For this feature, I'm going to avoid full-on golfing resorts with hotels and stick with dormy houses or similar, smaller on-site or adjacent accommodation. I am going to concentrate on the more intimate and sometimes unusual places to stay that I have enjoyed all over the UK&I, as well as taking a brief excursion across to France. I'm sure my experiences will ring bells with most of you, and even if not, will highlight some of the very real pleasures of an extended visit to play golf and more. So, in no particular or obvious order at all, let's get travelling.

Royal Lytham & St Annes

Starting at the top, I have been lucky enough to enjoy the dormy houses at several clubs in the Golf Monthly Top 100 and Next 100 rankings. And what could be better than playing and also staying at an Open venue such as Royal Lytham & St Annes, host of the event in two years' time? Recent changes have improved an already brilliant test of golf, and there are packages available that include dinner and breakfast. I am also part of a small group from my club, Tandridge, who travel up each summer to play an informal match with the extremely welcoming members at Formby Golf Club just down the coast.

Formby

We stay in the dormy house, eat in the main dining room on one evening, and also play a match against the ladies on their own excellent course, which we always, and I do mean absolutely always, lose! On the other night, we enjoy taking the commuter train from the nearby station, stopping for a beer in the adjacent micropub, and then visiting a restaurant just up the line. Great fun and so easy to do.

Royal St David's

To the northern end of Cardigan Bay in Wales is a beautiful stretch of coastline that, happily for golfers, runs between two of the very best courses in the country at Royal St David's and Aberdovey. Each has a dormy house, and there is no better way to enjoy the two links than to hop on the train between them, which takes just over an hour and crosses the Mawddach Estuary. The views are fabulous, the experience is novel, and I am pretty sure this was the first time I'd ever travelled to golf by train, something I would very happily repeat.

Alnmouth

One of my all-time favourite dormy houses is at Alnmouth on the sublime Northumberland coast. The relative remoteness of this area means that the rates are a little more forgiving and, with nine holes either side of the accommodation, you could not be more at the heart of a golf club. As at Formby, there is a snooker room, and I've spent many a happy hour at both being even more inept with a little white ball than I am out on the course. At least I haven't lost one... yet.

Cape Cornwall

On visiting Cape Cornwall for a game a few years ago, I was so taken with the whole set-up that I returned a few months later with my wife for a stay... and no golf! This wild location at the end of the world is a perfect place for the great outdoors, and we thoroughly enjoyed our coastal walks followed by delicious dining and panoramic sunsets. Sometimes a location leads you there for golf, and sometimes it's the golf that opens your eyes to other possibilities nearby.

Chateau d'Augerville

One of the more unusual dormy houses I've enjoyed, where dormy is the perfect word, was the romantic castle at Chateau d'Augerville, an hour south of Paris. It is home to a very attractive golf course, and I was lucky enough to stay at the top of the central tower, in a suite accessed by its own spiral staircase. I'd been told there was a benign ghost whose footsteps were often heard after dark, and on my first night, high up in the tower on my own, I was indeed awoken by footsteps. And that is it! I have no explanation and it didn't happen on the following two nights, but it's the oddest thing that's ever happened to me when staying at a golf club. Apart from the time I once won a competition.

Craigielaw

Up in Scotland five years ago, I embarked on an epic mission to play all 21 courses in East Lothian in 13 days. Amazingly for Scotland in October, I only had a small amount of rain in just one round. For some of the trip, I stayed in the excellent Lodge at Craigielaw whose fine, modern links borders the historic one at Kilspindie. It's just my kind of place and ideal for couples or groups, offering great value and generous portions with easy access to the rich feast that is Scotland's Golf Coast.

Old Head

One high-end course with accommodation that I thoroughly enjoy is Old Head on Ireland's southern coast. I've written about the course many times and it is one of my all-time favourites, but never about the accommodation in the clubhouse, which overlooks the spectacular 18th. It's the kind of place you just never want to leave.

Trefloyne

One of the travelling golfer's great thrills is to stumble across somewhere very pleasant that you'd previously never even heard of. While in Wales in March with my colleague Jeremy Ellwood, I played the parkland course at Trefloyne, which offers a great contrast to its near-neighbour, the links at Tenby. Here, there is a variety of accommodation to suit all tastes and a two AA-Rosette restaurant, ideal for couples looking for somewhere new and different.

Woodsome Hall

Let me finish with Woodsome Hall in Yorkshire, home to a fine Harry Colt parkland course and an amazing and historic clubhouse. Out on the course, behind the 7th green, is an eight-bedroom farmhouse known as the Cottage on the Course. It's a two-minute walk to the main clubhouse and offers an idyllically peaceful location for a stay with a treasure chest of Yorkshire's finest courses within easy reach. The view over the pond and nearby green beckons you out onto the course, and the stylish and comfortable rooms are very well priced.

To sum up the joys of staying where you play, the most obvious from a practical point of view is that so long as there is catering on site or a nearby town with a few dining options, there is no driving involved – perfect for those of us who very occasionally like to enjoy a glass or three in the evening when away. It also saves on time and fuel and, with green fees at a challenging and sometimes punitive all-time high, there are often very good deals to be had when staying on site.

Playing a course for the second time or more also allows you to appreciate it properly. First time round you might be blinded by the light and miss its more subtle pleasures. In theory – and obviously this has never happened to me – you should be able to score better as you get to know the course. And even if not, you can have the fun of an eclectic competition or card.

Perhaps the greatest pleasure of all, and one that is less definable, is the opportunity to really soak up the ambience and atmosphere of the club. Waking to the sound of a green being hand-mown really whets the appetite, and turning the light out at the end of the day knowing that the 1st tee is just a short walk away is a real joy.

Ghostly footsteps aside, I hope you will have had your interest suitably piqued by some of my dormy adventures. As with golf courses themselves, there are endless opportunities dotted around the UK and Ireland.

Sweet Dreams

While this feature focuses on one side of the fine line between dormy and grander establishment, here are five of my very favourite golf hotels...

● Gleneagles

With three fabulous golf courses, luxurious accommodation and dining, and endless sporting and recreational activities on site, this is hands-down the finest golf hotel that I have ever stayed in and surely the best such resort anywhere in the UK and Ireland.

● Close House

There's a variety of accommodation at this first-class resort near Newcastle, and I really like the combination of traditional, farmstead buildings and their modern, stylish interiors. The two courses are also great fun.

● Slieve Donard

I know this hotel is a separate entity rather than part of a golfing resort as such, but having stayed here twice, I rate it very highly for three reasons. One, it's right next door to Royal County Down, home to the leading course in the Golf Monthly Top 100. Two, it shares the same sensational setting. And three, it is just a lovely place to stay.

● Fairmont St Andrews

I know some people think it's sacrilege to actually enjoy the two very different courses here when you are at the Home of Golf, but I really liked both layouts at this large, all mod-cons hotel just outside St Andrews.

● Rosapenna

I've been lucky enough to stay here a couple of times and it really is a complete escape to a different, peaceful and very beautiful world. With three top-notch courses including St Patrick's Links, and easy access to the most breathtaking scenery, it's hard to beat.

Because of this, every shot matters, which is why Jack Floydd endured a rather interesting and humorous moment at the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge on the HotelPlanner Tour.

Carding rounds of 70 and 74, the Englishman was level-par over his 36-holes, leaving him perilously close to the cutline, which was standing around the level-par/one-over mark.

Believing he hadn't done enough to make the weekend in France, Floydd checked out of his hotel, headed for the Channel Tunnel and back to England for a weekend at home.

However, as it turns out, a late run of scores from elsewhere meant that Floydd, who was on the train and ready for departure, actually made the weekend and would be able to play the final two rounds.

Returning to shoot a one-over-par 73 on Saturday, Floydd was asked about the scenario that led to him returning to the hotel, with the Englishman stating: "It's been very eventful.

"Thought I missed the cut yesterday afternoon. Travelled back to England. Got to the Channel Tunnel and did a U-turn as soon as I got back and straight back to the course.

"I got here about 1am last night and teed it up this morning. Fortunately, the hotel I was staying at and checked out of had rooms available, so I went straight back and checked back in.

"We actually got wedged in on the train when we knew we were going to make the cut. That meant we had to go to England, as we couldn't get out, and when we got off we did a U-turn and back to France."

Making his 8.29am tee time on Saturday, Floydd battled hard on Moving Day, recovering well after being five-over through six holes.

Carding a four-over front nine, three birdies on the back meant a one-over 73, which puts the World No. 1076th in a tie for 60th.

Currently, he is 137th in the Race to Mallorca rankings, with his best result a T30th at the Italian Challenge Open in May.

We are constantly adding new and very delightful entries to our swelling spreadsheets. However, we have also both been lucky enough to travel extensively for Golf Monthly, sampling golf, sights and experiences you would never encounter at home, much of which has informed our thoughts in this video on golf course design misconceptions.

We recently put our heads together and realised we'd now played in 57 countries – not just obvious golfing strongholds like the best golf courses in Spain, Portugal and the States, but also others more off the beaten track. One of our more complex - and unresolved - discussions was around what actually constitutes a country.

Take the beautiful Tierra del Sol course in Aruba, for example. This tropical Caribbean island is often described as a country, but also comes under the auspices of The Netherlands.

Closer to home, we both know golfers who tend not to think of the UK as separate countries but rather one glorious golfing whole. Try explaining that to anyone at an England-Scotland rugby match or screaming at the TV! Then there are the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, both self-governing British Crown Dependencies but not countries as such, and not part of the UK.

But for the sake of this article, we believe we've played in about 57 different ‘countries', depending on how you interpret such anomalies! Here, we each take a look at five of the more unusual, impressive or simply less well-known trips we have enjoyed and how they have enriched our golfing lives...

Bulgaria

Rob - While moonlighting for Volvo at its tour events, I visited Bulgaria in 2013 for the penultimate World Matchplay Tournament at Gary Player's Thracian Cliffs. Set on the western shores of the Black Sea, its relative inaccessibility may be why this is not yet a bucket-list destination. Its outrageously visual and dramatic layout is one of the most exciting I have ever played. I had no choice but to include it in a feature on my favourite ten courses.

Nearby, I greatly enjoyed the appallingly named but otherwise lovely BlackSeaRama – another Player design – and Ian Woosnam's adjacent Lighthouse. They would combine to make a brilliant tour, and I returned to the country in 2019 to play at the fine resort of Pravets, under an hour from Sofia.

The Netherlands

Rob - A real advantage of golf in The Netherlands is that you can take your car. Despite an immaculate pedigree, it's still not well-known as a golfing destination and I think this is simply because its historic and more prestigious clubs are really not too fussed about marketing their many delights.

On one trip, I enjoyed the best of the old (Utrecht de Pan… spell it as you wish; there are many variations) and the best of the new (The International). I loved the 27 holes at Kennemer, where Colt designed the original 18, and Hilversum was great, Colt again, and very tight off the tee. If you're after informal and local, then Houtrak, Purmerend and Zaanse are all well worth a visit.

Greece

Jeremy - My solitary trip to Greece came in 2022 when I was invited to the Olazabal and Friends Charity Pro-Am at Costa Navarino in the Messinia region of a country that, perhaps surprisingly, still has just ten golf courses. The Spaniard's two new layouts had opened there earlier that year and this is surely one of Europe's most spectacular golf destinations.

His International Olympic Academy Course enjoys a stirring back-nine run along an inland cliff edge with mesmerising ocean views, while the Hills course plays past old olive trees, ancient rock walls and stunning ravines in the Kinigou Hills. It was a real thrill to finally get some time with Jose Maria, who had always proved quite an elusive interview target for individual journalists hoping for a chat. Perseverance rewarded!

Norway

Jeremy - You've probably drooled over the photos and, following my 2015 trip to the Lofoten Islands in the 68th parallel of northern latitude in Norway, I can confirm that Lofoten Links is almost certainly the most dramatic golfing canvas over which I have ever played. Yes, it took three flights and half an hour by road to get there, but boy, was it worth it. Lush green oases of fairway and green weave through deep-coloured rocks and lakes, wedged between the Arctic and the rugged mountains.

The visual drama carries on hole after hole and there is a deep sense of admiration for the imagination that led to a golf course being created in this unimaginably spectacular, yet at times hostile, landscape. I've not yet returned to play elsewhere in Norway, but the love affair with the country that this trip triggered has seen the family spend the week before Christmas in Tromso for the last two years. This must surely be the only world Top 100 golf course where you can play under the midnight sun.

Finland

Jeremy - Finland has around 190 courses and my only visit came in 2014 with a game at Linna Golf an hour from Helsinki, ranked No.1 in the country in some lists. I remember feeling at home immediately as, slightly to my surprise, it felt similar to UK courses such as Woburn, Gleneagles and even Swinley Forest right from the opener, a beautiful uphill par 4 playing through stands of pine and birch.

The trees often frame holes from a respectful distance rather than too claustrophobically, so you reap the benefits of their beauty without having to venture in among them too often. My trip continued with a ferry across the Baltic to Estonia, one of two east European countries I've played in. Poland is the other.

Kenya

Rob - I jumped at the chance to fly to Nairobi where the colonial background means there is real history at some of the clubs. Muthaiga dates back to 1913 and was a regular host of the Kenya Open, won by no less a legend than Seve Ballesteros in 1978. I greatly enjoyed Sigona, designed by Tom Simpson in 1938, plus the excellent course at Windsor Golf Hotel, with its monkeys and yellow-billed kites going about their business paying scant attention to the golf.

My favourite was Great Rift Valley up near Lake Naivasha where I enjoyed two days of sensory overload thanks to the challenging course and the magnificent wildlife, including zebras, giraffes and an encounter with a pod of hippos out on the lake. If you fancy combining golf with safari, this is exactly the country for it.

South Africa

Jeremy - My only visit to the continent of Africa happened by accident when a colleague was called up for jury service and I was drafted in. I was already due in Abu Dhabi the week after, so it ended up being my longest ever trip for Golf Monthly, flying to Durban then on to the Middle East before returning home 12 days later. I was there to cover the 2013 Volvo Golf Champions event at Durban Country Club and play three rounds in KwaZulu-Natal province at Selborne Park, Prince's Grant and Cotswold Downs.

After golf at Selborne, photographer Kevin Murray and I were plied with more Springboks than were wise (Amarula layered over Creme de Menthe in a chilled shot glass) and were treated to an impromptu table-side Ladysmith Black Mambazo-style performance from the bar staff. The course at Prince's Grant enjoys excellent ocean views, while the 5th at Cotswold Downs is the steepest drop-hole par 3 I've ever played.

Japan

Jeremy - In 2018, a decade after my time in the equipment editor's chair, I got called back for a trip to Japan to visit the Honma plant around the time of Justin Rose's short-lived dalliance with the brand. Part of the trip took us on the famous Shinkansen 'bullet train' to Atami, then on to Kawana, where we played the resort's world top 100-ranked Fuji course.

The dramatic opener plunges down 100ft to the fairway and the visual drama never lets up with several holes along the clifftops, although Mount Fuji was sadly partly shrouded in mist. Our friendly female caddie looked after all four bags on one power-assisted trolley and, once or twice, our transport from green to tee involved a driverless buggy. An incredible experience.

