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Destination Golf Media Ltd
destinationgolf@live.com www.destinationgolf.travel ■ PUBLISHER Dermot Synnott ■ EDITOR Karl Doyle
■ CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Marshall Paul Marshall Aidan Bradley ■ DIRECTOR Vincent Synnott
■ FINANCIAL CONTROLLER Darren Maguire ■ CREDIT CONTROLLER Mallory Courell
■ OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helen Duggan
Destination Golf joins forces with InGolf.pt
W
e’re delighted to welcome leading Portuguese Tour Operator InGolf.pt to our Global Affiliation Programme.
Widely regarded as one of the most innovative and pro-active tour operators in Portugal, InGolf.pt have been tailor-making golf trips and organising successful golf tournaments for many years. The Portuguese market is an important one, and Destination Golf is thrilled to be working with such a notable company.
Golf in Poland isn’t something you hear about too often, but our Managing Editor Dermot Synnott paid a visit to this emerging golf destination in September, which is covered in our main travel section in this edition. Three fine courses were on the itinerary, and they were very impressive: Amber Baltic, Binowo Park and the Gary Player-designed Modry Las.
Our golf club feature for this issue brings us to Emporda Golf Club. This stunning 36-hole complex is located in Gualta, in the Heart of the Emporda, just 30 minutes from Barcelona (Girona) airport.
For our first resort feature we drop into Sandy Lane in Barbados a premier addresses in the Caribbean and home to the legendary ‘Green Monkey’. We let you have a sneaky glimpse inside the resort so you can feast your eyes and imagination on what lies in store. Then its over to the Emerald Isle to Lough Eske Castle, a fivestar castle hotel located on a secluded lakeside estate just outside Donegal Town, which has a rich and fascinating history dating back to the 1400s Enjoy!
INTERNATIONAL OFFICES/ REPRESENTATION • Albert Ferrer (Spain) • Peter Barnes (UK) • Gene Oberto (Sweden) • Gianni Attanasio (Italy) • David Cooney (China) • Maarten Hageman (Netherlands) • Benjamin Oosterveer (Tunisia & Morocco)
Front Cover: Modry Las, Poland
Karl Doyle
EDITOR editor@destinationgolf.ie Dermot Synnott
Andrew Marshall
Aidan Bradley
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Contents and reference guide COSTA BRAVA GOLF COURSE Costa Brava, Spain www.golfcostabrava.com Page 4-5
LA COSTA GOLF & BEACH RESORT Costa Brava, Spain www.resortlacosta.com Page 6-7
PERALADA GOLF Costa Brava, Spain www.golfperalada.com Page 8-9
PGA CATALUNYA STADIUM COURSE Costa Brava, Spain www.pgacatalunya.com Page 10-11
PGA CATALUNYA TOUR COURSE Costa Brava, Spain www.pgacatalunya.com Page 12-13
TORREMIRONA GOLF Costa Brava, Spain www.torremirona.com Page 14-15
GUANGZHOU FOISON GOLF CLUB Huadu, China www.foisongolf.com Page 16-17
HAINAN KANGLE GARDEN GOLF CLUB Wanning, China www.kangle-resort.com Page 18-19
SANYA LU HUITOU GOLF CLUB Hainan, China www.lhtgolf.com Page 20-21
PENINSULA RESORT DUNES COURSE Wanning, China www.starwoodhotels.com Page 22-23
SPRING CITY LAKE COURSE Kunming, China www.springcityresort.com Page 24-25
STONEFOREST INT. COUNTRY CLUB Kunming, China www.stoneforestgolf.com Page 26-27
Features POLE POSITION
EMPORADA GOLF RESORT
Dermot Synnott reports from West Pomerania
Spain www.emporadagolf.com Page 36-41
Page 28-33 SANDY LANE Barbados, Caribbean
LOUGH ESKE CASTLE Donegal, Ireland
www.sandylane.com
www.solislougheske.com
Page 42-47
Page 48-53
Costa Brava Golf Course
Costa Brava, Spain • www.golfcostabrava.c
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Pals,
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Costa Golf & Beach Resort
, Costa Brava, Spain • www.resortlacosta.com
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Peralada Golf
Costa Brava, Spain • www.golfperalada.com
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PGA Catalunya Stadium Co Costa Brava, Spain • www.pgacatalunya.com
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PGA Catalunya Tour Cours
Costa Brava, Spain • www.pgacatalunya.com 12
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Torremirona Golf
Costa Brava, Spain • www.puntamita.com
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Guangzhou Foison Golf C Huadu, China • www.foisongolf.com
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Club
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Hainan
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n Kangle Garden Golf Club Wanning, China • www.kangle-resort.com
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Sanya Lu Huitou Golf Club Hainan, China • www.lhtgolf.com
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Penin
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sula Resort Dunes Course Wanning, China • www.starwoodhotels.com
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Spring City Lake Course
Kunming, China • www.springcityresort.com
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Stoneforest Internatio
Kunming, China • www.stoneforestgolf.co
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nal Country Club
om
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Pomerania - in P “
Ah, I don’t believe it... not another one of you guys heading off to the sun!”.
