Destination Golf Media Ltd
184 Charlesland Wood Greystones Co. Wicklow Ireland
destinationgolf@live.com www.destinationgolf.ie ■ PUBLISHER Dermot Synnott ■ EDITOR Karl Doyle ■ CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Marshall Paul Marshall ■ DIRECTOR Vincent Synnott ■ FINANCIAL CONTROLLER Darren Maguire ■ CREDIT CONTROLLER Mallory Courell ■ UK OPERATIONS Peter Barnes ■ OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Helen Duggan ■ INTERNATIONAL SALES Gianni Attanasio David Cooney Albert Ferrer I Lahoz
FRONT COVER Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Scotland (Photo: Paul Marshall)
Start making plans for your dream golf break this summer...
F
or many of us the long, cold, unrelenting grip of winter is finally coming to a welcome end, and we can now start dreaming of strolling casually along some sun-drenched fairways as the golf season starts in earnest.
Now is the time most of us get serious about booking our golfing holiday, so let Destination Golf Travel inspire you with some suggestions in this issue. One country where it seems it is perpetually summer is Egypt, and we take a look at The Allegria Golf Club, the aptly named Dreamland Golf, Madinat Makadi Golf Resort and Stella di Mare Golf Resort. Then it’s on to Wales to view some of the sights in the wonderful Aberdovey, Pennard, Tenby and Nefyn & District Golf Clubs. Turkey’s climate also seems to be bathed in sun all year round, so you are guaranteed good weather in the beautiful courses featured in this issue; Gloria Hotel & Resort, Cornelia De Luxe Resort, Maxx Royal Belek Golf & Spa, and Sueno Golf Belek. Andrew Marshall reports on Gourmet Golf, peacefully sailing along the waterways of Scotland in a barge. Our resort features then focus on Cascata Golf in Las Vegas, the stunning One World Hotel in Malaysia and the unique experience that awaits in Liss Ard Estate in West Cork, Ireland.
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 THE ALLEGRIA GOLF CLUB Egypt www.allegriacairo.com Page 4-5
DREAMLAND GOLF Egypt www.dreamlandgolf.com Page 6-7
MADINAT MAKADI GOLF RESORT Egypt www.madinatmakadigolf.com Page 8-9
STELLA DI MARE GOLF RESORT Egypt www.stelladimare.com Page 10-11
NEFYN & DISTRICT GOLF CLUB Wales www.nefyn-golf-club.co.uk Page 12-13
ABERDOVEY GOLF CLUB Wales www.aberdoveygolf.co.uk Page 14-15
PENNARD GOLF CLUB Wales www.pennardgolfclub.com Page 16-17
TENBY GOLF CLUB Wales www.tenbygolf.co.uk Page 18-19
CORNELIA DE LUXE RESORT Turkey Page 26-27
GLORIA HOTEL & RESORT Turkey www.gloria.com.tr Page 28-29
MAXX ROYAL BELEK GOLF & SPA Turkey www.maxxroyal.com Page 30-31
SUENO HOTELS GOLF BELEK Turkey www.sueno.com.tr Page 32-33
GOURMET GOLF IN SCOTLAND
Page 21-25
CASCATA GOLF Las Vegas, USA www.lasvegasgolf.com Page 34-37
LISS ARD ESTATE Ireland www.lissardestate.com Page 38-41
ONE WORLD HOTEL Malaysia www.oneworldhotel.com.my Page 42-45
www.corneliaresort.com
Features Andrew Marshall reports
Allegria Golf Club
Egypt • www.allegriacairo.com
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reamland Golf Club
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adinat Makadi Golf Resort
Egypt • www.madinatmakadigolf.com
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Stella di Mare Golf Reso Egypt • www.stelladimare.com
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Nefyn & District Golf Cl Wales • www.nefyn-golf-club.co.uk
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Aberdovey Golf Club Wales • www.aberdoveygolf.co.uk
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Pennard Golf Club
Wales • www.pennardgolfclub.com
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Tenby Golf Club
Wales • www.tenbygolf.co.uk
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Some Gourmet Go G
Words: Andrew Marshall
Photos: Paul Marshall
olf by canal barge in Scotland… it’s an interesting concept. Travelling by this mode of transport harkens back to a bygone era, one of romance and adventure. Combine this with four rounds of golf, on courses ranging from quirky Highland nine-holers to top notch links such as Royal Dornoch, add in some mouth-watering cuisine, world-class single-malts and convivial company, and it may just be the recipe for the ultimate ‘golf, leisure and lifestyle’ experience. Keen to give it a try, we join the crew and other guests aboard European Waterways’ Scottish Highlander for a week-long cruise tailor-made for golfers - a journey from Fort William to Inverness along the scenic Caledonian Canal, with views of snow-capped Ben Nevis, across mysterious lochs where ancient castles perch on heather-clad hillsides, home of golden eagle and red deer. “Welcome aboard the Scottish Highlander and help yourself to glasses of champagne,” says skipper Dan Clark, as introductions are made, golf clubs and luggage loaded aboard and cruising golf guests shown to their cabins. Other crew members include housekeeper and deck-hand Melissa Ho, a friendly New Zealand Kiwi, and Moshy – tour guide and chauffeur of guests to the golf courses. Then there’s chef John Baxter, an eccentric personality with a single-figure handicap, and an expert on local recipes, cheeses and fine wines – one of his passions is late night golf conversations over bottles of red. “Help yourself to the wine, beer and whiskies,” he says, disappearing into his floating kitchen. Every conceivable comfort for year-round cruising has been
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Add a unique dime barge through loc ANDREW MARS abo
EL E AV R R U T AT
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olf Cruising...
