Anahita Golf Club, seaside golf on the east coast of Mauritius

Best of · Winter sun

The Best Winter Golf Destinations in the World

When the courses at home are frozen or shut, these are the places to chase the sun and keep playing. From guaranteed warmth and championship golf in Dubai to seaside rounds in Mauritius and the lush southern summer of South Africa, here are the eight winter golf destinations we rate most highly, ranked with our verdicts and the best time to go.

See the ranking Plan the trip

By the GolfForKings editorial desk · How we rank · Last reviewed June 2026

Photograph: Anahita Golf Club, Mauritius, via Google

How we chose

A winter golf trip lives or dies on two things: reliable weather and golf worth the flight. So our ranking rewards destinations that combine dependable winter conditions with courses a travelling golfer genuinely wants to play, then weighs value, ease of access and what there is to do off the course. We have looked across both hemispheres, because the best winter golf splits in two: northern-hemisphere sun-belts where November to March is the dry, busy high season, and southern-hemisphere destinations where those same months are a lush, long-daylight summer.

Every destination here has a deep set of courses, real infrastructure for visiting golfers and a season that delivers when it matters most. We have favoured the places that earn a multi-round trip over a single novelty round. The verdicts are ours; the climate patterns, tournament histories and course facts we cite are documented, and the indicative costs are there to set expectations, not to quote.

Reviewed June 2026 by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Facts verified at publication. How we research and review.

The eight best winter golf destinations

Dubai and the UAE

November to March · guaranteed sun · championship golf

The most reliable winter golf on earth. Dubai and Abu Dhabi average around 25 degrees from November to March under near-permanent blue skies, with a deep field of floodlit, immaculately kept courses. The Majlis at Emirates Golf Club hosts the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, and Jumeirah Golf Estates stages the DP World Tour's season finale on the Earth Course. Add luxury hotels, short flights from Europe and a city built for visitors, and it is the complete winter golf week.

Golf in Dubai · UAE golf holidays

Mauritius

Indian Ocean · southern summer · seaside golf

The most beautiful winter golf going. This Indian Ocean island delivers blue skies, light trade winds and turquoise lagoons through the European winter, which is the Mauritian summer, with a dozen courses among the resorts. Anahita, designed by Ernie Els, Ile aux Cerfs by Bernhard Langer and Heritage Le Chateau lead the way. It is long-haul and luxury-priced, but for couples and groups who want golf, beach and barefoot indulgence in one, nothing beats it.

Golf in Mauritius · Mauritius golf holidays

South Africa

Southern summer · outstanding value · lush conditions

The value pick, and a serious one. December to March is high summer in the southern hemisphere, so courses are lush, daylight is long and the golf is exceptional, from Gary Player's home layout at Sun City and the Garden Route gems to Fancourt and the Cape clusters. Add big-five game lodges, the Cape winelands and a favourable exchange rate, and South Africa offers arguably the best golf-and-adventure value of any winter destination.

Golf in South Africa · South Africa in our winter

Florida

Sunshine State · November to April · resort golf

The classic North American escape. From late autumn into spring, Florida is warm, dry and wall-to-wall golf, with more courses than any US state and the famous names to match, from TPC Sawgrass and its island green to Streamsong's modern dunescapes and the resort clusters of Orlando, Naples and Palm Beach. Easy direct flights, a vast choice of stay-and-play resorts and reliable winter sun make it the default for many.

Golf in Florida

Thailand

Tropical · November to February cool season · great value

The best value in Asia and a joy to visit. The cool, dry season from November to February is prime, with excellent courses around Bangkok, Hua Hin and Phuket, famously good caddies and warm hospitality, all at green fees well below the Gulf or the Caribbean. Pair tournament-grade golf with beaches, street food and city life, and Thailand is a hugely rewarding long-haul winter trip for buddies groups and couples alike.