Words and pictures: Dermot Synnott
It was a damp September day at Dublin Airport
and I was one of the many golfers that my bus driver had seen flocking to the sunny fairways this month. Having quickly jumped into my shuttle bus, I fixed eyes on a stout driver that was supporting the latest Callaway cap and a La Cala-branded wetgear jacket.
Golfers are well aw and the like, but th Poland – and Derm
“I suppose the sunny fairways of Spain or Portugal are waiting?” he continued. His conversational tone and generalising statements might well be commonplace for the travelling Irish golfer with clubs in tow, and I’m also sure that he’s perfected the subsequent line of conversation about his knowledge of the courses in these iconic destinations, but I was on a different mission. “Actually, I’m off golfing in Poland this week,” I replied. His facial expression quickly turned from chirpy to perplexed as he muttered in a low tone: “That sounds nice…” It was going to be a quiet 10-minute transfer to Terminal 2. Poland is in pole position when it comes to city breaks. Cities like Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan and Gdansk are giants in European tourism for two and three-day breaks. And let’s not forget about all of the publicity surrounding the 2012 UEFA European Championships. But Poland for golf? The Polish Tourist Board had invited me to visit the region of West Pomerania in the North West of Poland to unearth the truth about golf in Poland. For golfers, this is obviously an undiscovered corner of the globe and a golf destination that had to be experienced first-hand. Our late afternoon flight direct from Dublin to Szczecin with Ryanair was a swift two hours, in contrast to the 2.5-hour flight to the southern Iberian fairways. As a small airport, delays at passport control or the baggage carousel were non-existent.
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Szczecin Old town
EL E AV R R U T AT
FE
Pole position
ware of the usual destinations in Spain and Portugal here’s a new kid on the block – West Pomerania in mot Synnott paid a visit to see what’s on offer...
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Local Twskie promotions at Chobry Pub
Modry Las 15th
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Amber Baltic Clubhouse
Binow
o Park Golf Club
From previous page A well-organised transfer and we arrived at Modry Las – a Gary Player-designed course that features in Golf World’s Top 100 Courses. We were greeted by Arthur Gromadzki, the Chairman and Owner of Modry Las, who has a clear vision to “create a resort that would compete on an international stage”. The seed was firmly planted and we couldn’t wait until our morning game. A toast or three with a typically Polish vodka called Krupnik and it was time to call it a night and prepare to take on this highly-recommended layout bright and early. Our accommodation was in one of the three newly-built cottages adjacent to the course, which feature spacious bedrooms with full ensuite facilities and generous wardrobe space that could comfortably fit a group of four golfers. The kitchen/ living room was fully fitted and the wood burning stove was a clever natural resource to heat up the cottage, or to simply set a relaxing ambience. The first morning of any trip is always filled with suspense – waking up to gingerly peel back the blinds and get those rays of sunshine beaming through. I wasn’t disappointed. The welcoming blast of heat on my face set the tone for a fantastic day of golf. Next was a quick saunter to the clubhouse for a bit of breakfast with course manager Stewart Snedden – a Polish-speaking Scottish man who was also pretty handy at giving a few lessons and tips on the range before we took on one of Poland’s signature courses. This par-72 course weaves its way through gently undulating countryside that teams with flora and fauna. Gary Player describes Modry Las as a “classy golf course carved in a beautiful, natural landscape” – which is no surprise given its two spring-fed lakes and surrounding oak, pine and birch forests that are cleverly integrated into the design to guard the rolling green fairways. In fact, this is where the name Modry Las derives from – Modry (for blue-green of the trees) and Las (for the forest). Keep an eye out for Wild Boar (Hole 4) and grass snakes (Hole 5)! There are many stunning holes at Modry Las, but I think more snaps were taken at the par-3 15th than any other hole. A real