Vietnam

Rob - Asia and the Far East offer some of the most exotic golf in the world and I had a wonderful time exploring the central-eastern coastal region of Vietnam around Da Nang. Delicious local food was the hors d'oeuvres to a banquet of golf that included coastal games at Nick Faldo's dreamy Laguna Lang Co, Robert Trent Jones Junior's amazing Hoiana Shores and the Nicklaus and Norman courses at Legend DaNang.

Slightly inland, I also loved the Luke Donald design at Ba Na Hills and a stay-and-play at Colin's eponymous Montgomerie Links. Together, the five offered unbelievable variety, endless new and different experiences, and as much entertainment as you could possibly wish for on one golf trip. My visit here prompted me to wonder whether this is the most exotic coastline in golf?

New Zealand

Rob - I visited this staggeringly beautiful country to cover the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Wellington. It's an exceptionally long way to go, but the juicy carrot dangling before me was the opportunity to explore the North Island and play a handful of its best courses.

We started at the host venue, a sumptuous course that I absolutely loved, and from here flew up the east coast to spend two nights at Cape Kidnappers, a dream come true. Moving inland to The Kinloch Club and Wairakei near Lake Taupo, both excellent, we ended up at Auckland and Windross Farm. The scenery, the golf, the wine… this will live with me as one of, if not the, best trips of my golfing life.

The Numbers

So for completeness, here are our various counts at the time of preparing this article in May, 2026. As you might expect, they are still creeping up...!

The Travelers Championship endured a dramatic final day on Sunday, with the drama continuing into Monday.

Ending their tournaments 21-under-par, both Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland returned to TPC River Highlands on Monday morning, due to a rain delay on Sunday meaning there was no time for a playoff.

Playing the 18th hole, Hovland and Scheffler were looking to secure the $4 million first prize at the Signature Event, with the former getting the better of the World No.1, who missed a short putt to extend the playoff.

Teeing off at 9am local time, Hovland had played the 18th in two-under for the week, while Scheffler was one-over following three pars and a bogey.

Driver in hand, both men found the fairway and produced darts with their second, with Scheffler finishing four-foot from the flag and Hovland around eight-foot.

Coming down to the performance on the greens, Hovland's attempt slid in the right-side, narrowly catching up enough of the hole to drop in to put pressure on Scheffler.

It was a putt you expected him to make, but looking tentative lining up the birdie, Scheffler added too much pace to the line he took, with the ball missing the hole and handing the title to Hovland.

Securing an eighth PGA Tour win, the victory was Hovland's first with his mother, Galina, present, as the pair celebrated the victory in Connecticut.

"It's been stressful, but it's unbelievable," stated Hovland, who secured his first victory in 2026.

"I knew I had to bring out my best to have a chance of beating Scottie, and I couldn't be happier. I know how good I can get and I keep pushing myself and wanting to get better.

"When I fall short it really p****s me off, but I did a really good job. I didn't start well Thursday and I didn't let it bother me. I couldn't be happier."

Travelers Championship Leaderboard

• -21 Viktor Hovland (69)*
• -21 Scottie Scheffler (68)
• -20 Collin Morikawa (61)
• -19 Matt Fitzpatrick (64)
• -18 Wyndham Clark (65)
• -18 Akshay Bhatia (67)
• -17 Corey Conners (63)
• -17 JJ Spaun (64)
• -17 Alex Fitzpatrick (64)
  
  *Won with birdie at the first playoff hole

Updates from...

The two Ryder Cup rivals tied on 21-under through 72 holes last week, but poor weather and fading light on Sunday ensured they were required to return to the course at TPC River Highlands early on Monday.

It only took one extra hole to decide who lifted the trophy, with Viktor Hovland sinking a birdie putt to claim his eighth PGA Tour title and first since the 2025 Valspar Championship.

As with each of the eight Signature Events played in 2026, there was a $20 million tournament purse on the line.

While the three player-hosted events featured a cut and a $4 million prize for the champion, the Travelers Championship saw everyone involved take home a check for at least $40,000 and Hovland scoop $3.6 million.

And although there was disappointment for Scheffler in terms of the trophy, his latest runner-up result helped him claim more than $2 million, almost $1 million more than Collin Morikawa in third place.

Everyone who finished T30th or better, meanwhile, earned in excess of $117,000 before various factors affect how much they actually take home.

Below is the full prize money payout for each player and position at the 2026 Travelers Championship.

TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN

* denotes playoff victory.

Scottie Scheffler was leading at TPC River Highlands, only to make a real mess of the closing hole and return a bogey. Meanwhile, Hovland powered his way down 18 and walked off with a birdie which puts him in pole position for an eighth PGA Tour title.

Speaking after round three, Hovland said: “It was really fun. Just had a great time. You know, it’s been a while since I’ve been in this position. You know, to go head-to-head against the best player in the world and pull off some great shots, it was just a lot of fun.”

His fans will hope the World No.30 can retain that seemingly care-free attitude throughout the closing stages as well, with a prestigious title and significant prize money payout on the line.

But, those who trail won't have given up hope just yet, with TPC River Highlands giving up plenty of birdies throughout the week.

Patrick Cantlay and Akshay Bhatia partner Shane Lowry and Two-time US Open champion Wyndham Clark in the final round, with each having carded a 64 or better this week so far, so all four will believe they can bridge the sizable gap to first place still.

Beyond the group who begin Sunday's play on 13-under, it is likely to be a case of simply playing for the biggest check, with a total of $20 million up for grabs.

Below is the full list of round four tee times at the 2026 Travelers Championship.

TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 4 TEE TIMES

ET (BST)

• 8:45am (1:45pm): Gary Woodland, Sepp Straka
• 8:55am (1:55pm): Ryan Fox, Jordan Spieth
• 9:05am (2:05pm): Lucas Glover, Mark Hubbard
• 9:15am (2:15pm): Cameron Young, Min Woo Lee
• 9:25am (2:25pm): Sam Stevens, Alex Smalley
• 9:35am (2:35pm): Taylor Pendrith, Sahith Theegala
• 9:45am (2:45pm): Ryan Gerard, Jhonattan Vegas
• 9:55am (2:55pm): Andrew Novak, Ludvig Aberg
• 10:10am (3:10pm): Adam Scott, Jacob Bridgeman
• 10:20am (3:20pm): Alex Noren, JT Poston
• 10:30am (3:30pm): Jason Day, Harry Hall
• 10:40am (3:40pm): Brandt Snedeker, Jake Knapp
• 10:50am (3:50pm): Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau
• 11:00am (4:00pm): Brian Campbell, Nicolai Hojgaard
• 11:10am (4:10pm): Ben James, Michael Kim
• 11:25am (4:25pm): Mac Meissner, Rickie Fowler
• 11:35am (4:35pm): Maverick McNealy, Nick Taylor
• 11:45am (4:45pm): Harris English, Keegan Bradley
• 11:55am (4:55pm): Tom Hoge, Daniel Berger
• 12:05pm (5:05pm): Matt McCarty, Ryo Hisatsune
• 12:15pm (5:15pm): Kurt Kitayama, Tommy Fleetwood
• 12:25pm (5:25pm): Denny McCarthy, Nico Echavarría
• 12:40pm (5:40pm): Bud Cauley, Russell Henley
• 12:50pm (5:50pm): Kristoffer Reitan, Corey Conners
• 1:00pm (6:00pm): Sungjae Im, Aaron Rai
• 1:10pm (6:10pm): JJ Spaun, Hideki Matsuyama
• 1:20pm (6:20pm): Justin Thomas, Robert MacIntyre
• 1:30pm (6:30pm): Jackson Suber, Alex Fitzpatrick
• 1:40pm (6:40pm): Collin Morikawa, Chris Gotterup
• 1:55pm (6:55pm): Brian Harman, Justin Rose
• 2:05pm (7:05pm): Sam Burns, Si Woo Kim
• 2:15pm (7:15pm): Eric Cole, Keith Mitchell
• 2:25pm (7:25pm): Matt Fitzpatrick, Ben Griffin
• 2:35pm (7:35pm): Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark
• 2:45pm (7:45pm): Patrick Cantlay, Akshay Bhatia
• 2:55pm (7:55pm): Viktor Hovland, Scottie Scheffler

Putters are often the most changed aspect of individuals' bags, with the likes of JJ Spaun, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose opting to change their flatsticks at the $20 million tournament.

For Spaun, he had been using a L.A.B. Golf DF3, which claimed its first Major win at the US Open last year.

Continuing to use the model throughout 2025, and then the majority of 2026, the American switched to a L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i for this year's US Open, but after missing the cut at the Major, he appeared with a Scotty Cameron Prototype in the bag at TPC River Highlands.

The Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5R has become more and more popular in recent times, with Cameron Young and Justin Thomas putting the putter into their set-ups.

Sitting nine-under through two rounds at the Travelers Championship, Spaun's putting has improved this week, with the Major winner currently T15th on the greens, gaining 2.338 shots.

Spaun isn't the only one changing to a Scotty Cameron putter, as Fowler changed to an Xperimental Phantom Prototype.

At the start of 2026, the American put a center-shafted Scotty Cameron Golo in the bag, which actually came out in 2012.

Like the Golo, the Xperimental is center-shafted, with Fowler ranking T39th on the greens, so far, this week. He currently sits 34th in SG: Putting for the whole of the PGA Tour, with it unclear as to whether the move to the new putter is a permanent one.

One player not moving into a Scotty Cameron, instead moving out of one, is Rose, who moved back to an Axis 1 model after using a Phantom 5 Prototype.

Little is known about the Axis 1, but it appears to be a model from the brand's SP Series, with SP standing for Stroke Profile Adjustability. Looking at Axis 1's website, it looks to be based on the Axiom.

An individual who was seen trialing a new flatstick prior to the tournament start, but didn't make the move, was Jordan Spieth, who for the first time was using a L.A.B. Golf model, specifically a VZN.1i.

Using a blade-style putter for the whole of his career, Spieth has never used a mallet but, following the practice pre-event, that did start the rumor mill of him moving to a zero-torque putter.

For the first two days, though, he has been using his current gamer, the TP Mills Trad II.

Along with the the flatsticks, more equipment changes, and new gear, have been spotted in Connecticut.

Matt Fitzpatrick, for example, moved to a Ping G430 LST driver, while new Srixon models hit the bags of the brand's staffers.

Hideki Matsuyama, Shane Lowry and Ryan Fox were just a few names using the new clubs, which are called the Srixon ZXi RKT, and possess the standard, LS and Max heads.

While the same might have been true for certain pro golfers when they first started to learn the game, those days are largely long gone with turf ranges and world-class course conditioning now the norm.

Nevertheless, a rules incident involving Akshay Bhatia on Thursday took the left-hander right back to his junior days.

Flying along at five-under during round one of the Travelers Championship, Bhatia reached the drivable par-4 15th at TPC River Highlands expecting to at least give himself a chance of birdie.

However, those plans soon went out the window when his sliced tee shot travelled 247 yards towards the 16th tee box, which was well over to the left of the 15th fairway.

Luckily, Bhatia's ball stopped on dry land with the Travelers Championship's umbrella logo around 100 yards farther on in the water.

And his luck didn't stop there. Said golf ball was right by the 16th tee's back sponsor board, giving Bhatia a free drop.

Golf on CBS' rules guy, Mark Dusbabek, jumped on the broadcast to explain the situation. He said: "When you have a Temporary Immovable Obstruction, when you're within one club length on your equidistant arc from that TIO - which is the tee back sign - then you have two options.

"You can take line of sight, which is nearest point of relief and it's one club length and it's drop in the second club length.

"Otherwise, you can take - just like dropping from an obstruction - nearest point of relief and one club length, which got him to this tee pad here. That's a separate obstruction, and he chose to play from there."

The 'tee pad' Dusbabek is referring to is a square artificial mat you or I might be accustomed to seeing at our local driving range.

It was behind the 16th tee box on the water side and was placed there to host the traditional Hole 15-and-a-half competition during Wednesday's pro-am.

In that mini event, players, caddies and their amateur partners try to hit the Travelers Championship logo in the lake, which reportedly has a little flag placed on it.

Because it remained there for the PGA Tour's final Signature Event of the season, Bhatia was able to choose a clean lie and flick a wedge up to the green from 55 yards.

Despite his good fortune, the three-time PGA Tour winner was unable to find birdie from almost 30 feet and was forced to settle for par. He subsequently parred 16 and 17 before dropping out of the top-10 via a bogey at the closing hole.

Bhatia will resume his tournament on four-under and in a share of 14th when he tees off alongside Adam Scott at 9:45am ET on Friday morning.

The World No.4 has played a Titleist driver for a number of years but moved into a completely new brand this week, with a Ping model going in for the $20m Signature Event, and it worked very well in the opening round.

As an equipment free agent, Fitzpatrick is able to pick and choose whichever clubs he wants, and his Titleist GT3 has come out in favor of a Ping G430 LST.

Fitzpatrick admitted he "struggled off the tee" last weekend in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, where he shot 74-73 over the final two rounds to finish 22nd.

He ranked 70th out of 72 players in Strokes Gained: Off the tee on the fourth day.

"Just struggled off the tee. You got to give yourself a chance at making some scores. Not only a chance of making birdies, but just trying to make comfortable pars. I think for me that's been, that was the big thing at the weekend that I struggled with," he said.

"I just, I didn't hit my driver very well and I feel like that that was kind of what held me back most of all."

"I have a different driver this week. That's obviously new. Just getting comfortable with that and I had, you know, felt like I practiced well these first three days as well and just managed to find something that I felt was working a bit better."

Fitzpatrick ranked 12th in Strokes Gained: Off the tee in round one of The Travelers, where he gained over a stroke and carded a six-under-par 64.

'I've lived in the heel my whole career'

"Well, I was explaining it earlier this week that it's not as straightforward as everyone thinks," Fitzpatrick said.

"When you fit a golf club, everyone has tendencies, and not to bore everyone, but my tendency is like I like clubs or a driver with the CG closer to the heel.

"That's kind of where my, where I've lived for basically my whole career. And certain golf clubs are, like, made without that.

"Just the box one, the one you buy off the rack might have it on the toe side, which if you gave that to me I would hit it 500 yards right or whatever it is.

"So the detail is really important and it's important to try and get that right as best as you can.

"Everyone is different, their habits, how they move the club, how they reacts to different clubs.

"I tried one in Canada where it was literally exactly that, like neutral, neutral, neutral and I hit it 50 yards right, and that's just the way I react.

"So I think people think that guys just get driver and it's just going to go straight and away you go and there's obviously a lot more to it than that."

New Srixon ZXi RKT drivers

Fitzpatrick is not the only player with a new driver in the bag at TPC River Highlands, as Srixon released its new drivers on tour this week. The ZXi RKT was revealed prior to The Travelers, with three different heads available - the standard, LS and Max.

The ZXi RKT has made its way on to the USGA's Conforming List and, along with those three models, there's also an LS+ and various versions of the ZXi RKT head.

Hideki Matsuyama and Ryan Fox were pictured using one of the new models in the opening round, while Shane Lowry was also testing it this week - although we haven't yet confirmed if it went in for the tournament.

