Golf tourism in 2026 will divide into two distinct patterns. Initially, golfers will look for newer, less familiar locations that provide value and less crowded fairways. Destinations such as northern Portugal, coastal Turkey past Belek, and developing resorts in Morocco will attract significant interest as travelers seek warm weather and reduced on-course expenses. Secondly, habits related to planning will evolve. An increasing number of golfers will plan their trips using flexible payment options, clear budgeting, and real-time cost monitoring, assisted by AI trip planners that integrate tee time availability, flight costs, and spending predictions into a single process. Concurrently, an increasing number of people will head the other way and opt for straightforward, brief weekend getaways arranged directly with providers. Solo golf trips will increase because of simpler digital planning and seamless payments overseas, while couples will focus on blended itineraries that merge golf with wellness and culinary experiences. In general, golfers will seek greater control over expenses and increased assurance in their selections, driving the need for straightforward comparison tools and clear travel money alternatives. Person making prediction: Aashish Sharma, Strategy Consultant Short bio: I am Aashish and I lead strategy, research and content development at ptc., the UK platform that helps travellers compare prepaid travel cards with transparent and standardised fee data. Website URL: https://prepaidtravelcards.co.uk
Here are my 2026 golf and travel predictions, correlating trends from the wildlife and travel sector to the evolving golf industry. 1. Emerging Destinations: The "Green & Exotic" Shift In 2026, golfers will look beyond traditional fairways (Spain/Portugal) to destinations combining "bucket list" adventure with world-class golf. Vietnam (The New Asian Tiger): Already one of the fastest-growing golf destinations, Vietnam will explode in 2026. Its combination of warm winter weather (24degC in December), dramatic landscapes (Danang's coastline), and competitive pricing makes it the new Thailand for golfers. Expect interest in courses designed by legends like Greg Norman to surge. Morocco (The Exotic Alternative): With Tangier and Marrakech offering a fusion of ancient culture and modern luxury, Morocco fits the trend of "experiential golf." It appeals to travelers who want a morning round followed by an afternoon in a souk, offering a sensory richness that European resorts sometimes lack. Dominica (The Nature Option): As "The Nature Island" gains direct flights from major hubs in 2025, it will attract eco-conscious golfers looking for "jungle golf" experiences, blending rugged terrain with luxury stays. 2. Types of Travel: The Rise of "Solo-Social" and "G-Luxe" "Solo-Social" Golfers: Solo travel isn't just for backpackers anymore. We will see a rise in "single golfer" hosted weeks where solo travelers book spots in a curated group. This demographic, often aged 40-60, divorced or with non-playing partners, wants the camaraderie of a club competition without the hassle of organizing 7 friends. Women's "G-Luxe" Retreats: Female golf tourism is growing faster than the male segment. In 2026, expect a boom in women-only luxury golf retreats that combine coaching with wellness (spa, yoga, wine tasting). These aren't just "ladies' days"; they are high-ticket, multi-day itineraries prioritizing safety, skill-building, and luxury. 3. Planning Trends: AI as the "Caddie," Humans as the "Pro" AI for Logistics, Agents for Access: Travelers will use AI (like ChatGPT/Perplexity) to build the framework ("Find me 5 courses near Lisbon with ocean views"). However, they will return to human agents for access and reassurance. AI can't negotiate a tee-time shift when flights are delayed or secure a group upgrade. The successful 2026 agent will be an "Experience Architect" who validates the AI's suggestions.
For 2026, I predict we'll see a significant rise in solo golf trips, especially among professionals looking for a mix of sport and personal reset time. More golfers will be booking trips that combine rounds at European courses with wellness activities like spa treatments or coastal walks, rather than purely golf-focused itineraries. The planning approach will likely split into two camps: younger golfers using AI tools for quick recommendations, while more experienced travelers will return to working with specialists who understand their specific needs and can curate meaningful experiences. This shift reflects a broader trend where people want their golf trips to serve a deeper purpose beyond just the game itself.
Based on trends we observed in 2025, I predict that solo golf travel will continue to grow significantly in 2026. More golfers are seeking the freedom to plan their own itineraries, play at their own pace, and choose courses without needing to coordinate with others. This shift reflects a broader desire for personalized travel experiences that prioritize individual preferences and flexibility over group compromises.
The travel industry will be oriented towards 'quiet luxury' in golfing travel in 2026 due to the availability of world-class golf courses with minimal crowds. More people will travel to destinations such as Los Cabos, Madeira, and Tasmania for their unique and creative golf courses and wonderful scenery. I also predict that there will be an increase in short-week golfing getaways due to people preferring more flexible travel over large groups and more rigidly scheduled travel. I also predict that there will be a significant evolution in the way people plan their golfing trips. There will be a balance of AI and human control, with the AI handling the more technical and optimization aspects of travel, such as flights, tee times, and weather, while humans will make the more qualitative and personalized decisions to make the trip more enjoyable. More and more people are using the system I created, LAXcar, to plan trips in this way. There are more people using AI to make travel plans, and when the plan is complete, they choose a travel expert they trust to finalize the plan. Overall, the more personalized and experience-driven travel will be in higher demand. There will be a desire for travel to less populated courses, along with nearby boutique hotels, and easy-to-reach transportation. There is a big desire for adventure and travel at these golfing destinations, and with all of the travelers I manage, I see a need for quick and easy travel. ----------- Arsen Misakyan is the founder of LAXcar, a luxury transportation company serving California. With 15 years in premium travel logistics, he works closely with event planners, airlines, and high-end travelers, giving him insight into emerging travel behavior. Website: https://laxcar.com
My very simple idea for we-get-no-time-to-spend-together temptation spreads is: you plan the basics and then you have this I-just-wanna-be-a-little-spontaneous window of a couple to four hours! where nothing is planned. I book the first night, key transport, and one unmissable, and during that time I follow the first good local tip I hear of, eat the first weird dish whose name I can't pronounce, and make at least one surprise detour — a peculiar poster in the streets or a bus to some nearby neighborhood. I have an offline map, a tiny bit of cash stashed away, and I follow these simple safety rules: venture out only during daylight hours, let someone know where I'm heading, and use my intuition. This transforms ordinary days into genuine adventures —such as stumbling into a backyard milonga in Buenos Aires or a dawn bakery in Oaxaca — without ruining the schedule or blowing the budget. Test one wild card window on day two, limit spending to roughly 10 percent of your daily budget, and let the locals lead the fun.
