Your Guide to 2028 Golf Trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England
Planning and Destination Tips for 2028
Every so often, the golf calendar hands us a season defined less by what happens that year and more by what happened the year before.
2028 is one of those years.
The two anchor events for 2027, The Open Championship at St. Andrews and the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, do not simply end when the grandstands come down. They'll inspire golf travel for years to come. In 2028, that inspiration might land in a few predictable places, and one or two you might not expect.
At the same time, The Open returns to England's Golf Coast in 2028, bringing a fresh wave of attention to a region we've suggested getting ahead of for years.
The following is what you need to know for 2028 golf trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England: where options will be tight, where the opportunities are found, and why, for a handful of marquee rounds, the time to start has already arrived.
Key Destinations and 2028 Golf Trips
England's Golf Coast and The Open at Royal Lytham
A year ago, we pointed to England's Golf Coast as the smart way to get ahead of the crowd. The reason is now official.
The Open Championship returns to Royal Lytham & St Annes from July 30 to August 6, 2028. This marks the 3rd Open in 6 years for England's Golf Coast, with Lytham joining Royal Birkdale (2026) and Royal Liverpool (2023) as recent hosts.
There is a wrinkle worth planning around. To avoid a clash with the Los Angeles Olympics, the R&A has pushed The Open to August rather than its usual mid-July slot.
For travelers, the appeal here is the same as it has always been. Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, and Royal Lytham & St Annes sit within easy reach of one another, alongside an exceptional supporting cast. The region is logistically simple, rich in Open history, and holds perhaps the best concentration of great golf in the U.K. All of which can be enjoyed from a single hotel base in Liverpool.
The takeaway is straightforward: the spotlight from The Open remains set on England's Golf Coast, and your links golf resume remains incomplete until it includes this region.
Southwest Ireland and the Ryder Cup Afterglow
The effect of the 2027 Ryder Cup on the surrounding region will be felt long after the matches are settled.
We have seen this pattern before. When a marquee event puts a region in the global spotlight, demand remains high for future years. Northern Ireland after The Open at Royal Portrush is the clearest recent example.
Expect the same for golf trips to Southwest Ireland for 2028. The great links courses nearby, from Ballybunion and Lahinch to Waterville, Tralee, and Doonbeg, will all likely see a spike in interest in the wake of the Ryder Cup.
If Southwest Ireland is even remotely being considered by your group for 2028, you'll want to get ahead of the post-Ryder Cup surge. Early planning isn't just a suggestion here, it's essential.
St. Andrews and The Old Course Rebound
When The Open returns to the Old Course in 2027, the course will close for roughly a month and supply will tighten across the entire season. Most golfers who hope to play St. Andrews that year and strike out will turn their attention to 2028.
And then there's everyone at home watching The Old Course for a week and deciding now is finally the time to play it. When The Open was last held at The Old Course in 2022, we received roughly three to four months' worth of inquiries in the single week of the tournament. There is no reason to think 2028 will not bring a rebound of the same kind.
As an Authorized Provider of guaranteed Old Course tee times, Haversham & Baker is already fielding inquiries for 2028 and beyond.
If playing The Old Course is a must for your 2028 trip, do not delay. Early planning, and having an expert in your corner, remains the surest path to a guaranteed time.
The Expedition led by Dr. Gordon Coutts celebrates his 60th birthday at The Old Course.
Smart Plays for 2028 Golf Trips
Beyond the marquee venues above, several regions offer a great experience and a slightly more forgiving planning schedule for 2028.
The Highlands of Scotland
The opening of Old Petty at Cabot Highlands has added new energy to a region that was already a favorite. It has also made it easier to enjoy golf in The Highlands of Scotland as a destination in its own right.
Paired with Royal Dornoch, Brora, and Nairn, plus nearby draws like Golspie, Tain, and Fortrose & Rosemarkie, The Highlands can anchor a full week without the need to shift regions.
Add the sightseeing, the distilleries, and the hospitality, and you have a combination of Golf and the Good Life that is tough to beat.
Northwest Ireland
Five years ago, Northwest Ireland was about as far off the well-worn path as golf travel could take you. That has begun to change.
A steady chorus of media coverage and social media fandom has pushed the region onto the radar of more golfers than ever. St. Patrick's Links leads the way as the area's first Top 100 course, with Carne, Enniscrone, and County Sligo close behind.