Viktor Hovland goes in to the final day one shot ahead of World No.1 Scottie Scheffler. Just as on Saturday, these two will be the final pairing out on Sunday afternoon.

Hovland came out best from that Saturday match up, with a round of 64 to Scheffler’s 67. “It was really fun,” said Hovland afterwards. “It’s been a while since I've been in this position. To go head-to-head against the best player in the world and pull off some great shots, it was just a lot of fun. Scottie and I have separated ourselves from the rest of the field, but at the same time, 14- or 15-under is still very much in this thing if they go and shoot a very low score tomorrow.”

There is no-one on 14 under however. Hovland is on 20 under, Scheffler 19 under. In joint third place after 54 holes are Patrick Cantlay and Akshay Bhatia. Those in joint fifth are on 13 under.

It is a low-scoring course, so if Hovland and Scheffler stumble the chasing pack can easily catch up. But at present the most likely outcome looks to be an enticing head-to-head between the final pair on Sunday. They tee off at 2.55pm EDT.

In this guide, Golf Monthly brings you all the details on how to watch the Travelers Championship 2026 final round online, on TV, and from anywhere in the world.

US Broadcasting Schedule

All times EDT

Watch Travelers Championship 2026 from anywhere

If you are outside your usual country, you can still access the streaming services you subscribe to, even when you're away from home, thanks to a handy piece of software known as a VPN.

Our expert colleagues over at TechRadar have tested loads of VPNs and they reckon NordVPN is the best VPN provider out there right now.

How to watch Travelers Championship 2026 in the US

In the US, TV coverage for the Travelers Championship is spread across ESPN Select, the Golf Channel and NBC.

ESPN Select (PGA TOUR LIVE) will be showing a mixture of the main feed and featured holes and groups and is available 8.45am-7pm on Sunday,

The Golf Channel is showing live action on all four days of the tournament. You can access the channel through cord-cutting services like YouTube TV (free trial), Hulu + Live TV (free trial) and Sling (cheapest monthly option).

NBC will take over full coverage of Saturday and Sunday from 3pm-6pm. The best way to access NBC is via Peacock.

You can find the full TV schedule above.

How to watch Travelers Championship 2026 in the UK

The Travelers Championship will be available on Sky Sports in the UK. The action will be shown on the dedicated golf channel, Sky Sports Golf, with some of the play also being shown on Sky Sports+, Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Main Event.

Prices start at £22/month for Sky Sports on top of an existing Sky TV plan, while you can also stream all the action on NOW Sports. Prices start at £14.99/day.

Need to know more? Check out our dedicated how to watch golf in the UK page.

How to watch Travelers Championship 2026 in Canada

TSN in Canada is showing the Travelers Championship, with linear coverage available via the Golf Channel and TSN2 and TSN5.

The action, including Featured Groups and Marquee Group coverage, can be live streamed on TSN+. Prices start at $8/month and rise all the way to $80 for a full annual plan.

How to watch Travelers Championship 2026 in Australia

In Australia you can watch the Travelers Championship on Fox Sports and Kayo. Fox Sports will carry TV coverage on Fox Sports 503, while Kayo Sports will offer live streaming of all four days.

Kayo Sports plans start at AU$30/month, though you can get a 7-day trial for just AU$1.

Travelers Championship Leaders' Tee Times: Final Round

Times in EDT (BST). Scores after 54 holes in brackets.

• 1.10pm (6.10pm): JJ Spaun (-11), Hideki Matsuyama (-10)
• 1.20pm (6.20pm): Justin Thomas (-11), Robert MacIntyre (-11)
• 1.30pm (6.30pm): Jackson Suber (-11), Alex Fitzpatrick (-11)
• 1.40pm (6.40pm): Collin Morikawa (-11), Chris Gotterup (-11)
• 1.55pm (6.55pm): Brian Harman (-11), Justin Rose (-12)
• 2.05pm (7.05pm): Sam Burns (-12), Si Woo Kim (-12)
• 2.15pm (8.15pm): Eric Cole (-13), Keith Mitchell (-12)
• 2.25pm (8.25pm): Matt Fitzpatrick (-13), Ben Griffin (-13)
• 2.35pm (8.35pm): Shane Lowry (-13), Wyndham Clark (-13)
• 2.45pm (8.45pm): Patrick Cantlay (-15), Akshay Bhatia (-15)
• 2.55pm (8.55pm): Viktor Hovland (-20), Scottie Scheffler (-19)

Format

The Travelers Championship is a 72-hole strokeplay event with the field restricted to 72 players. There is no cut, so all golfers play all four rounds.

Preview

Wyndham Clark has climbed back into this top 10 with his second US Open win and, with two wins and a third place in his past four tournaments, is a man in form.

But World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who has eight top-five finishes in his 13 starts this season, starts as favourite. He will be looking to get bank to winning ways having not won since January. He won the Travelers, after a playoff with Tom Kim, in 2024.

The defending champion is Keegan Bradley, who also won this event in 2023, when he set the 72-hole scoring record of 272. Last year he pipped Tommy Fleetwood, who had a three-stroke lead going into the final round, and Russell Henley to the title by a single shot.

JT Poston won the most recent Signature Event, the Memorial Tournament, and comes into this this week with his best result in a Major, having finished T4 at the US Open. He was runner up at the Travelers in 2022.

Travelers Championship 2026 TV Schedule

Sunday 28th June - Round Four:
US (ET): 2pm-4pm (Golf Channel), 4pm-7pm (NBC)
UK (BST): 1.45pm-7pm (Sky Sports Mix), 6pm-12am (Sky Sports+), 9pm-12am (Sky Sports Golf & Sky Sports Main Event)
Australia (AEST): Monday: 4am-9am (Fox Sports 503/ Kayo)
Canada (ET): 2pm-4pm (Golf Channel), 4pm-7pm (TSN2)

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Nowadays, the tournament is one of the biggest on the PGA Tour thanks to its status as a Signature Event, but TPC River Highlands has long been one of the stars of the show.

At just 6,841 yards, it is one of the shorter courses used on the PGA Tour, helping to make low scores commonplace.

However, that doesn’t mean it can’t trip players up, in particular on a famous stretch of holes on the back nine where birdies and eagles can come along as easily as bogeys.

In fact, it’s the tendency for the course to produce low-scoring rounds that have given it some of its most memorable moments, with one in particular written into golf folklore.

But what exactly is there to know about the famous Connecticut layout? Here are seven things about TPC River Highlands you may not have been aware of.

A Rich History

The Connecticut course was built in 1928 and originally known as Middletown Golf Club. Six years later, it was renamed Edgewood Country Club.

It was purchased by the PGA Tour in the early 1980s and brought up to TPC standards with a redesign by Pete Dye.

When it reopened, it was initially called TPC of Connecticut before it was redesigned by Bobby Weed in 1989 and renamed TPC River Highlands – a nod to its elevated position above the nearby Connecticut River.

It has been the permanent home of the Travelers Championship since 1984, when the tournament was named the Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open.

The 'Bermuda Triangle'

Following Weed’s redesign, a three-hole stretch framing a lake on the back nine became famous for its risk/reward opportunities.

It later became known as the Bermuda Triangle and encompasses holes 15, 16 and 17.

The drivable par-4 15th can be tempting for players to go for the green from the tee, but water lurking to the left punishes any inaccuracy.

The 16th is a par-3 that requires a precise tee shot to a shallow green with water in front.

Finally, at the the par-4 17th, the lake runs along the entire length of the right side before the hole bends right towards a green on the far side of the water.

A 58 From Furyk

In 2016, TPC River Highlands was the scene of a landmark moment in PGA Tour history when Jim Furyk shot a 58 in the final round of the Travelers Championship.

It remains the lowest score in PGA Tour history, and a plaque commemorating the achievement is beside the 18th green.

That’s not the only thing marking the round. A new clubhouse opened at TPC River Highlands in 2019 and it features the restaurant Grille 58, named after Furyk’s historic moment.

Amateur PGA Tour Record

Furyk’s 58 bettered the previous course record by two. That had been set by Patrick Cantlay and also achieved a new PGA Tour record. Cantlay shot his 60 at the 2011 tournament.

At the time, he was a 19-year-old UCLA star, and it was the lowest PGA Tour round ever by an amateur.

Recent Changes

On the subject of low scores, something the Travelers Championship is known for, Keegan Bradley set a new tournament scoring record in 2023.

That, and other low scores through the week, prompted Rory McIlroy to say: "Unfortunately technology has passed this course by, right? It sort of has made it obsolete, especially as soft as it has been with a little bit of rain that we had.

"So, again, like the conversations going back to, you know, limiting the golf ball and stuff like that, when we come to courses like this they just don't present the challenge that they used to."

After taking feedback from other golfers, changes were made to holes 1, 6, 9, 11, 12 and 13.

Following the opening round of the 2025 Travelers Championship, McIlroy revealed he liked what he had seen from the changes. He said: “I've always liked this golf course. Yeah, I think the changes they've made have definitely been an improvement.”

A Front Row Seat

Living on TPC River Highlands may be the next best thing to playing it. Viewers of the Travelers Championship will notice the homes that famously line some of its holes.

They give residents a front-row seat to one of the PGA Tour's biggest events and some of the world's best golfers.

Honoring Golf's Heritage

Despite its modern status as a PGA Tour venue, TPC River Highlands retains a link to golf's Scottish heritage.

Each year, during the opening ceremony for the Travelers Championship, the sounds of bagpipes echo around the course, continuing a long-standing tradition that pays tribute to the game's origins.

US Open champion Wyndham Clark is teeing it up just days after his second Major triumph, as is the man who played alongside him in the final round at Shinnecock Hills - Scottie Scheffler.

However, there is no sign of Rory McIlroy, with the Northern Irishman already turning his attention towards The Open Championship in three weeks' time.

Yet, for now, TPC River Highlands - in Cromwell, Connecticut - is set to stage the event for the 43rd year in a row, 12 months on from one of the tournament's most-popular winners.

Woodstock, Vermont-born Keegan Bradley pipped Tommy Fleetwood to the post here last year and subsequently landed his second Travelers Championship title in three years.

A fan favorite in these parts, he has also been joined in the field this year by Connecticut-born Ben James, who only recently turned pro.

Below are the full round one and two tee times for all of the aforementioned names and the remaining players in the 2026 Travelers Championship.

TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE TEE TIMES

ET (BST)

1st Hole

• 8:15am (1:15pm): Ryan Fox, Matt McCarty
• 8:25am (1:25pm): Tom Hoge, Jackson Suber
• 8:35am (1:35pm): Min Woo Lee, Nicolai Hojgaard
• 8:45am (1:45pm): Lucas Glover, Eric Cole
• 8:55am (1:55pm): Ryan Gerard, Jake Knapp
• 9:05am (2:05pm): Tony Finau, Ben James
• 9:15am (2:15pm): Gary Woodland, Shane Lowry
• 9:25am (2:25pm): Robert MacIntyre, Patrick Cantlay
• 9:40am (2:40pm): Brandt Snedeker, Harry Hall
• 9:50am (2:50pm): Nico Echavarria, Hideki Matsuyama
• 10:00am (3:00pm): Ben Griffin, Ludvig Aberg
• 10:10am (3:10pm): Alex Fitzpatrick, Nick Taylor
• 10:20am (3:20pm): Aaron Rai, Maverick McNealy
• 10:30am (3:30pm): Russell Henley, Cameron Young
• 10:40am (3:40pm): Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas
• 10:55am (3:55pm): Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele
• 11:05am (4:05pm): Kristoffer Reitan, Brian Harman
• 11:15am (4:15pm): Jhonattan Vegas, Mark Hubbard
• 11:25am (4:25pm): Alex Noren, Alex Smalley
• 11:35am (4:35pm): Rickie Fowler, Jason Day
• 11:45am (4:45pm): Michael Kim, Sam Stevens
• 11:55am (4:55pm): Kurt Kitayama, Daniel Berger
• 12:10pm (5:10pm): Brian Campbell, Taylor Pendrith
• 12:20pm (5:20pm): Keith Mitchell, Ryo Hisatsune
• 12:30pm (5:30pm): Akshay Bhatia, Adam Scott
• 12:40pm (5:40pm): JJ Spaun, Chris Gotterup
• 12:50pm (5:50pm): Jacob Bridgeman, Sungjae Im
• 1:00pm (6:00pm): JT Poston, Andrew Novak
• 1:10pm (6:10pm): Sepp Straka, Harris English
• 1:25pm (6:25pm): Bud Cauley, Viktor Hovland
• 1:35pm (6:35pm): Justin Rose, Corey Conners
• 1:45pm (6:45pm): Keegan Bradley, Jordan Spieth
• 1:55pm (6:55pm): Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns
• 2:05pm (7:05pm): Wyndham Clark, Tommy Fleetwood
• 2:15pm (7:15pm): Sahith Theegala, Mac Meissner
• 2:25pm (7:25pm): Si Woo Kim, Denny McCarthy

TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO TEE TIMES

ET (BST)

1st Hole

• 8:15am (1:15pm): Alex Noren, Alex Smalley
• 8:25am (1:25pm): Rickie Fowler, Jason Day
• 8:35am (1:35pm): Michael Kim, Sam Stevens
• 8:45am (1:45pm): Kurt Kitayama, Daniel Berger
• 8:55am (1:55pm): Brian Campbell, Taylor Pendrith
• 9:05am (2:05pm): Keith Mitchell, Ryo Hisatsune
• 9:15am (2:15pm): Akshay Bhatia, Adam Scott
• 9:25am (2:25pm): JJ Spaun, Chris Gotterup
• 9:40am (2:40pm): Jacob Bridgeman, Sungjae Im
• 9:50am (2:50pm): JT Poston, Andrew Novak
• 10:00am (3:00pm): Sepp Straka, Harris English
• 10:10am (3:10pm): Bud Cauley, Viktor Hovland
• 10:20am (3:20pm): Justin Rose, Corey Conners
• 10:30am (3:30pm): Keegan Bradley, Jordan Spieth
• 10:40am (3:40pm): Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns
• 10:55am (3:55pm): Wyndham Clark, Tommy Fleetwood
• 11:05am (4:05pm): Sahith Theegala, Mac Meissner
• 11:15am (4:15pm): Si Woo Kim, Denny McCarthy
• 11:25am (4:25pm): Ryan Fox, Matt McCarty
• 11:35am (4:35pm): Tom Hoge, Jackson Suber
• 11:45am (4:45pm): Min Woo Lee, Nicolai Hojgaard
• 11:55am (4:55pm): Lucas Glover, Eric Cole
• 12:10pm (5:10pm): Ryan Gerard, Jake Knapp
• 12:20pm (5:20pm): Tony Finau, Ben James
• 12:30pm (5:30pm): Gary Woodland, Shane Lowry
• 12:40pm (5:40pm): Robert MacIntyre, Patrick Cantlay
• 12:50pm (5:50pm): Brandt Snedeker, Harry Hall
• 1:00pm (6:00pm): Nico Echavarria, Hideki Matsuyama
• 1:10pm (6:10pm): Ben Griffin, Ludvig Aberg
• 1:25pm (6:25pm): Alex Fitzpatrick, Nick Taylor
• 1:35pm (6:35pm): Aaron Rai, Maverick McNealy
• 1:45pm (6:45pm): Russell Henley, Cameron Young
• 1:55pm (6:55pm): Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas
• 2:05pm (7:05pm): Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele
• 2:15pm (7:15pm): Kristoffer Reitan, Brian Harman
• 2:25pm (7:25pm): Jhonattan Vegas, Mark Hubbard

The Japanese company, who produces some of the best golf clubs money can buy, enjoyed a stellar 2025 in terms of victories on the various Tours, culminating in staffer JJ Spaun's victory at the US Open.

