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TRAVEL Uncovering a whole world of great golf

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Great golf, great value Welcome to the biggest, best and hottest golf travel guide around f you’re looking to book a golf break for 2017, our annual Travel Guide is rammed with valuable information to help you decide where and when to go.

We think we’ve covered all bases by turning the spotlight on all the well-established – and some not-so-established but fast emerging – destinations both in the UK and continental Europe. There is something for everyone and, most importantly, for all budgets.

Take advantage of a plethora of handy insider travel tips such as likely playing conditions, the weather you’re likely to encounter and best time to go.

There’s all you need to know about the world-class golfing hotspots of Portugal and Spain, both prominently featured, along with a crop of amazing-value destinations such as

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Turkey, Morocco and Bulgaria plus a few surprise packages including Belgium and northern Cyprus. A collection of ‘try-ityourself’ deals for nearly every featured destination – with several exclusive to our readers – have also been thrown into the mix.

But you don’t have to go abroad to enjoy a memorable golf break. Many UK courses are perfectly playable year-round with resorts offering some outstanding out-of-season packages and deals.

You also have the chance to win a superb Italy golf break; and if you vote for your favourite courses and hotels in the annual TG Travel Awards (pages 50-51), you’ll stand a chance of winning a fantastic stay-and-play break at Devon’s five-star Bovey Castle.

Kevin Brown, Courses & Travel Editor

WHERE TO PLAY 4 England Tons of courses, for every budget.

15 Scotland The Home of Golf has it all.

24 Wales Discover golf in the Principality.

28 Ireland Unspoilt, uncrowded, unbelievable.

31 Win! A superb Italy break 34 Portugal Europe’s favourite golf destination.

42 Spain The original and many still say the best.

50 TG Travel Awards 54 Turkey 59 How to plan the perfect trip 60 France 62 Off the beaten track

Get away Korineum Golf Resort in Cyprus.

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

England

From coastal epics to forested hidden gems, the country’s 1900 golf courses cater for all tastes hen the sun is shining there is no better place to play than this green and most pleasant land. England is bristling with every single type of golf course under the sun – links, clifftop, heathland, downland and, of course, the vast majority: pure parkland.

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This diversity of landscapes is also reflected in an exceptionally wide range of experiences and budgets. England enjoys its share of world-class layouts, plenty of hidden gems and plenty of quality pay-and-plays which will blow you away. In other words, there’s something for every golfer, experienced or novice, and every depth of pocket.

Formby Pure golf in the north west.

THE NORTH If you venture north of England for your golf, you can’t go wrong: you’re onto a winner virtually whichever direction you take. The north west coast is the proud home of England’s Golf Coast – arguably a collection of the best seaside courses in the country – while a trip to West Yorkshire, specifically Leeds, will be rewarded with the very best inland golf you can wish to play.

Must-play courses: With a cluster of world-class links courses stretching from Lytham St Annes to Hoylake, England’s Golf Coast dominates the north west coast. And with the trio of Royals Birkdale, Liverpool and Lytham among its

classy ranks, you can’t argue.

You probably know all there is to know about the Open Championship courses but likely not too much about unsung hero West Lancs even though it’s the area’s oldest. It’s been around since 1873 when it was opened by a group of Scottish businessmen. All the holes here have the potential to unsettle even the best, especially when the wind blows. The design is simple yet solid, and this course should be celebrated as one of the best links tracks around.

Formby and Hillside, which neighbours Birkdale, are definite must-plays. The best of the rest include Caldy, a shining clifftop star on the Wirral Peninsula, and St Annes Old Links, a lovely links in its own right with its par-3 9th admired by Bobby Jones so much he took measurements of it so he could recreate it in America.

The area has some top inland layouts too with Delamere Forest, a short-but-sweet century-old Herb Fowler heathland, and nearby Sandiway, a fascinating combination of woodland and heathland, being the pick.

Further north in Cumbria there’s no doubt about the no.1 course and come rain or shine,

ENGLAND you’re guaranteed to have a ball at the stunning yet underrated links of Silloth-onSolway – a course that has always offered superb value.

The county of Yorkshire is one of the biggest in the country and as far as golf is concerned the White Rose county is simply sensational. In the classy corner of West Yorkshire you’ll discover some of the best inland golf around in the form of Alister MacKenzie’s Alwoodley, magical Moortown which staged the first official Ryder Cup in the UK and Sand Moor, all handily located down the road from one another.

You’ve also got to play Ganton – think of Turnberry without the sea – and York’s former European Tour venue, Fulford where an up-and-coming Bernard Langer unforgettably played a shot from the ash tree beside the penultimate green.

You’ll find some great golf on offer in Northumberland and around Newcastle too.

Indeed the north east has been significantly boosted in recent times following the continued development of exciting new resorts Close House and Rockliffe Hall while Durham’s Ramside Hall has benefited big-

‘Sandiway’s layout offers a fascinating wood/heathland combination’ time from architect Jonathan Gaunt’s expertise to create the new-look Cathedral Course. However, Slaley Hall’s Hunting and James Braid coastal classic Goswick remain the benchmark.

Best time to go Generally the weather isn’t as favourable as down south so winter should probably be avoided with the exception of the seaside courses on both the north east and north west coasts. Best sunshine month is July with an average total of 192 hours. There’s a good chance too that the sun will be shining down on you during August when, owing to school summer holidays, many courses are likely to be relatively quiet.

Where to stay There are literally hundreds of places for all

tastes and budgets in Southport and Blackpool – both on the doorstep of the main Golf Coast attractions – while the classy resorts of Slaley Hall and Close House, both with 36 holes, are the north-eastern stars along with Rockliffe Hall and Rudding Park.

Best places to eat & drink Head for the bright lights and array of cafes, bars and restaurants of Newcastle and Leeds and, if you’re on the Golf Coast trail, the Merseyside beat of Southport and Liverpool while bustling Blackpool has its fair share too.

Insider tips ● The Mere, Slaley Hall and Moor Allerton all belong to 2-FORE!-1 Golf. ● If you’re a competitive player, you can play in an Open competition at a host of leading venues – usually for a substantially discounted green fee and with food thrown in!

Visit www.golfempire.co.uk for dates and venues. ● Autumn is the best time to visit the Golf Coast. Not only will the courses be considerably quieter, they’ll be considerably cheaper to play too.

Off-course attractions The north is a sporting mecca, especially ➔

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

ENGLAND

Hillside Golf Coast classic.

when it comes to the national game, providing many leading Premier League clubs including Manchester’s City and United, Liverpool and Everton and, on the opposite coast, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

Try it yourself… ● Slaley Hall, Northumberland. Two nights’ dinner B&B and three rounds costs from £179pp including 20% off drinks, retail and free bacon roll for groups of 12 or more while 1 in 12 goes free (exc Saturdays). To book visit www.QHotels.co.uk/golf/ ● Overnight dinner, B&B at Macdonald Portal, Cheshire, and round of golf (groups of 12, one goes free) costs from £85pp during 2017 (based on two sharing a room and bookings made before Oct 31). To book visit http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/golf/ THE SOUTH Golf in this neck of the woods doesn’t come cheap, especially at the most prestigious courses, but then again class never does and down south there is plenty of that commodity on offer. It’s pure golfing gold from the historic links of the Kent coast to the wonderful array of courses, chiefly heathland, of the Home Counties.

Must-play courses: The south is so rammed with world-class layouts you can practically fill the supplement with them. That said, most of the 24-carat 6 TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

West Lancs Authentic links fayre

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‘Bristling with charm, Isle of Purbeck is set within an exquisite nature reserve’ gems are to be found around the capital in the Home Counties with the names rapidly, one after the other, tripping off the tongue: Wentworth, Sunningdale, The Berkshire, Walton Heath, Woking, Worplesdon….and so on. Nowadays of course Wentworth is strictly members only but if you are lucky enough to get a precious invite, seize it with both hands and that includes a round on no.2 layout the Edinburgh which is poised to be re-worked by Gary Player.

Head to the Kent coast and you’ll be in links paradise with the mighty threesome of Royal St George’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s sitting next to one another while nearby Littlestone is a championship links in its own right and boasts great greens. Still in the garden of England but inland, Hever Castle is well worth trying with some devilishly difficult par 3s as is Sir Nick Faldo’s bunker-strewn Chart Hills and the London Club though you can only play one of the two courses there.

