Glencor Golf Holidays has been digging into the figures for 2025’s golf travel sector and reaching out to key players to give their predictions for 2026.
2025: The golf travel year in numbers
The golf tourism market is one that’s been growing consistently since the end of COVID. Global golf tourism was worth £18.94 billion ($25.34 billion) in 2024 and is projected to reach £31.32 billion ($41.87 billion) by 2030.
At Glencor, we’ve seen bookings grow. Here’s a breakdown of who has been visiting where and for how long:
Glencor’s 2025 Statistics:
- Algarve golf holidays were the most popular in 2025
- Golf breaks to the Costa Del Sol came a close second
- Spain and Portugal were the most popular countries for golf holidays in 2025.
- 5 was the average number of nights booked for a golf holiday in 2025
- Paphos in Cyprus and Belek in Turkey had the highest number of nights per booking at 6.7 nights
- 7 was the average number of people per trip booked through Glencor
Glencor’s top 10 most popular destinations in 2025 – Region
- Algarve
- Costa Del Sol
- Murcia
- Lisbon
- Costa De La Luz
- Marrakech
- Belek
- Costa Blanca
- Tenerife
- Agadir
Glencor’s top 10 most popular destinations in 2025 – Country
- Spain
- Portugal
- UK
- Morocco
- Turkey
- France
- Cyprus
- Ireland
- Belgium
- UAE
What to expect from golf tourism and travel in 2026
We reached out to some key players in golf holidays and general travel to find out what to expect in 2026. Here’s what they said:
Trend 1: Solo travel is on the rise
A number of people noticed the rise in solo travel.
Corrie Renton, Co-director of Glencor Golf Holidays said: “UK golfers are increasingly embracing solo travel, combining their love of the game with the freedom to explore new destinations at their own pace.
“Golf holidays abroad offer the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and opportunity to meet fellow players from around the world.”
Christina Gales, Certified Pro Travel Advisor and Founder of Christina Gales Travel said: “For 2026, I predict we’ll see a significant rise in solo golf trips, especially among professionals looking for a mix of sport and personal reset time.
“More golfers will be booking trips that combine rounds at European courses with wellness activities like spa treatments or coastal walks, rather than purely golf-focused itineraries.”
Piotr Zabula, CEO of Feedink.com dug into the data and found the same: “Based on trends we observed in 2025, solo golf travel will continue to grow significantly in 2026.
“More golfers are seeking the freedom to plan their own itineraries, play at their own pace, and choose courses without needing to coordinate with others. This shift reflects a broader desire for personalised travel experiences that prioritise individual preferences and flexibility over group compromises.”
Trend 2: Micro-trips & closer-to-home golf
While many people love a long-haul golf break, we’re also seeing people wanting short and sweet trips closer to home.
Glen Renton, Co-director of Glencor Golf Holidays said: “We’re seeing a growing trend among UK golfers for micro-trips and shorter golf breaks closer to home.
“Busy schedules and a desire for quick escapes are driving more players to explore local courses, making the most of a long weekend or even a single day away.”
Cam Storey, Owner of Brisbane 360, a tour operator in Australia, added: “Regional golf destinations within 2-3 hours of major cities will boom over international travel. I’ve seen this with our own tours – people want the “away” feeling without the airport hassle.”
Rengie Wisper, Marketing Manager, Palmako backs this up: “Golfers will abandon famous bucket-list destinations in 2026 to focus on “micro-trips” to lesser-known cities.”
Trend 3: Group travel evolves
At Glencor Golf Holidays, we’re big fans of group travel. But we expect to see the standard ‘lads abroad’ groups evolve into something more multi-generational with curated social events for solos.
Glen Renton, Co-director of Glencor Golf Holidays said: “Golf travel from the UK is shifting towards thoughtful, multi-generational breaks—where memorable moments off the course are just as important as the game itself.”
Cam Storey added: “Expect golf getaways to shift from “mates’ trips” to multi-generational family experiences.
“More mixed age groups – grandparents, parents, and adult kids – are looking for shared experiences rather than age-segregated trips. Seniors are now fitter and more adventurous than ever – and they want activities their families can join.
“Golf is perfect for this because different skill levels can play together, and non-golfers can enjoy the destination.”