Now it looks like the brand is aiming to continue this momentum with a new range of drivers hoping to compete with the best golf drivers on the market.

With recent launches from Titleist in the form of GTS as well as new models from all the other major OEMs at the start of this year, it will be interesting to see how Srixon plans to make its presence known.

Posting a video and images to its social media channels, the caption reads: "Something new is getting Tour clearance for takeoff".

In the video, Srixon's Director of Tour Operations, Michael Jolly, speaks about the release, stating: "This week, we're unbelievably excited to introduce the new line of drivers to our PGA Tour staff.

"For the last two years, the incredible R&D team and Tour team have done prototype test after prototype test, getting constant feedback from our players, and this is the final product.

"It's a culmination of tons of testing and tons of time. It's probably the most excited I've seen our Tour staff about a driver line-up coming out. They can't wait to get it into their hands and in the bags going forward."

From the images provided and the information available, the range appears to be called the ZXi RKT, with three different heads available - the standard, LS and Max.

Diving deeper, the ZXi RKT has made its way on to the USGA's Conforming List and, along with those three models, there's also an LS+ and various versions of the ZXi RKT head.

Limited information is available on the models but, looking at the sole, the standard head has two back weights and a weight port at the rear. On the USGA's Conforming List, it's also available in an 8°, 9° and 10.5° of loft.

In terms of the LS, which typically stands for low spin, this model has one front and one back weight, while the Max has one weight port situated at the rear. All three feature in 8°, 9° and 10.5° lofts, while the Max is also available in 12°.

As of writing, little information is known about the clubs, which will debut at TPC River Highlands during the Travelers Championship and will, likely, replace the current ZXi line-up, one of the best drivers on the market.

Shane Lowry, Hideki Matsuyama and Nico Echavarria are among the Srixon staffers who have the ZXi in the bag currently, with it unclear as to when the ZXi RKT could hit the shelves or find a permanent slot in their bags.

If previous releases are to go by, it could well be another few months before we see the line-up hit retail.

The TaylorMade's Qi4D range, for example, was first seen at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in mid-November before being released in early January.

Be sure to check back to the Golf Monthly website for all the latest golf equipment news and reviews.

Rory McIlroy is planning to skip his third signature event of the season, but there is still a strong field on show including World No.1 Scottie Scheffler.

Anyone who listened to the Golf Monthly Tour Issue podcast this week, which you can see in the video below, will know that I believe the value to be in a group of players priced +4000 or higher.

I want to highlight JJ Spaun, JT Poston, Aaron Rai and Justin Rose, who are all great prices this week and options that I will certainly be exploring on a course that rewards consistently solid ball striking, but for my best bets card I've punted for four names that I believe can get the job done at TPC River Highlands...

Travelers Championship 2026 Betting Tips

Bazza's Best Bets

Top Tip: Scottie Scheffler To Win @ BetMGM

Obvious, right? Well, in my defence, it's hard to make a case for him not to win this week.

It's been a while for Scheffler since his last win, at least by his standards, as he hasn't handled a trophy for 12 events.

That 'barren' spell does include six top-four finishes including two runner-ups, however, and his course form at TPC River Highlands suggests he will likely be that close again.

In his last three starts here he has won in a play-off and finished inside the top-6 on the two other occasions.

His form on correlating courses, like Sedgefield Country Club and East Lake, is also fantastic and I would be gobsmacked if he wasn't in the top-5 by the end of play on Sunday.

Next Best Tip: Si Woo Kim To Win @ BetMGM

Si Woo Kim has been threatening to win all season and I believe he could finally get over the line this week.

The South Korean star has posted two runner-up finishes and a pair of third place efforts in his 17 starts this season so far, but he has also been inside the top-10 on eight occasions.

We know that Si Woo plays his best golf on courses where the scoring goes low and he can fill up the scorecard with birdies, but he is also an incredibly accurate driver of the golf ball.

That is crucial at TPC River Highlands, so this should be a course he excels on. Bizarrely, his course form isn't great, other than a T11 a number of years ago, but he is playing some of his best golf right now and I fancy him to buck that trend.

He won the Wyndham Championship on a course with great correlation, so we know you can do it, Si Woo!

Value Tip 1: Alex Fitzpatrick To Win @ BetMGM

Alex Fitzpatrick has taken to life on the PGA Tour like a duck to water - and it looks like he is having a fantastic time.

He has made seven PGA Tour starts which include a win, a top-5, two top-10s and two top-25s. That run of great form covered three signature events and two Majors, on some very tough golf courses, so he has already shown his immense potential on this stage.

He ranks 7th for driving accuracy, 10th for SG: Approach and 11th for SG: Tee To Green in the last three months, so has the perfect profile for the TPC River Highlands test.

I am so confident that Alex Fitzpatrick will get a win by the end of 2026, I just hope I am on him when he inevitably gets over the line.

Value Tip 2: Ryan Gerard To Win @ BetMGM

Ryan Gerard will be disappointed not to have won at the Memorial Tournament on one of the toughest golf courses outside the Major Championships.

He was sublime at Muirfield Village, but that's not his only great performance this year. He was second again at the opening event of the year in Hawaii and the week after at the American Express - so has three runner-up finishes on his CV in 2026.

I will forgive him a missed cut at the US Open on a tough track because TPC River Highlands should suit him down to the ground.

He is a fairly accurate driver of the ball who hits plenty of greens in regulation and putts well, so should have no problem setting up the necessary birdie opportunities, but can he take the chances when they present themselves?

Encouragingly he ranks 10th for birdie average on the PGA Tour this season, so we could see him go close once again.

Golf Monthly Betting Panel Picks

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Pick One: Scottie Scheffler To Win @ BetMGM

For Golf Monthly Tour Issue podcast listeners, you'll know this is my first Scheffler pick of the year - and I am backing the World No.1 as I simply feel like it has been far too long since his last win.

Scheffler once again did not have his best stuff last week at Shinnecock but he still managed a T4, and I think the reprieve of playing TPC River Highlands could allow him to go very low.

His record here over the last four years is very good, T6-1-T4-T13, and I see no reason why they won't continue this time around.

Pick One: Rickie Fowler To Win @ BetMGM

Fowler has three top-10s in Signature Events this year and I'm hoping he can make it four this week despite three consecutive missed cuts.

He only missed the cut on the number at Shinnecock so his game is clearly not too far off, and like Scheffler I think he will enjoy lower-scoring conditons this week.

The six-time PGA Tour winner has a decent recent record at The Travelers, including a T13 in 2023.

Pick One: Collin Morikawa To Win @ BetMGM

Although he has struggled with injury since claiming victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Morikawa is starting to find form, registering a top 30 finish at the RBC Canadian Open and US Open.

He looked like his old self at Shinnecock Hills, highlighted by a five-under second round. Admittedly, he played poorly at the Travelers Championship last year, but he did finish T13th in 2024, with the venue suiting his game of accuracy over power.

Pick Two: Ryan Fox To Win @ BetMGM

Fox's form has been slightly under the radar of late, with a T23rd at the US Open following a T8th at the RBC Canadian Open. He also finished T27th and T35th in his two starts before that, indicating form is there.

Finishing T17th last year, the New Zealander is an excellent ball striker and his all-round game is extremely solid, which puts him in good stead this week. He is also not shy of making birdies, a key metric for the scoreable TPC River Highlands.

Pick One: Xander Schauffele To Win @ BetMGM

The key metrics this week will be approach play and quality of putting, both of which I feel comfortable backing Schauffele to excel at over at TPC River Highlands.

His SG stats in both categories are strong this term and at previous performances here.

Schauffele has already won the Travelers before (2022), so he obviously likes the place, and he appears to have a knack for navigating the course efficiently with four more top-20s in his seven starts.

Coming off a solid US Open showing, I want to see Schauffele open his shoulders this week.

Pick Two: Kurt Kitayama To Win @ BetMGM

For similar reasons, and with the caveat that our sleeper picks must be outside the +4000 range, I think Kurt Kitayama is a genuine slept-on name at the Travelers.

The American has gained strokes in terms of approach in every single one of his 14 performances prior to the US Open and has largely been putting very well, too.

Encouraging results in two other recent events in the north east tells me he likes this area of the US, so watch out for Kitayama this week as he hopefully posts another quiet top-10 in a Signature Event.

He's already had three this term, including a T2nd at the Genesis Invitational.

Golf Monthly Betting Panel Tipping Record

Following on from this week's US Open, many of the world's best will head to the Travelers Championship, the final Signature Event of the PGA Tour season.

Providing players with a $20 million purse, as well as plenty of FedEx Cup points, McIlroy won't be present at TPC River Highlands, meaning he has only played in five of the eight Signature Events.

Opting to skip the RBC Heritage and Cadillac Championship, the Travelers Championship is another tournament that McIlroy won't compete in, adding to the list of missed events compared to 2025.

Last year, the 37-year-old also played the Texas Children's Houston Open, Zurich Classic of New Orleans and RBC Canadian Open, but they weren't on his schedule for 2026.

He also made the trip to the Travelers Championship following that year's US Open, where he finished T6th, but that won't be the case this season.

As of writing, it appears his next start will be the Genesis Scottish Open on July 9-13th, which takes place the week before The Open Championship.

In fairness to McIlroy, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise, with the 30-time PGA Tour winner stating back in August: "I'll always look at the schedule at the start of the year and see what best fits me and my life, and everything else that I do with family or other opportunities that I'm pursuing outside of golf."

He went on to add "this year that meant skipping a few signature events. (Next year) I might skip less, I might skip the same amount.

"The luxury of being a PGA Tour player is we're free to pick and choose our own schedule for the most part. I took advantage of that this year and I'll continue to take advantage of that for as long as I can."

His comments were backed up at The Memorial Tournament, where he explained that he will continue to "pick and choose" where he plays on a limited schedule regardless of what a new PGA Tour season looks like.

Admitting that he felt like "a bit like a part-timer" as he returned to action at Muirfield Village, the US Open is just his ninth start of 2026.

Making his golf-life balance a priority, McIlroy used his time after the PGA Championship to settle into a new house in London.

Schedule-wise, McIlroy is also set to continue playing DP World Tour events following the conclusion of the PGA Tour season.

He is already listed in the field for the Amgen Irish Open, BMW PGA Championship, DP World India Championship and Australian Open, as he looks to equal Colin Montgomerie's record of eight Race to Dubai victories.

At the Travelers Championship, Scottie Scheffler will headline the field, as Keegan Bradley returns to defend his title that he won by a single stroke via a final hole birdie.

But there are a few places I'd send anyone in a heartbeat and I know they'd love it. Joining that exclusive list has to now be the state of Salzburg.

Located in the north-west of Austria, nestled up against the continent's most famous mountain range, Salzburg is far more than just the key city many people are familiar with.

The region in which it sits is incredibly diverse and caters to a wide variety of wants and needs from those who visit all year round.

From jaw-dropping snowcapped mountain ranges which make up the Alps to vast sapphire blue lakes down below and the dense emerald green pine forests that fill in the gaps, the 90-minute drive on my first day in the country made me feel like a kid again.

I literally couldn't stop looking out of the window with a genuine expression of amazement on my face, all while sending a sickening number of jealousy-inducing photos back home. Salzburg's scenery is so awesome, I was almost thankful for the 3am wake-up call I'd endured hours earlier. Almost.

Over the subsequent three-and-a-half days, the lovely group of people at SalzburgerLand - the area's tourism board - helped me realize the place they're lucky enough to promote is just as special in every corner.

An immediate trip to Golfclub Gut Altentann - where the Austrian Alpine Open will return to in 2027 - was the first evidence of this. The Nicklaus Signature design is a devilishly tricky layout which will undoubtedly test the DP World Tour's best again next year.

It was far too tough for me, with what felt like more lakes than across the whole of Canada on the property, and my lone birdie was long forgotten about following a complete mauling by the closing Alpine Bear Trap - a three-hole stretch with absolutely nowhere to miss or bail out.

Due to aviation-based delays, we were only able to play the final six holes. Before teeing off, I was disappointed at the fact. Three lost balls later, I sat on the terrace with a plate of local food watching other poor souls taking forlorn peeks into the water and thought maybe six holes was about right.

Still, if you're up for a challenge and want to play a tour-standard course in beautiful surroundings, it's an unforgettable experience on a varied and testing layout.

Mind you, the state of Salzburg isn't exactly short of intriguing golf courses hugged by scenery you'd find on a postcard or computer screensaver.

Our trip included a round each at Golfclub Zell am See-Kaprun-Saalbach, which I now consider to be the most beautiful golf course I've ever played, and Golfclub Hohe Tauern Mittersill - the site of a regretful 81 which should have been much less if not for a final-hole meltdown. But I digress.

Even if you happen to be suffering a particularly tough day on the links, surroundings this extraordinary provide the perfect tonic.

Just breathe in the naturally filtered air, gaze out across the crystal-clear sun-kissed picture in front of you and realize things could be far worse. You could be playing terribly while cold and wet somewhere in the British Isles instead.

The courses I hacked it round on are part of almost 30 brilliant layouts in the region - many of which can be played by utilizing the Golf Alpin card which allows tourists the chance to easily sample up to five full rounds at different golf clubs over a maximum period of two seasons. More information can be found on the Golf Alpin website.

And the Golf Alpin card might be a good idea because not only is the variety of golf courses up and down the valleys superb, but the state of Salzburg has so much more to offer, giving you and your loved ones that chance to return at a later date without feeling rushed.

During the few days I visited, we relaxed on a boat trip around Lake Zell am See, took in a leisurely hike through the Sigmund Thun gorge in Kaprun and experienced an incredible dinner at Schloss Mittersill which overlooks the aforementioned town and valley.

And that's all without mentioning the countless walking routes plus the rich level of wildlife I witnessed during my short stay - from Stone Eagles to imposing red deer stags. It was pretty close to my idea of heaven.

Speaking of the dream scenario, I was also told there's often a brief period in the spring where it's possible to ski down mountains in the morning and then descend for a game of golf later in the day.

If I could ski, I'd certainly be trying my luck at qualifying for the next Ski&Golf World Championships (look it up, it's a real thing!).

As for the area's accommodation, I never tired of the typical Alpine-chalet-style buildings which litter every town. Many are people's houses while a fair few serve as hotels for guests. Each made me wish my house looked even half as beautiful.

We stayed in Hotel Tirolerhof (Zell am See) and Hotel Bräurup (Mittersill) over the duration of our visit, and I'd book back in right away if given the chance.