Dorset’s jewels include Ferndown, Broadstone, Parkstone and Remedy Oak but the Isle of Purbeck is pretty special too, bristling with charm and character within an exquisite heathland nature reserve. A bonus is that all of them are in terrific condition yearround.

Sussex superstars are West Sussex and in the east of the county, Royal Ashdown’s bunkerless heathland classic Old Course and there’s plenty of quality too in Hertfordshire with British Masters venue The Grove, charismatic Ashridge and dual course venues Moor Park and Brocket Hall showing the way.

Just off the A1, Brocket is an outstanding allround venue with two contrasting 18-holers (Palmerston & Melbourne) and provides a memorable golfing outing whatever time of the year. ➔ Buckinghamshire belters are Woburn,

The Great British Escape

Stoke Park is a luxury 5 AA Red Star Hotel, Spa and Country Club set within 300 acres of beautiful parkland and offers world-class sporting and leisure facilities, these include: รก EHGURRPV DQG VXLWHV รก $ZDUG ZLQQLQJ 6SD รก KROH &KDPSLRQVKLS *ROI &RXUVH รก 5HVWDXUDQWV DQG %DUV LQFOXGLQJ +XPSKU\โ V (3 AA Rosette, fine dining) รก 7HQQLV &RXUWV LQGRRU JUDVV DQG DUWLILFLDO FOD\

รก 6WDWH RI WKH DUW *\P ZLWK )LWQHVV +RW <RJD and Spinning Studios hosting up to 50 classes per week รก ,QGRRU 3RRO รก &UqFKH รก *DPHV 5RRP รก 3OD\JURXQG PLQXWHV IURP /RQGRQ DQG PLOHV IURP +HDWKURZ $LUSRUW PDNHV 6WRNH 3DUN an ideal location and perfect setting for stopovers and luxury breaks. )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ RU WR ERRN SOHDVH FRQWDFW RXU 5HVHUYDWLRQV 7HDP RQ RU HPDLO UHVHUYDWLRQV#VWRNHSDUN FRP

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

ENGLAND

Moor Park Testing Herts stopper.

home of 54 holes and not a weak one in sight, and Stoke Park – parkland golf at its best, especially following the upgrades made during its recent impressive comprehensive refurbishment.

Best time to go The vast majority of the courses named above are fast-draining so virtually guarantee excellent year-round golf and excellent value at this time of the year. Autumn is a golden month for golf, and not just because of the leaves. The courses should still be in tip-top playing condition and most will be available at significantly reduced rates.

Where to stay The Lodge at Prince’s is the ideal spot for Kent’s top links and if you’re a history buff you’ll adore breathtaking Hever Castle, also in Kent. If money is no object and you’re looking for a special treat, then The Grove – London’s Country Club – the sumptuous mansion at Stoke Park and Exclusive Hotels’ South Lodge will duly oblige as will historic Luton Hoo close to the airport.

Best places to eat & drink Brilliant Brighton is strewn with great eateries – and pubs – and as far as restaurants are concerned, most leading golf resorts deliver the goods. The Glasshouse at The Grove offers the best buffet ever. Others well worth considering are The Brasserie on the Bay at Prince’s, Adam’s Brasserie at Luton Hoo and 8 TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

Wentworth Challenging Edinburgh.

‘Rerfurbishment has helped Stoke Park offer parkland golf at its best’ the award-winning Humphry’s restaurant at Stoke Park.

Insider tips ● Half-price golf is available in 2-FORE!-1 at: The Shire, Prince’s and Heythrop Park. ● A great way to play leading layouts on the cheap is to take advantage of the superb twilight rates offered for playing late in the day (or early in the morning at some courses). ● Cottesmore Hotel G&CC with its two 18 hole parkland layouts is convenient for

Gatwick airport; it makes a great base for warming up with a round or two before flying out for that golfing holiday.

Off-course attractions Most courses are around the capital which basically has everything you need. If you’ve any energy left, you might want to try out the lively theme parks at Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures.

Try it yourself… ● Overnight B&B accommodation at The Grove, Herts, and round of golf costs 140pp (based on two people sharing in Jan, Feb, Mar 2017). Today’s Golfer readers will receive a free room upgrade on check-in (subject to availability).To book visit https://www. thegrove.co.uk/golf/offers-short-breaks/stayplay/ ● Two nights at Botany Bay Hotel, Kent, and two rounds of golf (Royal St George’s & North Foreland) costs £325pp (based on two sharing twin room). To book call 01708 339300. ● Stay & play at Prince’s, Kent. Two nights’ B&B at The Lodge (twin room) and two rounds costs £225pp until end of Oct. To book call 01708 339300. ● Dorset G&CC, Dorset. 2017 golf break includes three nights’ dinner, B&B stay in fivestar Log Homes/Luxury Cottages with four rounds plus three range balls, costs from £214pp. To book call 01929 472244. ➔

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017 EAST & MIDLANDS This is the part of country where two great golfing worlds collide. On one hand, in the east you can experience some of the bestvalue seaside golf in the country – with no compromise on quality – and on the other at the very heart of the England you have a whole host of stunning inland tracks with legendary Ryder Cup venue The Belfry being the most famous – though when it comes to the title of the best, it has some seriously stiff competition.

Must-play courses Let’s start with the Midlands which provides some of the best inland – parkland and heathland – golf in the UK. And the four-times Ryder Cup host The Belfry is a good place to begin with most golfers predictably looking to tee it up on the mighty Brabazon Ryder Cup course despite the pricy green fee and the fact a round usually takes well over five hours!

If you can, make a day of it and tackle the neighbouring PGA National, arguably the most demanding of the resort’s three layouts.

Other nearby treats include Open qualifying venue Little Aston, which regularly and rightly features in most Top 100 Courses listings, and wonderful heathland duo Beau Desert, majestically plotted in the middle of Cannock Chase, and Copt Heath, a quality Harry Vardon/Harry Colt creation with 96 strategically-placed bunkers and great greens.

The region’s best course however is to be found in the remote Lincolnshire outpost of Woodhall Spa, home of governing body England Golf and the truly breathtaking and highly challenging Hotchkin layout with its collection of fearsome ultra-deep and penal

Hunstanton Coastal treat in Norfolk.

10 TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

Beau Desert GrandMidland Heathland.

bunkers. Again, make a day of it and play the Donald Steel-designed Bracken, an outstanding parkland alternative.

Still inland, you’ll find more stunning heathland golf aplenty in Nottinghamshire at the wonderful trio of Notts GC (Hollinwell), Sherwood Forest and Worksop with 1957 Ryder Cup host venue Lindrick, Lee Westwood’s club, just down the road from the latter.

The only true Lincolnshire links is Seacroft, an out-and-back layout on a narrow strip of land adjoining the Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve. If you want the links experience, however, you‘ll do well to visit the neighbouring counties Norfolk and Suffolk.

Here you will find an abundance of top seaside tracks with Royal West Norfolk and Hunstanton being the pick. The two are however ably supported by quality clifftop courses Sheringham and Royal Cromer.

Heathy King’s Lynn and Thetford are Norfolk’s inland heroes and well worth a look.

For a small county, Suffolk punches above its weight too in terms of quality of courses.

Felixstowe Ferry’s Martello layout is one of the

best and provides a real coastal treat while wonderful Woodbridge is a hidden heathland masterpiece plotted amid an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Aldeburgh and Thorpeness, both hidden just off the coast, also fall into the must-play category.

Best time to go You can play the east’s seaside courses virtually year-round – they winter exceptionally well as do the heathland fastdraining likes of Notts, Sherwood Forest and Coxmoor. Probably best to visit The Belfry early or towards the end of the season when the Brabazon won’t be as busy and green fees won’t be as costly.

Where to stay Legendary four-times Ryder Cup venue The Belfry has to be no.1 with Marriott’s Forest of Arden near Coventry hot on its heels. In the East, Heacham and Titchwell Manors are ideal to discover Norfolk’s top links and ditto Thorpeness, oozing with charm and character, for the Suffolk highlights.

Best places to eat & drink The Belfry has several dining options including the smart-but-casual Sam’s Clubhouse besides, of course, its own Bel Air nightclub. East Anglia favourites include Titchwell Manor, offering three-AA Rosette dining, Thornham Deli and the Lifeboat Inn in the same village between Hunstanton and Brancaster.

