Top Links Golf Courses Outside Of The UK

The Open Championship in Troon sees the games’ biggest names battling it out for that coveted trophy at Royal Troon, one of the UK’s finest links golf courses. As big fans of Links golf at Glencor Golf, we’ve picked our favourite links golf courses outside of the UK which you might consider on your next golf break.

Oitavos Dunes

Golf Magazine ranked this course in there top 100 in September 2015, recognising it not only as one of the top links courses but one of the top courses full stop. Situated by the Atlantic Ocean, this 18 hole course is located just outside the beautiful seaside town of Cascais, just 30 minutes from Lisbon.

Stretching over 6,300 meters the majority of the holes here are links style with some woodland-esque holes thrown in for variety. The course features fast flowing greens which test your short game along with numerous hazards leading up to the greens. If you are considering a golf break in Lisbon, this is certainly one to play when you are out there!

Praia D’El Ray

Staying in the Lisbon region, Praia D’El Ray is another beautiful course by the Atlantic Coast however this is further North West than Oitavos Dunes and about an hour and a half from Lisbon city centre. The 18 holes here feature deep bunkers, uneven greens, and stunning sandy dunes meaning you will have a complete test of your game.

Onyria Palmeras

Due to it’s location further west of the Algarve than the courses in the Vilamoura region, this is often not considered on a golf holiday to Portugal but it absolutely should be! This Robert Trent Jones II designed course offers 27 holes of links style golf by the coast split into three loops of nine. The Alvor Course is on the Northern part of the site with a more parkland character whilst the Lagos Course begins with parkland but then evolves into dune lands before finishing on parkland style holes again. The Praia Course offers a stunning seaside landscape with dunes open to nature’s elements. All in all, this is a great golf course and definitely one for the bucket list which wont break the bank and for those groups going for a golf break in the Algarve, this is sure to wow your mates.

Le Mer at Le Touquet

This golf course is considered one of France’s finest links golf courses, hosting six French Opens in it’s history amd providing golfers of all handicaps a challenging round due to its winds from the coast along with long grass in the rough and coastal dunes. This 18 hole Harry Colt designed course is similar to the British Links courses given that the terrain and weather are not too different – and easily accessible due to the Eurotunnel.

Portmarnock

Although maybe not a destination for sun lovers, a golf break in Ireland is definitely one for lovers of the history of the game. This bucket list course has hosted some of the finest tournaments in golf and every great of the game has graced these greens. Regularly ranked the best golf course in Ireland, this beautiful links course is one to play on a long weekend break.

Do you have any other recommendations for top links golf courses outside of the UK? Leave your comments below…