Winter Golf: Where the Fairways Stay Green from November to March

When courses in northern Europe close for frost or turn to mud, a ring of warmer regions comes into its own. They are not interchangeable. Some are a short flight away with mild days and early evenings, others are long-haul with heat, humidity or trade winds to plan around. The right choice depends on how warm you want it, how many hours of light you need and how much wind you enjoy.

Southern Portugal: the Algarve

The Algarve is the classic short-haul winter golf region, a flight of around three hours from much of central Europe. Courses run along much of the coast, with the densest cluster in the central Algarve between Faro and Albufeira, many of them laid out among umbrella pines.

Winter days are typically mild, with afternoon highs around 16 to 17 °C from December to February and cool, sometimes damp mornings. Rain falls mainly between November and March, often in spells of a few days, with long stretches of clear, bright weather between them. Daylight is the main constraint: in late December there is a little under ten hours of it, with sunrise at about twenty to eight and sunset at about twenty past five.

The western Algarve, towards Lagos and Cape St Vincent, is more exposed to Atlantic wind, and its coastal holes change character from one day to the next. Late January and February bring almond blossom and noticeably longer afternoons, and March opens the spring high season, when tee times fill well ahead.

Southern Spain: the Costa del Sol

The coast between Málaga and Gibraltar is so thick with courses that it has long been nicknamed the Costa del Golf. Winter highs are similar to the Algarve or a degree or two warmer, and the mountains behind the coast shelter it from cold northerly air.

Spain keeps Central European Time despite lying far to the west, so winter mornings start late: in December the sun rises after eight, and the first tee times follow. In return, the light lasts until about six, which suits an afternoon round.

Wind is the local variable. The levante, an easterly that funnels through the Strait of Gibraltar, can blow for days and is felt most at the western end of the coast; when it drops, the same holes play completely differently. Mallorca is a quieter alternative in late autumn and early spring, though midwinter there can be cool and changeable.

Morocco: Marrakech and the Atlantic coast

Marrakech offers winter golf with a backdrop few regions can match: palms, olive groves and, on clear days, snow on the High Atlas. Days are often sunny with highs around 18 to 20 °C, but the dry inland climate brings cold nights and chilly early mornings. Dress in layers for the first tee and expect to shed them by the turn.

On the Atlantic coast, Agadir has a milder, more even winter climate, with less contrast between night and day and a breeze off the ocean. Rain in both areas is limited and falls mainly in winter, usually in short spells.

Check whether your dates fall during Ramadan, which in the late 2020s falls in winter and early spring. Courses and resorts stay open, but the rhythm of the towns changes, and restaurants outside the resorts may keep different hours.

The Gulf: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

From November to March, the Gulf offers the most reliable winter warmth within about six hours of central Europe, with highs of roughly 24 to 30 °C and very little rain. The courses are desert golf at its most manicured: bright green fairways framed by sand, lakes and city or dune views.

Many are planted with warm-season grasses that are overseeded in autumn, so October and early November can bring closures or temporary greens. Ask the course before booking an early season trip.

Winter brings occasional shamal days, when a strong north-westerly wind lifts dust and turns a calm course into a test. Morning fog is another winter feature near the coast and can delay the first starts. Daylight in December lasts around ten and a half hours, and some courses are floodlit for evening play, which extends the golfing day well beyond sunset.

Mauritius and the Indian Ocean

Mauritius is the Indian Ocean’s established golf island, with a choice of courses on coastal land, several of them with lagoon views. For winter golfers, timing needs care. November and early December are excellent: warm, mostly dry and before the peak of the heat. From January to March the island is in its hot, humid summer and its cyclone season, with heavy rain possible and some days simply too steamy for comfortable golf at midday.

Being in the tropics, Mauritius has long days in December, more than thirteen hours of light, with sunrise around half past five. Golfers who start at first light can finish before the heat builds and spend the afternoon on the beach. The east coast catches the trade winds; the west coast is calmer and warmer.

The Caribbean and the Riviera Maya

The Caribbean’s dry season runs roughly from December to April, which makes it the long-haul choice for winter golf with a sea warm enough to swim in every day. Trade winds blow steadily from the east and are often strongest around the turn of the year, when islanders speak of the Christmas winds. On exposed coastal holes, plan to take a club or two more into the breeze.

On the Riviera Maya in Mexico, courses cut through low jungle and limestone, some of them around cenotes, the natural sinkholes of the Yucatán. Winter is the best season there, with highs around 28 °C, although occasional nortes, cold fronts from the north, bring a few days of wind, cloud and cooler air between November and March. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June to the end of November, so December to April falls outside it. Daylight is around eleven hours in December, enough for a full round in the morning and nine more holes after lunch.

Choosing between them

A simple way to decide:

• Short flight, mild days and plenty of courses: the Algarve or the Costa del Sol.
• Sunshine, cold mornings and mountain views: Marrakech.
• Reliable warmth and little rain from December to February: the Gulf.
• Golf and beach, best in November and early December: Mauritius.
• Warm sea and a steady breeze from December to April: the Caribbean and the Riviera Maya.

Wherever you go, book the earliest tee times first. In every winter destination the first starts of the day are the most sought after, before the wind builds and before slower groups set the pace.

Questions readers ask

Where is the warmest golf in Europe in winter?

On the European mainland, southern Spain and the Algarve are the mildest, with highs typically around 16 to 18 °C from December to February. The Canary Islands are warmer still. For reliably higher temperatures you need to travel further, to Morocco, the Gulf or the tropics.

Is the Algarve good for golf in January?

Yes, for golfers who do not mind cool mornings and the odd wet spell. Afternoons are often bright and mild, the courses are quieter than in spring, and daylight lasts around ten hours, so morning tee times are worth booking early.

When is the best time to play golf in Dubai?

From November to March, when daytime temperatures are pleasant and rain is rare. Late October and early November can be affected by overseeding, when some courses close or use temporary greens. From May to September the heat makes midday golf uncomfortable, and most rounds are played at dawn or under floodlights.

Independent editorial guidance. Our guides name no resorts, and resortris takes no payment for coverage. Seasons and conditions are general and can vary from year to year.

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