Insider tips ● Forest Pines, Forest of Arden and Belfry PGA Championship are in 2-FORE!-1. ● If time is short, there are a number of outstanding nine holers around including Royal Worlington & Newmarket, widely

ENGLAND

The Belfry Relive past Ryder Cups.

regarded as England’s finest nine-hole venue.

Off-course attractions Birmingham is England’s second city and has plenty of attractions as does east Midlands cities Nottingham, Derby and Leicester.

Skegness and Great Yarmouth are among the east coast’s favourite seaside towns and the area is great for wildlife too thanks to popular RSPB sites Minsmere and Titchwell.

Try it yourself…. ● Overnight golf break at Ufford Park, Suffolk, costs £93.50pp Sun and Thurs. To book call 01394 383555. ● Book a golf break direct with The Nottinghamshire, Notts, and you’ll receive a complimentary buggy. To book call 0115 933 3344 and quote Today’s Golfer. ● Overnight dinner, B&B at Macdonald Hill Valley, Shropshire and round of golf (groups of 12, 1 goes free) costs from £85pp during 2017 (based on two sharing a room and bookings made before Oct 31). To book visit http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/golf/ ● Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort, Lincs. Two nights’ dinner B&B and three rounds costs from £195pp including 20% off drinks, retail

and free bacon roll for groups of 16 or more while 1 in 12 goes free (exc Saturdays). To book visit www.QHotels.oc.uk/golf/ ● Sunday Saver at The Belfry. Sunday dinner, B&B and two rounds, use of the leisure facilities and a beer and a burger/curry in Sam’s Clubhouse costs from £114pp. To book visit www.thebelfry.co.uk ● Two nights’ dinner, B&B at North Shore Hotel, Lincs, and three rounds costs from £189pp. To book call 01754 763298.

2017 Golf Breaks from £70

THE WEST The West probably isn’t England’s best golfing region, but nevertheless it still gives the others a good run for their money. Based around the magical neighbouring counties of Devon and Cornwall, it guarantees great holiday golf and some of the finest courses you’re ever likely to tee it up on…

Must-play courses: It’s chiefly all about Devon and Cornwall which basically means the stunning cluster of Atlantic Links courses starring the trio of Saunton, Trevose and St Enodoc. Saunton boasts two wonderful 18-hole links (East & West) with the former the main layout and widely considered good enough to stage an Open Championship. It’s that good. Trevose is a Harry Colt classic overlooking Constantine Bay while TG’s favourite is the wonderfully enchanting St Enodoc which towers over the Camel Estuary to Padstow and guarantees a game to remember.

You’ve got to tee it up too at the rumpled historic links of Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! – it’s better known by that name – which was founded in 1864, making it

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

ENGLAND

St Enodoc Golfing Eden in Cornwall.

England’s oldest course and equivalent of St Andrews north of the border.

En-route to Devon or Cornwall, you should head off the M5 for Somerset’s own seaside pride and joy – and it most certainly is – Burnham and Berrow. Alternatively, this fine links makes for a perfect finale for your western sojourn.

Other coastal treats include quirky Cornish pair Perranporth and West Cornwall, the former being a rollicking rollercoaster of a James Braid layout dramatically perched on the cliffs. Elsewhere, Thurlestone is somewhat unheralded even if it is regarded as ‘Devon’s Pebble Beach’.

Inland, Wiltshire’s Bowood and The Manor House are well worth a look, but there’s no doubt about the number one inland course and challenge: parkland golf doesn’t come any tougher or prettier than the formidable Nicklaus course at St Mellion, the ultimate test of inland golf. If you’re looking to experience magical heathland action then East Devon is the place for you and it’s in great nick year-round.

Finally, Devon is also the home of the UK’s biggest golf resort. Nestled in the foothills of Dartmoor National Park on a 600-acre complex you’ll discover the Manor House and Ashbury Hotels and a whopping total of 99 holes of golf on offer, along with an assortment of many other sport, leisure and craft facilities.

Best time to go Many courses are pretty rammed in summer so spring and autumn are the best times to visit the popular Devon and Cornwall courses.

12 TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

‘Parkland golf does not come much tougher or prettier than at St Mellion’ Where to stay You’ll love the wonderful collection of selfcatering options available at Trevose G&CC and can similarly stay in style and comfort at luxury Devon resort Bovey Castle on the edge of Dartmoor. Brend hotels Carlyon Bay and Saunton Sands, the latter overlooking the sensational Saunton layouts, are also recommended.

Best places to eat & drink The south west provides the best seafood and cream teas in the land and you can savour both along with the famous original Cornish pasty throughout the region. Rick Stein’s fish and chip shop in Padstow is pretty tasty too – ManorHouse Muscular Wilts test.

so much so that you’ll probably have to wait a while for supper (the queues can be lengthy).

Insider tips ● You can experience stunning links quartet Trevose, Royal North Devon, St Mellion and Perranporth for half-price with a 2-FORE!-1 voucher.

Off-course attractions It’s all about the beaches which rank as among the best in the UK. Plus the wilds of the remote Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor, and the many attractions you’ll discover at both Land’s End and the Eden Project near St Austell.

Try it yourself… ● Overnight dinner, B&B at Bovey Castle and round of golf costs from £339pp (based on two people sharing a classic room). To book call on 01647 445007. ● Three nights’ B&B at Trevose, Cornwall, and unlimited golf costs £195pp (1 Nov-1 Mar excludes 24-31 Dec). To book call 01841 520208. ● Atlantic Links Cornwall & Devon Trail. Two nights’ B&B twin share accommodation at The Molesworth Arms hotel, Wadebridge, and three rounds (RND, Trevose & St Enodoc), costs £296pp Apr-Oct. To book call 01 637 879991. ● Manor House & Ashbury Hotels, Devon.

You’ll receive free daily golf, free wine on Thurs & Sun & free group tennis tuition, halfprice buggies (£8 per round) and 10% off health and beauty treatments for stays between Oct 6 and Apr 27. Costs £55pp per night till Oct 20 & £50pppn Oct 30-Dec 22.

To book call 01837 53053.

The grass is greener at Ufford Park Woodbridge

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SUMMER GOLF 2017 COME, STAY AND PLAY AT ONE OF SUFFOLK’S FINEST GOLF COURSES BOOK FOR WINTER golf from November 2016 until March 2017 for £95PP including: Unlimited golf, dinner, bed & breakfast, with parties of 12 or more receiving £100 worth of retail spend in our Pro Shop.

BOOK FOR SUMMER 2017 from £119PP with unlimited golf, dinner, bed and breakfast.

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the NOTTINGHAMSHIRE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Featuring the toughest par four in the county, come and experience the superb facilities of Nottingham’s only 36 hole golf complex, just 6 miles from the city.

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

SCOTLAND

Scotland

The Glen Keep it right of Bass Rock.

550 courses, seven Open venues and 6,000 miles of coastline; no wonder Scotland is the place to go

his is where it started six centuries ago. Scotland is the birthplace of the game, the Home of Golf. The legendary names swiftly trip off the tongue: St Andrews, Troon, Turnberry, Muirfield, Prestwick and Dornoch. And so on. With so much history swirling around, not surprisingly it remains THE place to go for a golf break.

And probably always will. Here’s why…

T

FIFE It is the world-renowned Home of Golf, but the title isn’t just marketing hype; the courses of Fife can justify the grand statement.

Whether you want historic links, modern coastal classics or cute inland tracks, Fife has

the answer. Underpinning a golf break here, of course, is the knowledge you are soaking up part of the game’s history.

Must-play courses The Old Course is the obvious place to start and unless you are on a strict budget, you’ll want to put your name in the ballot for the following day’s play. We need not dwell long on what it offers because its combination of history and cerebral challenge has been exceedingly well documented. It is worth saying, though, that a great fall-back option is the New, although its reputation is growing to the extent it is increasingly busy itself.

Perhaps book in for the New and use either the championship Jubilee or the cute Eden as

your Old Course fallback.

Just outside the town, the Castle is a bit of a Marmite course but if you like fabulous views and a modern twist, you’ll love it.

Further down the coast, Kingsbarns is the course the Castle tried to emulate. Now ranked in the top 10 of GB&I, it is superbly designed and enjoys a peerless coastal setting. Crail is a mini Kingsbarns (especially in price tag) while inland Scotscraig is Scotland’s answer to Ganton and a stiff test to even elite players. We also love the pine-lined pleasures of Ladybank. The resort courses of Fairmont St Andrews offer tremendous views.

