Play golf in the sun this winter

Thinking about escaping to the sun this winter? We pick some of the best golf resorts around the world for the perfect warm-weather golf break.

Abu Dhabi

Year-round sunshine and temperatures of around 25°C from January to April make Abu Dhabi the perfect winter golf getaway. The fantastic golf courses here include The National at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club which hosts the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the men’s DP World Tour, Yas Links Golf Club, ranked by All Square as the best course in the Middle East, and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club designed by Gary Player.

Hotels in Abu Dhabi are very well suited to both families and groups of friends. The spectacular W Abu Dhabi on Yas Island is perfect for those playing Yas Links, while Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi is close to Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort is another great option next to the course, while for those playing Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa is the perfect setting.

Dubai

Great year-round weather, fantastic resorts and courses designed by legendary names like Sir Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Ernie Els have made Dubai a fantastic winter destination for golfers. Enjoy the sunshine, discover Burj Khalifa, the Bastakia quarter, The Palms, Ski Dubai, Dubai Mall and Wild Wadi Waterpark, as well as the world-class service and facilities.

Among the superb five-star hotels is St. Regis Downtown, a short walk to the world’s largest shopping mall, Dubai Mall, One & Only Royal Mirage at Jumeirah Beach, on a stretch of pure white sand facing the bay of Palm Island, and Park Hyatt Dubai, a luxury waterfront retreat which sits adjacent to the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

The golf courses are excellent and include The Championship Course at Montgomerie Golf Club, part of of The Address Montgomerie Dubai Golf Resort & Spa, Dubai Creek, twice host of the Dubai Desert Classic. Emirates Golf Club Majlis Course which now hosts that event, and the floodlit Faldo at Emirates Golf Club. There’s also Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth & Fire courses, and The Els Club.

Hawaii

Hawaii has a tropical climate with great weather for golf all year round. There are really only two seasons, summer with an average temperature of 29°C, and winter with an average of 25°C, along with pleasant cooling trade winds.

Kapalua Resort is nestled in one of Hawaii’s largest nature preserves on the island of Maui, and features white sand beaches and award-winning accommodation. There’s The Kapalua Villas located throughout the resort, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, a five-star resort with guest rooms, suites and residences, and Montage Kapalua Bay, a collection of ocean view rooms overlooking the bay. The iconic Coore and Crenshaw-designed Plantation Course here is a must-play and the Bay Course at the resort is also a beautiful layout.

Four Seasons Hualalai Resort is a five-star resort located on the Big Island’s picturesque Kona-Kohala coast, surrounded by white sand beaches. The Jack Nicklaus signature Championship course here is an unforgettable golf experience. Four Seasons Resort Lanai, on the island of Lanai, Is another five-star resort and home to Manele Golf Course, another Nicklaus design, high atop 200-foot cliffs.

Turtle Bay Resort is a four-star resort on the island of Oahu’s North Shore, home to a great course, the Palmer Course, designed by Arnie. There’s also the St. Regis Princeville Hotel on the island of Kauai, home to the excellent Prince Course and Makai Course, both designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Morocco

Perfect for golf in the winter or summer, Morocco offers visitors superb luxury resorts complimented by world-class golf courses, wonderful facilities and rich heritage. On the North African Coast, Morocco averages around a pleasant 20°C over the winter period, ideal for golf.

Among the best resorts are Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, a five-star gem just 10 minutes from the famous Medina, home to an 18-hole course designed by Cabell B Robinson, one of his best; and Hyatt Place Taghazout Bay Resort, another five-star option located in Taghazout Bay, just 10 miles north of Agadir, home to a great course designed by Kyle Phillips.

There’s also the Mazagan Golf Course designed by Gary Player at the five-star Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, located just outside the historic town of El Jadida, and a Jack Nicklaus course at the five-star Michlifen Golf & Country Club in the small town of Ifrane between Fez and Meknes.

Florida

Perfect for winter sun, Florida has the mildest winters in the United States with average temperatures ranging between 22°C and 28°C.

A stand-out option in Florida is the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort. This five-star resort is located in a secluded setting within the famous theme park. Guests can tee off at Tranquilo Golf Course, splash around with the children at Explorer Island, enjoy the lazy river, tennis, take the shuttle to Disney and all its parks, or indulge in treatments at the spa. It offers over 400 of some of the largest guest rooms in Orlando. There’s also the superb Tom Fazio designed championship golf course.