The UK's best luxury golfing destinations

The UK is home to some of the world's very best golf courses and its most indulgent golf break destinations.

If you're a golf enthusiast, taking a holiday that completely immerses you in the sport could be one of the most relaxing things you'll ever do. But most golf breaks involve much more than swinging your clubs 24 hours a day. They also offer superb luxury accommodation, world-class cuisine and sometimes tranquil spa facilities to help you soothe those muscles after a long day on the course.

During the boom years of the late 1990s and the 2000s, many Brits headed to overseas destinations like Spain, Portugal and Florida to enjoy extravagant golf breaks. In the current time of austerity, it's not surprising that these same people are now searching for golf holiday locations at home. However, golf breaks in the UK are far from being a step down compared to their European and North American cousins. Indeed, the country is home to some of the world's very best golf courses and its most indulgent golf break destinations.

Golf breaks in England and Scotland

Most of the UK's premier golf break destinations can be found in England and Scotland. Scotland in particular has a strong golfing tradition and its east coast courses, such as St Andrews, Carnoustie and several locations in Aberdeenshire, attract wealthy holidaymakers and global celebrities in their droves every year. St Andrews is an especially prestigious golf break destination and its famous Old Course is known locally as "the home of golf". What's more, its pretty town centre and long sandy beaches mean that non-golf fans will find plenty to do in the town as well.

Across the border, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle are known for their popularity with people on golfing holidays, and there are many organised tours and luxury golf clubs to choose from in these areas. Further south, The Belfry in Warwickshire welcomes golf fans from all over the world to its beautiful surroundings and popular course. And Chester's popularity as a weekend break and shopping retreat for wealthy footballers and their wives has had a knock-on effect on the profile of its fantastic golf courses too.

Golf breaks in Wales and Northern Ireland

South Wales is also home to several sought-after destinations for golf breaks. Celtic Manor in Gwent, for instance, has been praised as one of the UK's best destinations for golf and spa breaks. The Welsh capital Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan also boast their fair share of luxury golf destinations, set in the middle of awe-inspiring natural landscapes.

And while Northern Ireland may seem harder to get to since it's not in mainland Britain, its world-class golf courses make the flight or ferry trip over well worth the effort. Its two main highlights are the Royal County Down Golf Club and the Royal Portrush Golf Club, which is the only course outside Great Britain to have hosted the Open Championship.