Golf in Malta
One historic course, a Mediterranean winter that almost never closes, and the option of championship golf in Sicily a short flight away. An honest guide to the Royal Malta Golf Club, the season, the costs and how to build a trip around the only course on the islands.
Photograph: Royal Malta Golf Club, Royal Malta Golf Club, via Google
Why golf in Malta
Let us be honest from the first tee: Malta has exactly one golf course. The Royal Malta Golf Club at Marsa, founded in 1888, is the only course on the islands, which makes Malta a poor choice for a golfer chasing variety. What it does offer is a rare combination that suits a particular kind of trip: a genuinely historic parkland, a Mediterranean climate that delivers comfortable golf right through the European winter, and one of the most layered small countries in the world to explore between rounds.
Think of Malta as a winter sun city break with a good round of golf attached, rather than a golf holiday in the Algarve or Belek sense. You play Royal Malta, then spend the rest of the trip on Valletta's baroque streets, the medieval silent city of Mdina, the diving and the boat trips, and the food and wine of a culture shaped by knights, the British and the wider Mediterranean. For the golfer who wants more courses, Malta sits within a short flight of Sicily and the two Kyle Phillips championship courses at Verdura, which turns a one course island into a genuine two centre golf trip.
How to think about a Malta golf trip
The golf
One course, the Royal Malta Golf Club at Marsa, a mature 18 hole parkland in the centre of the main island, easily reached from the resort towns and playable all winter.
The island
Valletta, Mdina, the Three Cities and the blue water of Gozo and Comino. The reason to come, with the golf as one good day among many.
The Sicily add-on
A short flight north to Verdura on the Sicilian coast adds two Kyle Phillips championship courses, turning Malta into a two centre Mediterranean golf trip.
The course, and the Sicily add-on
Royal Malta Golf Club
A compact, mature parkland of a little over 5,600 yards on the site of the Marsa Sports Club in the centre of the island, founded in 1888 and one of the oldest clubs in the Mediterranean. Not long by modern standards, but characterful, welcoming and in play through the winter when northern courses are shut. Visitors are welcome alongside members, so book a tee time ahead.
Verdura Resort, Sicily
The two terrific Kyle Phillips championship courses at the Rocco Forte Verdura resort on the south west coast of Sicily, a little over an hour by air from Malta. The obvious way to add serious, modern golf to a Maltese trip, and a destination in its own right. Verdura sits in Italy rather than Malta, listed here as the natural regional add-on.
Facts verified June 2026. Royal Malta is the only course in the Maltese islands; Verdura is in Sicily, Italy, and noted as a regional add-on, not a Maltese course. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| October to April | Mild Mediterranean winter, comfortable golf, warm sun | Prime season, the reason to come, a true winter sun escape |
| May and September | Warm to hot, long days, busy | Pleasant shoulder golf, pair with the sea and the beaches |
| June to August | Hot and humid, peak tourist crowds | Often too hot for comfortable golf, play early or skip |
Malta's appeal to the travelling golfer is precisely the winter, when it offers reliable, comfortable rounds while most of Europe is closed. Plan around October to April for the best of it.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Malta green fee | Around €40 to €70 | Varies by season and day, multi day packages cheaper |
| Verdura, Sicily green fee | A premium resort fee | For the add-on leg, confirm with the resort |
| A week, Malta only | Around €1,500 to €2,800 per person | Hotel, a few rounds and sightseeing, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Malta International Airport sits just outside Valletta and is well served by direct flights from across Europe, with the Royal Malta course at Marsa only a short drive away. The island is small enough that a hotel almost anywhere puts you within half an hour of the golf, and taxis or a hire car handle the rest. For the Sicily add-on, frequent short flights connect Malta to Catania and Palermo, from where Verdura is a coastal drive. A car is useful for touring the island and the historic towns but not essential if you base in one of the main resort areas.
Where to stay
Base in the St Julian's and Sliema strip for the widest choice of hotels, restaurants and nightlife, or in Valletta itself for a more atmospheric, design led stay among the baroque streets. Mellieha and the north suit a quieter, beach focused trip and the ferry to Gozo, while a night or two on Gozo adds the island's slower pace. Wherever you stay, the single course means the golf slots easily into a sightseeing itinerary rather than driving it. For the Sicily leg, the Verdura resort is a full service stay in its own right.
Plan your Malta golf trip
Tell us whether you want a relaxed Malta winter break or a two centre trip with Sicily, and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Malta golf questions
How many golf courses are there in Malta?
Just one. The Royal Malta Golf Club at Marsa, founded in 1888, is the only course on the islands. Golfers wanting more usually pair Malta with a short flight to Sicily, where the two Kyle Phillips courses at Verdura sit a little over an hour away.
When is the best time to play golf in Malta?
Malta is a winter sun destination. The prime window runs October to April, when the climate is mild and the course is at its best. The deep summer from June to August is often too hot for comfortable golf.
How much does golf cost in Malta?
Indicative 2026 green fees at Royal Malta are modest, around €40 to €70 depending on season and day, with discounted packages for longer stays. Always confirm directly before booking.
Is Malta worth it for a golf trip?
Best seen as a winter sun city break with one good, historic course rather than a course rich golf destination. It suits golfers who want guaranteed mild weather and the history of the island, with the option to add Sicily a short flight away.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Mediterranean winter sun windows, two centre golf ideas and the booking dates that matter. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and seasons verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.