The Best Golf Destinations in September
September is the connoisseur's month. The great links of Britain and Ireland run firm and fast after the summer, the crowds thin as the holidays end and the days are still long, while the Mediterranean sheds its fierce heat into warm, settled golf. Here are the ten destinations we send golfers to in September, ranked, with our verdict on the weather, the value and what to play, plus the honest trade offs of an early autumn trip.
Photo: the Old Course, St Andrews, via Google.
How we ranked them
This list weighs the things that actually matter in September: the firm, fast turf and settled early autumn weather that make it the prime month for links golf, the quality and depth of the courses, value as the peak summer rates begin to ease, and how comfortable the trip is to run while the days are still long. September tilts the balance toward the great links of Scotland and Ireland, which are at their absolute best, while the Mediterranean offers warm, dependable golf as the heat breaks, and a few long haul and continental options come into their own. 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 September golf destinations
St Andrews and Fife, Scotland
For most golfers, September on the Fife links is as good as the game gets. The summer rush has passed, the ground runs firm and fast, the daylight is still generous and the weather, while never promised, is often settled and glorious. The Old Course and the surrounding gems around St Andrews play at their finest, tee times ease a touch and rates begin to soften from the peak. Pack layers for the breeze, book the marquee rounds early and tee off in the morning, and you have the best month of the year in the home of golf.
Verdict: the finest links month in the finest links town, our clear number one.Southwest Ireland
The wild Southwest is every bit September's equal of Scotland, with Ballybunion, Lahinch, Tralee and Waterville running firm and fast as the season turns and the crowds fall away. The early autumn light on the Kerry cliffs is something to behold, the turf is at its best for the ground game, and tee times that are hard fought in summer open up. The weather can swing, so pack waterproofs and take a caddie, but play it on a crisp September day and there are few finer trips on earth.
Verdict: peak links golf and thinning crowds on Ireland's great coast.The Algarve, Portugal
September marks the start of the Algarve's prime autumn season, the fierce August heat softening into warm, comfortable days with the Atlantic still warm enough to swim. The great central courses around Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura, and Monte Rei in the east, return to top condition as the summer crowds head home. Add short flights from across Europe, good value before the October peak and superb seafood, and it is the strongest warm weather choice on the list.
Verdict: the warm weather pick, the Algarve coming into its best season.Costa del Sol, Spain
The Costa del Sol stays hot and bright through September, the Marbella and Sotogrande courses returning to form as the peak summer heat eases. 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 early autumn choice for a mixed group, with morning tee times the pick while it remains warm.
Verdict: warm, polished championship golf as the summer heat backs off.Belek, Turkey
Belek in September is still warm, often in the high twenties, and the value remains the best in the Mediterranean. The pine framed courses run firm, and the cluster of five star resorts makes the all inclusive maths irresistible for a group. Play the Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Carya and the Cornelius courses on short transfers between rounds, and you have a week of high quality golf and comfort for a fraction of what the same standard costs elsewhere. Early in the month can be hot, so favour morning rounds.
Verdict: unbeatable value and warm September golf for a buddies trip.Cape Town and the Garden Route, South Africa
September is early spring at the Cape, the tail of the dry winter golf season, with the fairways in good order and the wildflowers out along the Garden Route. Play the cliff top and parkland courses around Cape Town, then run east to the ocean layouts of the Garden Route, pairing golf with wine country, whale watching and dramatic coast. It is a long haul trip that rewards those who want world class scenery and a full holiday wrapped around the golf.
Verdict: a spectacular long haul pick at the close of the dry season.Tuscany and Italy
September is a lovely month in Italy, the summer heat easing into warm, settled days perfect for the rolling courses of Tuscany and the lakes, with the vineyards heading toward harvest. The golf is varied and scenic rather than world top 100, but paired with the food, the wine and the art it makes one of the most civilised golf and culture breaks in Europe. A fine choice for a couple or a group that wants the golf to share the week with everything else Italy offers.
Verdict: golf and la dolce vita in ideal early autumn warmth.Brittany and the French coast
The French coast plays beautifully in September, the holiday crowds gone and the weather mild and settled. Brittany and Normandy offer windswept links and clifftop courses, while the southwest around Biarritz mixes classic old layouts with Atlantic surf and Basque dining. Short hops from the UK and a strong food and wine scene make France an underrated early autumn trip, particularly for those who want quieter courses and a touch of links character without the long northern drives.
Verdict: quiet, mild coastal golf and superb food, an underrated pick.Sweden's west coast
The Swedish west coast around Gothenburg and Halmstad hides a run of genuine links and heathland courses that play firm and fast into September, before the season closes. The light is long, the courses uncrowded and the welcome warm, and the standout layouts hold their own with better known European names. The weather is cooler and a little riskier than the Mediterranean, but for a links lover seeking somewhere different, late summer on the Kattegat coast is a quiet delight.
Verdict: a different, firm linksy trip for the adventurous in late season.Cape Breton and Atlantic Canada
September is prime time on Canada's Atlantic coast, the summer humidity gone and the modern links of Cape Breton, Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, running firm and fast above the ocean with the first hints of fall colour inland. It is among the most spectacular new links golf anywhere, walkable and dramatic, and the early autumn is the connoisseur's window before the season ends. It ranks last here only on distance and a short weather window, not on quality.
Verdict: world class modern links at their late season peak, worth the trip.Indicative conditions and seasonal value for September. Weather, green fees and tee sheets change, so always confirm directly before booking. Check September tee time availability.
Plan your September golf trip
Tell us where on this list appeals and we will match it to your dates, secure the tee times at the great links before they go, and sort the stay and the transfers. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head, with no obligation.
September golf questions
Where is the best golf in September?
September is the finest month of the year to play the great links, and our pick is St Andrews and Fife in Scotland, where firm, fast autumn turf, long enough days and thinning summer crowds meet the most famous courses in the game. Southwest Ireland runs it close for the same reasons, while the Algarve, the Costa del Sol and Belek offer warm, settled Mediterranean golf as the summer heat eases. Further afield, Cape Town, Tuscany, France, Sweden and Atlantic Canada all shine in September.
Is September a good time for a golf trip?
September is arguably the best month of the year for a golf trip. The links nations of Britain and Ireland are at their peak, with firm ground, settled early autumn weather and lighter crowds than the July and August holidays, while the Mediterranean has shed the brutal summer heat. Days are still long enough for unhurried golf and rates begin to ease from the peak. The main trade off is a little more weather variability in the northern links destinations.
Is September a good time to play golf in Scotland?
September is widely regarded as the best month to play golf in Scotland. The links run firm and fast after the summer, the worst of the crowds have gone, the daylight is still generous and the weather, while never guaranteed, is often settled and beautiful. Tee times at the famous courses become a little easier and rates begin to soften from the peak. Pack layers and waterproofs, book the marquee rounds early and aim for morning tee times.
How far ahead should you book a September golf trip?
For the headline September destinations, especially the great links, book six to twelve months ahead for the marquee courses and the best hotels, and earlier still for a large group or a specific tee time at St Andrews or the Irish links. September is prized precisely because it combines fine conditions with easing crowds, so the best slots go early. A trip planner can lock the order, the rooms and the rounds in one brief.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Seasonal conditions and destination notes verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.