Destination Golf Media Ltd
184 Charlesland Wood Greystones Co. Wicklow Ireland destinationgolf@live.com www.destinationgolf.travel ■ PUBLISHER Dermot Synnott ■ EDITOR Karl Doyle
■ CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Marshall Paul Marshall ■ DIRECTOR Vincent Synnott
■ FINANCIAL CONTROLLER Darren Maguire
INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATES • Albert Ferrer I Lahoz (Spain) • Peter Barnes (United Kingdom) • Gene Oberto (Sweden) • Gianni Atanasio (Italy) • David Cooney (China)
■ CREDIT CONTROLLER Mallory Courell
■ OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helen Duggan ■ INTERNATIONAL SALES Gianni Attanasio David Cooney Albert Ferrer I Lahoz
º Praia d’El Rey, Portugal
www.DestinationGolf.Travel Goes Live...
S
ince its launch in November 2012, Destination Golf has published eight monthly digital magazines, taking our readers on a voyage of discovery to some of the world’s finest golf resorts and destinations. After many late nights and final tweaks, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of www.destinationgolf.travel, where readers can view archived copies of past editions. Issue 9 takes a quick look at golf in Germany, Greece and Orlando – displayed through some stunning images of popular golf courses in each destination.
Our travelling duo of Andrew and Paul Marshall have visited the Oeste Region of Portugal. Located around one hour north of Lisbon city, the Oeste region is magnificently picturesque with white houses, maritime coast, green countryside and a very pleasant climate. The region boasts unique activities not to be missed such as the Thermal Baths, the ‘wine & vineyards route’, the medieval city of Obidos, and the surfing capital of Peniche. Added to this are some wonderful golf courses, such as Praia d’El Rey, Royal Obidos, Bom Sucesso and Campo Real. This magical golf destination headlines our main travel feature in this edition.
Our golf club feature for this issue brings us to Hamilton Island golf club, flanking the edges of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. A ‘bucket list’ course, if you will.
Our two hotel features draw our attention to the hugely popular Sunset Beach Club along “Costa del Golf” in the south of Spain; and Villa La Massa in Florence to bring a taste of Renaissance to this edition. Enjoy!
Karl Doyle
EDITOR editor@destinationgolf.ie Dermot Synnott
Editorial Director
Andrew Marshall
Golf Travel Writer
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Paul Marshall
Golf Travel Photographer
Contents and reference guide EL CAMPEON Orlando, USA www.missioninnresort.com Page 4-5
LAS COLINAS Orlando, USA www.missioninnresort.com Page 6-7
BAY HILL Orlando, USA www.bayhill.com Page 8-9
THE BAY COURSE (COSTA NAVARINO) Greece www.costanavarino.com Page 10-11
PORTO ELOUNDA Greece www.portoelounda.com Page 12-13
THE DUNES COURSE (COSTA NAVARINO) Greece www.costanavarino.com Page 14-15
MERCEDES GOLF COURSE (HARTL RESORT)
BECKENBAUER GOLF COURSE (HARTL RESORT)
Germany www.hartl.de Page 16-17
Germany www.hartl.de Page 18-19
STEIGENBERGER GOLF HOTEL Germany www.steigenberger.com
Page 20-21
BRUNNWIES GOLF CLUB Germany www.hartl.de Page 22-23
Features A TASTY SLICE OF PORTUGAL’S OESTE REGION
SUNSET BEACH CLUB Malaga, Spain
Andrew Marshall reports Page 24-29
www.sunsetbeachclub.com
VILLA LA MASSA Florence
HAMILTON ISLAND GOLF CLUB
www.villalamassa.com
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Page 30-35
www.hamiltonislandgolfclub.com.au
Page 36-41
Page 42-47
El Campeon Golf Club
Mission Inn Resort, Orlando • www.missioninn
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resort.com
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Mission Inn R
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Las Colinas Golf Club
Resort, Orlando • www.missioninnresort.com
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Bay Hill Palmer Course
Orlando • www.bayhill.com
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Bay Golf Club (Costa Na Greece • www.costanavarino.com
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avarino)
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Porto Elounda Golf Club Greece • www.portoelounda.com
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Dunes Course (Costa Nava Greece • www.costanavarino.com
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arino) Volume 1 • Issue 9
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Mercedes
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Golf Course (Hartl Resort) Germany • www.hartl.de
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Beckenbauer Golf Club (Ha Germany • www.hartl.de
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Steigenberger Golf Hotel Germany • www.steigenberger.com
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Brunnwies Golf Course Germany • www.hartl.de
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A Tasty Slice O T
hanks to an enviable year-round climate with plenty of sunny days, Portugal has always been one of Europe’s most popular golfing destinations and, although the Algarve may have the lion’s share of the courses, the travelling golfer looking for something a little quieter and more off-the-beaten-track should really check out the Oeste region north of Lisbon.
