1/10 Goodwood Hotel, West Sussex
The oh-so glorious Goodwood Estate, near Chichester in West Sussex, is home to not one but two championship golf courses. Backed by Justin Rose (the former US Open winner who last week won his 6th PGA Tour title), Goodwood’s Junior Golf Academy runs fun-packed golf camps, group lessons and one-to-one sessions throughout the year. Some of the UK’s top junior players including 7yr old Harry Callow.
Spend the night in the estate’s luxury 18th century hotel and spa, and after a full golfer’s breakfast, families can learn together on the Downlands course with rolling views across Chichester and the Isle of Wight.
Price: The hotel is currently offering 2-night stays from £150 per room per night, including breakfast and dinner on one evening (kids are an extra £25 per child, per night). Family golf tuition starts at £20 for a half-day session including all the kit.
Find out more: goodwood.co.uk, or tel. 01243 775537.
2/10 La Manga, Spain
Voted the best golf club in Spain for 3 years running, the legendary La Manga Club in Murcia is the ideal place for kids to learn golf. Stay in the resort’s five star Hotel Principe Felipe, which also offers a free kids’ club and activity programme. Nippers under 9 can learn the basics at the La Manga’s Junior Golf Academy, while teens can take their swing to the next level on one of the resort’s championship courses.
Price: Seven nights in Hotel Principe Felipe start from £1545 for a family of 4 in August including breakfast. The on-site Leadbetter Golf Academy offers courses for kids under 9 starting from £78 for 4 hours.
Find out more: lamangaclub.com or 020 3514 4750.
3/10 Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily
Learn the laws of links golf (that’s seaside golf to you and me) in Sicily and the stylish Verdura Golf and Spa Resort on the island’s south coast. Home to three 18-hole courses, each with a magnificent turquoise backdrop so expansive you fully expect to see dolphins crest the waves and flip the balls back on the green. Check your teeny Tigers into the junior golf academy, where they’ll be taught the rules and etiquette along with chipping and putting by PGA-qualified professionals.
Price: Interconnecting double rooms start at £200 per room, per night including breakfast, while the 3-day junior golf academy is £174 per child.
Find out more: rocofortehotels.com or tel. 39 0925 98001.
4/10 Abama, Tenerife
Perched on the craggy, southern coast of Tenerife, this Moorish pink pleasure palace surrounded by lofty palms and banana plantations, is renowned for its challenging 18-hole course. Boasting views of La Gomera, the resort is also home to 11 restaurants, including two with Michelin stars, and a fancy spa.
And if Mum and Dad want to play a round on their own, the all-inclusive kids’ club and activity programme, including a golf camp, is open from 10am until midnight every day.
Price: Tots Too offer a 7-night stay for a family of 4 start from £3839 based on two adults and two children under twelve years. Price includes return flights, breakfast and private transfers.
Find out more: totstoo.com or call 020 7284 3344; abamahotelresort.com or 4 922 126 503.
5/10 Aphrodite Hills, Cyprus
Tucked away in the hills above Paphos, this sprawling five star resort is a great place to introduce budding Ballesteros’ to the beautiful game. Children aged between 6 and 18 can enjoy some pro-style golf coaching at the 3-hole golf academy, before being let loose on the resort’s 18-hole championship course. There’s also a soccer school and a tennis academy, as well as various activity programmes to keep kids entertained on and off the green.
Price: ‘Summer Special’ deluxe rooms which sleep 2 adults and a child start at £101 per night including breakfast. Golf coaching camps run throughout the summer for £9.50 per child.
Find out more: aphroditehills.com or tel. 357 26 828000.
6/10 Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina
Boasting no less than nine world class golf courses, Pinehurst, America’s oldest golf resort is perfectly pitched at golfers of all ages. While kids can take private lessons or group coaching, the resort also offers a residential junior school aimed at golfers aged 11-17 which offers daily lessons, tips and tournaments with a PGA professional.
Price: Stay in the resort’s five star Carolinas Hotel which currently offers double rooms plus a round of golf from £174 per person, per night including breakfast. Kids under 12 stay free. The residential Junior Golf School is £996 all-inclusive for 6 days and nights.
Find out more: pinehurst.com, or tel. +1 855 430 7517.
7/10 Penha Longha Portugal
Nestled in Portugal’s southern Sintra Mountains, this sprawling candy-coloured golf and spa resort was once a 19th century royal retreat and is now home to a world class 27-hole championship golf course. There’s a junior golf clinic for budding golfers over 4 years old, plus a kids’ club and games room, while lovely, lively Lisbon is a 30-minute drive away.
Price: Families (2 adults and 1 or 2 children) can stay full board for £297 per room, per night. Kids can take part in the resort’s 5-day golf and multi-sports programme from £172 per child.
Find out more: penhalonga.com, or tel. +35 1 21 924 9011.
8/10 Formby Hall Golf Resort, Southport
For a golfing holiday closer to home, head to the seaside town of Southport and a stay in the stylish Formby Hall, home to one of the UK’s leading golf courses. Kit the pre-teen out in a plaid plus four and enjoy a round on either the 18 or 9-hole course.
Youngsters can perfect their swing at the junior golf academy, which offers both group camps and private lessons with a PGA pro.
Price: This summer, children can take part in a 2-day kids’ golf camp from £35. Deluxe rooms which sleep up to 4 start from £205 per night including breakfast.
Find out more: formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk, or tel. 01704 875 699.
9/10 Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort, Mauritius
Blessed with pearly white sands and gin-clear seas, tee off in tropical style at the swish Heritage Awali Golf Resort, a former plantation on the Bel Ombre estate.
Teen Tigers can learn with PGA professionals on the hotel’s 18-hole par 72 course, one of the most beautiful courses in Mauritius, while the little ones cut their teeth on the 9-hole pitch and putt course. There’s also a brilliant kids’ club and a teen sports programme.
Price: Deluxe rooms for a family of 4 (kids under 12 stay free) start from £224 per night including breakfast.Junior golf camp costs from £115 per person for five 90-minute lessons.
Find out more: heritageresorts.mu, or tel. 230 266 9768.
10/10 Ritz-Carlton Naples, Florida
Naples is Florida’s premier golf destination with more golf courses per capita than anywhere in the world. Home to two championship 18-hole courses, the glitzy Ritz-Carlton is the ideal for wannabe Woods to learn the ropes. Children aged 9-16 can master chipping, putting and bunker play at the Tiburon’s PGA Experiences TourAcademy.
And if that’s not enough to keep them entertained, there are two swimming pools and a Ritzy-Kids’ club with an interactive gaming lounge and 3D cinema.
Price: Standard rooms for a family of 4 start from £116 per night. The 3-day winter golf camps start from £263 per child.