Your Guide to 2026 Golf Trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England

Planning and Destination Tips for 2026

With the market for international travel running at record levels, planning for 2026 golf trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England is already in full swing.

In addition to the robust demand, early inquiries and bookings suggest that many golf travelers have adjusted to an essential task for securing tee times at the marquee courses: planning early.

The days of booking places like St. Andrews or Royal County Down less than a year in advance are simply a thing of the past.

In fact, some clubs have started fielding reservations two years out and beyond from golf tour operators.

By starting your planning now, you’ve made a smart move... But you're far from alone.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top locations for golf trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England in 2026, along with key dates and insights to help you navigate the planning process.

2026 Golf Pacakges to Scotland, Ireland, and England

St. Andrews

Though much has changed in recent years with overseas golf travel, one thing remains the same:

The Old Course at St. Andrews will attract much of the interest for 2026 golf trips to Scotland.

In this guide to St. Andrews tee times, we’ve outlined everything you need to know to ensure you claim a spot on the legendary links.

The short version is simple…

If you want a guaranteed tee time for The Old Course in 2026, it's crucial to begin the process with your H&B Expedition Planning Manager no later than early 2025.

Beyond that, St. Andrews golf packages which include a tee time on The Old Course will be hard to come by.

The good news is that 2026 will be the first year in some time without major event disruptions at St. Andrews, such as The Open or the recent Women's Open.

But even with this added availability, early booking remains as essential as ever.

Southwest Ireland

With the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor on the horizon, we are already seeing robust demand for Southwest Ireland golf trips in 2026.

While the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch Golf Club will temporarily limit availability at that particular course, the rest of the region’s exceptional courses are primed for an influx of visitors.

The lineup includes five members of the Golf Digest World Top 100, not to mention the "Augusta of Ireland" at Adare Manor.

As the Ryder Cup hype builds, it's wise to get ahead of the crowd and secure your preferred tee times early for 2026.

Northern Ireland

Following The Open at Royal Portrush in 2025, demand for Northern Ireland golf tours is certain to surge.

Based on our experience after its last turn hosting The Open, the spotlight on Royal Portrush will make it one of the most sought-after courses in 2026.

But by the time The Open concludes in July 2025, tee times for both Royal Portrush and Royal County Down in 2026 will likely be fully booked.

If Northern Ireland is on your list for 2026, now is the time to begin planning to avoid missing out on these iconic links courses.

Northwest Ireland

The rugged beauty of Northwest Ireland continues to captivate golfers, with Tom Doak’s St. Patrick’s Links at Rosapenna Resort – the region's first world Top 100 course – standing out as a highlight for 2026.

Nearby, courses like Carne, Enniscrone, and County Sligo round out the lineup, while the spellbinding 9-hole course at Cruit Island has built something of a cult following of late.

This region remains somewhat off the beaten path, allowing for more flexibility in securing Northwest Ireland golf trips compared to other marquee destinations.

However, don’t let this lull you into a false sense of security – advance planning is still recommended to ensure you enjoy the very best that this long-overlooked region has to offer.

The Highlands of Scotland

Speaking of Tom Doak...

2026 is set to be a big year for The Highlands of Scotland, thanks in part to the full debut of Old Petty – the much-anticipated second course at Cabot Highlands.

Royal Dornoch, Brora, and Nairn remain essential stops on Highlands of Scotland golf tours, but the addition of the new Tom Doak-designed course at Cabot Highlands will undoubtedly attract even more attention to the region.

To repeat a common theme of this article, early booking is key if you want to be among the first to play the Old Petty and the rest of The Highlands in 2026.

England's Golf Coast

The 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale presents a unique opportunity to play one of England’s most storied courses during the glow of golf's oldest major.

The thrill of walking the fairways with grandstands and the famous yellow scoreboard still in place adds a layer of excitement to the experience.

The surrounding courses—Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St. Annes, and the exceptional second-tier links—remain as compelling as ever for any itinerary.

As with any Open venue, however, Royal Birkdale will close at least a month prior to the tournament to prepare the course.

Normally, England's Golf Coast is a region that can be booked with less advance notice than other areas around the U.K. and Ireland, but not so in 2026.

The constrained availability at Royal Birkdale, plus the increased demand sparked by The Open's spotlight, will make early planning essential.

Important Dates and Insight for 2026 Golf Trips

Tee Times Will Be Available Even Earlier

The trend of golf clubs across the pond opening their tee sheets earlier shows no sign of letting up.

As mentioned earlier, some marquee courses are already holding bookings from golf travel companies.

But it's not just the key courses that you need to be concerned about – the run-on effect of early bookings may limit availability at other nearby clubs during the peak summer months.

If you're planning to play The Old Course, Muirfield, Royal County Down, or Royal Portrush, don't wait to fill out the rest of your itinerary once those tee times are in place.

2026 St. Andrews Tee Times

As an Authorized Provider for The Old Course, Haversham & Baker will receive a limited quantity of guaranteed 2026 St. Andrews tee times.

If recent history is a guide, by January 2025, perhaps even earlier, our entire allocation will be completely sold.

In short, the time to begin planning for St. Andrews golf trips in 2026 has already arrived.

If you're late to the party, we're already fielding inquiries for The Old Course in 2027.

R&A Fall Meetings

Speaking of St. Andrews...

It's usually a good idea to avoid the month of September in The Home of Golf, especially if you're relying on The Old Course Ballot or Singles Daily Draw to try and score a tee time.

The R&A holds a variety of meetings and competitions throughout September which closes The Old Course for numerous days during the month.

The Open at Royal Birkdale

Royal Birkdale is set to host the 154th Open Championship from July 12-19, 2026.

This will have an inverse effect on the demand for trips to England's Golf Coast (up) and the supply of available tee times at Royal Birkdale and the other historic clubs nearby (down).

Although this region can usually be booked much later than others in the U.K. and Ireland, that rule goes out the window for 2026.

2026 Scottish Open

The Renaissance Club will host the 2026 Scottish Open from July 6-13, 2026.

During this period, both tee times and accommodations will be scarce or non-existent in the Edinburgh and East Lothian region.

North Berwick and Muirfield Tee Times

Speaking of East Lothian…

Muirfield is the hottest ticket in Scotland besides The Old Course. The West Links at North Berwick isn’t far behind.

2026 Muirfield tee times will likely become available this coming February.

Last year, the summer months at Muirfield were fully booked within a matter of hours. Once available, North Berwick won't take much longer.

If you want to experience the Muirfield and North Berwick duo, the pairing is increasingly reserved for those who plan early.

Other Notable Dates & Closures

2026 Senior Open: Venue TBD - July 20-26
2026 Women's Open: Royal Lytham & St. Annes - July 27-August 2
2026 Walker Cup: Lahinch Golf Club - August 31-September 6
2026 Dunhill Links: The Old Course, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns - September 28-October 4

As 2026 approaches, the demand for golf trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England is only set to increase.

From the legendary Old Course at St. Andrews to the stunning links of Royal County Down and Royal Birkdale, enjoying Golf and the Good Life at these renowned venues requires early planning.

By starting the planning process now, you’ll ensure the best chance of playing the courses you want to play, when you want to play them.

If you're ready to get the ball rolling on your 2026 golf adventure, click the "Let’s Talk" button below, and we'll take it from there.