Words: Andrew Marshall
Photos: Paul Marshall
ANDREW MARSHA
Alongside the golf there’s plenty of off-course attractions – from numerous archaeological and historical sites to sparkling Atlantic beaches, enchanting coastal villages, excellent seafood and fine wines.
On an isolated hill swept by cool breezes, the medieval castle town of Óbidos makes an excellent base to sample a quartet of varied and challenging golf courses, all within a 30-minute drive away. Our home away from home for four nights is the cosy Hotel Real D’Óbidos, and we are delighted to discover that it’s situated within a cluster of cobbled alleys only a pitching wedge away from the castle walls.
The hotel is exquisitely decorated in a medieval style; suits of armour, tapestries, iron furniture, dark wood and large heavy drapes. Even the guest rooms maintain the theme, right down to old iron door latches and an original medieval iron room key that’s so large it’s a workout just carrying it down to the reception desk each morning. With the key safely dropped off and the golf clubs packed in the hire car, its time to head off and sample the courses…
Golden Eagle
Our first game is at the Golden Eagle, originally known as Quinta do Brincal Golf and Country Club. Laid out by the US’s Rocky Roquemore (who has designed several other good courses in southern Europe) it’s a big-scale course (6,623-metres off the whites) that meanders its way through a wonderful natural landscape of gentle rolling hills and lush Portuguese flora: pines, cork trees, eucalyptus, mimosa, hydrangea and acacias that provide attractive and colourful bordering on each hole.
The course wears its American influences well with a strong emphasis on target golf, featuring nine lakes decorated with eye-catching sprays and fountains and more than 90 sand traps. Some of the bunkers are so huge they make the ones on most other courses look like children’s sand pits, and you will do well here to emulate Tiger Woods during the 2005 British Open at St Andrews – when he completed his four rounds bunker free. During our round we find ourselves in more sand than a couple of extras on the set of Lawrence of Arabia.
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Bom Sucesso designed by Donal
EL E AV R R U T AT
FE
Of Portugal
ALL samples the delights of Portugal’s Oeste Region
d Steel is the latest course in the Oeste region
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Estelas in Peniche is one of the best seafood restaurants in the region
Signs for the Praia d’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort
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The medieval town of Ă“bidos
A great atmosp
city choice for golfers surrounded by here - SANA Silver Coast
CampoReal
From previous page
Westin’s CampoReal has rapidly become one of Portugal’s most exciting golf and leisure developments featuring an 18-hole layout by Donald Steel. Etched into the dramatic rolling hills, vineyards and steep wooded valleys of the surrounding countryside, the course will challenge and delight even the most experienced players, with several uphill and downhill drives that make for an exciting round.
“The fairways are about 20 centimetres wide - about the distance between your ears, as you really have to use your head here. I’ve played this course many times and I never get tired of it,” says Golf Director, Manuel Gomes, before we tee off. “The ‘stone-in-my-shoe’ is hole 2, a 366-metre par 4, that always seems to cause me problems. You can stay here and play this course for a week and still be no wiser on how to play it. It’s not a long course, but it’s technical and there’s a couple of drivable par 4s in the mix.” Enjoyable, beautiful and serene, the quality of the Campo Real course is matched only by its five-star accommodation, spa facilities, clubhouse and superb members' facilities.
Praia d’El Rey
Star billing of the Oeste golf quartet must arguably go to Cabell B.Robinson’s wild and wonderful Praia d’El Rey - a marvellous combination of a parkland front nine that cuts through a deep pine forest and a links land back-nine that follows the coast, with spectacular views over the Atlantic and the Berlenga Islands beyond. When he first viewed the site Robinson said: “This is the kind of landscape we architects try to create, but at Praia d’El Rey it’s all here, naturally. Now it’s my responsibility to protect it.” After the tighter pine-lined fairways of the opening nine, the course opens up and heads towards the pummeling Atlantic offering all the elements of a Scottish or Irish links, but with warmer weather. Bold deep bunkers, undulating greens, and natural sand border areas contrast sharply with the lush green fairways. The signature stretch of holes is from 12-15 that runs along the coast, and a mention must go to the 17th, a gigantic uphill par five measuring 570 metres. The whole course offers variety, challenge and magnificent views and features highly in Europe’s ‘Top 100 Golf Courses’ listings.
Bom Sucesso
This championship course is Donald Steel’s fifth design in Portugal and the latest addition to the up-and-coming Oeste golfing scene. Opened for play in 2008, the course is the centerpiece of a five-star resort complex that features master architect-designed apartments, villas and leisure facilities.