Both blended comfort and tradition with modern style - and I wouldn't mind betting they're not the only places in Salzburg which tempt you into returning. They're also part of more than 20 Golf Alpin partner hotels which make a golf trip to the area as easy as possible.

If my tale has tempted you into looking at a trip to Austria (and I really hope it has), try and match your expedition with the DP World Tour's Austrian Alpine Open, which is what we did.

It was the perfect end to a magical week and saw us take in the final day of the event at Golfclub Kitzbuhel-Schwarzsee-Reith, where Kota Kaneko clinched his maiden DP World Tour title in front of a great crowd.

I love attending pro golf tournaments anyway, and visiting my first overseas event gave me a fresh appreciation for what a spectacular circuit the DP World Tour is.

It also made me realize how lucky the pros are, having the chance to visit remarkable places like this every week.

Having briefly toured through the picturesque town of Kitzbuhel earlier that day, where many of the Austrian Open contenders were no doubt staying, it confirmed to me this area of the world is somewhere you can't help but recommend. You really have to see it for yourself.

His striking layout at Finca Cortesin, regarded as one of the best golf courses in Spain, opened 20 years ago and was joined by the very high-end Hotel Cortesin, complete with luxury spa, in 2009.

One of Europe's longest layouts, it serves up almost non-stop drama as it wends through a spectacular valley, with water, trees, changes in elevation and over 100 bunkers to keep you on your toes.

There are many visually striking holes, among them the risk-reward short par-4 4th, where water may well discourage all-out attack, and the long downhill par-3 10th with its mesmerising views of the Estepona Mountains.

The 12th is another cracking downhill par 3 of similar length played to the biggest green on the course, which is protected by much sand.

The Volvo World Matchplay tested the world's best here three times before sadly falling off the schedule, with Ross Fisher pipping none other than Anthony Kim in 2009.

Finca Cortesin then went on to host the most recent home Solheim Cup in 2023, where the closely fought contest ended in a tie to keep the trophy in Europe.

Course stats: par 72, 6,946 yards
Green fees: €385-€460 (including buggy and range balls)

(Prices correct at time of publication in May 2026)

• GF: €140-€240
• Stats: par 70, 6,296 yards
• W: aphroditehills.com

As you will see from the video below, recommending where to play golf is a real interest of mine. And for golf in Cyprus, which is a golfing destination that's building quite a reputation, Aphrodite Hills is the perfect resort at which to base yourself. The course was designed by Cabell Robinson who was responsible for many lovely creations in including both Finca Cortesin and Las Colinas in Spain. It opened in 2002 and lies just a short drive from the international airport at Paphos.

Construction proved a lengthy affair due to the challenging, but ultimately very rewarding, topography over which it is laid out. The holes run along high ground between deep gorges, creating great drama and fabulous views, and the course is as challenging as it is fun. Not for the faint-hearted, there is a thrilling back tee on the 3rd, which calls for a truly heroic drive over the chasm. It is then quite a long drive in the buggy just to get to the fairway.

This same gully is also home to the stunning par-3 7th, which plays over an expanse of no man's land to a green set on top of a cliff face. The wow-factor continues at the 8th where you play over an ancient olive press down to an infinity green with the backdrop of the shimmering Mediterranean.

There is great beauty at this, the best golf course in Cyprus, and with an endless array of sports, accommodation and dining options to suit all members of the group, Aphrodite Hills really does have it all.

And one of the biggest and the best is Gloria Golf Club, with two 18-hole courses - the Old and the New - along with a nine-holer called the Verde meaning there's something for everyone.

We were lucky enough to get to play both the Old Course and New Course and while both are tree-lined, both have plenty of water and both have some pure greens there are subtle differences that means they offer different tests of your game.

Our visit coincided with the Race to Belek tournament Grand Final being held at Gloria Golf Resort - one of these amateur tournaments that I'm surprised more people don't try their luck in as eight finalists, and a guest, were flown out to Belek on an all-expenses-paid golfing trip in the lap of luxury.

And we all know the old thing better than holiday golf in the sun is free holiday golf in the sun.

Flights & five-star accommodation in Belek

I must admit I'd not heard of Corendon Airlines before travelling from Manchester to Antalya, but the Turkish kebab served on board was right up there with the best of them in terms of airplane food - and washing it down with an Efes did just the job on the long journey.

Turkish golf holiday specialists the Kaden Group organised the event and had pulled out all the stops with staying at the huge Gloria Golf Resort - one of three hotels as part of the group.

If you've ever been to this stretch of Belek you'll know there's some massive hotels along the coast, and Gloria Golf Resort is one of the biggest. It's simply huge and really does have everything, from swimming pools to water slides, tennis courts and kids club.

The hotels in this area also stretch across a river and onto the beach with a beach bar on a pier providing a brilliant spot for a post-round drink. And being all inclusive it's fill your boots time.

It's a long way to Turkiye from the UK and if travelling with family and children it's important to have other things for those non-golfers to do while you hit the links. This place has it all.

All inclusive golf gets the thumbs up

Speaking of all inclusive, your stay at Gloria Golf Resort will include some green fees down at the golf club, which is on the other end of a shuttle bus ride, and the cherry on top here is that clubhouse food and drink is also all inclusive.

So even as a non-guest at the hotel, you could rock up and pay around €150 and get not only 18 holes of stunning golf but also all you can eat and drink in what's a stunning clubhouse setting - especially the large outdoor terrace area.

The all inclusive concept is a great idea, and can be especially handy if you play the New Course as you walk past the clubhouse between the ninth and 10th holes so can use it for a prolonged pit stop if you wish.

Spain and Portugal still lead the way in terms of golfing holidays, but Turkiye has more of a year-round climate and with the standard now of resorts and golf courses it's coming up on the rails.

Old & New Course review

And so to the golf - where there's no excuses for playing badly given the swanky double decker driving range - which includes the first and only TrackMan Range system in Europe. That's another claim to fame for Turkey's largest golf course.

There's also a Phil Kenyon putting studio with all kinds of technology in there to help conquer the greens, which is a nice touch, and one thing that was pleasing to see on our visit was the amount of families and kids out enjoying the golf course.

Both the Old and New Courses were designed by renowned French golf architect Michel Gayon - both are heavily tree lined making accuracy off the tee essential and both are framed magnificently by the Taurus Mountains in the background.

Opened in 2005, the New Course is slightly more open off the tee, with the first probably the tightest drive you'll face! Luckily I managed to find a fairway here after a quick lesson with the pro and despite a 20-strong group of Germans watching.

There's a good variety of holes, some short par-4s and a couple of tight doglegs and par-3s hitting over water. Nine and 18 are great holes to finish your front and back nine with a big lake in between them as you head back to the clubhouse.

The 18th had just a hint of the last at TPC Sawgrass about it in terms of the water lurking down the left, trees on the right and a well-placed tee box at a funny angle meaning you have to bite off a chunk of the water. It didn't end well...

We were lucky enough to play the Old Course first thing in the morning which was stunning, but tough, as you kick-off with a par-5 with an approach needed over water, followed by a par-3 again hitting over the drink.

Fairways are noticably tighter, and since it was opened in 1997 it's more mature meaning the large trees have more of an overhang to narrow things up even more.

The routing is more enjoyable on the Old Course, where there are only six lakes to the New Course's seven, but they're heavily involved - the par-3 seventh is a stunner with the tee box out in the lake making it all carry.

The 14th is a long old par-3 across the same lake while the 15th and 16th offer up awkward tee shots, the 17th is a brute of a par-5 and you get a downhill par-3 finish.

An even better finish awaits at the all inclusive clubhouse bar though, as Turkiye really delivered a golfing trip to rival any of its European competitors.

The Details

Old Course: Par 72, 6,529m

New Course: Par 72, 6,523m

Where we stayed: Gloria Golf Resort

Flying with: Corendon Airlines

Turkiye Golf Trips: Kaden Group

• GF: 18 holes: $160-$224
• Stats: par 72, 6,635 yards
• W: whistlermountaingolf.com

From coast to coast through mountains and lakes, Canada is home to some of the most scenic and dramatic golf in the world. Towards its western reaches in British Columbia and the Coast Mountains range, Fairmont Chateau Whistler is a real beauty that opened for play in 1993.

It was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and runs on an impressively grand scale through ancient, majestic and wildly undulating forests of Douglas fir.

Rocky outcrops, rivers, ponds and the magnificent trees define the challenge, as does the architect’s trademark bold, visual bunkering. The signature hole is the gorgeous par-3 8th, played from an elevated tee.

Everything is presented in excellent condition with holidaymakers and enjoyment very much in mind – testing but never too demanding. Open from early May to mid-October, a GPS-enabled cart is mandatory but recommended anyway due to the elevation changes. If you’re lucky, you may even see wild bears on this striking, Audubon-certified course.

The hotel is perfect for skiers and golfers alike, and lunch on the patio overlooking the beautiful par-5 18th is a treat on its own.

I also (whisper it softly) have more than a passing interest in trains. Not in a geeky, standing on the platform in an anorak kind of way, but as more of a curious observer.

Disused railways fascinate me and I’ve walked many a mile on them; on holiday I’ll always try to engineer a stop-off at any nearby heritage steam railway; and I still have boxes of model railway stuff in the loft, acquired over the years from charity and junk shops for a project that somehow never quite happened (maybe in retirement).

So, when word of a golf press trip in Italy on La Dolce Vita Orient Express hit my inbox, my eyes lit up. Having only just made my maiden golfing river cruise in Bordeaux, I knew that it wasn’t really ‘my turn’.

But when other writers had to decline for various reasons, the opportunity was all mine. Well, mine and my wife’s as she wasn’t about to pass it up once the PR had indicated that ‘plus ones’ were a possibility.

And so it was that we found ourselves checking into the Orient Express La Minerva hotel in Rome on November 21. Ahead lay four days’ golf and three nights aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express as it made its way to Puglia in the south and back up to Tuscany before returning to Rome.

This was to be the first golf-specific trip for a train only inaugurated in April 2025 when the hotel, close to many of Rome’s famous landmarks, had also opened.

We headed up to the Gigi Rigolatto Roma rooftop restaurant on the seventh floor to meet our fellow passengers over dinner, then reassembled in the ground-floor Minerva Bar next morning for breakfast (complete with live harpist) after a comfortable night in a lovely fifth-floor room, styled to reflect the heritage of this most famous of railway companies.

My wife and I then went our separate ways, me to the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, scene of Europe’s famous victory in 2023, and her to take in the sights of Rome.

She ended up walking 12 miles with regular accompaniment from talented street musicians as it was St Cecilia’s Day (the patron saint of music), with mandolin and cello among the instruments she stopped and listened to.

This also meant the Pope was in town, and she was delighted to see him addressing the people in front of St Peter’s Basilica, not far from the hotel. Among the other sites crossed off on her ‘Rome attractions’ bingo card were the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary in among some ancient ruins

I also ticked off several of these on our final night back at La Minerva, along with an obligatory pit-stop at one of the ubiquitous gelaterias.

MY MARCO SIMONE DEBUT

For me, it was good to finally see Marco Simone in the flesh and reduce my ‘home Ryder Cup venues not yet played’ count down to one (Le Golf National).

Having Italian Ryder Cupper Costantino Rocca on hand for a few tips added to the occasion as I teamed up with an American called Nick to take on two more Americans – Jason and Shaun.

The 1st is strong visually as it climbs gently towards a rollercoaster green and distant, snow-capped mountains. There’s a well-bunkered short par 3 at the low point on the 4th, and the front nine closes with two par 5s either side of the same lake. Even the lay-up on the 8th is no pushover.

The back nine ventures onto higher ground, with risk-reward on the 11th where you need to decide how much to take on as the hole climbs and turns left alongside a ditch. The 12th is a big, downhill dogleg-left with a scintillating drive and before long you’re standing on the 16th tee, a short risk-reward par 4 that served up much drama in 2023.

By this stage, our match was well and truly lost so only personal pride was affected by my finding the water off the tee, then three-putting the cracking par-3 17th and finding water again on the excellent 18th.

ALL ABOARD LA DOLCE VITA

But as I made my way back to La Minerva hotel to be reunited with my weary wife, a gutsy up-and-down from 80 yards to salvage bogey on 18 had buoyed me. Back at the hotel, a quartet was playing in the Minerva Bar, where we were presented with tickets to make our journey on La Dolce Vita Orient Express’ ‘Italian Swing’ official (carriage D, cabin 3).

We were greeted on board by the smiling staff, lined up in front of the train, and then finally got to understand the need for the strict baggage limits as the cabin was elegant and cosy but space was understandably at a premium, so careful organisation was required.

As the train pulled away, we headed to the restaurant car for the first of three dinners exquisitely crafted by Michelin-starred chef, Heinz Beck. Veal stuffed with dried fruit in a pistachio crust was the pick of our first night’s multiple courses.

Near the end, a roving clarinettist and singer appeared in the carriage to entice us into the bar, and who were we to resist? I got to experience Tuscan whisky for the first time – for me, highly palatable shades of vanilla and Speyside malt with a hint of Cognac.

We had covered many of the 500km from Rome to Fasano in Puglia by the time we turned in. As we ploughed on through the night, a thought occurred to me... when the train banked sharply, might I roll out of bed or would my body subconsciously brace itself to remain firmly on the mattress?

All I can say is that at no point did I awake to find myself on the floor, but I can’t really answer the second part of the question.

A short drive from Fasano station lies the course at San Domenico, which I’d played soon after it opened 22 years ago. While individual holes had slipped from my memory I really remembered the wildflower areas dotted about and was glad to see some were still there. The layout is mainly flat with sea views at times, especially on the back nine closer to the coast.

The occasional hole came back to me on a bright and breezy day and I did remember that some bunkers were sleeper-faced, including one at the rear of the wonderful par-3 13th, played across a kind of waste area.

There’s water on the 1st and 5th, while the 2nd and 3rd play towards the sea. From the 6th to the 8th, there is plenty of challenge on and around the greens, which were quick for November. After a fine lunch halfway, the breeze freshened further and holes like 15 and 16 closest to the sea played very tough into the wind.

In a return match, it was looking forlorn for my partner and me, trailing dormie four. However, aided by ample shots over the last four holes, we won them all with gritty pars to snatch an unlikely half.

While all that drama was unfolding, my wife was relaxing at the superb Borgo Egnazia spa next door, enjoying a massage and dips in the pools.

The train staff were there to welcome us back on board, and we whiled away time in the bar before dinner as we set off on the long trek north to Tuscany.

More Italian wine and whisky were taken before a splendid meal that started with ample cold cuts and cheese and ended on a dessert of chocolate, mascarpone, hazelnut and chestnuts, which was beyond rich.

BATTLING THE ELEMENTS

Sadly, next day the weather had turned and opening the blinds revealed a grey, wet landscape. The first station sign I saw was Albinia, but we alighted at Grosseto for the hour’s drive to the fine Tom Weiskopf course at Castiglion del Bosco.

I’d played it ten years ago, so knew what a treat lay in store, a well-bunkered layout with many clever, testing green complexes and views to die for.

