellent value before the summer slowdown. Rates vary by resort and year, so always confirm current pricing directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Seasonal conditions and indicative value verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.