Best Summer Golf Destinations
Summer in the northern hemisphere is the season to chase cool air and long light, not the heat of the Mediterranean or the desert. The links of Scotland and Ireland reach their peak, the Oregon coast and the Pacific Northwest hit their stride, and the far north plays in daylight that never quite fades. These are the eight destinations we would book for a June, July or August trip, ranked with the weather window and the courses to play.
Photograph: Royal County Down, Northern Ireland, via Google
How we chose
We ranked these eight on reliable summer weather, the quality and density of the golf, and the comfort of playing through the warmest months of the northern year. The defining fact of summer is heat: southern Europe, the Gulf and the southern United States are at their most uncomfortable from June to August, so the travelling golfer should head the other way, toward cool coastal links, high latitudes and mountain air. We led with the places that pair the finest golf with comfortable temperatures and long daylight, favouring destinations you can build a full week around rather than a single bearable round, and we noted where June plays differently from the high summer of July and August.
The 8 best summer golf destinations
Scotland
Summer is the high season of the Scottish links, with the firmest, fastest turf of the year, mild comfortable air and northern daylight that stretches close to eleven in the far north, room for thirty six holes if the legs hold. Work through the great clusters around St Andrews and Fife, East Lothian, Ayrshire and the Highlands, accepting peak fees and busy tee sheets in return for the finest links golf on the planet at its very best. Our top pick for a summer trip by a clear margin, and the one to book first.
Ireland and Northern Ireland
Ireland's links coasts share Scotland's gift for summer golf, cool, green and lit late into the evening, with the bonus of some of the most dramatic duneland anywhere. Build a week around the southwest at Ballybunion, Lahinch and Waterville, the northwest at Carne and Rosapenna, or the Causeway Coast around Royal Portrush, host of the 2025 Open, and Royal County Down at Newcastle, regularly rated the best course in the world. The weather is as changeable as Scotland's, so pack layers, but summer brings the warmth and the light to enjoy it.
Bandon Dunes, Oregon
Summer is prime time on the Oregon coast, where Bandon Dunes serves up authentic, walking only links golf shaped by nature and ruled by the wind. Long days and steady cool breezes off the Pacific make June through August one of the best stretches to visit, with five full length courses, from Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald to the Sheep Ranch, each wildly different yet united by firm turf and big ocean views. The remoteness is the point, so plan the travel and stay multiple nights to play it properly.
Cabot Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
Cabot Cape Breton on the wild northern coast of Nova Scotia is at its best in the short, comfortable Canadian summer. Cabot Links runs right along the harbour and the sea, the Coore and Crenshaw Cabot Cliffs tumbles along the bluffs above the Gulf of St Lawrence with its famous cliff edge par 3s, and the short Nest fills the evenings. Cool ocean air, long days and a genuine end of the road sense of place make this one of the great summer escapes, with July and August the safest weather window.
The Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest hits its driest, sunniest stretch in summer, ideal for the modern destination golf of inland Washington and the coast of British Columbia. Gamble Sands in the high desert near Brewster pairs the original David McLay Kidd links with the acclaimed Scarecrow course and the Quicksands short course, while Chambers Bay, the 2015 US Open venue near Tacoma, plays firm above Puget Sound. Add the resort golf around Whistler to the north and you have a warm, dry, course rich summer trip with cool evenings.
Northern Michigan and the Upper Midwest
Cooled by Lake Michigan, the north of the state is often called America's summer golf capital, a cluster of mega resorts and forest courses that come into their own from June to August. Forest Dunes and the reversible Loop, the courses of Boyne and the bluff top layouts above Lake Michigan give a week of varied, comfortable golf, with the modern destination of Sand Valley across the lake in Wisconsin a natural pairing. An easy, value friendly inland alternative to the coastal links trips.
Scandinavia
The short Scandinavian summer peaks from June through August, with warm dry days, cool nights and daylight that barely fades, stretching to true midnight golf in the far north. Sweden leads the region for quality, from the classic links at Falsterbo and Barseback on the south coast to Bro Hof Slott near Stockholm, with strong golf across Denmark and Finland too. For long evenings, value and a different kind of summer trip, the north of Europe is a quietly brilliant choice that few visiting golfers think to make.
The Alps
When the European lowlands bake, the Alps stay cool, and summer is the high season for mountain golf in Switzerland, Austria and the French Alps. Crans Montana, home of the European Masters above the Rhone valley, leads a roster of courses set among the peaks at altitude, where the air is crisp, the views are vast and the ball flies a little further. Pair the golf with hiking, lakes and alpine villages for a trip that suits families and non golfers as well as the foursome.
Honourable mentions for a cool summer round: Iceland for midnight golf, New England and the Catskills, and the coast of British Columbia. Weather and seasonal notes verified June 2026 from destination and golf travel sources. Conditions and green fees vary year to year, so always confirm current rates and tee times directly before booking. Check summer tee time availability.
Plan your summer golf trip
Tell us which of these appeals and roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge matches the destination to your group, books the courses and the stay, and costs it to the head. The summer links season fills a long way ahead, so the sooner we start the better, with no obligation.
Summer golf questions
Where is the best place to play golf in summer?
Through the northern summer of June, July and August the smart move is to travel toward cool, dry links and mountain golf rather than the hot Mediterranean or the desert. Scotland is our top pick, with its great links at their peak and daylight that lasts past ten at night, followed by Ireland, Bandon Dunes in Oregon, Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia and the Pacific Northwest. All deliver comfortable temperatures and long days. Always confirm current fees and tee times directly before booking.
Where can you play golf in summer to escape the heat?
The coolest comfortable summer golf is found on the links coasts of Scotland and Ireland, the Oregon coast at Bandon Dunes, Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, the Pacific Northwest across Washington and British Columbia, northern Michigan, Scandinavia and the mountain courses of the Alps. All sit well away from the midsummer heat that bakes southern Europe, the Gulf and the southern United States, and most pair cool air with long daylight for late evening rounds.
Is summer a good time for a golf trip to Scotland or Ireland?
Yes, summer is the peak of the links season in both countries. June through August brings the warmest, driest weather of the year, firm fast turf and daylight that stretches close to eleven at night in the far north, leaving room for thirty six holes. It is also the busiest and dearest stretch, so book the marquee tee sheets and hotels well ahead, and pack layers because the coastal weather stays changeable even in high summer.
Which golf destinations should you avoid in summer?
Avoid the hottest places in the northern summer: the Mediterranean coasts of Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Greece, the Gulf around Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and the southern United States including Florida, Arizona and Texas, where midsummer heat and humidity make daytime play uncomfortable. These are wonderful in spring, autumn and winter, but in June, July and August they are best left for early or twilight rounds, or skipped in favour of cool climate golf.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Seasonal weather windows verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.