I've been running passenger transport in Brisbane for over 15 years, moving everyone from corporate groups to seniors on day tours. While I'm not in the golf industry specifically, I've noticed interesting shifts in how groups are planning their leisure travel that definitely apply to golf trips. **My 2026 prediction: Weekend golf getaways will shift from "mates trips" to multi-generational family experiences.** I'm seeing more mixed groups--grandparents, parents, and adult kids--booking shared experiences rather than age-segregated trips. The seniors I transport to their social clubs are fitter and more adventurous than ever, and they want activities their families can join. Golf is perfect for this because different skill levels can play together, and non-golfers can enjoy the destination. For planning, I'm betting people will use AI to research but book through actual humans for anything beyond basic transport. During COVID, I kept every single booking alive through personal phone calls and relationship management--something no algorithm could replicate. When things get complicated (mixed abilities, special requirements, multi-day itineraries), people want to talk to someone who knows the local operators and can troubleshoot on the fly. Regional golf destinations within 2-3 hours of major cities will boom over international travel. I've seen this with our Stradbroke Island tours--people want the "away" feeling without the airport hassle. Places like Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland or similar regional spots near other capitals will be the sweet spot for 2026 golf trips. **Cam Storey, Owner at Brisbane 360 (brisbane360.com.au)**
I predict golfers will abandon famous bucket-list destinations in 2026 to focus on "micro-trips" to lesser-known cities. We will trade the expensive trip to Scotland for frequent weekend drives to places like Spokane or Grand Rapids. The problem is that playing top-tier courses has become too expensive and takes too much time to plan. My prediction solves this by focusing on volume and accessibility. You stop saving up for three years for one trip. Instead, you look for clusters of solid public courses within a four-hour drive of your house. You pack your clubs in the trunk on a Friday. You play a municipal course on Saturday morning and a semi-private club on Sunday. You spend $300 instead of $5,000. You get to play golf six times a year on trips rather than just once. You find joy in the local hidden gems rather than chasing a logo. This shift brings golf back to the working class. It makes travel a regular habit rather than a rare luxury.
My prediction for 2026 is the rise of the "unplugged" solo golf trip. People will travel alone to remote destinations specifically to escape digital noise and reconnect with the game. The problem we face today is that even on vacation, we are tethered to our phones, work emails, and digital scorecards. This trend solves the burnout we feel from constant connectivity. You book a trip to a resort that bans phones on the course. You carry your own bag. You use a pencil and paper to keep score. You don't post your swing on social media. Because you travel alone, you don't even have to talk to anyone if you don't want to. You just hit the ball and walk. Resorts will market this as a "digital detox" package. You find peace in the silence and the rhythm of the game. This returns golf to its roots as a mental escape. We need a break from the screen more than we need a perfect swing.
I think 2026 will mark the end of the planning nightmare because AI agents will book entire trips for us instantly. You will stop searching for hotels and tee times separately and just let a bot handle the logistics. The main issue with golf travel is the friction of coordinating schedules, budgets, and bookings for four to eight people. You solve this by offloading the admin work to software. You will simply type a prompt like "Find a weekend in May where flights from Chicago and Dallas are under $400, and book three rounds of golf in Austin." The AI scans real-time data. It finds the intersection where everyone's budget and schedule align. It puts a hold on the tee times and sends a payment link to your friends. It removes the human delay that usually kills these plans. You don't have to be the nag who chases people for money. We will see more trips actually happen because the planning barrier will disappear. Technology will handle the boring stuff so we can play.
When thinking about new and interesting places to play golf, you probably conjure images of lush, dark green fairways running parallel with inviting tropical blue seas. And why not?! However, there are some very unusual alternatives that can be part of an exciting and memorable golf experience that you'd probably never know even existed. In Andorra's Grandvalira ski resort, underneath the hard packed snow and ice sits a superb 9-hole golf course, offering a really unique round of golf at almost 2,000m above sea level. The fertile mountain slopes and gentle summer climate mean the course is always in good condition and there's something very special about playing golf in this environment. There are plenty of other places that offer a similar experience such as Courmayeur and Pila in Italy's Aosta Valley. If you're looking to create a new and different itinerary for this year's summer golf break, why not try something totally out of the ordinary.
Prediction: In 2026 I see golf travel shifting toward quick, high intent weekend trips planned with AI tools, where groups care less about ticking off famous courses and more about shared moments and keepsakes, like custom golf ball markers that carry their trip name or inside jokes. For resorts and tour operators, small branded items that travel home in a golfer's pocket will matter more than big swag bags, since that little marker becomes a "take this shot, remember that trip" trigger every time it hits the green. Person making prediction: Eric Turney Short bio: Eric Turney is the President of The Monterey Company, a custom merch manufacturer that produces logo golf accessories and custom golf ball markers for courses, resorts, and corporate events across the U.S. Preferred website URL: https://www.montereycompany.com