Met Traveler February 2026Golf Travel News From Abroad

ON THE RANGEGolf Travel News from AbroadBy David Whyte Irish Eyes Are SmilingNestled within Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort in County Wicklow, Druids Glen Golf Course represents a major shot in the arm for Irish golf travel itineraries, offering a refreshed, world-class experience just 30–40 minutes south of Dublin by car. First opened in 1995 and designed by Irish architects Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock, the course swiftly earned a reputation as one of Europe’s finest inland courses, hosting the Irish Open from 1996 to 1999 and the Seve Trophy in 2002, elevating the resort onto the international stage. After an extensive rebuild, which took place from 2021 to 2023, Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association named it the “Golf Resort of the Year 2023.” The dramatic back nine includes an Amen Corner-style stretch and a striking island-green par 3. Druids Glen is also home to Druids Heath, offering golf groups varied and exhilarating play across two championship courses. Complementing Druids Glen golf course, Woodstock House, a restored Georgian residence dating from 1770, offers an exclusive and intimate retreat overlooking the first tee and 18th hole, providing golf groups and private guests with elegant accommodation and refined dining in a setting where heritage and world-class golf meet seamlessly.
Baja BeautyErnie Els’ first design in Mexico arrives with a sense of inevitability. Set at Oleada resort community in Cabo San Lucas, the course occupies a dramatic seam where high desert gives way to the Pacific. Working with longtime collaborator Greg Letsche, Els leans hard into that natural tension. The routing opens inland, across cactus-strewn, sun-bleached terrain that feels unmistakably Baja, before gradually releasing golfers toward the coast, where the horizon widens and the wind becomes an ever-present player. That wind is the course’s defining strategic element. In response, Els and Letsche have built generous corridors off the tee, inviting bold swings while quietly demanding thought on the second. Positioning matters far more than power, with angles into greens shaped by breezes that shift by the hour. The result is a layout that plays like a seaside links in spirit – firm, fast, and cerebral – without pretending to be one in pedigree. Scheduled to open in fall/winter 2026, Oleada signals a more architectural, restraint-driven chapter for Cabo golf.
The Reign in Spain

Spain’s Costa del Sol – long nicknamed the “Costa del Golf” – has once again been recognized as one of Europe’s leading golf travel destinations, reaffirming its appeal for international travelers, including those from NYC looking to escape winter weather. The region boasts more than 70 championship courses, a Mediterranean climate that supports year-round golf, and infrastructure geared towards golf tourism. The latest accolade came from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, which named the Costa del Sol the best golf destination in Europe for 2025. This recognition highlights not only the high quality of courses, but also why the region continues to attract players from northern climates who want warm, reliable conditions outside the traditional European golf season. Nonstop flights from New York to Málaga are abundant in winter and spring, and courses like Finca Cortésín, Real Club Valderrama, and Club de Golf Alhaurín offer a mix of top-tier layouts. Walkable town centers are alive with rich, local culture.

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