ension to a Scottish golf tour, and journey by chs and along the scenic Caledonian Canal. HALL & PAUL MARSHALL take their clubs ard the Scottish Highlander...
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Magnificent Royal Dornoch Golf Club with the gorse in full bloom.
Various local beers available on board
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Bagpipes in Fort Augustus
A peek
inside the comfortable Cameron Double
From previous page thought of on the Scottish Highlander, including cabin heating, an icemaker, pressure showers, a cosy saloon, library, fishing gear and bicycles. Our golfing trip afloat quickly develops into a relaxing lifestyle. There are plenty of opportunities to watch the scenery unfold from the barge’s sundeck, observe lock operation, visit the Ben Nevis whisky distillery and of course play golf. First up is 18 holes at Newtonmore, a parkland track that is renowned for its number of left-handed players. Beautifully situated between the Monadhliath and Grampian Mountains with the River Spey bordering its side, it’s a good opportunity to get into the swing of things before the more demanding links tests that lay ahead. On day three we visit the quirky Fort Augustus Golf Club. Situated on moorland ground, on which crofters grazed their stock, Fort Augustus ’ 9-hole layout established in 1930 is as raggedy around the edges, as the wiry heather that lines the fairways. For starters, the course layout diagram on the scorecard is so difficult to understand it would confuse a geometry professor. There’s more sheep on the fairways and greens than at shearing time on a New Zealand farm. The local rules make interesting reading: ‘A ball lying on sheep wool, or on or made dirty by sheep droppings, may be lifted and cleaned without penalty.’ The course record is a 63 currently held by ‘Big Peter.’ “Not a lot is known about him, except he’s big and he’s a long hitter,” says one member with a wry smile. Fort Augustus is still great fun though, but be careful not to slice your tee shot on the par-5 6th and 15th, appropriately named Canal. Each evening, around the time when everyone is pouring themselves their 19th-hole tipple of choice, John emerges from the galley kitchen and announces the dinner menu. “Tonight we’ll be having highland pie, which is made of ground beef, mashed potatoes, beer, and little bit of that stuff from the top shelf all marinated overnight,” he says. “Then we’ll finish of with baked apple and some Lady Jane, a hand-moulded cheddar from the Hebridean Island of Gigha.” My mouth waters at the prospect. Meal times are an opportunity for guests to get to know one another as they sit around sipping and dining, discussing the highs and lows of the day’s round and what lies in store the following day. In our case, the following day brought us to Nairn. Nairn's Championship course is home of the famous GB & Ireland Walker Cup Victory in 1999, and one of the finest links courses in the country. Founded in 1887 and added to and extended by Archie Simpson, Old Tom Morris and James Braid, Nairn is a classic "out and back" par-72 links course with a strong Scottish ambience. All three of Nairn’s par 5 holes are over 530 yards long, which is a test for all.
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A view of the 219-yard par-3 14th at Nairn Golf Club
Fort Augustus Golf Club
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A gourmet golf picnic provided before the round.
Our bar
rge descends a 5-lock staircase system
From previous page With crisp fairways, deep pot bunkers and punishing rough and gorse, it makes it very difficult to post a respectable score, which we all discover. But it’s the speed of the billiard table-like greens, some of the best in the country, which will prove to be the biggest challenge. After leaving our mooring at Fort Augustus we cruise across the mighty waters of Loch Ness. At 22 miles (38.6km) long and up to 1.5 miles wide (2.4 km), its surrounding mountains enter the water dramatically enough to form sheer underwater cliffs. No-one knows for certain if monsters inhabit the near 300m (1000-ft) depths, but we joke to ourselves that there’s probably a better chance of spotting ‘Nessie’ than shooting under our handicaps at the final course of our golf cruise – the remote and testing links of Royal Dornoch, about an hour’s drive from our mooring at Dochgarroch. “You’ll need a six-inch nail to keep your hat on today,” says the starter, as a fourball made up of fellow passengers Rich, Harriet, Margi and Walt prepare to tee off on Dornoch’s 331-yard par 4 1st. We follow behind as a two-ball, and as sure as the quality of John’s cooking, the wind is up. I quickly study the course guide and nervously draw an iron from the bag. Royal Dornoch throws down the gauntlet right from the very first tee. “After the second hole, you round a corner, pass a hedge and golfing heaven breaks loose.” These words on the club’s website are temptation enough, but once we go around the said corner, everything about this heralded links is right in front of us. Framed between the hills and mountains to the left and the wild North Sea is a rich tapestry of undulating fairways and greens interspersed with flowering yellow gorse. Golf was first played here at least as far back as 1616 when the Earl of Sutherland ordered clubs and balls to take up the game that was becoming so popular further south. This makes Royal Dornoch the third oldest golfing community in Scotland. The layout is classic links with the first 8 holes following the natural slants and humps of the old dune embankments while the remainder skirts the sandy beaches of Dornoch Bay. Plateau greens are characteristic as well as raised tees and on the par 3s, these saucershaped greens prove daunting. Multiple British Open champion and links aficionado Tom Watson probably summed up Royal Dornoch the best when he said “This is the most fun I have had playing golf in my whole life.” Mr Watson’s very same words could easily be applied to a week’s Gourmet Golf Barging on European Waterways’ Scottish Highlander.