Golf in Thailand · Thailand golf holidays

The Algarve, Portugal

Southern Europe · mild · short flights

Europe's mildest winter golf and the easy short-haul answer. The Algarve stays comfortable through the winter, typically in the mid to high teens by day, with a dense cluster of quality courses around Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago and the western coast, and far lower prices than the high season. Daylight is short and the odd wet front passes through, but for a long weekend or a week without a long flight, it is hard to beat.

Golf in the Algarve · The Algarve in winter

Los Cabos, Mexico

Baja California · desert meets ocean · designer golf

The most dramatic winter golf in the Americas. At the tip of the Baja peninsula, Los Cabos pairs warm, dry winters with a remarkable concentration of designer courses where the Sonoran desert tumbles into the Pacific, from Diamante and the Coore and Crenshaw Dunes Course to Quivira and Cabo del Sol. It is upmarket and best reached from the western United States, but for ocean-edge desert golf and luxury resorts, it is spectacular.

Golf in Los Cabos · Los Cabos golf holidays

Morocco

North Africa · mild winter · short flights from Europe

The characterful short-haul wild card. Marrakech and Agadir enjoy mild, sunny winters and a fast-growing set of courses, from the Palmeraie and desert layouts near Marrakech to the resort golf along the Agadir coast, all wrapped in souks, riads and a culture quite unlike anywhere else on this list. Value is strong and flights from Europe are short, making it a fresh alternative to the usual Iberian winter break.

Golf in Morocco · Golf in Marrakech

A loose split: Dubai, Florida, Thailand, the Algarve, Los Cabos and Morocco peak in the northern winter from November to March; South Africa and Mauritius are at their best in the southern summer over the same months. Climate patterns and course facts verified June 2026.

Where to play November to March Check tee time availability

When to go and what to expect

Destination	Best winter window	Typical day temperature
Dubai and the UAE	November to March	Around 25C, dry and sunny
Mauritius	December to April	Warm and humid, light breeze
South Africa	December to March	Warm summer, long daylight
Florida	November to April	Mild to warm, mostly dry
Thailand	November to February	Hot and dry cool season
The Algarve	November to March	Mid to high teens, short days
Los Cabos, Mexico	November to April	Warm and dry, cool evenings
Morocco	November to March	Mild, sunny, cool nights

Indicative winter conditions, shown to guide planning only and varying year to year. The northern-hemisphere destinations are in peak season in these months, so resorts and tee times fill from December to February and prices are highest. We are a guide, not an operator. Always confirm conditions, rates and availability directly before booking.

Plan your winter golf escape

Guaranteed Gulf sun, seaside golf in Mauritius, value in South Africa or a short hop to the Algarve. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge matches the destination to your group, secures the tee times and the resort and costs it to the head, with no obligation.

Winter golf questions

Where is the best place to play golf in winter?

For guaranteed sun and world-class courses, Dubai and the UAE are the most reliable winter golf destination, averaging around 25 degrees Celsius from November to March with almost daily clear skies. Mauritius offers the most scenic seaside golf, South Africa the best value during the southern summer, and Florida and Thailand round out the top long-haul options. The Algarve is Europe's mildest winter golf for a shorter trip.

Can you play golf in Europe in winter?

Yes, in the south. The Algarve in Portugal, southern Spain and the Canary Islands all stay mild enough for comfortable golf through the European winter, typically in the mid to high teens Celsius by day, though daylight is short and the occasional wet spell passes through. For guaranteed heat and long days you need to go long-haul to Dubai, Mauritius, Thailand or the southern hemisphere.

When is the best time for a winter golf trip?

The northern-hemisphere winter from November to March is peak season in Dubai, the Algarve, Florida, Thailand and Morocco, so book early as resorts and tee times fill from December to February. In the southern hemisphere, the same months are summer, which makes December to March the prime, lush, long-daylight window in South Africa and Mauritius. Always confirm rates and availability directly before booking.

The Tee Sheet

Course openings, the booking windows that matter and the trips worth taking. One considered email every other week.

Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Climate patterns and course facts verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.