Best time to go The east coast of Scotland has a drier but

➔

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

colder climate than the west.

Where to stay The obvious spot in St Andrews is the Old Course Hotel and if you can afford the fivestar rates, you should head there. Nearby Rusacks is a notch down in price but has the same jaw-dropping location, while Fairmont St Andrews Bay just outside the town is a large modern hotel.

Best places to eat & drink The Jigger Inn is a wonderful place for a postround pint in St Andrews but if it’s busy, head for the pubs close to the links to drink among golfers. Head for the coast and any of the fish and chip shops for the best you’ll ever taste, including award-winning ones in Anstruther.

Dunbar East coast hybrid.

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Insider tips Arrive in style and comfort aboard Virgin Trains East Coast with Leuchars station just 10 minutes away.

Off-course attractions The beaches all along the coast are naturally beautiful, if often bracing. In addition, why not visit St Andrews Castle, St Andrews Cathedral, Eden mill brewery or Knockhill racing circuit?

EAST LOTHIAN Increasingly a rival to Fife and Ayrshire as having the finest stretch of golf in the country, East Lothian has quality courses in abundance with a little less of the commercialism that has developed in St

Andrews. It offers a terrific selection of courses that ticks all boxes and budgets.

Must-play courses Muirfield is the top course in this area and the fabled Open host. It is widely regarded as the very best and fairest test of golf in the land.

North Berwick provides a stark contrast, also a championship venue but one that is bursting full of fun thanks to some of the best features – with architectural quirks like stone walls – that you’ll see on a golf course. It’s an absolute essential, the sort of place you’ll be telling the mates who didn’t go on the trip about for years. Gullane has three courses so you can basically be based here and never need to leave. No.1 is the star attraction, established in any Top 100 one cares to mention and a fine European Tour host last year. But don’t discount No.2 as it is a very fine links too. Luffness is a mini Muirfield and if you can’t get on at the Honourable Company, or don’t want to pay the green fee, it is a good way to get a feel for what it is like.

Meanwhile Kilspindie is one of the most delightful short links you’ll find anywhere in GB&I. The Glen in North Berwick offers nice clifftop views while Craigielaw is a modern links next to Kilspindie. Archerfield has two courses, the part pine-tree-lined Fidra and linksy Dirleton, and one of the best and most welcoming clubhouses in Britain. And finally Longniddry is a part links-part parkland hybrid that deserves more credit.

Best time to go: Like Fife, it enjoys a relatively

SCOTLAND

Kilspindie Classy golf in East Lothian.

dry climate compared to many parts of Britain and with the best courses on sand, you are never trudging through mud.

Best places to eat & drink: Gullane is the hub for the whole area, with lots of pubs and restaurants to entertain you. The Old Clubhouse is probably our favourite spot.

Where to stay: At the top end are the lodges at Archerfield, possibly the nicest golf accommodation in Britain. The Marine Hotel in North Berwick is an Old Course equivalent in East Lothian; Gullane has plenty of B&Bs. Insider tips Visit Archie Baird’s fascinating museum next to the Gullane pro shop and play Musselburgh Old, and tick off another of the Open venues you’ve played.

Off-course attractions: Musselburgh Races are a super day out, the beaches are superb and Tantallon and Dirleton castles are packed with history.

unveiled. And then one of the greatest weeks in Open history unfolded at Royal Troon. The Ailsa, it is universally agreed, is much the better for the changes carried out by Martin Ebert (with some input from The Donald). If you’ve played there already, no doubt you found it even more exciting and scenic. As for supposedly dour Troon, those in the know have long championed it, and it provided a magnificent backdrop to the StensonMickelson duel.

The area’s third Open host is Prestwick, a links of peerless charm and fun which is as essential a part of one’s golfing education as Royal Dornoch or St Andrews Old. Elsewhere, the second tier of Western Gailes, Dundonald,

Glasgow Gailes, Irvine and Kilmarnock Barassie are all first-rate links of slightly varying characters. Dundonald is a modern Kyle Phillips design that lacks scenic views but not classy holes; Western Gailes is a stout links that some believe is as good as Troon; Glasgow Gailes is an Open qualifier of heather and good turf; Irvine mixes the quirky with the exacting; and Barassie is a championship links for the modern era. Inland you will enjoy Brunston Castle as well as Montgomeriedesigned Rowallan Castle, complete with 19th to decide matchplay affairs that finish level.

Best time to go It is one of Britain’s wettest areas, so don’t forget your brolly and waterproofs. Oddly,

Western Gailes Timeless test.

AYRSHIRE Starting with Turnberry in the south and stretching up to West Kilbride in Seamill, this is a golf coast of rare quality and quantity.

Three Open venues among its number make it one of the most celebrated and starstudded too. The second tier of courses is magnificent.

Must-play courses The attention of the golfing world has been on Ayrshire this year, with good reason. First, the new Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry was

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

spring in our experience is a better option than summer.

Where to stay Turnberry is the obvious option, with Trump having refurbished the hotel as well as the course. Troon options include The Marine Hotel overlooking Royal Troon and the golffriendly South Beach Hotel, while the Old Clubhouse is an excellent B&B in Prestwick.

Best spots to eat & drink The essential Ayrshire dining experience is the lunch at Prestwick; make sure you leave enough time in your itinerary for it (and browsing the memorabilia in the clubhouse).

Insider tips It is the easiest Scottish region to get to with flights into Prestwick (in the heart of the best golf) and Glasgow International, 40 minutes away down the rarely-busy M77.

Off-course attractions Culzean Castle, Dundonald Castle and Dumfries House are fascinating historical days out and don’t forget Ayr races, home of the Scottish Grand National.

ABERDEENSHIRE Aberdeenshire has been a terrific golfing region for a century and more but, whatever

SCOTLAND

‘Royal Aberdeen has surely one of the best five front nines in British golf’ you think of the project and its owner, there is no doubt the addition of Trump International Golf Links has moved it up a notch.

Must-play courses Trump International Golf Links wasted no time in becoming established among the elite courses in Britain and Ireland. Almost as soon as it was open, it was regarded as a superstar.

The setting was so dynamic and engaging that almost any routing would have produced a sensationally good layout.

This is the newcomer to the Aberdeen scene, but Royal Aberdeen has been entertaining golfers for over a century before.

This Walker Cup, European Tour and Senior Open venue has arguably one of the top five front nines in British and Irish golf, full of beautiful and challenging holes in the dunes.

Meanwhile, Cruden Bay is the area’s North Berwick/Prestwick... the charming quirky

layout you can’t work out or tame. Murcar is a Top 100 Scottish links just a notch below Cruden, Trump and Royal Aberdeen, but do not mistake that for an excuse to ignore it, because many will actually prefer its easierto-play and easier-to-love character. Then there is also Fraserburgh and Newburgh further up the coast while inland you’ve got to look to Newmachar and immaculate Meldrum House for an alternative test.

Best time to go It can be a tad bracing but on the bright side the relatively dry weather gets the links running fast early in the season.

Where to stay Trump International is now a magnificent play-and-stay option by virtue of the five star MacLeod House, and Meldrum House is another luxury option. Otherwise look towards Aberdeen’s myriad options, or the White Horse near Trump International.

Best places to eat & drink In Aberdeen you have the choice of a vibrant city’s restaurants catering for every budget.

Insider tips Peterhead became a Scottish Top 100 course last year and you’d be wise to include it on your itinerary.

Turnberry Where drama meets beauty.

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017 Off-course attractions Dunnottar Castle, the Gordon Highlanders museum, and Aberdeen Maritime Museum are popular attractions. Aberdeen is a renowned shopping city.

Try it yourself…

Trump International Golf links, Aberdeenshire.

2017 Stay, play & dine package including one night B&B in the MacLeod House & Lodge, two-course meal and 36 holes of golf costs £295pp (Apr & Oct) and £385pp (May-Sept).

Prices based on two sharing a superior queen twin or double bedroom. To book call 01358 743300 (ext 1).

Royal Aberdeen Dune dream.

BEST OF THE REST….

In the rest of the country there are plenty more world-class golfing experiences.

Must-play courses Just over the border in Dumfries and Galloway is a quartet of courses that can combine for a super trip that is both convenient and superb value. Top 100 links Southerness is the star attraction, a championship laid out by Philip Mackenzie Ross just before he created the Ailsa we used to know so well. It oozes everything we love about raw, rugged, natural links courses. It is the area’s No.1 but it is well supported by nearby Powfoot, a part-links, part-parkland course as well as clifftop Portpatrick and James Braid’s last design Stranraer.