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Miedzyzdroje seaside town along the Baltic Coastline
View of Szczecin from Cathedral Tower
32 Destination Golf TRAVEL
beauty – 202 metres over the edge of a lake to an undulating green. Walk away with par and be very proud. The clubhouse and a par-3 course are still under construction (scheduled for completion in 2014) but there is no doubt that, as a golf resort, Modry Las will be sure to compete with the best European golf resorts in the coming years. Our port of call the next morning was Amber Baltic Golf Club on the island of Wolin. Although it was founded fairly recently in comparison to other European courses (1993), Amber Baltic does have the unique distinction of being the oldest golf course in Poland. Oweing to this, the course has held numerous championships – including top amateur and professional events. Facilities include an 18-hole Championship Course, 8-hole Beginners Course, driving range and academy. Its clubhouse is uniquely designed and their welcoming staff helps to complement an excellent bar food menu. Our accommodation that night was at the Aurora Hotel in Miedzyzdroje (Misdroy), a charming hotel that is situated along the Baltic Sea. Wake up early and enjoy a stimulating dip in the Baltic Sea, renowned for its iodine and special healing powers. There’s plenty of restaurants, bars and nightlife here and don’t leave without walking down the long pier that juts out into the
From previous page horizon. The next morning we headed for Binowo Park Golf Club, located in the beautiful area surrounding Szczecin. The shorts were on yet again as the sun continued to shine, so we thought best to get buggies and a few Zywiec beers for our final game on this Polish trilogy. This wasn’t such a bad idea as the front nine wind around the hills of Szczecin. The cameras came out once again as the spectacular panoramas, such as the 3rd, stretched all the way to Germany. Our itinerary meant dining for lunch after 9-holes with managers Slawomir Panski and Maria Skowronska. This was a pleasant rest before refuelling to take on the back nine. We were warned that the two nines were completely different, but the back nine at Binowo Park must be one of the biggest surprises I’ve ever experienced in golf. The fairways and greens were immaculate throughout, but it brought water features into play on most holes – making it aesthetically pleasing to the eye and an interesting challenge. The par-3 17th and par-4 18th are regarded as the feature holes, but I’d struggle to give prominence to one hole over another as they’re all so good. Green fees are very well priced at Eur30-40, and as it’s a daily rate, you can play as many holes as you like. It’s no surprise that Binowo Park is one of the most popular golf courses in Poland. After golf, we returned to Szczecin – a mere 20minute drive away. Our accommodation was in the Radisson Blu Hotel in the heart of the city centre, where you can relax and choose from 369 rooms and suites, offering deluxe amenities including free highspeed, wireless Internet. We recommend a relaxing cocktail overlooking the
Twskie and golf
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Bogdan Becla (Poland Tourism), Arthur Gromadzki and Stewart Snedden (Modry Las)
Stara Komenda microbrewery
Jan Pawell II Avenue
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Teeing off at Amber Baltic
city from its sky bar. Guests enjoy on-site dining options, a well-equipped fitness centre, and the city’s largest spa – the adjoining Baltica Wellness & Spa. Spread across three floors, the 2,000m2 spa offers a hair salon, florist and a cosy café. Its rehabilitation centre offers treatments using magnetotherapy, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, kinesiotherapy, laser therapy, light therapy, and ultrasound therapy. And then there’s the wellness zone – over 400m2 of relaxation and health where you can simply while away the hours in the jacuzzis and more. Those brave enough will take on the ‘Snow Chamber’ and its invigorating -15 degrees Celsius temperature. Szczecin might not be as well-known as the other Polish cities but it’s only 40 minutes from the airport, and Berlin airport is only 1.5 hours away. Over 60 per cent of Szczecin is covered in an area of green (trees) and blue (lakes and rivers) – hence these colours form the official city
From previous page
colours which are regularly displayed, even on the trams!