Studying a weather app as we came back up from the range, the manager suggested we might just get away with it, and we did... for five holes. After that, we most definitely did not, and got a real drenching as the course turned back into a strong wind to complete the figure-of-eight front nine.

I was delighted to scrape three bogeys and a par before the sanctuary of the wonderful clubhouse, where a restorative lunch and glass of the fabulous local Brunello wine helped us to dry out, at least mentally.

Having thought play had been called for the day, I was surprised when a slight improvement (definitely not a brightening) had my American friends clamouring for more.

I’m not sure Castiglion del Bosco really had in mind English journalists drying off socks and trousers with a hairdryer in the locker room, but I managed to tee off on the inviting but awkwardly angled downhill 10th with at least a vague sense of dryness.

The rain held off for the excellent back nine on which you can opt to take on the par-5 13th at a whopping 685 yards, a glorious hole played from an elevated tee gazing back down the valley.

The American pair beat us fair and square this time, closing things out on the strong, uphill 17th. The rain was just starting again as we all wedged it close on the cracking little 19th hole, named Brunello.

As we headed back to meet the train once more, my wife told me all about her Brunello wine-tasting (a newly developed liking for the reds), and her tour of the stunning Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco resort set a little way above the golf course.

Back on board, I’m pretty sure we headed away from our next destination for a while as our final game was at The Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort, also in Tuscany.

Before that, there was one final superb meal to savour, followed by the standout entertainment of the week provided by a talented and amusing singer and his piano- and saxophone-playing accomplices.

The words may often have been Italian, but we all understood the sentiment and everyone joined in. Top-class from all concerned.

Sadly, top-class didn’t describe the weather again next day at Argentario, and although we warmed up in the dry and optimism hung in the air, the rain arrived in abundance after four holes and never let up, such that this time, no-one wanted to venture back out after nine.

We must have cut comic figures with our waterproofs, clothing and shoes drying in front of a roaring log fire over another superb lunch, possibly partly created by my wife.

While we were getting soaked, she’d been learning how to make and serve authentic Italian pasta at the resort and was convinced one of the dishes was her handiwork. Either way, it was delicious.

UNDAMPENED SPIRITS

As for the course, the nine holes I played were fun, with a draw a real asset early on, particularly on the attractively bunkered par-5 2nd that darts surprisingly to the left late on. We were still just about able to enjoy the distant Mediterranean views away to the left as we tackled a cheeky pin position on the shortish par-3 6th.

As we boarded the train for the final two-hour leg back to Rome’s Ostiense Station, I made a mental note to one day return to finish my round at Argentario.

I certainly hope another trip like this might fall my way again as it had been a real adventure, and although the weather had dampened things on the course for our final two rounds, it had definitely not dampened spirits on board the train.

After pulling into Ostiense, we had one final treat – a drinks reception in the Orient Express’ spacious and stylish La Dolce Vita lounge, inspired by the spirit of the 1960s.

It rounded off the mood and feel of the whole trip beautifully as we headed back for a final night at La Minerva before flying back to reality next morning.

OR TRY THE NORTHERN GREENS OPTION...

The ‘Italian Swing’ trip I enjoyed features four rounds of golf (Marco Simone, San Domenico, Castiglion del Bosco and Argentario) in various regions of Italy, with three nights on board La Dolce Vita. The next departures are in March and November 2026, with prices from €12,360 per passenger.

An alternative ‘Northern Greens’ itinerary departs in May 2026, with two courses remaining the same – Marco Simone and Argentario – while Franciacorta Golf Club and Royal Park I Roveri complete the line-up as the train heads further north to Brescia and Turin.

There are various activities planned for non-golfers, with the chance to explore Rome at leisure as my wife did on day one.

At Franciacorta, guests can enjoy a premium tasting of the local sparkling wine during a visit to the renowned Ca’ del Bosco winery or visit the Mille Miglia Museum for a guided tour of the legendary race’s vintage cars and memorabilia.

At Royal Park I Roveri, there’s an exclusive tour of the Royal Palace, a private visit to Casa Zegna to discover the brand’s heritage and craftsmanship, or a hands-on chocolate workshop in Turin, to learn traditional techniques and enjoy a guided tasting.

At Argentario, relaxation is the aim, with a fun class celebrating local Tuscan flavours, or a restorative day at the resort’s spa. Prices for the Northern Greens trip start from €14,160 per passenger.

W: orient-express.com/la-dolcevita/itineraries/

• GF: 18 holes: $289-$329
• Stats: Par 72, 6,726 yards
• W: theboulders.com

Scottsdale is an oasis in the Sonoran Desert that is home to an incredible variety of fascinating and different golf. Towards its northern reaches, Boulders Resort & Spa is blessed with not one but two remarkable courses. Each was designed by Jay Morrish, an architect who worked with some of the industry’s greatest including Robert Trent Jones and Jack Nicklaus.

While the North is for members and their guests, the South is a thrilling and very beautiful adventure through the rocks that is open to all. Benefitting from full bunker and greens renovations in recent times, the course runs through some prime real estate that is largely so far from the playing lines and so well screened by nature that you would hardly know it was there.

By contrast, the amazing rock formations that give the resort its name and the course its definition are very much in evidence. They are beautiful to behold and breathtaking in their stature. The star of the show is perhaps the brilliant par-5 5th with its split fairway which plays to a green towered over by Boulder Pile, but there’s endless invention, intrigue and fun all the way.

There are plenty of other really strong holes such as the par-3 7th where the back tee is actually nestled right up in the rocks.

There is also a really strong finish with back-to-back short holes at 15 and 16 before a thrilling par 4 at 17 that crosses a gulch, and finally a scenic par 5 back to a green protected by water.

With its excellent and stylish accommodation, delicious food and friendly service, the Boulders Resort and Spa is a fabulous resort, sympathetically designed in every way to fit in with its environment.

Of these, the only really big name was Torrey Pines in California. Possibly English Turn, for those of you who used to watch the New Orleans Open a very long time ago.

I was therefore delighted to accept an invitation from Experience Scottsdale to play a handful of courses there, including the host of this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale.

Amazingly, there are more than 200 golf courses in the area, and while a good number are private, there are more than enough that are open to all keen golfers to last a lifetime of trips.

While it gets super-hot in the Summer months, buggy play is pretty much the norm here, so it’s a year-round destination packed with plenty to do both on and off the course.

TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)

Let’s start with the course that is staging this week’s PGA Tour event, one that reputedly attracts the largest crowds in world golf.

Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish were engaged to design something specifically to host the Phoenix Open, a historic tournament which dates right back to 1931.

The event moved here in 1987 and has returned ever since producing winners such as Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, although oddly not Tiger Woods!

The opening holes run adjacent to some prime real estate that includes the excellent Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel. You constantly change direction, but what surprised me most on the front nine was that there is no water.

Instead, there are dry gulches, and plenty of waste bunkers, and I was pleased to par three of the opening holes, including the only par 5 on the way out, the 3rd.

It’s the back nine where the course really takes off, with more changes in elevation, and water in play on the majority of the holes. The tough par-4 11th runs alongside a lake which then almost surrounds the green at the short 12th.

But it’s the run for home that really impresses and will live long in the memory. The fifteenth is a par 5 to an island green and you then play a fairly benign par 3 that has actually become world-famous due to its reinvention as a key spectator hotspot, surrounded by vast corporate stands and extremely vocal enthusiasts.

It's actually something of a sheep in wolf's clothing. Just 163 yards, the back tee was closed to preserve it for the event, so even for me it was only a 9-iron which happily I hit to 20 feet before leaving my birdie putt inches short.

The 17th is a driveable par 4 where water laps up on the left and behind, and the excellent and demanding closing hole has the same lake on the left, some church-pew bunkers and a tough approach to a well-protected green.

If the front nine on the Stadium Course left me underwhelmed, the finish delivered more than enough punch to make up. The second course, the Champions, has less water and more sand, and is a more wallet-friendly alternative.

Grayhawk (Raptor)

Just a couple of miles up the road from the two TPC courses, Grayhawk has its own pair that are pleasingly different in nature.

The Talon is desert-style, but I played the Tom Fazio-designed Raptor Course which is lush, very green and beautifully manicured. It is characterised by plenty of very well-protected greens, many of which are raised as well as guarded by deep and scary bunkers.

My favourite holes included the beautiful par-3 8th with the backdrop of the McDowell Mountains, the lovely par-4 10th which works its way right to left up the slope across a serpentine stream, and the thrilling par 5 that concludes the round with water waiting to swallow anything going too far right.

This is a sumptuous course I would love to play again. Immediately over the road, Isabella’s Kitchen is a lively and informal diner with delicious food.

Troon North (Monument)

Wary of courses that run through housing - more for their sake than mine - I needn’t have worried about Troon North. They are so far from the playing lines, even mine, and so well screened by cacti and other foliage, as well as changes in elevation, that you feel you are way out in the desert.

From the off, I really enjoyed the Monument Course; another Weiskopf and Morrish collaboration that opened for play in 1990.

Each hole seems separate and quite different from the others, with one or two scary carries from the tee the first time you play here where you can’t quite be sure of the perfect line.

The par-5 3rd is both memorable and very photogenic with a huge rock formation guarding the middle of the fairway, while the 8th calls for a brave approach over an arroyo, an attractive, dry stream bed filled with plants.

For me, the stars of the show are the brilliant short par-4 15th played to an infinity green, and the dramatic par 3 that follows, played from up high with fantastic far-reaching views.

Nearby, I thoroughly enjoyed spending three nights at the first-class and very stylish Four Seasons Scottsdale, ideally positioned for Troon North and offering easy access to many other courses in the area. The food, service and accommodation were all outstanding.

Papago

Close by Sky Harbor, the international airport at Phoenix, Papago is a really strong course and one of the oldest in the region. It was designed by Billy Bell, the architect of Torrey Pines, and is home to the Arizona State University team whose practice facilities are up there with the best I have seen anywhere in the world.

It is also an extremely friendly club and I can thoroughly recommend the food - and the beer - at the onsite Lou’s Bar and Grill. As for the course, it is a strong, no-frills test of golf that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The fairways are generous, but you need to be in the right place for the best approach to the green. Water only really comes in to play on the opening three-shotter and the short 11th, and even I managed to keep the same ball all the way round.

Stand-out holes include that opening par 5, the short par-4 2nd played up the slope with an atmospheric red rock backdrop, the long par-3 17th and the very demanding closing hole that works back up the slope from left to right to the clubhouse.

We-Ko-Pa (Cholla)

Out in the Sonoran Desert, We-Ko-Pa is yet another venue with two excellent courses. The newer Saguaro Course is a Coore/Crenshaw design that opened in 2007 and unusually for Scottsdale is geared towards non-buggy play, but I headed out over the very distinct Cholla Course… in a buggy.

This expansive course opened 25 years ago and was designed by Scott Miller. Before playing it I had been told by several people that it was one of the area’s best kept secrets. They were not wrong!.

The course opens with a lovely short par 4 played from a greatly elevated tee round a huge waste bunker, and each hole from here on is a new and fresh challenge with the desert breeze a particular factor. With the backdrop of the enticingly-named Superstition Mountains, this is a real desert adventure with plenty of memorable holes.

The par-5 8th is one of many highlights, a sweeping three-shotter that eases down the slope to a green beside a gulch, and the closing hole is an absolute beauty with an elevated drive down to a wide fairway protected on the left by a wide bunker, and then a long approach over a lake and more sand.

A perfect finish. As with all of these two-course venues, I would love to go back and play the other eighteen.

The Boulders Club (South)

I’ve saved this one for last as I have to confess that although it’s a tight call, it was my favourite of the week. While the North Course at The Boulders is reserved for its members and their guests, the South is happily open to all.

The whole resort is defined by the amazing rock formations on and off the courses, and I was very taken by this Jay Morrish creation which uses the landscape to the maximum and most dramatic effect.

It would be very hard to recommend the best holes as there are probably 12 or 13 contenders! However, it's impossible not to mention the par-5 5th with its split fairway that works its way to a green right below a small number of casitas in the rocks. It was actually in one of these that I was also lucky enough to spend a couple of nights, and I couldn’t recommend it more.

The Boulders Resort and Spa is a fabulous resort, sympathetically designed in every way to fit in with its environment. The closing four holes are also very memorable, back-to-back par 3s followed by a thrilling par 4 at 17 and a scenic par 5 back to a green protected by water.

Oh, and I simply cannot miss telling you that while playing the 3rd hole, we saw this gorgeous wild bobcat out hunting jackrabbits. He could not have cared less about us and didn’t even glance our way despite being just a few yards behind the green. For all sorts of reasons, the South Course at the Boulders is high in my list of personal favourites.

There is no doubt that Scottsdale is a golfer’s paradise - brilliant and extremely varied courses, great accommodation and dining, stunning weather and endless fun! For more information, visit experiencescottsdale.com.

Our expert test team at Golf Monthly have reviewed many of the best golf travel bags, and two of our top-rated choices are currently carrying significant discounts, making now the ideal time to invest, save a bit of cash, and have your travel golf bag ready to go for your next trip and beyond.

In our testing, we noted the Motocaddy Flightsafe Travel Cover was the best padded option and provided excellent protection, padding, and transportation thanks to the six-wheel design. Motocaddy has the Flightsafe Travel Cover discounted to just $199, down from its usual $279, which is a 29% discount.

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In our Motocaddy Flightsafe Travel Cover review, our expert tester awarded it a 4.5 out of 5-star review, and it also landed a much-coveted spot in the Golf Monthly Editor's Choice Awards.

Tester Neil Tappin was happy to report that the Flightsafe provided outstanding protection, combining tough, hard-wearing nylon with generous padding in all the key areas. The six-wheel setup on the base was another standout review highlight, which made it incredibly easy to manoeuvre through even the busiest airports.

It only really missed out on the flawless score because it's only available in Black, which seems slightly harsh, although Neil did add that the Flightsafe offered an understated premium look. So if you don't mind Black, then you're basically getting perfection in a golf travel bag, at an outstanding price.

The Ogio Renegade Travel Cover also scored a 4.5 out of 5 rating, and we awarded this with the most durable travel bag title in our buying guide.

Our tester Dan Parker put the Ogio to the ultimate test with a trans-Atlantic flight to Florida, and was pleased to report it delivered across-the-board with high levels of durability and performance. Ogio says the Renegade is made with a recycled, ultra-rugged, 1680D ballistic polyester designed to protect against exterior the inevitable knocks and scrapes of airport baggage handling.

Inside the cover, there are 600D abrasion panels that are designed to absorb shock, and generous padding on the upper half of the bag protects your clubheads. Dan confirmed all these features as key highlights in his testing, and added that the additional large plastic area on the bottom of the bag, which Ogio calls the SLED, increases durability on the vulnerable lower part of the bag.

The Renegade missed out on the perfect score due to a slight lack of interior pocket space, but it still had plenty of room for extra luggage to be added loosely amidst the bag. At this price, it's a slight gripe worth overlooking.

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• GF: From €200pp
• Stats: Par 72, 6,790 yards
• W: comporta.com/en

Just a mile in from the unspoilt beach at Comporta to the south-east of Lisbon, the Torre Course at Terras da Comporta is the region’s newest gem and a perfect complement and foil to David McLay-Kidd’s very highly-rated Dunas Course. Situated a short drive to its north, this is the first signature design of 2017 Masters Champion, Sergio García, and it opened for play just last Summer.