The Highlands boasts some magical layouts. Around Dornoch – up to an hour from Inverness – are two Top 100 links and three excellent courses to complement them.

Royal Dornoch is a mystical course that is good for the soul while nearby Skibo Castle, overhauled to great effect by director of golf David Thomson and original architect Tom Mackenzie, costs £300 to play but is a true bucket list adventure.

Meanwhile, Brora is a Mecca for James Braid enthusiasts, grazed on by sheep and with holes that reward clear thinking. Golspie is an often-overlooked course in this star-studded

area, a terrific links-heathland hybrid, while Tain is a raw seaside affair with impressive variety.

Around Inverness, Castle Stuart has added to the top-drawer offering. This playable, creative, scenic links will soon be joined by a second course on site. Nairn has long been the main attraction in the area, famed for its velvet greens and sea views on the opening section. Nairn Dunbar is a nice hybrid, Moray is one of Scotland’s most underrated links while further south Grantown and Boat of Garten ooze class and beauty.

But last is one of our favourite trips in all of Scotland. Start with the King’s and Queen’s at Gleneagles (plus the Centenary if time permits), then move to fellow Perthshire multi-course club Blairgowrie. Better inland golf between these courses you will struggle to find. Then move south to Angus and play Carnoustie (three outstanding courses including the beast) but also nearby links

Gleneagles Three worldfamous layouts.

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Panmure and Monifieth – as well as historic Montrose further up the coast and delightful Downfield inland.

Best time to go The elements can be harsh, especially in Highlands country, so summer is a safe bet though autumn can also be a good time.

Where to stay Gleneagles is pure Perthshire paradise while in the south stay at the Powfoot Golf Hotel or North West Castle. For the Dornoch area stay at the Brora apartments overlooking the links or the Golf Hotel in Nairn.

Best places to eat & drink Tain GC is a tremendous option for a group dinner while Dornoch is well stocked with good restaurants and pubs.

Insider tips BA have launched a new flight into Inverness which improves the already-increasing accessibility to the Highlands.

Off-course attractions In the Highlands there are numerous whisky distilleries to explore. To the south try the beaches of Southerness, Dumfries Ice Bowl and the camera obscura.

Try it yourself… ● Overnight dinner, B&B at Macdonald Aviemore Resort, groups of 12 – one goes free, with round of golf at Spey Valley costs from £85pp during 2017 (based on two sharing and bookings made before Oct 31). To book visit http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/ golf/ ● Golf & More package at Gleneagles. B&B stay, use of Leisure facilities and a round on any of the three courses, costs from £375 per room per night ( based on two sharing). To book call 0800 704 705 and quote TG to qualify for a free room upgrade worth £50.

SCOTLAND

‘As soon as it opened ,Trump International was regarded as a superstar golf course’

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 21

PART OF AN ESSENTIAL COLLECTION

It only opened in 2012, but Trump International Golf Links is already one of the ‘must plays’ in British golf

T

he speed with which Trump International Golf Links has become established as one of the elite courses of Great Britain and Ireland has been as breathtaking as the links itself.

Others within the collection of the greatest courses in GB&I had, in some cases, well over 100 years’ head start on the Aberdeenshire links. But in four short years, Trump International has overtaken the majority of them and taken its place among

golf’s aristocrats. It was rubbing shoulders with the great and the good within months, being ranked in the top 10 courses in GB&I directly after opening in 2012.

Four years on, it sits at No.7 in Golf World magazine’s benchmark GB&I Top 100, ahead of 12 past or current Open venues and behind only the most feted names in British and Irish golf.

This spectacular links a few miles to the north of the city of Aberdeen is, already,

categorically one of the ‘must plays’ in British and Irish golf.

Such an immediate impact is testament to three factors: the cerebral design by architect Dr Martin Hawtree; the work of the construction and greenkeeping team; and the phenomenal site.

With due respect to the skill of the people involved, the site was – and remains – the key ingredient. It is this jaw-dropping canvas on which Trump International was built that has given it such an enviable aura so early in its development.

Golfers will always choose their favourite and least favourite holes on a course. They will always point out where they would do things differently and identify features they love. Golfers love a debate more than most... but even such a notoriously difficultto-please bunch have widely agreed Trump International has the X Factor.

You do not leave here and wonder what all the fuss was about. In fact, you don’t even leave the 1st tee wondering – the hype and the excitement around the links is evident from the very first view down the very first fairway.

With such enormous dunes dominating the landscape, it was always going to be

ADVERTISING FEATURE thus. They are marram-covered pyramids of gargantuan proportions, the like of which is rarely seen outside of Ireland.

There is nothing like this in Fife, in Ayrshire, in East Lothian or the Highlands.

Royal Birkdale and especially Hillside have something approaching similar, but otherwise you must travel to Ballybunion, Portstewart, Portrush et al across the Irish Sea for such drama.

They bring challenge as well as awe, for these sand hills gobble up wayward shots gladly. So it is essential you play from the tees appropriate to your ability to enjoy the full experience at Trump International.

Otherwise, the links will gobble you up as the rough does your ball.

Rest assured, using the tees further forward do not detract from the experience.

The thrills are just as high: there are adrenaline-filled drives from elevated tees; there are delicate approaches to wellguarded greens; there are creative recovery shots from awkward slopes in clever green complexes; there are slippery downhill putts for satisfying pars…

And did we mention the views beyond the dunes? From every hole on the course you get a glimpse of the sea, and from most it is

MacLeod House

a glorious eyeful of the glinting North Sea. The challenge, the drama, the beauty and the feeling this is a special experience – it is hardly surprising Trump International Golf Links became one of Britain and Ireland’s elite so quickly.

STAY, PLAY AND DINE This superb package includes a one-night stay and full Scottish breakfast in five-star

MacLeod House & Lodge in a superior queen twin or double bedroom. You also enjoy a two-course meal in the Brasserie restaurant at the new clubhouse and the biggest attraction – two rounds on the award-winning championship links.

It costs from £295 per person and golf season runs April 1 – October 31, 2017. ● Visit www.trumpgolfscotland.com or call 01358 743300 for further information.

The view from the 18th tee at Trump International.

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

Wales

A stunning coastline and scarcely less dramatic interior offer great settings for a host of fine courses he quality of Welsh golf courses is one of golf’s better-kept secrets. Get behind the hype of Ryder Cup host Celtic Manor and you’ll discover a stream of beautiful, enjoyable and underplayed golfing tests. Here’s a selection that really need to be on your itinerary.

T

DOWN SOUTH Celtic Manor brought this area to the world’s attention in 2010 when it hosted the Ryder Cup as Colin Montgomerie’s European side defeated USA by a single point. The region has a great mix of links and inland layouts with Celtic Manor’s Twenty Ten layout and wondrous Royal Porthcawl the obvious standouts though there are plenty of hidden gems around too.

Must play courses Legendary links Royal Porthcawl is a great place to start and is simply one of the UK’s leading seaside layouts. It hosted the Amateur Championship for the seventh time this year and provides a challenging but fair test.

Pyle and Kenfig sits in the shadow of neighbouring Porthcawl but is a superb championship course in its own right. It has two distinctive and contrasting nines with the outward half being slightly easier than a sensational duneflanked back nine. There is a trio of demanding par 4s to finish.

The Vale: Bring your A game.

Southerndown sits on higher ground above the Ogmore River Valley and is a real treat with plenty of gorse and bunkers to negotiate while further down the coast are two more excellent clifftop tracks in the shape of quirky Pennard and short-but-sweet Langland Bay. You can follow in the footsteps of the Ryder Cup stars at Celtic Manor, scene of that thumping famous European success in 2010.

Be warned though the Twenty Ten is no stroll in the park but a long and demanding challenge with water hazards aplenty. The neighbouring Roman Road and Montgomerie are just as enjoyable and arguably offer better value for money.

The Vale has plenty of stunning holes on its Celtic Manor Ryder Cup pedigree.

‘On high ground, Southerndown is a treat among the gorse and bunkers’ grand Wales National course, starting with the long 2nd which threads its way through the trees downhill towards a pond-protected green. The most memorable stretch of holes arrive in the middle of the back nine featuring a pair of classy par 4s, a short hole and a cracking par 5 with water inevitably playing a significant part in all four.