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.GoBarging.com Volume 1 • Issue 5
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Cornelia De Luxe Resort
Turkey • www.corneliaresort.com 26 Destination Golf TRAVEL
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Gloria Hot
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tel & Resort (New Course) Turkey • www.gloria.com.tr
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Maxx Royal Belek Golf &
Turkey • www.maxxroyal.com
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& Spa
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Sueno Hotels Golf Be
Turkey • www.sueno.com.tr
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elek
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Las V
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Vegas, USA • www.lasvegasgolf.com
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Cascata Golf
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Cascata Golf
The Cascata Experience
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ocated a few minutes off the legendary Las Vegas strip, Cascata Golf has been voted the #2 course in Nevada, and one of the top 100 in the US by Golf Magazine.
Cascata Golf offers breathtaking beauty as well as a stiff challenge, with sweeping mountain vistas at every turn providing Las Vegas’ most scenic and spectacular course – a golf experience like no other. Cascata, Italian for "waterfall," is aptly named. A 418-foot waterfall from the steep mountainside towering above the driving range meanders into a river that roars through the clubhouse, eventually culminating in a tranquil stream. Designed by renowned golf course architect Rees Jones, Cascata opened in 2000 and is already celebrated as one of the finest par-72 designs in the world. The Tuscan-style, 37,000-sq. ft. clubhouse offers an Old World ambiance of unpretentious luxury, where attentive staff members oblige your every need. Located at the nearby Rio Secco is the famous Butch Harmon School of Golf, where you can fine tune your game under the watchful eye of an expert.
For more information see www.lasvegasgolf.com Volume 1 • Issue 5
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Lissard Estate
West Cork, Ireland • www.lissardestate.co
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Lissard Estate
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West Cork’s land of adventures
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ocated just outside Skibereen in West Cork, Ireland, lies the magical Liss Ard Country Estate. This unique estate is filled with 200 acres of country manors, gardens, trails, ponds and lakes where nature, art, modern luxury and elegance come together in perfect harmony. With so much on offer for the younger visitors, Liss Ard Country Estate is a haven for family trips, encouraging day-long interaction between parents and their children. Liss Ard Estate is deservedly proud of its exciting gardens & trails, ponds and lakes, and feature many woodland walks with specially designed pathways. An astonishing landscape feature is ‘The Crater’, a giant earth and stoneworks creation where visitors can gaze up through the Crater’s 'bowl' into the sky. Guests’ time at Liss Ard can be spent exploring the estate or availing of the many outdoor recreational pursuits by day, while your evenings can be spent relaxing in front of open log fires and dining in the restaurant. Simple, uncomplicated food that has been sourced from local Artisan producers provide the basis for a culinary experience that bursts with flavours. Highly recommended. For more information see
www.lissardestate.com Volume 1 • Issue 5
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Malaysia
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• www.oneworldhotel.com.my
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One World Hotel
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On
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‘One’ experience you won’t forget in Malaysia
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constant stream of critical acclaim and praise, coupled with a constant flow of internationally recognised awards, make One World Hotel in Petaling Jaya one of the leading hotels in Malaysia. One World Hotel is a 438-room 5-star hotel near Kuala Lumpur that radiates in luxury and splendour. Its high quality standards, unequalled amenities and warm courteous staff provide a consistently hospital environment and atmosphere.
e World Hotel
The hotel is adjoined by the award-winning 1 Utama Shopping Centre – one of Malaysia’s most successful shopping centres, showcasing a staggering 600 retail outlets, two cinemas with 20 screens and a 36-lane bowling centre. Business travellers also have the opportunity to unwind at a state-of-the-art gym, wellness centre and sauna. This 5-star Petaling Jaya hotel also features innovative restaurants – namely Cinnamon Coffee House, Zuan Yuan Chinese Restaurant, Kura Japanese Restaurant, The Sphere, Poolbar & Grill, Long Bar and Havana Club. For more information see
www.oneworldhotel.com.my Volume 1 • Issue 5
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