Given the extraordinary demand for international travel, planning for 2025 golf trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England is already well underway.
Based on initial inquiries and early bookings, we anticipate 2025 will be another record-breaking year for overseas golf travel.
As a result of this surge, the booking window for many of the best golf courses and destinations in Great Britain & Ireland has shifted significantly earlier in the past.
The days of scoring the most coveted tee times within a year of your desired travel are, at least for now, a distant memory.
Many of our golf partners across the pond have told us that they intend to open their 2025 visitor tee times for earlier booking.
For those wise enough to get ahead of the crowd, this guide showcases some of the best choices for international golf trips in 2025.
Additionally, we’ll highlight the key dates and important insight to consider during your travel planning process.
We also detailed the topic in the below episode of the Golf and the Good Life podcast.
2025 Golf Packages to Scotland, Ireland, and England
St. Andrews
As it has for decades, The Old Course at St. Andrews will drive the majority of interest for 2025 golf trips to Scotland.
But scoring a guaranteed tee time on The Old Course remains an exercise in prudent planning.
In this guide to St. Andrews tee times, we have shared everything you need to know to land a spot on the tee sheet.
The abbreviated version is quite simple…
If you desire a guaranteed tee time for The Old Course in 2025, you should begin speaking with an H&B Expedition Planning Manager before the calendar turns to 2024.
The upshot, however, is that 2025 should be the closest thing to “normal” that both The Old Course and the St. Andrews region as a whole has seen in years.
The pandemic disruptions are now a distant memory, and the 2025 calendar is free of major events that constrain the supply of tee times.
But the need to book early remains as important as ever.
England’s Golf Coast
2025 presents a unique opportunity for expeditions to England’s Golf Coast.
With rounds at Royal Liverpool and Royal Birkdale, visitors can check both the 2023 and 2026 Open Championship venues off their list.
Another 11-time host of The Open – Royal Lytham & St. Annes – is just around the corner.
So are Hillside, Formby, Southport & Ainsdale, and several other courses which form the finest collection of 2nd tier courses in Great Britain & Ireland.
Best of all, the exceptional links courses of England’s Golf Coast can be explored without ever having to change hotels.
All of which makes the region one of the best destinations for 2025 golf trips across the pond.
West Coast of Scotland
The spotlight from the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club is certain to draw more golfers to the west coast of Scotland in 2025.
In addition to the home of the Postage Stamp, the Ayrshire region features two more courses with historic ties to The Open.
Next door to Royal Troon, Prestwick Golf Club is the Birthplace of The Open and hosted golf’s oldest major on 24 occasions.
At nearby Turnberry, the “Duel in the Sun” in 1977 and Tom Watson’s unforgettable run in 2009 both played out over the famed Ailsa course.
Add rounds at Western Gailes, Shiskine, and Machrihanish to your itinerary – the last two requiring a short ferry and helicopter ride – and you can enjoy an outstanding Scottish golf trip without changing hotels.
Southwest Ireland
The 2025 Open Championship will limit availability at Royal Portrush and the other marquee courses in Northern Ireland.
As a result, those looking to enjoy Ireland golf trips in 2025 should turn their attention to the southwest coast.
There you’ll find multiple top 100 golf courses and some of the best sightseeing in Ireland.
You’ll also be able to get ahead of the crowd.
With the Walker Cup heading to Lahinch Golf Club in 2026, and the Ryder Cup visiting Adare Manor in 2027, we expect Southwest Ireland to be a popular choice for several years to follow.
The Highlands of Scotland
The Highlands of Scotland will be a popular choice for 2025 golf trips, thanks to the combination of Royal Dornoch and Brora Golf Club.
But Cabot Highlands is set to take center stage.
Following the acquisition of Castle Stuart by the Cabot collection of golf destinations, the property will debut a 2nd course designed by architect Tom Doak.
The new course is scheduled to open for play in 2025 and is certain to provide yet another reason to put The Highlands on your itinerary.
Northwest Ireland
Speaking of Tom Doak, his masterful design at Rosapenna, St. Patrick’s Links is certain to be a popular choice for Ireland golf trips in 2025.