Crossing the border, one of the first courses you’ll come across is Rolls of Monmouth, a wonderful mature parkland layout which weaves around 18th-century Hendre House. Other popular courses include Machynys Peninsula, overlooking Carmarthen Bay and sprinkled with water hazards, Ashburnham, Tenby and Radyr.

Getting there Taking a toll bridge over the River Severn (M4/M48) remains the quickest access route into south Wales and currently costs £6.50 though the A40 and M50 provides an alternative cost-free route.

Best time to go The weather can be hit or miss but inevitably the best time to play golf in Wales is the summer. But because some courses don’t see much off-season traffic, it’s highly likely you’ll enjoy a lovely quiet quick round during the spring and autumn months.

Where to stay The south-east region has three outstanding resorts – Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor, Marriott St Pierre and The Vale just off the M4 close to Cardiff.

WALES

E N J OY A N

AU T U M N DRIVE TWO CHAMPIONSHIP COURSES WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED

Best places to eat & drink In the capital, Nant Restaurant and The Hellenic Eatery are two of the best and if you like your food hot and spicy, the Gateway of India definitely delivers. Uplands Diner in Swansea offers the legendary Mega Beast breakfast.

Insider tips ● Spend the festive period at a Ryder Cup venue; Celtic Manor usually offer some excellent stay and play deals over Christmas. ● Look out for combined packages – some of the top clubs have joined together to offer cash-saving deals.

Off-course attractions You’ll find several beautiful beaches, many ideal for surfing, along with lovely rolling scenic countryside and all the attractions associated with a capital city (Cardiff) including the magnificent Millennium Stadium.

Try it yourself… ● Book a dormy play-and-stay break at Tenby (Sun-Thurs) and receive a 20% saving (Nov 2016 -Mar 2017), quoting TG1.

Call 01834 842978.

Finca Cortesin The best of Spain’s modern Regal eagles: tracks.

Royal treats Porthcawl (top) and St David’s deliver cracking seaside golf.

There are few places in the UK that offer golfers the range of facilities and as many inspiring golf holes as the Vale Resort.

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You’ll be on a real golfing high here: it’s the home of the Snowdonia mountain range, one of the UK’s biggest tourist attractions which provides a breathtaking backdrop to many of the region’s best courses, including some

Hensol Park, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan, CF72 8JY *Terms and conditions apply, subject to availability.

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

WALES

Nefyn Convincing Point of view.

classy links. It also arguably provides some of the best value-for-money golf not only in Wales but the UK. Must play courses Royal St David’s is a lovely links with some super short holes, all majestically sitting beneath towering Harlech Castle. It has hosted several national and international tournaments, including Ladies European Tour and European Senior Tour events.

Nefyn and District is another course that will catch your attention as it spectacularly sits on the clifftops on the Llyn Peninsula with the famous ‘Point’ holes being among the most dramatic you’re ever likely to play.

At nearby Pwllheli, golfers face a parkland front nine followed by a links back nine, both of which are well over a century old. The leading course within the Snowdonia National Park is Aberdovey, a quality par-71 with holes pointing in all directions, so a smart game plan is needed to shoot a good score. Borth and Ynyslas, one of the oldest courses in Wales, is worth a visit, while Aberystwyth offers lovely views over Cardigan Bay. The island of Anglesey offers a selection of courses with clifftop layout Bull Bay and heathland Holyhead being the pick.

Elsewhere, Conwy is another stylish ancient links which is available to play in 2-FORE!-1 in

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Aberdovey Duneland thriller.

‘A hidden brook and the “Himalayas” are traps to be avoided at Porthmadog’ the winter while blind tee shots, a hidden brook and the ‘Himalayas’ are just some of the traps to avoid over the links back nine at Porthmadog. You’ll also have a ball at Vale of Llangollen and Llandudno’s North Wales, arguably the best value links around.

Getting there The best road route is along the A55 northern coastal road from Chester to Bangor. This carries on into Anglesey, but the A487 takes you south into Snowdonia.

Best time to go It’s Snowdonia – one of the wettest parts of the UK – and mountain country, so the weather is somewhat unpredictable… whatever time of the year.

Where to stay There are all kinds of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets in the popular seaside towns such as Llandudno and Conwy and we can recommend the four star Imperial on the former’s Promenade.

Best places to eat & drink Virgilio’s Pizzeria and Portuguese Grill in Colwyn Bay is highly recommended, The Laughing Buddha is a good choice for a Chinese meal in Rhyl while the small but good value Harbourfront Bistro on Anglesey is well worth trying too.

Insider tips ● Don’t forget to bring your camera or mobile – the on-course views are stunning. ● Be aware that in winter, snow and ice could be a problem on some roads.

Off-course attractions Snowdon is the biggest mountain in Wales but relatively easy to walk and you’re rewarded with to-die-for views when you reach the summit. The island of Anglesey is also a popular holiday destination, boasting terrific beaches.

COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL & GOLF CLUB

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Book online at www.aberdoveygolf.co.uk

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TEEWELSH OFF AT TENBY GOLF CLUB OF THE YEAR 2014 Visitors are very welcome to enjoy our Rolex World Ranked Championship Links Course all year round - Superb Sea Views - Driving Range and Par 3 ‘warm up‘ course - 7 En-suite twin bedrooms for great value play and stay breaks - Snooker Room, excellent Bar/Catering WINTER PLAY AND STAY PACKAGES 1 Night B+B, 2 rounds from £79.50p.p Winter Society Golf from £20.00p.p, meal packages tailored to your requirements.

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Call 01834 842978/844447 or e-mail info@tenbygolf.co.uk www.tenbygolf.co.uk

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

Ireland

Ireland’s twin centres of excellence are the country’s capital Dublin and the stunning south west coastline

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IRELAND reland’s golfing reputation has been flourishing for decades. Since the ‘discovery’ of courses like Ballybunion (by Tom Watson) and Ballyliffin (by Nick Faldo), and boosted by the work of acclaimed course designers new and old, this small island has achieved big golfing prestige.

With 340 18-hole courses, the hardest decision is choosing where to go. Here’s our guide to the two main hotspots.

I

DUBLIN A trip to Dublin combines a city of culture with an endless supply of bars, restaurants and golf courses. Temple Bar and the area around St Stephen’s Green are where you’ll find that non-stop city buzz and most visitors will find themselves here at some stage. As for the golf, there are links and parkland courses close to the city centre.

Must-play courses First, divide the list into two: parkland and links. Both are in abundance.

There are three very special links. The Island, once only reachable by boat, has big, bucking dunes and a sparkling back nine – including a short par 4 with the narrowest fairway anywhere. Next door is the municipal, quirky and great-value Corballis Links and only a couple of miles away is the worldrenowned Portmarnock, a links strategist’s dream, weaving over low dunes to sublime green settings.

Parkland choices are endless, but start with the muscular Luttrellstown Castle, routed over an old estate, through towering trees and alongside the Broadmeadow River. Try the entertaining hillside course Stackstown, home club of Padraig Harrington. For the more adventurous, head into the Wicklow Mountains to Paul McGinley’s Macreddin GC. Getting there Twenty UK mainland airports connect to/from

Dublin, with Ryanair and Aer Lingus offering dozens of flights every day. The airport is a 30-minute bus ride from the city centre.

Alternatively, car ferries leave from Holyhead (Stena) and Liverpool (P&O Ferries), arriving daily in Dublin Port.

Best time to go Irish weather is always unpredictable but the east coast enjoys the best weather, especially between April and October. As with any country, the peak season means the highest green fees, but you’ll find earlybird and/or twilight rates abound so factor that into the booking.

Where to stay As a capital city, Dublin delivers the choice you’d expect, whatever the budget. For sheer convenience, as well as golf on tap, try the Portmarnock Links Hotel. With 138 rooms it is big, comfortable and designed with the golfer in mind.

Best places to eat & drink There is plenty of choice and value in the city centre. San Lorenzo’s (a New York-style Italian restaurant) has a growing reputation, while Odessa, off Dame Street, remains an old favourite. Dublin’s nightlife has a real vibe and the bars are always buzzing. Irish craft beer has really taken off in recent years, so try the Porterhouse in Temple Bar, where they brew their own beers. Find the perfect pint of Guinness at The Long Hall, Stag’s Head or Keogh’s.

Insider tips ● The M50 motorway has one freeflow toll ➔

‘Weaving over dunes to sublime greens, Portmarnock is a strategist’s dream’

Ballybunion Chaotic dunes on the Cashen.

