Tee off: Your essential guide to golf breaks for beginners

So, what is a golf break, exactly? A golf break can be a mini break or longer holiday where you stay at a hotel with a golf course – or in a property that is situated near to one - and get in as much practice as possible while also enjoying all the other benefits of a luxury hotel stay. Small wonder that hotels with golf courses and spas are so popular — all the better for soothing aching muscles — and, of course, many of the leading golf hotels are also home to fine dining restaurants and a wide range of other leisure activities and experiences.

The holiday setting also helps to make sure you’re having fun while learning how to play golf. Relaxation as well as focus is key, and why be hard on yourself? Golf courses offer all the kit you need, great practice facilities for beginners and friendly expertise on tap. Many have resident golf pros who are highly experienced in giving golf lessons for beginners. They can assess your swing and show you all the skills and techniques you need to help you develop your confidence and your game.

Those that have a 9-hole course attached to its main 18-hole golf course are perfect for absolute beginners but there’s no getting away from the fact you’ll need to build up your abilities on the practice areas and driving ranges before you can play an actual game.

As seasoned golfers will tell you, it’s all worth it. Once you’ve honed your skills and worked your way up to playing a full 18 holes a few times, the golfing world will be your oyster — you’ll then be ready and able to play on some of the best golf courses in the world.

Bovey Castle Hotel & Spa

The illustrious Bovey Castle Hotel & Spa which is widely acclaimed for its superior hospitality and impressive setting in an English castle estate, is also home to one of the best golf courses in the UK. Situated in 275 acres of beautiful Devon countryside in Dartmoor National Park, Bovey Castle’s 18-hole championship golf course was designed in 1926 by J F Abercromby, one of the finest British golf course designers of the last century.

The hotel offers numerous options for golf breaks year-round, including professional golf lessons for beginners, and is currently offering a ‘Fairway and Stay’ special deal. This offer includes a three-night stay in a self-catering lodge, three rounds of golf during your stay (per person) and dinner on one evening.

From £827 per lodge, per night, based on 4 sharing.

Thurlestone Hotel

On the south Devon coast, you’ll find another great golf hotel with a spa that offers facilities and a warm welcome for beginners, in addition to a host of other holiday charms. The five-star Thurlestone Hotel is situated on a stunning coastal country estate near Kingsbridge and Salcombe and has a par 3 golf course designed by Harry Colt.

It’s within a short stroll to Thurlestone Beach and tennis courts and a heated outdoor swimming pool add to the wow factor. The hotel’s latest ‘Golf Getaway’ offer includes a two-night stay with dinner and an a la carte breakfast each morning, along with two rounds of golf at Thurlestone Golf Club.

From £265 per person.

Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa

Seeking a jewel in the north? If you fancy indulging in some award-winning gastronomy and unwinding in one of the UK’s largest luxury spas in addition to the thrill of playing on a championship golf course, then Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa in Darlington, County Durham, is hard to beat. Set within a charming 365-acre country estate, the hotel offers golf experience days as well as golfing breaks plus first-class tuition for golfers of all levels of ability.

Rockcliffe Hall Golf Course is a peach of a course and all golf breaks at this five–star hotel include overnight accommodation with full English breakfast in the Clubhouse Kitchen & Bar, 18 holes of golf per guest, use of the spa and wellness facilities during your stay and access to the tennis courts, adventure play and nature trails.

From £315 per night.

Many other PoB Hotels are ideally situated within easy reach of some of the UK’s finest golf courses from seaside boltholes close to links courses to grand country hotels nestled alongside parkland courses. All offer golf experiences which can be combined with other activities, as well as the chance to enjoy wellness facilities and imaginative fine dining.

The Fife Arms — Braemar Golf Course

The famous Highlands village of Braemar, situated 58 miles west of Aberdeen, is home to one of Scotland’s highest and wildest golf courses. Lying in a natural amphitheatre created by the imposing Grampian Mountains and the magnificent Cairngorms National Park, the 18-hole Braemar Golf Course is considered to be one of the finest in the country.

Whether you’re a novice or honing your game, The Fife Arms can arrange transformative golfing experiences, including private tuition with pro instructors, and memorable games on pristine greens that are surrounded by endangered ospreys, watchful stags, and rare red squirrels. After a day on the course, you can indulge in a whisky or two at Bertie’s before a seasonal Scottish feast in The Clunie Dining Room or a hearty meal at The Flying Stag, the hotel’s charming in-house pub.

A round at the Braemar Golf Course costs £45 per guest, with an additional Golf Pro instructor priced at £150.

Glenapp Castle — Royal Troon, Prestwick, Western Gailes, and Turnberry

Glenapp Castle a stunning 21-bedroom hotel tucked away on the breathtaking Ayrshire coast in Scotland, is within striking distance of not one but four championship golf courses. Royal Troon, Prestwick, Western Gailes, and Turnberry are all just an hour’s drive away from the castle.

Renowned for its adventurous Hebridean Sea Safari, Glenapp Castle offers guests the unique opportunity to explore the Scottish isles on a wild journey with a professional crew to remote islands, taking in coastal castles and distant inns – plus an impressive choice of bespoke golf experiences. Sail across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran and choose from a selection of seven immaculately maintained links and parkland settings, including the beautiful Brodick and Shiskine golf courses. Or for the more adventurous, the boat can go a little further to the tip of the Mull of Kintyre to the Machrihanish course.

From £15,950 based on a 4-night / 5-day adventure, with 2 nights at Glenapp Castle with dinner, bed and breakfast in a superior bedroom Suite, transfers to/from Girvan harbour.

Ness Walk — Royal Dornoch, Nairn Golf Club and Castle Stuart

Ness Walk, arguably the finest hotel in the Scottish Highlands’ capital city of Inverness, is a golfer’s paradise. Situated on the banks of the River Ness against a backdrop of rugged mountains, it’s near a tantalizing choice of some of Scotland’s most spectacular golf courses, including Royal Dornoch, Nairn Golf Club and Cabot Highlands, previously known as Castle Stuart.

Ness Walk’s concierge team are on hand to curate bespoke golf itineraries with chauffeured transfers to and from courses in the hotel’s cars and can also provide a delicious, gourmet packed lunch – tailored to your tastes and preferences.

Costed as per bespoke itineraries, available upon request.

Hebridean Princess — Golfing in Oban

Alternatively, you might like to get on board for the UK's only golf cruise. The Hebridean Princess is offering a new cruise experience to the Scottish resort of Oban. The ‘Golf Cruise’ has been created for golfers of all abilities, and visits a plethora of courses, many of which are set in spectacular rolling sand dunes that offer breathtaking coastal views. The seven-night cruise will be available in September 2024, starting and ending in Oban. In between golfing, you can relax aboard the all-inclusive luxury cruise liner and enjoy all the elegance and glamour of a boutique hotel.

From £5,830 per person, based on 2 people sharing an inside twin/double cabin.