The layout is split into two nines, with a gentle and level front nine leading to a more spectacular back nine on rolling terrain, with Steel saying: “We have
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Praia d’El Rey has a collection of great seaside links holes with coastal views
Praia d’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort
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Bar lbn Errick Rex in Óbidos, oozes with character
created 18 very strong holes – all good even when taken on an individual basis. I don’t feel any of them are weak. They all contribute to the overall appeal of the golf course. It is up to the individual player to be the final judge.” Like all good courses the finish at Bom Sucesso is particularly memorable; the par- four 16th is played uphill with the green set into a hillside, then it’s a spectacular drive at the dogleg par- five 17th with gorgeous views of Óbidos Lake and the distant mountains, and the final hole is a downhill par- four 18th with a stream cutting across the fairway and water guarding the green.
Away From The Courses
In between rounds of golf we explore the charming fortified town of Óbidos with its picturesque cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses filled with geraniums and bougainvillea, Gothic doorways and windows, whitewashed churches, flowerpots and dazzling tiles -- all encircled by the walls of the 12th century castle. Óbidos has been painstakingly preserved and its inhabitants take careful pride in maintaining the architectural image of days gone by. As we wander along the cobbled alleyways, through ancient plazas, and along the walls, we can’t help thinking we are part of a medieval film set. Every July a Medieval Fair recreates the Middle Ages with medieval music, knights, witches, and theatre, and during the International Chocolate Festival in November, Óbidos becomes the world's chocolate capital with exquisite chocolate sculptures on display. Inside the town walls there are four restaurants and three on the outside – with cuisine based on typical Portuguese gastronomy. Start your evening with a predinner drink of local cherry liqueur known as ‘Ginja d’ Óbidos’ inside Bar lbn Errick Rex – which oozes with character – and then head off to the Pousada do Castelo
From previous page
for some top-end gourmet dining. Rooms are also available here, but it’s a good idea to book well in advance. Sampling the local cuisine and wines is an important aspect of any golf travel experience and the gastronomy of the Oeste region is rich and varied: there are several delicious pork dishes, oven-baked kid, stewed rabbit with rice, celebrated fish stews, baked or boiled sea bream, rock bass from Peniche, eel and cockles from the Óbidos Lake and shellfish from the beds at Porto de Barcas (lagosta suada – ‘sweating lobster’- a delicacy which can only be found in the Western region).
The Oeste is also well known as a wine making district and it’s peppered with vineyards laid out along the "Oeste Trail’, a tourist path taking in the most famous wineries.
To the west of Óbidos is the charming seaside town of Peniche, renowned for its excellent fish restaurants. On our final evening we find ourselves inside Estelas, a homely family-run place that’s won numerous gastronomy awards. Discerning diners and a growing number of golfers travel from far and wide to eat here – and we think you should, too.
WHERE TO PLAY
• Golden Eagle: www.goldeneagle.pt • Campo Real: www.camporeal.pt • Praia D’El Rey: www.praia-del-rey.com • Bom Sucesso: www.bomsucesso.com.pt • Royal Obidos: www.royalobidosgolf.com
Where to stay...
• Hotel Real D’Obidos: www.hotelrealdobidos.com • PraiaD’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort: www.praia-del-rey.com • Campo Real Golf Resort: www.camporeal.pt • SANA Silver Coast: www.silvercoast.sanahotels.com
Where to dine...
• Pousada do Castelo (Obidos) www.pousadas.pt Estelas (Peniche) Tel: +351 262 782 435
Royal Obidos at dusk
Further Information from Oeste Region of Tourism:
www.rt-oeste.pt
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Malaga, Spain www.sunsetbeachclub.com
EL T RE O U H AT FE
Sunset Beach Club
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Sunset Beach Club
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Experience the difference S
erviced by year-round flights into Malaga airport, The Costa del Sol is widely regarded as one of the best golf destinations around the globe. Located just 15 minutes from Malaga airport and within 30 minutes of many of the Costa del Sol’s favourite golf courses, the four star Sunset Beach Club offers an outstanding service to golfers visiting the Costa del Sol.
Rooms are all apartment-style, with kitchenette (fridge, kettle and also cooking facilities) and with their own balcony. With twin bedroom and lounge (with double sofa bed) they are ideal for two golfers sharing. They also have air-conditioning/heating, telephone and international satellite TV. A dedicated Golf Desk provides the complete service for golfers and is open six days a week. Offering pre-booked tee times at preferential rates at most Costa del Sol courses – and also arranging car hire/ transfers, and more – The Golf Desk can also help any accompanying non-golfers get the most out of their stay, by providing extensive information on the local area and also by booking day trips and excursions – or even golf lessons! A hearty buffet breakfast provides the perfect start the day, and the popular evening Happy Hour in the hotel’s Panorama Bar is where golfers meet to compare notes over a relaxing drink – or two! There are also many bars and restaurants nearby, and the award-winning Benalmadena Port, and the nightlife of Fuengirola and Benalmadena, are only a few minutes away by taxi.