Doonbeg Coastal treat from Trump.

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017 system. In other words, you don’t pay at the toll – in fact you’ll barely know you’ve passed through it – so you have to pay online (www. eflow.ie) or at a shop/service station. ● If you hire a car, chances are the speedometer will only show kilometres per hour. Speed signs are all in km/h but it can be difficult to adjust. The ratio is 5 to 8: in other words, 50 mph equates to 80 kmh.

Driving is still on the left of course.

Off-course attractions The craic has to be mentioned and you’ll find it wherever you go… in bars, in restaurants or just on the street. And a night out in Dublin wouldn’t be complete without a pint of Guinness.

Try it yourself….

Overnight B&B accommodation at four-star Knightsbrook Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, two rounds (on the Nicklaus course at Killeen Castle & the Christy O’Connor course at Knightsbrook) plus use of thermal suite & pool costs €159 pp sharing (Sun-Thurs) & €189 sharing (Fri or Sat). To book call 00353 46948 2100 or e-mail golf@knightsbrook.com SOUTH WEST The south west is one of the world’s top golfing destinations, but remove the word ‘golfing’ and it still attracts tourists by the thousands. This is one of the world’s great beauty spots. The MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, The Skellig Islands, Cliffs of Moher… these are the major natural attractions and many are on show from the region’s renowned courses.

Must-play courses It is impossible to ignore the championship courses that lace the south west’s coastline.

From the old (Ballybunion and Lahinch) to the new (Trump Doonbeg and Tralee) there is classic links golf oozing from every fairway and over every tall dune.

Much has been written about these links, so let’s consider some of the lower-profile courses that offer great value in the region.

Skellig Bay is a clifftop course beside Waterville, flowing across a headland and offering dramatic shotmaking between ancient dry stone walls.

Further north, Dromoland Castle offers excellent parkland golf across an old estate, with five-star luxury promised in the castle hotel itself. Dooks, on the Ring of Kerry, has become a must-play links following the 2006 revisions of Martin Hawtree.

But probably the most undiscovered gem of all is the second course at Ballybunion. The Cashen was designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior, and has a smashing back nine among the property’s most chaotic dunes. For quality parklands, you can’t go wrong with either Killarney or Adare.

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IRELAND

Lahinch Unmissable links track.

‘Skellig Bay offers up dramatic shotmaking between ancient dry stone walls’ Portmarnock Choice links for a Dublin stay.

Ballybunion Old course, fresh test.

Getting there Ireland’s new motorway system makes it easy to reach this region from Dublin, or you could fly direct to Shannon (from London, Birmingham and Manchester). The airport is ideally located midway along this coastline stretch and it’s right nextdoor to Shannon GC. Best time to go See Dublin above. The Americans flock here in the summer, so tee-times need to be booked well in advance to get your preferred dates and times.

Where to stay Three of the courses mentioned are part of

golf resorts: Dromoland Castle, Adare and Trump Doonbeg all sit at the premium end of the market. Lower priced alternatives include the Dunraven Arms (Adare) and the Park Inn (Shannon Airport). Many prefer the buzz of a town such as Killarney, home of awardwinning pair The Ross Hotel and Killarney Royal Hotel.

Best places to eat & drink To the south, on the Ring of Kerry, try Packies in Kenmare, with a focus on shellfish, organic produce and an informal atmosphere. Nearby Killarney also has many popular cafes and restaurants. In Lahinch, check out Vaughan Lodge, a small luxury hotel recognised for its restaurant, or try the inexpensive Barrtra Seafood Restaurant in town.

Insider tips The Ring of Kerry route (home to Waterville, Skellig Bay and Dooks) measures 179 km. It is exceptionally popular with tour buses, which are only allowed to drive in an anticlockwise direction. You might want to do the same to avoid some tight cliff-top encounters.

Off-course attractions Views to thrill at the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle Peninsula and Killarney National Park so bring your camera.

PRIZE DRAW

Win a stunning break in Italy

PICTURES: PETER ELLEGARD

Great chance to play magical venue loved by Matteo Manassero and the Molinari brothers…

Spectacular Overlooked by the Alps, Royal Park I Roveri is magical.

ocated in the ancient hunting grounds of the Parco Regionale della Mandria, surrounded by centuriesold forest and overlooked by the Italian Alps, Turin’s Royal Park I Roveri is one of Europe’s premier inland venues.

Now we are giving you the chance to experience it. One lucky reader will win a two night B&B break for two at the nearby fourstar Quality Hotel Atlantic in Borgaro featuring a spa with indoor pool, Turkish bath and sauna and the renowned Rubino restaurant.

Plus two rounds of golf, for two, at Royal Park!

Royal Park, which has had Matteo Manassero and the Molinari brothers, Francesco and Edoardo, as members, boasts two 18-hole courses. The first, a Robert Trent Jones Snr design, opened in 1971 and is a 7,180-yard, par-72 layout. It was rated top track in Italy in the latest Golf World Top 100 courses in continental Europe ranking and

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Tour class A four-time host of the Italian Open .

41st on the continent. It hosted the Italian Open four times between 2009 and 2012 and its 17th – a 468-yard par 4 – was voted ‘best hole in Italy’ by the national daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

The second, Pramerica, is a parkland laid out by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Frey – the duo behind 2017 US Open venue, Erin Hills – in 2013. The 7,187-yard, par-72 course was

named ‘best new Italian golf course’ of 2014.

The club has extensive practice facilities including a 30-bay driving range, a floodlit 36-hole putting green and a short-game area.

Off-course facilities include a sauna, Turkish bath, swimming pool, two gyms, a conference hall and a traditional Piedmontese restaurant.

Royal Park is located just 13km from TurinCaselle Airport, into which British Airways, easyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch and Ryanair fly daily from UK airports. Flights and transfers are not included with this prize. ● For more information visit www.royalparkgolf.it/en

HOW TO ENTER Simply log on to www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/win, click on the Royal Park Turin option and enter your email address. Entries close at midnight on Oct 26. Full terms and conditions can be found on the TG website.

ENTER NOW AT WWW.TODAYS GOLFER .C O.UK / WIN

Kings of club hire We turn the spotlight on ClubstoHire, the online club rental business going from strength to strength…

eading golf club rental firm ClubstoHire.com is intent on maintaining its competitive pricing for British golfers travelling abroad despite the uncertain impact of the Brexit outcome on the growing golf travel market.

ClubstoHire has consistently kept prices at the same level since its inception in 2010, with top quality rental sets, including the latest on the market, available from £30-£55 per set per week.

The Irish-based company now has over 20 outlets worldwide, chiefly at airports, with half of its business coming from British travelling golfers heading for popular destinations across Europe such as Faro in Portugal and Malaga and the Canary Islands in Spain. And with the country’s impending exit from the EU looking likely to drive up travel costs, there is a danger that the trend towards taking more golfing holidays abroad could be slowed.

“Potentially, the main negative effect for the

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golf travel market will be golfers looking for greater value for money when they travel abroad and not finding it, so it’s imperative that pricing throughout the golf travel industry is kept in check to compensate for the depreciation of the pound,” said ClubstoHire CEO Tony Judge.

Extra Value The benefits of using ClubstoHire to hire golf sets abroad don’t just lie within the price and the avoidance of potential extra airline baggage costs which are enforced by most major airlines. The latest models from manufacturers such as TaylorMade, Callaway, Mizuno and Wilson Staff are all on offer, with ClubstoHire staff ready to meet and greet customers upon landing at their destination and deliver the set they have chosen. The company has invested heavily in a new website to streamline bookings, as well as offering a greater range of products including Sun Mountain bags and

Made easy The stores have everything you’ll need.

Golf Pride grips. ClubstoHire currently offers rental sets at 23 locations worldwide, including destinations in Asia, Africa and America, meaning there is plenty of value to be found outside of Europe, as Judge has seen this year.

“Cape Town in South Africa has proved really popular over the last quarter, since the UK referendum,” he said. “The value that British golfers can get in currency exchange has played a big part with the current rate around 17.5 Rand to the pound. South Africa is

ADVERTISING FEATURE

home to some of the world’s most visually stunning courses and it may be in the future that these exotic locations offer better value for money than travel within Europe.”

ClubstoHire expects to look after 40,000 UK golfers through 2016 and although it is still too soon after Brexit to gauge significant effects on the industry, the immediate affect has seen travelling golfers spend their money on the traditionally safer and more popular locations.