This is a city full of post-war history, as it changed from German rule to Polish rule. Many buildings were destroyed in WWII and rebuilt (such as the new City Hall beside the river), but luckily for us we had Magdalena Wilk as our tour guide for the day to show us the sites. You can do a small 12-stop city trail which is determined by the red dashed line on the sidewalks, or the longer 42-stop – where a tour guide is advised – which takes about four hours. We went for the latter, with two important refuel stops at Chrobry Pub along the embankment (as guests of a local Twskie beer promotion), and at Stara Komenda, a microbrewery that houses its own range of beers. In summary, the ‘Pomeranian’ people are friendly and very welcoming to tourists. If you’re looking to experience a new golf destination that’s rapidly gaining in reputation, look no further than Poland – in my mind, it takes Pole Position.
Further reading...
• Modry Las www.modrylas.pl • Amber Baltic Golf Club www.abgc.pl • Binowo Park Golf Club www.binowopark.pl • Aurora Hotel www.en.hotel-aurora.pl • Radisson Blu Hotel www.radissonblu.com/ hotel-szczecin • Baltica Wellness & Spa www.spabaltica.pl • Szczecin Tourist Board www.szczecin.eu
SZCZECIN
‘TO DO’ LIST: • City Walking Tour (Magdalena Wilk – interpretermw@interia.eu) • Cathedral Tower boasting city views from 56.18m up • The Old Town with its many diverse restaurants and bars • Szczecin Castle • Hitlers Fuel Factory • Sweet Factory
Further Information from
Poland Tourist Board www.poland.travel
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Gualta, Spain • www.empordagolf.com
EL T RE O U H AT FE
Emporda Golf Resort
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Emporda Golf Resort
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King of the Links
T
he Doral in Miami, Deepdale in New York,
Horal CC in Japan, Seignosse in southern
France… these are but a few of the approximately
250 golf courses designed by Robert von Hagge,
the architect responsible for Emporda Golf Club. This stunning 36-hole complex is located in
Gualta, in the Heart of the Emporda, just 30
minutes from Barcelona (Girona) airport. At Emporda Golf Club, Von Hagge has
managed to improve an already stellar setting by
creating technically perfect courses that allow
for a wide variety of swings and techniques. Emporda Links is a spectacular course –
designed to allow a golfer freedom and space. Six
starting tees on each hole makes it enjoyable for
all levels of golfer, while the extensive greens and
up to five different flag positions provide plenty of
choice. The area of lakes, dunes and bunkers
confers exceptional beauty on the surroundings
while, at the same time, it requires players to play
their very best.
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Emporda Golf Resort
40 Destination Golf TRAVEL
From previous page Emporda Forst course has a distincitvly
different feel to its sister course. Incorporating
the use of water and trees, this sheltered course weaves its way through tall Mediterranean pine
trees which are native to the region and over
strategically places lakes.
Considered to be one of the best resorts in
Spain, Emporda Golf Resort also has a four star
hotel called DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & SPA EmpordĂ .
The Spa gives golfers the chance to indulge in
treatments to enhance your wellbeing, treat
yourself to the thermal water circuit or even
pamper yourself to any of the cabin treatments
on-site.
Get in touch! www.facebook.com/emporda.golf
For more information see
www.empordagolf.com Volume 1 • Issue 12
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Sandy Lane
Barbados • www.sandylane.com
42 Destination Golf TRAVEL
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Sandy Lane
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The Green Giant...
F
rom the moment it opened its gates back in 1961, Sandy Lane has built up a reputation for being one of the premier addresses in the Caribbean – a haven of serenity. Sandy Lane is a luxury golf resort that offers some of the best golf in the world, with three distinct golf courses. Wherever you play, you will be enchanted by the spectacular natural beauty of the terrain and the stunning views of Barbados’ platinum coast.
