You could order the MK7 Golf from Sep 2012 in the UK, with the performance models being preferable from mid March. I ordered my GTD on Good Friday 2013 and My Dad ordered one 2 weeks later. Due to an admin mock-up at the dealership, my Dad's was built first. I'm pretty sure his GTD was the first UK one seen on this forum and he picked it up either the last day in July or first of August.
So 6 months after the normal models were available to order, the GTD and GTI were available to order.