The Best Golf Destinations in October
October is the golden shoulder month. The summer heat has broken across the Mediterranean and the southern United States, the crowds have gone home, tee sheets open up and rates soften, yet the courses are still in fine late season trim. Here are the ten destinations we send golfers to in October, ranked, with our verdict on the weather, the value and what to play, plus the honest trade offs of a month with shorter days.
Photo: Monte Rei Golf and Country Club via Google.
How we ranked them
This list weighs the things that actually matter in October: reliable warmth without the brutal heat of high summer, the quality and depth of the courses, value as peak season rates fall away, and how comfortable the trip is to run in a month of shortening days. We have leaned toward the Mediterranean and North Africa, where October is close to perfect, while giving the autumn links and the warming American deserts their due. 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 October golf destinations
The Algarve, Portugal
October in the Algarve is as close to flawless as golf travel gets. Days hover in the low twenties Celsius, the Atlantic is still warm enough to swim, and the great courses of the central belt, San Lorenzo, the Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura layouts, Monte Rei in the east, play in superb late season condition with the summer crowds gone. Add short flights from across Europe, excellent value once peak rates fall and some of the best seafood on the continent, and it earns top spot comfortably.
Verdict: the complete October trip, warm, quiet and full of great golf.Belek, Turkey
Belek is the value champion of the shoulder season. October temperatures sit in the mid twenties, the pine framed courses run firm and fast, and the cluster of resorts makes the all inclusive maths irresistible for a group. Play the Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Carya and the Cornelius courses on a short transfer between rounds, and you have a week of high quality golf and five star comfort for a fraction of what the same standard costs elsewhere.
Verdict: unbeatable value, ideal for a buddies trip in fine weather.Costa del Sol, Spain
The Costa del Sol stays warm and welcoming deep into October, with the Marbella and Sotogrande courses at their best once the August heat fades. This is the home of Valderrama and Finca Cortesin, two of continental Europe's finest tests, set among the resorts and beach clubs of the coast. Easy access, a long golfing pedigree and a lively dining scene make it a dependable autumn choice for a mixed group.
Verdict: warm, polished and packed with serious championship golf.St Andrews and Fife, Scotland
For the purist, October on the Fife links is a quietly magical time, with firm fast ground, thinning crowds at the Old Course and the surrounding gems, and rates well below the summer peak. The catch is honest: the weather can turn, the days are short, and you will want layers and a morning tee time. But play it on a crisp, still autumn day and there is nowhere finer, which is why it ranks above warmer rivals for those who love links golf.
Verdict: for links lovers who will trade warmth for firm autumn golf.Los Cabos, Mexico
Los Cabos in October sits at the end of the quieter, warmer low season, just before the winter rush, so you catch dramatic desert and ocean courses at gentler rates. 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. Days are hot and humidity is easing, a fine pairing of world class golf and a beach resort week.
Verdict: spectacular ocean desert golf as winter rates have not yet bitten.Dubai, United Arab Emirates
October marks the reopening of the Gulf golf season as the searing summer eases, and by late in the month Dubai is back in play, especially for early tee times and the floodlit twilight rounds. The Emirates Majlis, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Creek give you championship courses, faultless conditioning and a city of restaurants and beach clubs alongside. Go late October rather than early, and keep an eye on the forecast for the cooler mornings.
Verdict: a strong late October choice as the desert cools and the season returns.Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech comes into its own in October, the fierce summer heat replaced by warm, comfortable days and cool evenings, with the Atlas mountains as a backdrop to immaculate, watered courses. Play the Amelkis, Royal Golf and Al Maaden layouts, then trade the fairways for the souks, the riads and the rooftop terraces of the medina. It is the most characterful golf and culture combination within easy reach of Europe.
Verdict: golf and a genuine cultural escape in ideal autumn warmth.Pinehurst and the Sandhills, USA
October is one of the best months to play the North Carolina Sandhills, the summer humidity gone and the days warm and settled over the sandy, pine framed courses. Pinehurst's famous resort, led by the restored No. 2, sits at the heart of a cluster of fine layouts that play firm and fast in the autumn air. It is the classic American stay and play, walkable, historic and superbly conditioned.
Verdict: prime autumn conditions on America's great sandy resort golf.Scottsdale and Arizona, USA
By late October the brutal Arizona summer has loosened its grip, and Scottsdale's desert courses begin their long, glorious high season. The target style layouts at Troon North, We-Ko-Pa and the TPC, set among saguaro and red rock, are immaculate, and the resort scene is among the best for non golfing partners. Early in the month can still be hot, so aim for the back half and morning tee times.
Verdict: a fine late October pick as the desert season swings open.Mauritius
For a long haul beach and golf escape, October is a lovely time in Mauritius, the start of the warm, drier spring with the island courses in good order. Play the championship layouts at Anahita, Heritage Le Telfair and Ile aux Cerfs, then retreat to a five star lagoon resort for the afternoons. It ranks last here only on distance and price, not quality, and rewards those who want golf wrapped in a proper tropical holiday.
Verdict: a long haul October treat, golf and the Indian Ocean in one.Indicative conditions and seasonal value for October. Weather, green fees and tee sheets change, so always confirm directly before booking. Check October tee time availability.
Plan your October golf trip
Tell us where on this list appeals and we will match it to your dates, secure the tee times before the autumn rush and sort the stay and the transfers. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head, with no obligation.
October golf questions
Where is the best golf in October?
October is the golden shoulder month, and our pick is the Algarve in southern Portugal, where warm settled days in the low twenties Celsius meet thinned out crowds and a stack of top European courses. Belek in Turkey and the Costa del Sol in Spain run it close on value and weather, while Scotland and Fife offer firm autumn links for those who do not mind a cooler, breezier round. Further afield, Los Cabos, Dubai, Morocco, Pinehurst, Arizona and Mauritius all come into their own.
Is October a good time for a golf trip?
October is one of the best months of the year for a golf trip. The fierce summer heat has eased across the Mediterranean, North Africa and the southern United States, the holiday crowds have gone home, tee sheets open up and rates often soften, yet the courses are still in fine late season condition. The trade off is shorter daylight, so plan earlier tee times, and a little more weather risk in the northern links destinations.
Can you still play links golf in Scotland in October?
Yes. October is true shoulder season on the Scottish links, with firm fast turf, quieter tee sheets at the famous courses and lower rates than the peak summer weeks. The catch is the weather, which can swing from glorious to wild, and the shorter days, so pack layers and waterproofs, book the marquee rounds early and aim to tee off in the morning to be sure of finishing in the light.
How far ahead should you book an October golf trip?
For the headline October destinations, book three to six months ahead for the best hotel and tee time choice, and earlier still if you want a specific marquee course or a large group together. October is popular precisely because it is comfortable and good value, so the best resorts and the best tee times go early. A trip planner can lock the order, the rooms and the rounds in one brief.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Seasonal picks, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Seasonal conditions and destination notes verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.