For now, this remains a destination chosen mostly by travelers with a few Expeditions behind them who wonder what else is out there. But the number choosing it over a return to a familiar region climbs every year, and we see no sign of that letting up.
Our advice: go before Northwest Ireland is fully mainstream.
Dublin and Ireland's East Coast
The fact is, Dublin golf has never needed much of a sales pitch. Easy logistics, a great lineup of courses, and an abundance of nonstop flights from the U.S. make it an ideal choice for golf across the pond.
What is new is the spotlight on Portmarnock. The historic links has moved closer than ever to joining The Open rota, a step that would make it the first Open venue outside the United Kingdom and send an already popular destination climbing fast.
In addition, the former European Club - now known as Brittas Bay Club - is set to emerge from its transformation in Spring of 2027. With a season under its belt, 2028 is probably the right time to give it a look.
Paired with The Island, Royal Dublin, and County Louth, plus the Good Life waiting in the city itself, Dublin could easily fill your Expedition all on its own.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland doesn't cleanly fit into the "smart play" category. Royal Portrush and Royal County Down remain two of the hardest tee times in golf, and the Ryder Cup glow reaches here too.
But there is an opening worth calling out. With so much attention in 2028 pulled toward Southwest Ireland and St. Andrews, the traveler looking to Northern Ireland may find the window cracked a little wider than normal.
Tee times for Royal Portrush and Royal County Down are expected to open at the end of February or early March 2027. For Royal County Down in particular, they tend to be gone within a day. For both venues, the summer months will certainly go that fast.
If Northern Ireland is your goal for 2028, be ready to move the moment they release. The year many are looking elsewhere could be the one that works in your favor.
Eric Williamson, PGA and the Members of Charlotte Country Club at Royal County Down.
Key Dates and Insights to Note
The Olympics Reshape the 2028 Calendar
The biggest scheduling story of 2028 has very little to do with golf.
The 2028 Open moves to August 3 to 6 to avoid a clash with the Los Angeles Olympics. The Open runs July 30 to August 6, the Senior Open follows from August 7 to 13, and the AIG Women's Open closes the run from August 14 to 20.
The Open is expected to return to its normal mid-July dates in 2029.
The practical impact from a planning standpoint is that another three weeks worth of bookings will have taken place by the time the traditional post-Open spike in interest occurs.
For many venues, if you're waiting until then to get started, it might be too late.
2028 Old Course at St. Andrews Tee Times
With The Open casting a spotlight on The Old Course in 2027, a significant spike in demand for 2028 is all but certain. As an Authorized Provider of guaranteed Old Course tee times, we are already fielding inquiries for 2028 and beyond.
Begin the process early, ideally before the spring of 2027, and work with an Authorized Provider who can give you the clearest path to a guaranteed time.
One date to keep in mind: for those considering the Swilcan Package, applications for 2028 tee times are expected to open in September 2027.
Tee Sheets Will Open Earlier (Again)
The trend of earlier tee time releases shows no sign of reversing. We fully expect some venues to start accepting advance bookings for 2028 from select golf travel companies before the calendar even turns to 2027.
It's not only the headliners to watch. Once times are secured at places like The Old Course, Muirfield, or Royal County Down, the ripple effect tends to fill nearby courses just as fast. If you have a few key rounds in mind, don't delay in finalizing the rest of the itinerary.
Muirfield and North Berwick Tee Times
Muirfield remains one of the toughest tee times in Scotland outside the Old Course, and the West Links at North Berwick is not far behind.
Applications for 2028 are expected to open in early 2027. One thing to keep in mind: Muirfield grants visitor play through an application, not an instant booking.
Submitting an application is not the same as securing a time, and nothing is confirmed until the results are released. Have a backup in place in case you do not draw the lucky ticket.
North Berwick books more conventionally, and its West Links tends to fill quickly once times open. If you hope to play both in a single itinerary, early planning, and a little flexibility, will serve you well.
Other Notable Dates & Closures
- 2028 Open Championship: Royal Lytham & St Annes, July 30 to August 6
- 2028 Senior Open: August 7 to 13, venue to be confirmed
- 2028 AIG Women's Open: August 14 to 20, venue to be confirmed
- 2028 Scottish Open: dates and venue to be confirmed
- 2028 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship: dates to be confirmed
Ready to Plan Your 2028 Golf Trip to Scotland, Ireland, or England?
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