St. Patrick’s Links is the first golf course in Northwest Ireland to land on any of the World Top 100 lists.
But the region is far from a one hit wonder.
Between Narin & Portnoo, Carne, Enniscrone, County Sligo, Donegal, Ballyliffin, and two additional links courses at Rosapenna, golf travelers are spoiled for choices with Northwest Ireland golf trips.
Even the wild and rugged 9-hole course at Cruit Island has quickly amassed a cult following.
But beyond golf, Northwest Ireland offers an important benefit to those who are late to the planning game.
Because the region is still a little off the beaten path, it requires a fraction of the advance notice required for the other marquee regions across the pond.
Important Dates and Insight for 2025 Golf Trips
Tee Times Will Be Available Earlier
Recent conversations with many of our golf partners across the pond has made one thing clear…
Many golf clubs have indicated that their visitor tee times will open for booking earlier in 2025.
This means that tee times for the peak summer months will sell out earlier than they have in the past, even beyond the “Big 4” of overseas golf travel: The Old Course, Muirfield, Royal County Down, and Royal Portrush.
Northern Ireland and the 2025 Open Championship
Royal Portrush will host the 2025 Open Championship from July 13th-20th.
Nearby, Royal County Down holds the #1 slot on the Golf Digest World Top 100 list.
For both reasons, Northern Ireland will continue to be a popular choice for 2025 golf trips.
The disruption from The Open Championship, however, will stretch far beyond the week of the tournament.
The Dunluce Links will likely close at least a month in advance of the championship.
As a result, there will be even fewer tee times to go around for Royal Portrush in 2025.
And based on past history, those who do score a tee time before The Open will likely be required to play off fairway mats.
In short, 2026 may be the better choice for those who want to play both Royal County Down and Royal Portrush in the same trip.
But if your heart is set on doing so in 2025, now is the time to begin the planning process.
Old Course Tee Times 2025
Haversham & Baker and other Authorized Providers will likely receive our allotment of guaranteed Old Course at St. Andrews tee times around April of 2024.
But by January, perhaps even earlier, our entire allocation of tee times will be completely sold.
Simply put, the time to begin planning for 2025 St. Andrews golf trips has already arrived.
2025 Scottish Open
With the Renaissance Club confirmed as the host course for the Scottish Open through 2026, those looking to visit East Lothian will need to be mindful of its place on the calendar.
The Scottish Open will be held from July 6th-13th, 2025. During this period, both tee times and accommodations will be scarce or non-existent in the region.
North Berwick & Muirfield Tee Times
On the topic of East Lothian… Muirfield is the hottest ticket in Scotland besides The Old Course.
The spellbinding West Links at North Berwick isn’t far behind, thanks in part to the line of Tour players who stop in for a round during the Scottish Open.
Muirfield tee times for 2025 will likely become available this coming March.
Last year, the summer months at Muirfield were fully booked within a matter of hours.
It’s little wonder why…
This is one of the best duos in all of golf and Muirfield is home to the finest single day experience in the game.
A pairing that is increasingly reserved for those who plan early.
R&A Fall Meetings
It’s probably a good idea to avoid the month of September if you’re planning a golf trip to St. Andrews in 2025.
The R&A holds a variety of meetings and competitions throughout the month, which closes The Old Course for numerous days in September.
2025 Dunhill Links
On the heels of the R&A fall meetings in September, the 2025 Dunhill Links will see The Old Course closed for a week or better.
Dates for 2025 have not been determined, but the Dunhill Links is usually held around the last weekend in September or first weekend in October.
In summary, if you’re hoping to enjoy a 2025 golf trip to Scotland, Ireland, or England, you should begin the planning process sooner rather than later.
Scores of the H&B Forces have done exactly that of late, and early signs point to another record-breaking year for golf travel across the pond.
If you’re ready to get the ball rolling, click the Let’s Talk button below, tell us a little about your trip, and we’ll take it from there.
Our free guide includes over 40 pages of valuable insight, plus links to nearly 50 additional resources, on Golf and the Good Life in Scotland.
To continue planning your golf trip to Scotland, visit the pages below or have a look through our Yardage Book, where you’ll find answers to many of our most frequently asked questions.
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