Where to Play Golf in December
December golf is not about one perfect answer, it is about matching the trip to what you want: guaranteed sun, the best value, the shortest flight, or the holiday around the golf. We have grouped the eight destinations we send golfers to in December by the thing they do best, so you can pick the one that fits your group.
Photo: Emirates Golf Club, Majlis Course, via Google. Credit Zsolt Sasdi.
How to choose
December is one of the great months to travel for golf, with the northern hemisphere cold and wet and home courses closed or sodden, while the Gulf, southern Africa, the tropics and the southern hemisphere all deliver dependable warmth. The catch is that almost every good December destination is in peak season, with the festive fortnight the busiest and priciest stretch of the year, so the decision is less about whether the weather will hold and more about what you most want from the week. We have built each pick below around a single question: do you want guaranteed sun, the best value, the southern summer, a short flight, or beach and golf in one place? Match that, book early, and the rest falls into place. Every fee here is a guide only, always to be confirmed directly before booking.
Eight December picks, matched to what you want
Dubai and the UAE
If you want certainty, this is the answer. December is arguably the sweet spot of the Emirates year, with daytime temperatures in the comfortable low to mid twenties Celsius, mild evenings, reliably clear skies and the championship courses, the Emirates Majlis, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Yas Links in Abu Dhabi, in flawless winter trim. Around the golf sit world class hotels, beach clubs and a festive season done on a grand scale. It is the most dependable warm golf trip on earth in early winter, and the easiest to run, with the only caveat being that the holidays fill fast.
Verdict: the surest winter sun, championship golf in flawless condition.Cape Town and the Garden Route
For long warm days and remarkable value, December is the height of the South African summer, with the courses at their lush best. Play Fancourt's three layouts at George, the dramatic Pinnacle Point and Pezula on the coast, and the parkland around Cape Town, then add the winelands, a safari and Table Mountain for one of the great combined trips. The flights are long and from Europe it is an overnight, but the rand stretches a long way and the variety is outstanding.
Verdict: superb high summer golf and a trip of a lifetime around it.Los Cabos, Mexico
For golfers travelling from the United States and Canada, December in Los Cabos is warm, dry and gloriously sunny, the heart of the high season at the tip of the Baja peninsula and a short hop from the western states. The Nicklaus, Love and Woods layouts at Cabo del Sol, Quivira and Diamante are among the most spectacular in the Americas, tumbling between cactus and the Sea of Cortez. Pair the golf with a villa and the marina nightlife for a knockout buddies pick, with the festive fortnight the priciest stretch.
Verdict: dramatic ocean desert golf, the easy pick from North America.Mauritius
For a long haul beach and golf escape over the holidays, December is warm tropical summer in Mauritius, with the championship courses in good order between the occasional passing shower. Play the layouts at Anahita, Heritage Le Telfair and Ile aux Cerfs, then retreat to a five star lagoon resort for the afternoons. It earns its place on the sheer quality of the golf and the guarantee of warmth, tempered by the distance, the festive premium and the small chance of summer rain.
Verdict: world class resort golf wrapped in a tropical holiday.The Canary Islands
For European golfers who do not want a long haul or a weather gamble, the Canaries are the answer, Europe's most reliable winter warmth and firmly in season in December. Tenerife leads with Abama, Buenavista and Costa Adeje, with more golf on Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, all volcanic backdrops, ocean views and a near guarantee of low to mid twenties Celsius. Short flights, plenty of resort choice and dependable sun make it the banker for a winter golf week from Europe.
Verdict: Europe's safest winter sun, the short flight option.Thailand
December falls squarely in Thailand's cool, dry season, the best time of year to play, and the resort towns of Hua Hin and Phuket are among the most rewarding warm weather trips going. The courses, Black Mountain and Banyan at Hua Hin, Blue Canyon and Red Mountain in Phuket, are excellent and superb value, the caddies are part of the charm, and the beaches, the food and the spas round out a relaxed week. Long haul from Europe but a comfortable hop within Asia, it is the value champion in its prime month.
Verdict: outstanding value golf in Thailand's finest season.Florida, United States
For the eastern United States and a comfortable trip from Europe, December is high season in Florida for good reason, with mild, settled days and an unrivaled depth of golf, from the resort courses of Orlando and Naples to TPC Sawgrass up at Ponte Vedra. It is the easiest warm winter trip from the eastern states, with endless courses, resorts and value at every level. It ranks here because the December nights can be cool and the weather, while mild, is less certain than the tropics or the Gulf.
Verdict: enormous depth of golf and an easy winter escape.Barbados
For golf and a polished beach holiday in one, December is the start of the dry winter season in Barbados, warm, sunny and on the eastern edge of the hurricane region. The Robert Trent Jones Jr course at Royal Westmoreland, the Ron Kirby redesign at Apes Hill and the Tom Fazio golf at Sandy Lane sit within a short drive of the platinum west coast and its fine hotels. It is a premium pick rather than a value one, with the festive fortnight the dearest, but hard to beat for a couple or a small group.
Verdict: quality golf and a luxury beach week in the Caribbean.Indicative conditions and seasonal value for December. Weather, green fees and tee sheets change, so always confirm directly before booking. Check December tee time availability.
Plan your December golf trip
Tell us what matters most, guaranteed sun, value, a short flight or beach and golf in one, and we will match it to your dates, secure the tee times in peak festive season and sort the stay and the transfers. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head, with no obligation.
December golf questions
Where should I play golf in December?
It depends on what you want from the trip. For the most dependable winter sun and championship courses, Dubai and the UAE are the safest pick. For the southern summer and outstanding value, head to Cape Town and the Garden Route. North American golfers do best in Los Cabos, Europeans get reliable warmth closest to home in the Canary Islands, and Thailand is the value champion of Southeast Asia. Mauritius and Barbados add beach and golf luxury.
Where is the most reliable golf weather in December?
Dubai and the UAE offer the most dependable December golf weather, with comfortable, dry days in the low to mid twenties Celsius and reliably clear skies through the winter peak. Cape Town, Los Cabos and Mauritius are also very reliable in the southern and tropical summer, the Canary Islands are Europe's safest winter warmth, and Thailand is in its cool, dry season. Always confirm current conditions directly before booking.
Is December a good month for a golf holiday?
December is one of the best months of the year for a warm weather golf trip, with much of the northern hemisphere cold and wet while the Gulf, southern Africa, the tropics and the southern hemisphere deliver reliable sun. The trade off is that December, especially the festive fortnight, is peak season at most of these destinations, so book early and expect peak rates over the Christmas and New Year window.
How far ahead should I book December golf?
Book four to six months ahead, and earlier still for the festive fortnight, the marquee UAE and Cape Town courses, or a large group travelling together. December is high season at almost every winter sun destination and the holidays are the busiest stretch of the year, so the best resorts and tee times fill well in advance and rates sit at their peak. A trip planner can lock the courses, the rooms and the rounds in a single 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.