The Green Monkey, designed by Tom Fazio, is an ultra-exclusive par 72, 7,343-yard golf course, and is absolutely breathtaking. Carved from an old limestone quarry, the exposed rock faces form dramatic contrasts to the lush, rolling greens of the fairways and offer tremendous elevation changes - a once in a lifetime experience. With lush greens, five lakes and immaculately cut fairways, The Country Club course is a golfer’s paradise. Also designed by Tom Fazio, this challenging par 72, 7,060-yard course affords breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. Constructed in 1961, the famous Old Nine course meanders through the Sandy Lane estate. At 3,345 yards, the par 36 ‘Old Nine’ is intimate yet demanding due to its small greens and fairways. Needless to say, there is also topclass practice facilities and a 450-yard range.
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Sandy Lane
46 Destination Golf TRAVEL
From previous page The focal point of golf at Sandy Lane is the magnificent Clubhouse. The Clubhouse features an elegant restaurant and bar – ideal for sumptuous food and refreshing cocktails – and a pro shop with an extensive selection of premium clothing and equipment and locker facilities. A range of luxury accommodation is available at Sandy Lane.Choose from a Luxury Ocean Room or a Luxury Dolphin Suite, or why not treat yourself to a private Penthouse or Villa? And, if pampering is your thing, the Spa at Sandy Lane is a world in itself. A stunning marble reception area and rapturous staircases lead you to the treatment suites, changing rooms and water therapies. Treatments are drawn from wellbeing traditions across the world, from the Caribbean, North America and Europe, all combined with a Barbadian sense of warmth. The ideal way to unwind after the “Green Giant” !
Get in touch! www.facebook.com/SandyLaneBarbados twitter.com/SandyLaneResort For more information see
www.sandylane.com
Volume 1 • Issue 12
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Lough Eske Castle
Donegal, Ireland • www.solislougheske.com
48 Destination Golf TRAVEL
B LU C RE LF U O AT G FE
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Lough Eske Castle
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A Step Back in Time
L
ough Eske Castle, a five-star castle hotel located on a secluded lakeside estate just outside Donegal Town, has a rich history dating back to the 1400s – being associated with the O’Donnell Clan, the founding fathers of Donegal, a county in the north-west region of Ireland.
Step into the Solis Lough Eske Castle and you step into an imposing Tudor-baronial castle, lavishly refurbished in 2007 and extended to create the modern comforts and graceful luxury of a worldclass boutique hotel. Here, at the water’s edge of Lough Eske, among the fabled Blue Stack Mountains, you can escape to a luxurious world of relaxed elegance. Where Spa Solis, the castle gardens, thoughtful service and lavishly-appointed guest rooms are steeped in Gaelic history for you to discover. The hotel is surrounded by beautiful golf courses. Donegal Golf Course (Murvagh), is an outstanding championship links course, continually featured in Golf World’s Top 100 Courses in Ireland and Great Britain. It is located within a 10-minute drive of Lough Eske Castle. Narin/Portnoo Golf Course offers golfers magnificent scenery with stunning views of Gwebarra Bay. This links course is located about 45 minutes drive from Lough Eske Castle. Ballyliffin Golf Course with two magnificent links courses to play, is a club that offers the golfer an
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Lough Eske Castle
52 Destination Golf TRAVEL
From previous page opportunity for a challenging game of golf along
with some of Ireland’s most stunning coastline
scenes.
Accommodation ranges from the
contemporary stylishness of its Garden Suites to the country charm of the converted
stables – to the more traditional elegance of a Presidential Castle Suite, with trademark
leaded windows, exquisite antiques and private access to the castle tower.
There are Spa-style bathrooms with boutique
bath amenities and exhilarating rainforest
showers; stylish flat-screen televisions and
wireless Internet, and oversized windows
opening onto meticulously manicured grounds.
It’s the perfect convergence of simple and
sublime.
It’s the perfect gateway to discover the North
West coast of Ireland, and all of its stunning
golf courses.
Get in touch! facebook.com/Solis.Lough.Eske.Castle twitter.com/SolisLoughEske For more information see
www.solislougheske.com Volume 1 • Issue 12
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