Most Popular UK & Ireland Golf Breaks to Consider in 2025

There is palpable excitement in the air that has accompanied the arrival of the new golf season. Everyone is keen to get out and play their favourite courses and to make the absolute most of the improved weather, pleasant conditions and extended hours of daylight, and that phenomenon also encourages many golfers to book a break away to experience somewhere different.

But what are the most popular locations for a golf break in the UK & Ireland? That is a question that our travel partners Golfbreaks have sought to answer by revealing their best-selling offers that are currently available.

Covering all corners of these islands and encompassing many a revered venue or two, if you are considering a place to visit this year, why not follow in the footsteps of other golfers and discover these absolute standout destinations?

We have decided to share a few of them from across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, giving you a feast of layouts and resorts to choose from.

The only thing that remains to be answered now is which of them most appeals to you?

England

Starting in England, it's hard to ignore The Belfry, which remains a venue of prominence given its Ryder Cup history and most recent status as the stage for the British Masters. You could stay here for a night and play two rounds of golf - including the iconic Brabazon Course - for just £189pp.

Forest of Arden is another location with a rich pedigree and its superb facilities could be accessed for only £153pp to play both courses and spend the night.

Likewise, what about the wonderful Forest Pines, which offers exceptional value for a nightly stay and two rounds for £125pp?

Moving to the North East, Slaley Hall is another venue of substance, and you could enjoy a night, dinner and breakfast - with two rounds of golf - for just £115pp. That might just be hard to beat.

Hampshire's Old Thorns has long been one of the most celebrated resorts by members of the Golfshake Community - who have rated it highly each year - and you could see why that is by sampling its course and accommodation for £149pp.

East Sussex National is another favourite in the South of England, boasting a pair of fine layouts and rooms that have hosted many a famous name through the generations. Leave your mark here by staying this season for only £119pp.

Heading back North to Cheshire, Golfshake's Derek Clements loved his time at Carden Park, so why not see what the hype is about by securing your own stay there for just £179pp.

Finally, we take you to Yorkshire, specifically the outskirts of Leeds, where you will discover the magnificent Oulton Hall, and you could play two rounds there, spending one night with dinner and breakfast for £115pp.

Scotland

Venturing to the spiritual Home of Golf is a pilgrimage for many golfers, and Scotland has so much to offer.

We've got to start with the legendary town of St Andrews and two quite different but fabulous breaks. Overlooking the famous capital of golf, the Fairmont is a luxury hotel that has a pair of fine layouts - the Torrance and Kittocks. You could consume it all for just £235pp.

Gazing across the 18th fairway of the Old Course, the Rusacks Hotel has the most enviable of locations, and how cool would it be to watch the sun rise and set over these most hallowed of links? You could stay there and play nearby Ladybank and Scotscraig, both of which have been Open Championship qualifying courses, for £369pp.  Other - more expensive - packages are available too that include even more incredible courses.

Dundonald Links isn't bad either, a place that we've come to love on Golfshake, and it's a real jewel over on the majestic West Coast of Scotland. Stay in the Lodges and play this tremendous former Scottish Open venue twice for £295pp, or spend a little more for a longer visit that will open the doors to more of Aryshire's unsurpassed golfing secrets. 

Returning to the Heart of Scotland in Perthshire, Gleneagles is one of the most extraordinary hotels on the planet and it has welcomed both the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup in its recent history. There is so much to see and do here, not least playing its three revered golf courses, and you could have your own experience in this remarkable location for just £361pp.

It's a long journey to get there, but the Highlands is home to some acclaimed courses, not least the spectacular Royal Dornoch. Stay in the Dornoch Station Hotel and play the Championship Course and also claim a tee time at the brilliant Moray Golf Club for £679pp.

Scottish golf experiences don't come better than that.

Wales

It might not grab the headlines that other nations do for golf, but we reckon that Wales is extremely underrated, and these destinations might just convince you of that argument. 

Naturally, we're going to start where the biggest event in the history of Welsh golf was staged. The 2010 Ryder Cup was truly unforgettable and you could walk in the footsteps of the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods and play The Twenty Ten Course as part of a great package for just £153pp.

Just along the road from Celtic Manor you will come across St Pierre and that is a location worth thinking about. It has two exemplary courses, one of which previously hosted the Solheim Cup, and you could spend the night and play both for £125pp.

Enjoying a scenic location in the countryside close to the capital city of Cardiff, the Vale Resort is a gem of South Wales and is a consistently popular spot to visit for golfers who are members of Golfshake. Why not join them for £125pp?

When people rank the golf courses in Wales, the odds are you will see Royal Porthcawl - host of the 2025 AIG Women's Open - at the top, while Ashburnham won't be far down the list either. You could take on both of these fabulous tracks by staying at the Mercure in Swansea and it all costs just £225pp.

Northern Ireland

The spotlight will be fixed on Northern Ireland this summer as The 153rd Open Championship is staged at Royal Portrush, but minds don't often stray far from thinking about Royal County Down, where last year's Irish Open was played, which is thought by some keen brains to be the best links course in the world.

And you could play it. Staying at adjacent Slieve Donard, you could stride the fairways of the renowned Championship Course - AND visit the celebrated Ardglass too - all for £795pp.

It's more expensive than other breaks we've shared here, but my goodness is that a delectable prospect to think about.

Republic of Ireland

There is so much to love about golf in the Republic of Ireland - it has everything and might even be the best on the planet, you can certainly make that case, and it could be an argument you adopt after sampling one of these venues.

It was back in 2006 when the Ryder Cup came to The K Club and many will recall Rory McIlroy claiming the Irish Open there too a decade later. You could sample all that this destination has to offer by staying for one night and playing both courses for £265pp - or you may even book a longer stay!

What about Dublin itself and the sensational Portmarnock Hotel, which is home to the revamped Jameson Links? Golfshake's Travel Editor Andy Waple played that exciting layout not long ago - loving it - and you could see exactly why for yourself by staying for £195pp.

Remaining in this atmospheric and memorable city, you could play the Portmarnock Old Course, which has been mooted to potentially stage an Open Championship in the future, and the revered Island Golf Club for £889pp. That is an undeniably special option for any golfer to mull over.

Likewise, in the North West of Ireland, Rosapenna ain't bad either. This breathtaking location in Donegal is home to the Old Tom Morris Links, the Sandy Hills Links, and the recently created St Patrick's Links. There are several options to consider, but the best value might just be the £429pp package that includes two rounds on the older layouts, although other possibilities are available too should you fancy!

We are blessed to have these golf courses and resorts so close to home. If you desire to make 2025 one of your most rewarding seasons yet in this game, embarking on one of these breaks is a great way to make that dream a reality.

For more on the best-selling UK & Ireland offers this year, please click here.

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