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Sunset Beach Club
La Cala Golf Resort
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From previous page
SUNSET BEACH CLUB - WINTER GOLF OFFER: In addition to its fantastic facilities, stunning seafront location and comfortable apartment-style accommodation, Sunset Beach Club offers great value rates, especially in the autumn/winter golf season. Autumn/Winter 2013/14 Packages are: 4 nights B&B + 3 rounds of golf – €245 7 nights B&B + 3 rounds of golf – €349 These are fixed packages based on double occupancy and include:● Accommodation at Sunset Beach Club in a one-bedroom Exterior apartment ● Golf at La Cala Resort (across any of the 3 courses) including shared buggy ● Shared car hire (collection & return at Malaga airport) Valid for stays between 1st Nov 2013 – 14th Feb 2014. Limited offer subject to availability. Bookings are to be coordinated directly with the Golf Desk: golf@sunsetbeachclub.com Tel +(34) 952 579 400 Ext. 7822
Get in touch! Facebook.com/SunsetBeachClub Twitter.com/sunsetbeachclub For more information see
www.sunsetbeachclub.com Volume 1 • Issue 9
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Florence • www.villalamassa.com
EL T RE O U H AT FE
Villa La Massa
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Villa La Massa
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Step back in time Florence style
T
he city of Florence is a beautiful place to visit and offers visitors the world’s largest concentration of fine art within its city walls. Situated only 5km from the historic centre of Florence, Villa La Massa stands on the banks of the river Arno, in the Florentine countryside. A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, this Medici Villa, built in the 16th century has been home to several aristocratic families. In 1948, the Villa was transformed into a luxury hotel and in 1998 the Villa d’Este Group purchased the property. The 37 rooms are decorated in the Renaissance style and feature antique furniture, four-poster beds and buffed terracotta tiles, typical of the Medici period. All have marble bathrooms, air conditioning, satellite-TV, wi-fi, safe and minibar.
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Villa La Massa
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From previous page The Verrocchio Restaurant has a terrace overlooking the Arno river and offers Italian and typical Tuscan dishes that are sure to please even the most discerning palate. At the clients’ disposal is a fitness centre, treatment rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, free daily shuttle to/from Ponte Vecchio and a kid’s playground. Golfers are catered for at Ugolino Golf Club (with discounts for hotel guests) only 9.5 km away. Check the website for special offers and packages, such as ‘A Taste of Renaissance in Florence’ package, where you get to spend a few days with a leading art historian to explore the world-famous works of art that the area has. A picture-perfect break away is guaranteed.
Get in touch! Facebook.com /LeadingHotels Twitter.com/LeadingHotels For more information see
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Ham
Great Barrier Reef, Aust
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B LU C RE LF U O AT G FE
milton Island Golf Club
tralia • www.hamiltonislandgolfclub.com.au
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Hamilton Island Golf Club
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Out of this world T
he Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres. It can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. Can you see yourself playing golf alongside this?
Perfectly located at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, the Hamilton Island Golf Club has some of the most spectacular views and settings of any golf course in the world. Designed by champion golfer, Peter Thomson of Thomson Perrett, the Hamilton Island Golf Club is the only 18-hole championship island golf course in Australia. Situated on neighbouring Dent Island, access to the Golf Club is via a short boat transfer from Hamilton Island, which operates daily. The course has been designed to challenge all levels of golf enthusiasts, from resort guests to professional golfers. Given the changes in course elevation, restricted landing areas and the everpresent breezes it will provide a definite challenge from the back tees and enjoyable resort golf from the forward marks.
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Hamilton Island Golf Club
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From previous page The par 71, 18-hole course features two distinctly
different nine-hole circuits returning to a central
clubhouse with panoramic views of Dent Passage and Hamilton Island.
The stunning Chris Beckingham-designed
clubhouse is ideally perched to catch the soft sea
breeze and to take in the stunning views of Passage Peak and the sparking Coral Sea.
The clubhouse offers a stylishly relaxed restaurant
and bar that is perfect for a laid-back long lunch or morning or afternoon snack and refreshing drink.
The island's natural and rugged beauty, together
with its mountainous terrain affords stunning 360-
degree views across secluded coves and beaches
to adjacent passages and islands, and the mainland beyond. A must-play course!
Get in touch! Facebook.com/hamiltonisland Twitter.com/HamiltonIsland For more information see
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