Winter sun golf holidays: where to play in reliable warmth from November to March
If you want guaranteed warmth in the depths of a British winter, Mauritius and Dubai are the two safest bets. Everything else on this list trades a little reliability for a shorter flight, a smaller bill, or both. The honest truth about a winter golf holiday is that
By Simon Crawley · Golf travel specialist at Golf Planet Holidays, arranging tailor-made golf holidays and hosted tours since 1981.Last updated 13 Jun 2026Rated 4.9 on Google · ATOL & PTS protected · since 1981
Turkey
By Simon Crawley· Destination Specialist · Published 13 June 2026
If you want guaranteed warmth in the depths of a British winter, Mauritius and Dubai are the two safest bets. Everything else on this list trades a little reliability for a shorter flight, a smaller bill, or both. The honest truth about a winter golf holiday is that “warm” means different things in different places between November and March. The Indian Ocean and the Gulf stay hot. The Mediterranean and North Africa give you mild, often lovely golfing days, but you will pack a layer and you might lose the odd morning to rain. This guide ranks the destinations roughly by how dependable the heat is, gives you a realistic feel for the temperatures, and names resorts you can actually book through us. We sell the ground arrangements as tailor-made trips; flights are a separate, ATOL-protected add-on whenever you want us to handle them.
Mauritius: the most dependable winter warmth for golf
Mauritius is as close to a sure thing as winter golf gets. November to March is the island’s warm season, with daytime temperatures usually in the high twenties to low thirties Celsius and sea warm enough to swim in after your round. The one honest caveat: this is also the wetter, more humid half of the year, with the occasional heavy downpour and a small cyclone risk around January and February. The rain tends to come in bursts and clear, so you rarely lose a whole day, but it is not the bone-dry heat of the Gulf. If you want to be playing in shorts every day and treat the trip as much beach as bunker, this is the pick of the list. Three resorts worth a look: Tamarina Golf & Spa Resort (7 nights from £650 (≈ €755) (≈ $865) (≈ CA$1,225) (≈ AU$1,255) (≈ NZ$1,505) (≈ CHF 695) pp), which has its own course running down to the coast; Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort (7 nights from £890 (≈ €1,035) (≈ $1,185) (≈ CA$1,685) (≈ AU$1,715) (≈ NZ$2,065) (≈ CHF 955) pp) on the quieter south coast; and Constance Belle Mare Plage (7 nights from £920 (≈ €1,075) (≈ $1,225) (≈ CA$1,745) (≈ AU$1,775) (≈ NZ$2,135) (≈ CHF 995) pp), which gives you two courses on the east of the island. It is the longest flight here, so it suits a week or more rather than a quick break.
Dubai and the UAE: hot, dry and built for winter golf
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the Gulf’s winter golf engine, and the weather is about as reliable as Mauritius without the humidity. From November to March the daytime temperatures sit comfortably in the low to mid twenties Celsius, with long stretches of clear sky and almost no rain. Mornings in December and January can feel cool early on, so an early tee time might want a layer for the first few holes, but by mid morning you are in shirtsleeves. This is the season the region is designed for, which is the trade-off: peak demand means peak prices and busy courses, so book early. On the palette, Address Dubai Marina (7 nights from £1,115 (≈ €1,305) (≈ $1,485) (≈ CA$2,115) (≈ AU$2,145) (≈ NZ$2,595) (≈ CHF 1,205) pp) and Stella Di Mare Dubai Marina (7 nights from £1,115 (≈ €1,305) (≈ $1,485) (≈ CA$2,115) (≈ AU$2,145) (≈ NZ$2,595) (≈ CHF 1,205) pp) put you in the heart of the city, while The Westin Resort Golf & Spa, Abu Dhabi (7 nights from £1,115 (≈ €1,305) (≈ $1,485) (≈ CA$2,115) (≈ AU$2,145) (≈ NZ$2,595) (≈ CHF 1,205) pp) sits on a championship course in a calmer setting. A shorter flight than Mauritius and immaculate conditioning underfoot make this the easy choice if budget is less of a concern.