Shishir Dubey, Founder of Jungle Revives, a tour operator, added: “Solo travel isn’t just for backpackers anymore. We will see a rise in “single golfer” hosted weeks where solo travellers book spots in a curated group.
“This demographic – often aged 40-60, divorced or with non-playing partners – wants the camaraderie of a club competition without the hassle of organising seven friends.”
Alex Veka, Founder, Vibe Adventures said: “I predict a rise of group trips where you plan the basics but also have a spontaneous “wild card window” of a couple of hours where nothing is planned and you’re allowed to just go off and discover your surroundings.
“This transforms regular trips into genuine adventures without ruining the schedule or blowing the budget. Test one wild card window on day two, limit spending to roughly 10 percent of your daily budget, and let the locals lead the fun.”
Trend 4: AI + human expertise
While AI is invading every corner of our lives, there’s something about travel planning that still needs a human touch.
Corrie Renton, Co-director of Glencor Golf Holidays said: “Many UK golfers are now using AI to help shape and refine their golf holiday itineraries, giving tour operators like ourselves a clear idea of their preferences.
“Yet working with an experienced operator remains invaluable – first-hand knowledge of courses, accommodations, and local insights ensures the trip is not just well planned, but genuinely unforgettable.”
Christina Gales agrees: “The planning approach will likely split into two camps: younger golfers using AI tools for quick recommendations, while more experienced travellers will return to working with specialists who understand their specific needs and can curate meaningful experiences.
“This shift reflects a broader trend where people want their golf trips to serve a deeper purpose beyond just the game itself.”
Cam Storey added: “For planning, I’m betting people will use AI to research but book through actual humans for anything beyond basic transport.
“During COVID, I kept every single booking alive through personal phone calls and relationship management – something no algorithm could replicate.
“When things get complicated (mixed abilities, special requirements, multi-day itineraries), people want to talk to someone who knows the local operators and can troubleshoot on the fly.”
Trend 5: Emerging & experiential destinations
Beach holidays aren’t necessarily a thing of the past, but more people are now looking for less travelled destinations and holidays that mix relaxation with unique experiences.
Chris Ryan, PGA Professional said: “Personally, if I were recommending a destination for a golf trip in 2026 I’d be going with Turkey – specifically the Belek area.
“The courses are incredible, the hotels are big and luxurious, and the service is fantastic too. Plus, everything is very close, so you get a wide range of courses and hotels to choose from.
“The all-inclusive hotels make budgeting a little easier and the weather is also generally better in the winter months.”
Corrie Renton, Co-director of Glencor Golf Holidays agrees: “UK golfers are increasingly drawn to emerging destinations like Lisbon, Marrakech, and Madeira, seeking courses and experiences off the usual tourist trail of the Algarve and Costa Del Sol.
“These locations offer the thrill of discovery, combining world-class golf with unique culture, cuisine, and scenery that make each trip truly memorable.”
Shishir Dubey added: “In 2026, golfers will look beyond traditional fairways to destinations combining “bucket list” adventure with world-class golf.
“With Tangier and Marrakech offering a fusion of ancient culture and modern luxury, Morocco fits the trend of experiential golf.
“It appeals to travellers who want a morning round followed by an afternoon in a souk, offering a sensory richness that European resorts sometimes lack.”
At the other end of the experiential scale is a move to ‘quiet luxury’.
Arsen Misakyan, CEO and Founder, LAXcar said: “The travel industry will be oriented towards ‘quiet luxury’ in golfing travel in 2026 due to the availability of world-class golf courses with minimal crowds.
“More people will travel to destinations such as Madeira for their unique and creative golf courses and wonderful scenery.
“Overall, the more personalised and experience-driven travel will be in higher demand. There will be a desire for travel to less populated courses, along with nearby boutique hotels, and easy-to-reach transportation.
“There is a big desire for adventure and travel at these golfing destinations, and with all of the travellers I manage, I see a need for quick and easy travel.”
Aashish Sharma BEng, Strategy Consultant at Prepaid Travel Cards added: “Golfers will look for newer, less familiar locations that provide value and less crowded fairways.
“Destinations such as northern Portugal, coastal Turkey past Belek, and developing resorts in Morocco will attract significant interest as travellers seek warm weather and reduced on-course expenses.”