It is part of a real estate development that will include upwards of 200 high-end homes as well as two luxury hotels, and has already been selected as the ‘World’s Best New Course’ at the World Golf Awards 2025. The design covers a sprawling acreage of gently undulating and timeless dunesland, with the low number of regular bunkers dwarfed by vast swathes of sandscape lining most of the holes.

Tight fairways, small greens and the occasional blind drive pay homage to García’s love for his native Real Valderrama. According to the Spaniard, “We tried to make it challenging yet somewhere that pulls you back and want to play it more and see if you can play it differently.” The short holes are a particular highlight, especially the diminutive 5th, and there is great variety and beauty all the way.

This excellent new course is a fine addition to the magnificent array of golf on offer throughout Portugal, and looks set to soon become a household name.

Hidden in the valleys close to the most popular airport in the region is Viceroy at Ombria, a resort that offers far more than just an enjoyable golfing experience.

The resort is easily accessible, situated just 25 minutes from Faro airport and roughly a two hour driver from both Seville and Lisbon. As you arrive nearer the resort, the village appears atop the rolling Algarve hills, surrounded by the golf course on both sides.

The village itself is beautiful with its design complimenting the landscape it is built on. It’s a vibrant location with different amenities spread around the resort, encouraging you to explore.

The rooms offer some of the prettiest views you can ask for - my room gave me a stunning view of the front nine of the golf course, situated within the valley and had me yearning for my tee time the following morning.

The outdoor pool situated in the heart of the village also offers glorious views of the setting sun to the west whilst looking over the back nine, the perfect spot for an evening cocktail.

Viceroy at Ombria has a clear vision that this is a resort with a golf course, rather than a golf course with a resort. This is amplified by the number of top-tier dining options at your disposal, with five locally inspired restaurants and bars located on site for you to choose from.

The Ombria Kitchen provided some of the nicest local seafood I have eaten in a long time, whilst Solalua provided a fabulous wine-tasting experience as I sampled some of the best wines the Algarve has to offer - I’m still dreaming about the rosé in particular.

What the resort deserves credit for is how they see their golf course as part of the resort. There’s no hyperbolic statements or language about how this course will be one of the best you’ve ever played, but what they do promise is a word I heard a lot when I was in the resort - fun.

The 18-hole GEO Certified Par 71 signature course, designed by Jorge Santana da Silva, isn’t in the top 10 courses I’ve ever played, but it’s up there with some of the most enjoyable rounds I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.

The fun begins on the opening tee shot, an elevated drive to a wide fairway on a reachable par 5, if you’re brave enough to take it over the river that naturally winds through the valley in which the front nine is set.

A smile rarely left my face the opening three holes and it certainly wasn’t going to leave on the 4th tee box, a heartracing elevated tee shot on a short par 4 that requires serious thought for club selection - I wasn’t sure what to hit so like I normally do, hammered driver.

It was an exhilarating tee shot and is repeated on the par 3 6th hole for which choosing the right club to hit into a green which feels like it’s 300ft below you is a joyful puzzle.

It’s far from the longest golf course in the world, making it accessible for players of all abilities, but the more capable longer hitters often have choices of how aggressive they want to be off the tee and how much danger to take on, a feature I love on a golf course. The 9th hole signified this, with a large water hazard eating into the fairway the closer you get to the green.

The back nine is a change of pace from the front, situated on the opposite side of the valley and resort on west-facing sprawling hills, allowing you to soak up a beautiful evening Portuguese sunset.

It uses the natural landscape wonderfully, with holes embracing the undulating slopes rather than having the feeling of being built on top of them. More elevated tee shots afford you plenty of vistas of the Algarve hills and even a sunset depending on when you play.

The back nine ends with an exhilarating, dramatic down hill par 4 which is reachable for the big hitters and offers up a grandstand finish for any match play battles.

I dramatically lost my match on this hole, but took a trip to the spa in which the private outdoor heated pool, indoor thermal pool as well as Finnish sauna and salt steam room helped me recover, both physically and emotionally.

There’s plenty to do for non-golfers as well, be that cycling, hiking, trail walking or discovering the tucked away villages dotted around the valleys.

Whether you’re coming with a group of buddies for Ryder Cup-style showdown or bringing the family for some sun and fun, Viceroy at Ombria truly caters for everyone. Just don’t indulge too much in the local wine!

Despite fitting the demographic perfectly, we were both first-time cruisers, so apologies here to readers for whom the whole cruise thing is water off a duck’s back.

In our slightly nervous novice capacity, it was timely to meet and chat to experienced cruisers from the same Gatwick flight at Bordeaux Merignac airport ahead of our transfer to Uniworld’s SS Bon Voyage, docked and waiting for us on the River Garonne in Bordeaux.

I’m not going to lie – while I find it easy to get to know, and build a rapport with, people on the golf course, I’ve often found it less easy in the wider social context. But chatting to old hands at this cruise malarkey quickly forged friendships that would see us spend much time together throughout the week on the various excursions and around the dinner table.

Warren and Heidi (about our age) and Betty and Arthur (a little older) became our near-constant companions, showing us the ropes and giving us valuable insight into cruise life. By the time we reached the riverside to be greeted on board (with something suitably fizzy) along with 100 other guests, we knew a bit more about what to expect.

So, when we were shown to our lovely stateroom, we were well aware that, although well-equipped and beautifully decorated, it would also be quite bijoux, so you have to run a tight ship in terms of storing stuff.

My usual hotel schtick of not unpacking and living out of the case was simply not an option. Think of one of those puzzles where you move squares around to complete the picture and there’s only one right way. That said, it was elegant, cosy and the perfect place to escape the French summer heat.

Anyway, 400 words in, and barely a mention of golf, so you might be forgiven for wondering why this article is on a golf publication's website.

Well, in addition to the many and varied excursions, including wine tastings (not surprisingly), chateaux and village visits, oyster tastings (not for me!) and a Bordeaux city tour, Uniworld had also introduced an optional premium golf package on this particular cruise, with rounds at Cabot Bordeaux (a Bill Coore design) and Grand Saint Emilionnais (a Tom Doak creation), two of the best courses in France.

Bordeaux highlights on and off the course

Away from the fairways, the grape understandably formed a major focus in this area renowned for its wine. We visited several chateaux, getting to taste their output fairly extensively (but not irresponsibly), driving past vineyard after vineyard and countless other chateaux as our tour bus made its way round the Bordeaux region.

I got to know my appellation from my Grand Cru and learned that only six grapes are allowed if a wine hopes to be classified a Bordeaux – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere.

These are all reds, of course, but none as vibrantly red as the large rabbit that greets you, randomly, on the 1st tee of the Chateaux layout at Cabot Bordeaux. Cabot had taken over the former Golf du Medoc course a year earlier, and in a neat nod to the region’s prime export, the 150m markers were wooden, oversized wine bottles. As for the rabbit, who knows!

An American cruise guest and I were paired with two French members and as well as battling the course, I also fought a constant battle with my memory, trying to retrieve as much of my dormant French from 45 years ago as possible from its dark recesses, while our French friends attempted the same with their English.

I’m pleased to say we made it work on a course that had more than a hint of an expansive UK heathland test in places.

There were choices from the off via a split fairway on the 1st, where left is easier to find but right offers the better approach. The 4th is an awkward dogleg left with a big bunker guarding the apex, while the drive on the 6th plays towards three distinctive pines, one on a pronounced lean.

The par 3s at 5 and 8 both involve water: the former across the corner of a lake, with left the only good miss, the latter a semi-island green, where left is definitely not the good miss.

Watch out for the stream at carry distance on the 11th, while the 15th is a strong par 4 playing round to the left where you’ll have to fade it over the bunkers if the draw is not in your locker.

We ‘enjoyed’ a distinctly inaccessible right pin on 17 into the wind courtesy of the vast acreage of sand on that side.

New experiences

Back on board post-round, I got my first taste of what this trip was all about (cruising) although my wife had already sailed in my absence.

The SS Bon Voyage had headed down river to Pauillac since my early departure for golf and would gradually work its way round onto the Dordogne via the Gironde estuary (the largest in Europe) throughout the week.

Among my non-golf highlights were a visit to Chateau Royal de Cazeneuve, a building steeped in history where we enjoyed the previously unsampled delights of Sauternes wine – a sweet white variety that slipped down nicely on account of it being closer to dessert wine in taste and texture than the sweet whites of dubious quality from my teenage years, like Black Tower.

Our guide told us there’s a saying that one vine equals one bottle of wine, but with Sauternes, one vine equals one glass.

I also enjoyed the tour around the 17th-century citadel at Blaye, and any time spent on the SS Bon Voyage’s sun deck, whiling away the hours with the odd glass of wine and games of Yahtzee with our new friends.

As we ventured round onto the Dordogne, we encountered a tidal surge called the Mascaret twice a day, with the boat relocating to the middle of the river from the quayside at Libourne while the phenomenon passed through. This meant an early breakfast on day five so I could disembark before the morning Mascaret for my trip to Grand Saint Emilionnais Golf Club.

I enjoyed my round on this Doak course in the most rustic of settings, even if, just as at many UK courses, the prolonged red-hot summer in these parts had left the fairways some way from their best, with water usage severely restricted for environmental reasons.

That said, the greens and aprons were good, and there were some interesting green complexes and putting surfaces throughout, starting on the downhill 1st, where the small green is raised on all sides, making recovery work a more complicated affair. The par-3 3rd then plays down and over a stream to a potentially bewildering rollercoaster green.

There’s a very unusual and pronounced bank short-left of the 6th green, while the long par-3 9th, over a sadly far-from-full reservoir, will take your best shot to find the surface.

There’s another interesting small green on the 11th, and I particularly enjoyed it when my driver Matthieu, who accompanied me on the round, shouted “be the right number” with a strong French accent on the long par-3 12th. Sadly, it most definitely was not the right number!

The lovely uphill par-3 14th leads you into back-to-back par 5s before the attractive dogleg-left 17th, which crosses, then flanks, a stream/ditch, before a final climb back to the clubhouse (and lunch) on 18.

While I was away playing golf, my wife was enjoying a tour of the village at St Emilion, with her highlights including the monolithic underground church and the incredible rooftop vistas.

Like me, she had also enjoyed the citadel in Blaye with its little boutique shops, plus the cathedral and Gordon Ramsay’s Le Pressoir d’Argent restaurant in Bordeaux, the latter very much from the exterior only given the menu pricing.

Laughter is the best medicine

We both thoroughly enjoyed the immersive and incredible digital light and sound experience in Bassins des Lumieres, a former WWII submarine base on the river in Bordeaux, even if there was also a slightly eerie vibe to the venue.

We laughed a lot, and many things tickled both us and our new friends over the course of the week. It amused me that the restaurant on board was, perhaps understandably, called Le Grand Fromage.

It amused us all that a rival boat on the river called Cyrano de Bergerac should have a fittingly prominent bow; and the border police’s unintentional hall of mirrors at Bordeaux airport caused much hilarity via some hugely unflattering distortions as the six of us queued for the flight home (you had to be there).

We vowed, as we often do on these trips, that we should all meet up again down the line. Somehow, this time I think we will...

● For more information about Uniworld’s Brilliant Bordeaux cruise with golf and many other cruise options, both river and sea, visit uniworld.com

The Vessel Golf Travel Case 2.0 is our top-rated choice when it comes to the best golf travel bags, and right now, you can pick it up for $319, which is a huge $80 off the regular price of $399.

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In our Vessel Golf Travel Case 2.0 review, our expert tester awarded the premium offering from Vessel a near-flawless 4.5 out of 5-star review. He branded it a 'top tier' golf travel case and more than tough enough to withstand the rigors of any journey, whether that's flying, taking the train, or loading it into the car.

With Christmas fast approaching, and if you’re still shopping for the golfer in your life, then this is also well worthy of consideration. We only recommend golf gifts that our team of avid golfers would really appreciate and although it might not be the most exciting present in the world, it's a genuine brilliantly useful gift that will put a smile on the face of your favorite golfer this Christmas morning.

I'd advise you to move quickly, as the clock is ticking as far as festive deliveries go, and with a rare discount like this, it’s sure to be a popular purchase.

Vessel says the Golf Travel Case 2.0 is the best way to travel with your clubs on your next golf trip. It's crafted with what the brand says is a tear-resistant 1680D ballistic nylon. The expandable main compartment is equipped with a self-correcting zipper that runs top-to-bottom for easy packing/unpacking.

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Mike also reviewed the Vessel at full MSRP, and he thought that it was on the more costly side. However, if premium protection for your clubs is what you're after, then he thought it was hard to look beyond the Vessel, especially now with this $80 discount.

The deal spotlighted is US only, but below you'll find the best offers on the entire Vessel range of renowned golf bags and travel luggage, including the Golf Travel Case 2.0 in your territory.

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• GF: £110-£140
• Stats: Par 72, 6,390 yards
• W: andermatt-golf.ch

Despite its great natural beauty, Switzerland is not yet on the travelling golfer’s radar. Its best-known course is perhaps Crans-Sur-Sierre, host of the Omega European Masters, won last Summer by Thriston Lawrence. But there are many stunning courses, especially for those seeking somewhere new, different, and exceptionally beautiful. Andermatt is a prestigious ski resort set at a little under 5,000 feet above sea level. It is south of Zurich at the end of a scenic road trip via Lake Lucerne, and its exceptional course sits perfectly in the lush, green Ursern Valley in the Alpine foothills.

Opening for play in 2016, golf here is a rollercoaster of fun and adventure. With ecology at its heart, the course meanders through scenic farmland, employs climate-neutral energy, is home to more than 100 bird species who breed around its photogenic ponds and streams, and is even in part tended by goats.

The land rises in the middle of each nine, but the climb is more than offset by the golfing interest that generates and by the panoramic views back over the meadowland below.

While the course is naturally closed over the Winter months, it's a very tempting call for booking some Summer golf. Packages including golf are available with nearby hotels such as the amazing Chedi and the Radisson Blu, making Andermatt a very appealing destination for golf and a great deal more.

South

Travel to the resort is very easy with it being a quick transfer from Faro Airport in roughly 15-25 mins or so. It is on this drive you will see flashes of flowing fairways and greens which give you an inkling of what’s to come on the North and South courses.

We start with the latter which opened for play in 1974. The work of American architect William Mitchell, the course has hosted the Portuguese Open eight times with high profile winners like Colin Montgomerie. The front nine weaves through the parkland trees nicely before transitioning into a challenge-filled back-nine. The last four holes in particular will test your ability to keep your score going, starting with the stunning par-3 15th over a lake. All I will say here is, if in doubt, go long.

Moving to 16, this is one of the most picturesque holes I’ve played. You are faced with a deceptive tee shot before the hole bends to the left revealing a stunning and dramatic view out to the green, seemingly surrounded by water. If you get your drive in the fairway, find the dance floor with your second and take a par.