The Canary Islands: Europe's most reliable winter golf, on a short flight
The Canaries are the best value reliable warmth you can reach in around four hours. Sitting off the coast of West Africa, the islands hold a spring-like climate all winter, with daytime temperatures typically around 20 to 23 Celsius and plenty of sunshine. It is not Gulf heat, evenings cool down and you will want a jumper after dinner, but for playable, shirt-and-shorts golf in January this is hard to beat for the money. Gran Canaria and Tenerife can see a windy or cloudy spell, so it is strong shoulder-season reliability rather than a cast-iron guarantee. My standout for golf is Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity (7 nights from £695 (≈ €805) (≈ $925) (≈ CA$1,315) (≈ AU$1,335) (≈ NZ$1,615) (≈ CHF 745) pp) in the dry south of Gran Canaria, with two strong courses on the doorstep. Elba Palace Golf and Vital Hotel (7 nights from £810 (≈ €945) (≈ $1,085) (≈ CA$1,535) (≈ AU$1,555) (≈ NZ$1,885) (≈ CHF 875) pp) on Fuerteventura backs straight onto its course, and Iberostar Bouganville Playa (7 nights from £745 (≈ €865) (≈ $995) (≈ CA$1,415) (≈ AU$1,435) (≈ NZ$1,735) (≈ CHF 805) pp) is a comfortable base in Tenerife’s Costa Adeje.
Marrakech, Morocco: warm winter days under the Atlas Mountains
Marrakech gives you dependable winter sunshine with big day-to-night swings. Between November and March the afternoons are pleasant for golf, often around 18 to 22 Celsius with bright skies, but mornings and evenings can be genuinely cold once the sun is down, sometimes dropping into single figures, because the city sits inland near the mountains. Plan your tee times for late morning onwards and pack warm layers for the early start and the evening, and you will play in lovely conditions. Rain is uncommon but not unheard of. The golf and the city itself make it a great change of pace. Try Movenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi (7 nights from £820 (≈ €955) (≈ $1,095) (≈ CA$1,555) (≈ AU$1,575) (≈ NZ$1,905) (≈ CHF 885) pp), Iberostar Waves Club Palmeraie (7 nights from £835 (≈ €975) (≈ $1,115) (≈ CA$1,585) (≈ AU$1,605) (≈ NZ$1,945) (≈ CHF 895) pp) out in the Palmeraie golf belt, or Pickalbatros Hotel du Golf Marrakech Palmeraie (7 nights from £1,065 (≈ €1,245) (≈ $1,425) (≈ CA$2,015) (≈ AU$2,055) (≈ NZ$2,475) (≈ CHF 1,145) pp) if you want golf right outside the door. A roughly three and a half hour flight makes it an easy long weekend or a full week.
Cyprus: the warmest corner of the winter Mediterranean
Cyprus is the mildest of the Mediterranean options for winter golf, with Paphos on the south-west coast the place to base yourself. Expect daytime temperatures around 17 to 20 Celsius from December to February, plenty of sunny days, but also the Med’s winter reality of cooler evenings and the chance of a wet, blustery spell. It is honest shoulder-season weather: more days good than not, rather than guaranteed. Pack a waterproof and a jumper and you will get most of your golf in comfortably. The clear standout for a golf trip is Aphrodite Hills Hotel (7 nights from £810 (≈ €945) (≈ $1,085) (≈ CA$1,535) (≈ AU$1,555) (≈ NZ$1,885) (≈ CHF 875) pp), a proper golf resort with its own course; Aphrodite Hills Rentals (7 nights from £675 (≈ €785) (≈ $895) (≈ CA$1,275) (≈ AU$1,295) (≈ NZ$1,565) (≈ CHF 725) pp) put you on the same estate for less, and Secret Valley Golf Resort (7 nights from £680 (≈ €795) (≈ $905) (≈ CA$1,285) (≈ AU$1,305) (≈ NZ$1,575) (≈ CHF 735) pp) gives you a second course nearby. Around four and a half hours from the UK.
