European golf concentrates in specific regions. Here's the honest sort.
Tier 1 — destination golf cities
- St. Andrews, Scotland: Home of golf. Old Course requires advance lottery (12+ months).
- Edinburgh + East Lothian: Muirfield, North Berwick, Gullane.
- Killarney, Ireland: Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.
- Lahinch, Ireland: Lahinch Golf Club + adjacent links.
- Funchal (Madeira): Year-round.
Tier 2 — strong golf-trip cities
- Algarve (Vilamoura, Lagos): 30+ courses. Year-round.
- Costa del Sol (Marbella, Málaga): Golf strip.
- Lisbon area (Cascais, Sintra courses): Top-tier.
- Mallorca: Multiple high-quality courses.
Tier 3 — strong but niche
- French Riviera (Cannes, Monaco): Premium courses + Monte Carlo Golf Club.
- Tuscany golf: Castiglione del Bosco + Royal Park.
- Stockholm (Bro Hof Slott): Top Scandinavian course.
Strategy
- Tee times book 6+ months ahead for famous courses. St. Andrews requires the ballot lottery.
- Off-season golf: Algarve in October-November is ideal.
- Travel insurance: Many policies don't cover golf clubs as luggage. Verify.