17 is a straight and reasonably long par-5 whilst 18 is a tricky dog-leg left par-4 to finish. Concluding on the South course, it does an excellent job at being playable for a variety of levels, whilst also having a Tour pedigree as well, which is not an easy thing to do from my experience.

North

Right next door to the South sits the North which I found to be an extremely enjoyable place to play. Right away I should say it is best suited for buggies or carts because if you are walking then there are some long treks between holes and you have to criss-cross the road several times. Redesigned in 2014 by Beau Welling and Paul McGinley, the investment brought precision and strategy to the fore, especially off the tee.

I found the importance of finding the fairway was vital because whilst it isn’t particularly long, the green surrounds and bunkering means you have to be hitting your approach from the fairway to avoid trouble and keep a score going. Speaking of bunkering, it is excellent with the bunkers on the par-3’s being of particular note because of their depth and size.

Notable holes to mention include the par-4 12th which wraps around a water hazard in a similar fashion to the 18th at TPC Sawgrass, 14 and 16 are two short and lovely par-3’s putting a premium on a clean strike and correct club selection. Finally I really like 18 being an attackable par-5 to finish, just be wary of going right off the tee as there is a huge modern house there! I know the South has the Tour proven pedigree, but I actually thought the North was more intricate and therefore harder for me, especially off the tee. The green complexes are tricky, especially if you get in the wrong spot or the pin is in a tough spot. I must say the latter was definitely the case when I played it!

Laranjal

Now completing the trio is the Laranjal. I unfortunately didn’t get to play this on my whistle stop trip, but several of my Golf Monthly colleagues have played it a lot and filled me in on what I was missing. I guess I will have to get back to Quinta as soon as possible to play it!

Located two kilometers from the resort, it is routed through orange groves and designed by Portuguese architect Jorge Santana da Silva. It opened in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength, with the greens in particular ranking as some of the best in the Algarve. The design itself winds around trees and water hazards throughout the round culminating in a double dogleg par-5 with ponds seemingly everywhere!

If you don’t feel like the courses have scratched your golf itch then you also have a cool mini golf course at the resort as well as the Quinta do Lago Performance Center in partnership with TaylorMade where you can get lessons and a custom fitting. I for example got a putting lesson and my technique was inconsistent to say the least! But I am committing to the new grip the instructor suggested.

Other Activities

The Campus

If golf isn’t for you but you live an active lifestyle, I recommend heading down to The Campus, a high-performance centre used by rugby teams like the British & Irish Lions, and football teams as well. There are tennis and padel courts, a high performance gym, swimming pools, as well as rehabilitation facilities like the hydrotherapy pool and recovery suite. I definitely needed these with my ailing back! There is also The Bike Shed which is for cyclists to enjoy, as well as large fields for football and rugby too.

Food

With all these activities to choose from, you will undoubtedly need to refuel and you have got plenty of options with 14 bars and restaurants to choose from. I got to experience two of these starting with Casa Velha which served up sublime local and international cuisines and the second establishment was Bovino. I admit, I’m not a huge steak guy but this steakhouse experience was incredible. The cuts were delicious as were the sides and just about everything else - a brilliant meal.

Accommodation

There are also several accommodation options to choose from as well. The Conrad Algarve is for those wanting five-star elegance, there are luxury rental villa options, and I finally got to stay at The Magnolia Hotel. It features a cool, Miami style with style and comfort throughout the different rooms, suites, and cottages. Location wise it is a short hop away from the resorts main attractions and there is plenty to do at the hotel as well a heated outdoor salt-water pool, tennis court, cocktail bar, spa and cinema.

Essentials

How to get there

Faro Airport is well served by flights across the UK, and is just a 20-minute drive from Quinta do Lago. The Magnolia Hotel offers guests transfer services.

Where to play

North course Course stats: par 72, 6,725 yards

South course Course stats: par 72, 7,040 yards

Laranjal Course stats: par 72, 7,083 yards W: quintadolago.com

Where to stay

The Magnolia Hotel W: themagnoliahotelqdl.com

To start with, you have the beaches that stretch out from a run of vast, mostly 5-star all-inclusive hotels. Then you have pine forests that lay behind those hotels and provide the ideal setting for the courses themselves (think of some of the pine tree-lined courses on our Top 100 GB&I list for a comparison). Finally, in the distance are the imposing and often snow-capped Taurus Mountains.

Gloria is one of the largest and most established resorts in the area and I recently had the chance to play the New Course (there is also the Old Course and the 9-hole Verde layout). We teed off at first light and seeing the course reveal itself from the shadow of darkness was a real treat. The tall pine trees and well manicured playing surfaces slowly emerged, covered by the early morning dew and I was excited to get started.

The golf course itself is both enjoyable and challenging. Depending on which tees you choose to play from (it can stretch to over 7,000 yards), it’s not overly long. But it is tight. The pine trees perfectly frame each hole and ensnare any wayward tee shots. However, for the most part, you will at least find your ball in the trees and can chip out fairly easily. This makes Gloria fairly playable for a range of abilities. The holes themselves are gently shaped and there are well positioned bunkers to avoid off the tee on most holes.

The first 7 holes are all tree-lined and beautiful - for a rough comparison, picture somewhere like Liphook. However, things change from the 8th hole onwards as water comes more into play - there are 7 lakes in total.

When you arrive on the par-5 9th tee, you see water stretch the entire length of the right hand side of the hole. It requires a good straight hit off the tee and a well positioned second shot to access a relatively narrow green that’s just under 25 yards long. It’s a tough finish to an othererwise friendly and enjoyable first half.

There is more water to negotiate on the back side and again, it provides a very strong finish. The par 5 16th is long, starts in the trees and plays out towards a more open area with water behind and to the left of the green. The 16th is a short par 3 played to an island green. And the 18th is another strong par 5 with water all the way down the left hand side. This combination means that you’ll need to strike the ball well to sign for a good score at the end.

Overall, the new course at Gloria is well worth playing if you are heading to Belek. It is a proper challenge that will test any serious golfer but at the same time, the beautiful natural landscape provides an enjoyable setting, regardless of how well you play.

I first arrived to Palmares Ocean Living and Golf, situated to the west of the Algarve, near the town of Lagos before taking the journey some 90 minutes east past Faro airport to the tranquil resort of Monte Rei Golf and Country Club.

I was excited to see why they were considered as the two best in the entire Algarve and two of the very best golf courses in Portugal, and having now spent time at both it's easy to see why they are rated as highly as they are.

I visited in mid-October, where temperatures between 22-28 degrees celsius - perfect golf weather. It was hot but not unbearable and the evenings were very warm, too.

This part of the country had experienced a drought with barely any rain for six months so conditions were dry but both courses were in fantastic condition with fast, true greens.

Here are my thoughts after staying and playing at both Palmares and Monte Rei...

Palmares Ocean Living and Golf

Palmares celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, and it's home to three contrasting and equally spectacular loops of nine.

It's a decent-sized resort with a range of modern apartments and a highly rated five-star boutique hotel as well as 27 holes of golf, a driving range, a Michelin-starred restaurant and an impressive clubhouse which was voted as Europe's Best Clubhouse at the World Golf Awards 2024.

It was designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architectural firm RCR Arquitectes, and having spent a good amount of time in and around it I can say it was a deserved winner of the award.

The Michelin-starred Al Sud restaurant is there for world-class gastronomy and the clubhouse food is of very high standard, too.

You certainly won't find many better views from a clubhouse, either, with the ocean in full view beyond the Praia (Beach) nine that sits below.

The three nines are all named very logically, with the Alvor loop facing the town of Alvor to the east, the Lagos nine playing more towards the namesake town to the west and the Praia (Beach) closer to the sea.

I'd recommend playing 54-holes, so perhaps three days to play each nine twice. You can base yourself at the resort for longer, too, to visit Lagos, Alvor and the Portimao to the east.

The Alvor, numbered 1-9, is the most parkland-style of the three, the Lagos (10-18) features water in play and is situated closer to the sea while still having parkland qualities, and the Praia (19-27) is almost exclusively set by the coast to play among the sand dunes.

There are too many spectacular holes to really call out a signature hole, with almost every tee box boasting views of the ocean.

The 4th hole on the Alvor is probably the favorite of many, myself included, with the downhill par-5 offering up a phenomenal vista from the tee.

The 17th is another beauty, with the downhill dogleg-right par 5 playing towards the Praia final nine and again being one where you simply need to get your camera out to take a snap.

There are some stunning par 3s on the property, like the 12th that plays over a lake and the long 14th which sees you tee off next to some impressive ruins.

The 13th and 15th are very strong par 5s, which again feature glorious views of the ocean.

The opening holes on the Lagos and Praia nines, both downhill dogleg-right par 4s, are beauties, too.

The Alvor's opening trio are possibly the least impressive holes on the property, but they'll quickly be forgotten once you get to the 4th and begin what is a rollercoaster of a golf course that is challenging, varied and very memorable.

The resort is currently undergoing a fair amount of construction, with multiple villas being built and plans for Portugal’s first JW Marriott hotel.

The golf course is also set for renovations, so it is clear that Palmares is set to remain as one of Portugal's greatest golf destinations for many years to come.

For some reason I don't think it's as famous as Vilamoura or Quinta do Lago but it is very easy to see why it's regarded as the Algarve's number two.

Onto number one...

Monte Rei Golf and Country Club

Monte Rei has been on my bucket list for years and I can genuinely say it exceeded expectations.

The resort is located around 45-minutes east of Faro airport and close to the Spanish border.

It's not on the sea but very close-by and a short drive to some lovely quaint towns including the vibrant Tavira, which is well worth a visit.

The resort is home to an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course that is regarded as the very best in the Algarve, while there are four restaurants and the classy, grand clubhouse is a beautiful spot to spend a few hours.

Monte Rei is also home to apartments and a pool to make it one of the best premium stay and play resorts in Europe. I stayed in a two-bed apartment that was modern, light and luxurious, and it was just a 5 minute walk from the clubhouse.

There is no ocean at Monte Rei, but it is so good that is doesn't need it.

Its setting next to the Serra do Caldeirão mountains is stunning and the entire resort feels incredibly tranquil and almost cut off from the outside world.

The first thing you'll notice is that the service is truly outstanding, too, with the helpful staff on-hand to meet your every need.

It certainly reminds me of somewhere like Finca Cortesin in Andalucia, where five-star service meets top class facilities on-and-off the course.

As I said, Monte Rei surpassed my expectations and the golf course really should be on everyone's bucket list. It is very easy to see why it's regarded as the number one in the Algarve.

Coupled with the breathtaking views and incredibly peaceful setting is a masterpiece carved into the hills and surroundings, with the course getting off to a strong start courtesy of the dogleg-right par 4 opener.

It's a brilliant scene setter and it simply never lets up with jaw-dropping, and very testing, holes coming thick and fast.

It's a demanding test of golf as you work your way up and down hills, over lakes and around testing bunkers.

There were many highlights for me, including the long and straight par 5 8th, which features a huge tree overhanging the front-right of the green as well as the brilliant par 3 9th that plays over a small canyon and is surrounded by multiple intimidating bunkers.

It's a hole I had seen photos of beforehand and was even more special in person.

I obviously found a bunker off the tee but chipped in for par after thinning my sand shot - so I have some very good memories!

The signature hole is either the 9th or the par 4 13th, which plays from a raised tee down a steep hill to a green raised above water with the hills beyond.

It's a jaw-dropping hole, but there are many others that ensure Monte Rei has huge strength in depth and makes for a very memorable round of golf.

And like Palmares, Monte Rei is only getting better.

A second Jack Nicklaus golf course is on the way, with the goal of creating "the premier golf destination in southern Europe."

Once completed, I am sure that goal will be met.

To do this, they analysed the course ratings from verified golfers in the Golfers’ Choice rankings.

Across Continental Europe as a whole, there were 360 golf clubs which achieved a rating of 7.0 and above from golfers.

Of these, 243 fell into the Recommended category and 60 into the Outstanding category. Between them, Spain and Portugal have almost half of the Recommended courses.

Understanding the categories

Outstanding courses (ratings 8.5 and higher) tend to be bucket-list venues that many golfers aspire to play. Often highly priced, they are positioned at the pinnacle of the market. These courses aim to deliver unforgettable experiences that combine prestige, world-class design and exceptional service.

Recommended courses (ratings 7.5 to 8.5) represent the core of European golf. These are more the day-to-day courses that most golfers play, from regional member clubs to high-quality resorts. Although they may lack the prestige of the biggest names, these clubs provide reliable quality and often outstanding value for money.

Assessing Value

To access the value of a course, Leading Courses devised a Green Fee Value Index (GVI). This metric was calculated by dividing a club’s green fee by its rating, creating a euro-per-rating-point score. The lower the GVI, the greater the value.

As green fees often vary according to the time of year, Leading Courses used the highest available green fee in September, as that is when demand peaks and clubs reveal the value they attach to their product.

The ratings were taken from verified golfer reviews from the Golfers’ Choice rankings as of 1 January 2025.

Spain: The Findings

With more than 400 golf courses, Spain is Europe’s strongest destination for golf travel, attracting golfers from across the continent. The value for money picture, however, differs greatly by region.

For example, Andalusia is the flagship region of Spanish golf. It sets the benchmark for luxury with ultra-high green fees and a concentration of resort and private courses that feature in the Outstanding category. International demand allows these clubs to price at the very top.

But the Basque Country is one of Spain’s most underrated golf regions. Courses such as Real Nuevo Club de San Sebastián Basozabal combine championship-level design with green fees that are far below the national average. This makes the Basque Country one of Europe’s best value destinations, offering top-tier golf in a setting defined by rugged coastline, gastronomy, and authenticity.

In between these extremes lies Catalonia’s market of two halves. On one hand, it has internationally known resorts such as PGA Catalunya, which command prestige pricing. On the other, its regional clubs provide accessible golf at mid-tier levels. This diversity creates one of the widest price spreads in Spain.

Portugal: The Findings

Portugal has a relatively compact golf market with around 80 courses, yet it plays a major role in international golf tourism. The Algarve is the country’s flagship destination where premium resorts dominate.

Around Lisbon and Cascais the market is split, with affordable member-oriented clubs on one side, and world-class venues such as Oitavos Dunes and West Cliffs on the other.

Madeira occupies a niche position where elevated prices are justified by the exclusivity of the island setting, although the number of courses is limited.

In contrast, Northern Portugal is the quiet achiever, with courses priced under €100 that still achieve solid ratings, making it the best value-for-money option in the country.

Five main conclusions

• Premium doesn’t necessarily equate to poor value for money. Destinations such as Mallorca and the Algarve prove high-end markets can deliver good value if the experience matches the price.
• Northern Spain offers Europe’s best value cluster. The Basque Country and Murcia have a euro-per-point metric which is among the lowest in Europe.
• Island golf commands a premium: the Canary Islands and Mallorca operate at higher price levels than the mainland.
• The mid-market courses rated between 7.5 and 8.5 consistently deliver the best value for money, offering strong experiences without the price inflation of the elite tier.
• Value for money is regional, not national The data shows that regional differences can be larger than cross-border ones — comparing Andalusia to Murcia or Dublin to the Basque Country tells a more accurate story than comparing Spain with Portugal as a whole.