Belek, Turkey: a golf powerhouse with mild, changeable winters
Belek packs more quality courses into one stretch of coast than anywhere else on this list, but its winter weather is the most changeable. From November to March daytime temperatures usually sit around 15 to 18 Celsius, with bright, calm days that are perfect for golf, broken up by colder, wetter spells, as this is the rainiest time of year on the Turkish Riviera. You can have a glorious week or you can catch the rain, which is why it lands in strong shoulder-season territory rather than near the top. The flip side is real value and superb golf when the weather plays ball. The pine-lined courses here are some of the best in Europe. Take a look at Sueno Golf Hotel (7 nights from £740 (≈ €865) (≈ $985) (≈ CA$1,405) (≈ AU$1,425) (≈ NZ$1,715) (≈ CHF 795) pp) with two on-site courses, Gloria Verde (7 nights from £835 (≈ €975) (≈ $1,115) (≈ CA$1,585) (≈ AU$1,605) (≈ NZ$1,945) (≈ CHF 895) pp) in the heart of the golf belt, and Voyage Belek Golf and Spa (7 nights from £790 (≈ €925) (≈ $1,055) (≈ CA$1,495) (≈ AU$1,525) (≈ NZ$1,835) (≈ CHF 845) pp) for a more all-inclusive feel. Roughly four and a half hours by air.
How to choose, and how we put it together
The simple way to choose is by how much you are willing to gamble on the weather. For near-guaranteed heat, go to Mauritius or Dubai and budget accordingly. For the best balance of reliable warmth, short flight and sensible price, the Canary Islands are the value pick of the list. For something different with warm afternoons, Marrakech is the one. Cyprus and Belek give you the strongest golf for the money but ask you to accept that a winter week can be hit or miss. Whichever you pick, we build the trip around you. Every price above is for the ground arrangements, the hotel and your golf, put together as a tailor-made package. Flights are a separate add-on we are happy to arrange and protect under ATOL when you want us to, or you can book your own. Tell us your dates, your group and your handicap and we will shape the courses, tee times and transfers to suit.
What is the warmest place to play golf in winter for a UK golfer?
Mauritius takes it for genuine heat, with daytime temperatures usually in the high twenties to low thirties Celsius from November to March, though it is humid and can see heavy showers. Dubai and Abu Dhabi run it close and are drier, sitting in the low to mid twenties with almost no rain. Both are the safest bets if you want to play in shorts every day.
Where can I find cheap winter sun golf on a short flight?
The Canary Islands are the best value reliable warmth within about four hours of the UK, with daytime temperatures around 20 to 23 Celsius all winter. Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity in Gran Canaria starts from £695 (≈ €805) (≈ $925) (≈ CA$1,315) (≈ AU$1,335) (≈ NZ$1,615) (≈ CHF 745) pp for 7 nights, and Tamarina in Mauritius is actually the lowest ground price on this guide at £650 (≈ €755) (≈ $865) (≈ CA$1,225) (≈ AU$1,255) (≈ NZ$1,505) (≈ CHF 695) pp, though that comes with a much longer flight.
How warm is Belek in winter for golf?
Belek’s winter daytime temperatures usually sit around 15 to 18 Celsius, with bright, calm days ideal for golf interrupted by colder, wetter spells, as this is the rainiest part of the year on the Turkish Riviera. You can have a superb week of golf or catch the rain, so treat it as strong shoulder-season weather with excellent value and some of Europe’s best courses when conditions are kind.
Is Marrakech good for golf in winter?
Marrakech is a good winter golf choice if you plan around the temperature swing. Afternoons are pleasant at roughly 18 to 22 Celsius with bright skies, but mornings and evenings can be cold, sometimes into single figures, because the city sits inland near the Atlas Mountains. Book later tee times, pack warm layers and you will play in lovely conditions, often near your hotel at resorts like Pickalbatros Hotel du Golf Marrakech Palmeraie.
Do winter golf holiday prices include flights?
No. Every price in this guide is for the ground arrangements, your hotel and golf, built as a tailor-made package. Flights are a separate add-on that we are happy to arrange and protect under ATOL when you ask us to, or you are free to book your own. This keeps the package flexible around your preferred airport, dates and budget.
Which winter destination is best for a serious golf trip?
For pure golf, Belek in Turkey offers the greatest concentration of top courses, with resorts like Sueno Golf Hotel running two on-site, but the winter weather is changeable. If you want top golf with more reliable warmth, Cyprus’s Aphrodite Hills and the Canaries’ Salobre are excellent, and for guaranteed conditions underfoot the manicured courses of Abu Dhabi at The Westin are hard to fault.
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