The nights are drawing in, temperatures are beginning to drop and another main golf season is gradually coming to an end. But before you resign yourself to several months of winter golf, there is still time to squeeze in one more golf break.
And actually, autumn can be a great time to get away.
Courses can be quieter, there are some attractive late deals available and, should you venture overseas, you have the opportunity to swap those increasingly chilly mornings at home for a few more rounds in the sunshine.
Whether you fancy throwing the clubs in the car for a quick UK escape or jumping on a plane for a few days somewhere warmer, we have taken a look at the latest offers from Golfbreaks.com to pick out some inspiration for one final golf trip this year.
Keep It Simple With A UK Golf Break
Sometimes the best golf trips are also the easiest ones to organise.
Find a couple of free days, round up two or three golfing mates, load the clubs into the car and you could be checking into a golf resort later that afternoon.
There is still late availability at a variety of venues across the UK and Ireland, making this a particularly appealing option if you don't want the expense or hassle of travelling overseas.
England naturally provides a huge selection of resorts and courses, while Wales and Scotland offer the chance to combine your golf with some spectacular autumn scenery - although you may need to pack the waterproofs!
An overnight stay with two rounds remains one of our favourite formats for a short golf trip. You get enough golf to make the journey worthwhile, there is the obligatory evening catching up with your playing partners, and you don't need to sacrifice an entire week to make it happen.
View The Latest UK & Ireland Golf Break Offers
Chase The Autumn Sunshine
Of course, there comes a point in the year when even the most committed golfer starts looking at the weather forecast and thinking that heading south might be the better option.
For British golfers, Spain and Portugal remain the obvious choices - and with good reason.
Destinations such as the Algarve and Costa del Sol offer a huge concentration of quality courses, established golf resorts and, crucially at this time of year, the prospect of considerably warmer conditions.
A three or four-night trip can be perfect during autumn. It is long enough to play several rounds, enjoy some sunshine and feel like you've had a proper golfing escape, but short enough that you don't necessarily need to commit to a full week's holiday.
Portugal Is Always Hard To Beat
There aren't many destinations that have welcomed more travelling British golfers over the years than Portugal, and autumn is arguably one of the best times to visit.
The Algarve is the obvious starting point. Its combination of excellent golf courses, resorts, restaurants and relatively easy travel makes it ideal for groups looking for a straightforward golf holiday.
There is also plenty of variety. You could base yourself around Vilamoura and have numerous courses within easy reach, or explore further along the coast for something a little different.
Lisbon and the surrounding area is another option worth considering, particularly if you want your trip to offer a little more away from the golf course.
If your group chat has spent the last few weeks discussing the possibility of "one more trip" before Christmas, Portugal could provide the answer.
Extend Your Season In Spain
Spain offers even more possibilities for golfers who aren't quite ready to accept that summer is over.
The Costa del Sol has long been one of Europe's great golfing playgrounds, with a seemingly endless choice of courses running along the coastline. Marbella and the surrounding area remains a favourite for golf groups, combining excellent courses with plenty of options once the final putt has been holed.
The Costa Blanca is another region to consider, with Alicante providing easy access to a strong collection of courses and resorts.
There is also something undeniably satisfying about standing on a first tee in shorts while your regular playing partners back home are checking whether temporary greens have been introduced.
Don't Overlook Northern France
You don't necessarily need to fly to enjoy an overseas golf break either.
Northern France has long been popular with UK golfers looking for a short trip, and Le Touquet remains one of the standout destinations.
It offers excellent golf, good food and the feeling that you have properly escaped without requiring a lengthy journey. For golfers based in the south of England in particular, it can be a surprisingly straightforward option for a couple of nights away.
It also offers something slightly different from the traditional autumn sunshine trip to Spain or Portugal.
There Is Still Time For One More Golf Trip
For many of us, this point in the year usually signals the start of winter golf. The waterproofs return to the golf bag, the winter mitts make an appearance and thoughts slowly begin to turn towards next season.
But your golfing year doesn't have to be finished just yet.
A spontaneous night or two somewhere in the UK could be all you need to round off the season, while a few days in Spain or Portugal offers the chance to enjoy one final dose of sunshine before winter properly arrives.
And sometimes those last-minute trips turn out to be the most memorable ones.
So message the group chat, find a gap in the diary and see where you could be teeing it up before the year is out.
View The Latest Autumn Golf Breaks In Europe
