The Case for October Golf Trips to Scotland and Ireland
Why the End of Season Deserves Your Attention
If you've listened to our Golf and the Good Life podcast, you've probably heard Connor Evers and me talk about April.
We've made the case more than once that April can be a sneaky great month for a golf trip to Scotland and Ireland. After a couple of years of glorious spring weather, I suppose Mother Nature has done a pretty good job of making the case for us.
And it seems that the word is getting around.
The number of golfers who traveled with Haversham & Baker in April 2026 was close to 40% higher than in 2023.
These days, April looks a lot like the rest of our season. Larger buddies trips and club hosted Expeditions are going in April in greater numbers.
But October? It hasn't budged.
We're sending almost exactly the same number of Members across the pond in October as we did three years ago.
For the savvy group, that presents an opportunity.
Because October today looks a lot like April did before the word got out.
For golf trips in the shoulder season, both ends of the calendar are in play. We just spend a lot less time talking about the closing end.
So, while Connor and I will probably continue singing the praises of April on the podcast, I'm making the case here for giving October golf trips to Scotland and Ireland a closer look.
Here's what you need to know.
Your Golf Game is Ready
One of the best things about an October golf trip has nothing to do with the destination.
It's your golf game.
By October, most American golfers have a full season of golf under their belt. Your swing is in rhythm. Your legs are accustomed to walking 18 holes. Your group has spent the spring and summer playing and competing together.
Part of the fun of an April Expedition can be getting back on the course and kicking off the season somewhere special.
But depending on where you live, those first rounds across the pond might be your first serious rounds of the year. You may have spent the winter practicing on an indoor simulator or simply waiting for warmer days.
October simply offers a different experience.
You step onto the first tee of a course you have wanted to play your whole life, and you're ready for it. You're not knocking the cobwebs off your swing at Royal County Down. You're bringing the game you've developed all summer with you.
The Expedition led by John Guluzian from Terrace Park Country Club at The Old Course in October
October Fits the Club Calendar
Somewhat related to the above, an October Expedition often fits neatly into your golf calendar at home.
If your home club sits anywhere in the northern half of the country, your season is winding down by October. The leaves are turning, the club calendar is thinning out, and the weeks ahead hold progressively less golf.
On the other end of the spectrum, clubs in southern the half of the country are just easing into the very early days of their season.
That makes autumn one of the easiest stretches of the year to be away. There's no member-guest or club championship to miss. Nothing your group has had circled on the calendar for months.
For a lot of Members, it is also the natural close to the year. You finish your season at home, then you go finish it properly across the pond. The trip doubles as the last chapter rather than an interruption to the season.
The Courses Also Have a Season Behind Them
Clubs overseas do their heavy work in the off-season. Bunkers revetted, walking paths repaired, tired turf reseeded and given months to recover. It is a large part of why these courses are as good as they are.
By October, all of it is long behind them.
Better still, October is often when links golf plays the way it is meant to. A full season of sun often leads to fast and firm conditions. The ball releases, and the ground game becomes essential. It's the kind of golf these places were built for.
The candid tradeoff: a season's worth of golf can leave its mark. Wear around the greens and high traffic areas is to be expected. Each side of the Swilcan Bridge is often worn to dirt. Some clubs may begin their off season maintenance in October.
But for some golfers, there's something authentic about experiencing these famous links after they've been in full swing for much of the year.
It's less about course condition and more about seasonal character.
The Expedition led by Debbie Knowles from Huntington Crescent Club enjoys October in The Highlands
The Towns Belong to Themselves Again
There is quite a contrast between summer and fall around the towns across the pond.
Perhaps nowhere is that difference more noticeable than St. Andrews.
Visit in July and the town is filled with golfers from around the world. That's hardly a bad thing. After all, our business depends on it.
But St. Andrews is more than a golf destination.
It's also a university town, and by October the students have returned. The town settles into a different groove. The streets feel more local. The pubs and restaurants have a different energy. You see a side of the place that exists beyond the links.
That's one of the reasons October deserves consideration.
It gives you the chance to truly experience St. Andrews and the other great towns where golf is woven into the fabric of everyday life.
Watch Sunday, Play Monday
Speaking of St. Andrews, there's another interesting factor to consider with an October golf trip.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship runs across The Old Course, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns. The tournament generally falls on the first weekend of October, and the final round is played at The Old Course.
For a group looking to see St. Andrews in tournament form, this is a gift. Fly in Friday or Saturday, spend Sunday walking The Old Course with a tournament on it, and begin your own Expedition on the Monday as the town settles back into itself.
The one caveat is somewhat obvious: Tournament week is not the week to plan your golf in Fife. Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, and The Old Course are closed to visitor play for the event. Arrive for the finish, then pick up your own clubs.
The Weather Might Surprise You
Trying to predict a week in Scotland or Ireland is a little like picking the winning number on a roulette wheel. You can look at averages, check the forecast, and pack accordingly, but the weather in Great Britain and Ireland is going to do what it wants.
That's true in July just as much as it is in October.
And that's one reason we're reluctant to make too much of the weather when talking about an October golf trip. We've had groups travel in July who never saw the sun, and we've had groups in October who never saw a drop of rain.
More often than not, though, our Members are pleasantly surprised by October. Temperatures can be quite comfortable for golf, and there can be plenty of sunshine mixed in with the cooler days and the occasional spell of wind or rain.
Of course, you should come prepared for all of it. That's simply part of playing links golf across the pond.
The Expedition led by Ryan Kartchner, PGA enjoys a glorious fall evening in The Home of Golf
If You're Late to the Start, October is Your Best Bet
Every year, some version of the same story plays out. The marquee courses release their visitor times, and the peak summer dates are spoken for almost immediately.
The shoulder dates move a little more slowly. "Little" being the operative word there.
The runway is still pretty short. A group that starts planning in October of the year prior to their trip is usually too late for places like Royal Portrush, Royal County Down, Muirfield, and The Old Course.
But a Captain that calls us a couple of weeks after the tee sheets have opened has a genuine chance for an October trip and essentially none for July.
Of course, that call still needs to take place well over a year in advance of the trip.
October Has a Limit
Most clubs remain open throughout the year, and many will continue welcoming visitors well into the fall.
But the calendar does begin to change as the month progresses.
By mid to late October, some courses begin their winter maintenance programs. Others close their doors to visitors altogether for the season.
That makes the first half of October the sweet spot for building an Expedition.
There's another reason we tend to favor the first half of October: daylight.
By the end of October, you're working with roughly 2 hours less daylight than you have at the beginning of the month. With golf capturing a big chunk of those hours, those extra minutes can really make a difference.
The first half of October gives you the broadest canvas for building a golf trip around the courses, towns, and experiences you want to enjoy.
When to Start
If your group is considering an October golf trip, the previous October is generally the sweet spot to begin your planning. Unless you have your heart set on one of the "Big 4" marquee courses named above, in which case you'll need to start whenever their calendar dictates.
If you are closer in than that and are flexible for destination, don't count yourself out. October is the window where a later start still has a chance, and we have put together great Expeditions on shorter notice than you would guess.
The conversation costs nothing and we'll tell you honestly what October can deliver.
Ready to Plan Your October Golf Trip to Scotland or Ireland?
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