“During both good times and recessions, golfers will always look to go abroad with their friends, but in the harder times it is only natural to be more cost efficient,” said Judge.

“In the last month we’ve taken significant bookings in Majorca, Alicante, Dublin and the Canary Islands. Travellers will always look at all aspects of the trip to seek out the best value for money, but business across these locations is up substantially year on year, which is positive news for us and for the industry as a whole.”

The benefits ● You avoid paying the ever increasing carriage costs imposed by most airlines. ● No need to worry that your clubs could be lost or damaged in transit. ● No need to drag your clubs to and from oversize baggage. ● No need to pay additional baggage fees to your taxi getting you to and from the airport. ● Opportunity to play the latest clubs to market from leading manufacturers.

Where you’ll find Clubstohire ClubstoHire.com services 23 locations in 10 countries inc: Spain – Alicante, Costa Dorada, Girona, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Murcia, Palma (Majorca) & Tenerife; Portugal – Faro, Lisbon & Madeira; Cyprus – Paphos; Morocco – Marrakech; Turkey – Belek; South Africa – Cape Town; Thailand – Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket; United States – Orlando, Florida & Scottsdale, Arizona; UK & Ire – Dublin & Edinburgh.

CLUBSTOBUY.COM The depreciation of sterling may also lead to more golfers looking at money-saving possibilities elsewhere within the industry, such as when they look to buy ‘new’ clubs.

In April, ClubstoBuy.com was launched to offer golfers the opportunity to acquire the exact set of clubs they hired when abroad.

All used sets from the quality manufacturers that operate through ClubstoHire.com are available to purchase at heavily discounted prices to rival any club resale specialist.

“It is imperative that pricing is kept in check to compensate for consumers potentially lower golfing budgets,” commented Judge. “ClubstoBuy.com was created as a direct result of feedback from ClubstoHire customers who enjoyed using our clubs abroad. Given the demand for quality products at an affordable price, we hope this will encourage people to play more at home as well as abroad.”

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

Portugal A lovely climate and superb transport links have helped propel the country to a true favourite for travelling golfers

Monte Rei Nicklaus rocks the Algarve.

PORTUGAL

Penina Cotton’s top Trailblazer.

ortugal’s two golfing hotspots have developed at different rates. Though the Lisbon area on the west coast saw the country’s first courses, since the 1960s attention shifted to the Algarve in the south. However, some recent designs are throwing some of the attention back on the capital. Here are the best tracks in each area.

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THE ALGARVE While England were winning the World Cup in 1966, Henry Cotton was laying out the Algarve’s first golf course at Penina. Fifty years on, Portugal’s 100-mile-long southern coast has become one of Europe’s most popular golfing destinations, now boasting 43 courses.

Must-play courses The Algarve’s main transport hub, Faro airport, is pretty central to this stretch of coastline, and it’s here you’ll find the region’s true golfing hotspots. Twenty minutes to the west is the Oceanico resort, a stunning complex of courses based around the scenic harbour town of Vilamoura. The pine-flanked, natural majesty of the Old Course usually takes the plaudits, but any of the seven guarantee a great experience with Arnold Palmer’s Victoria well in the mix.

A short drive away you’ll discover magical San Lorenzo perched thrillingly over the Ria Formosa marshland on the Atlantic coast and offering a world-class test. Neighbouring Quinta do Lago now has a third course, Laranjal, good enough to rival the undoubted quality of its North and South target-golf layouts. A short pitch away, Vale do Lobo’s Royal course offers some of the area’s most dramatic coastline shot-making and is ably supported by the equally challenging Ocean course. Also in this area, Pinheiros Altos and Vila Sol are in danger of getting forgotten in such company but are well worth trying.

While the Algarve’s central zone is

established, the eastern end of the coast has slightly more of an up-and-coming feel. In this it’s helped by one of the coastline’s best courses, Jack Nicklaus’ Monte Rei. Though set a little further from the ocean, in the foothills of the Serra do Caldeirao mountains, the views to the Atlantic enhance a genuinely memorable golfing experience with many of the superbly-conditioned holes feeling separate from the others.

Back down towards the coast, the sister courses at Quinta da Ria and Quinta da Cima are well worth a visit. Offering quality target golf in a breezy, unspoilt part of the Ria Formosa reserve, this 36-hole complex will change perceptions about packed Algarve courses and slow rounds.

While Cotton kick-started Algarve golf in the west, this region has developed at a more sedate pace. Indeed for many Penina, with the stately woodland feel of its Championship course, remains the premier course and resort in this area. Its chief rival is surely Palmares, whose fairways blend links and parkland feel to create a versatile challenge with some sharp elevation changes thrown in.

You can also enjoy a good full day’s golf at Amendoeira Resort, home of the Oceanico Faldo and Christy O’Connor jnr layouts.

Espiche just outside Lagos is a rising star in the west while Pine Cliffs boasts a classic thrilling nine holer. ➔ San Lorenzo Thrills on the Ria Formosa.

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

PORTUGAL

Quinta do Lago 54-hole Algarve target feast.

Getting there Faro airport is very well served by the UK with most airlines, including Monarch, easyJet, Ryanair, FlyBe, Jet2 and BA. Flight time is around 2hrs 30mins. Monarch fly from Birmingham, Leeds-Bradford, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester with fares, including taxes, starting from £44 one way (£74 return).

Best time to go The Algarve is one of Europe’s sunniest regions, averaging 300 days and 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. Winter averages of 15ºC rise to 28ºC in July and August. Most rain falls from November to late March.

Where to stay The Dona Filipa and Conrad Algarve hotels are class acts on the Vale do Lobo and Quinto do Lago resorts respectively. For the east, consider either the villas at Monte Rei (www. monte-rei.com) or Robinson Club Quinta da

Palmares Muscular test in the west.

36 TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

Ria (www.robinson.com). For the west the Marina Club overlooking Lagos harbour.

Best places to eat & drink Fish naturally features prominently on the menus, with Cataplana Marisco a local dish of mixed seafood with fresh herbs. Also look out for rabo de boi (oxtail stew) and feijoada (bean stew). Take advantage of the orange groves by testing the delicious local orange juice. Local beers should not be that expensive, with small drafts around £1.50.

Insider tips ● If you want to go in the shoulder season consider spring; rainfall is lower than autumn. ● Head to local cafes because the prices for food and drink can be much cheaper than the main tourist bars. ● For vibrant nightlife head to Portimao and Albufiera, which has its own strip. ● The beaches east of Albufiera are typically

‘Palmares blends links and parkland to create a versatile golfing challenge’ sandier than those to the west.

Off-course attractions Take a tour of Faro’s old town, then pop down to the harbour to find the three-hour sightseeing adventure in the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Cool off at Slide and Splash waterpark at Lagoa, just east of Portimao, for around £25. Kayaking and snorkeling is on offer at Lagos, while you can go dolphin watching from Vilamoura port.

Try it yourself… ● Dona Filipa Hotel. Three nights’ B&B and two dinners, two-day access to Vale do Lobo Royal spa or two rounds at San Lorenzo or Pinheiros Altos costs from €352.50 per person (sharing a twin room). Book 60 days in advance for an 8% discount. To book email donafilipa-reservations@jjwhotels.com ● Amendoeira Resort. Three nights’ B&B in luxury apartment or villa, unlimited golf, buggy & trolley and free use of the practice facilities costs from €325 per person (based on 5 sharing). Book by Oct 31 to receive a complimentary welcome dinner. To book email amendoeira@oceanicogroup.com ● Tailor Made Packages (Vilamoura courses).

Three nights and three different courses costs from €186.20 euros per person. To book email info@oceanicogolf.com ➔

Luxury Stays & World Famous Golf Play the Algarveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest Courses with Dona Filipa Hotel

The beachfront Dona Filipa Hotel has recently been refurbished to the highest standards of five-star luxury.

Consistently voted one of the best hotels in the Algarve, Dona Filipa is the perfect place for a family getawayâ&#x20AC;Ś the main draw however, is the golf. With exclusive access to the award winning San Lorenzo and Pinheiros Altos golf courses, guests get to play challenging, entertaining golf in unrivalled areas of natural beauty that most golfers can only dream about.

Vale do Lobo, Algarve, Almancil, 8135-034, Portugal Tel: +351 289 357 220 Fax: +351 289 357 201 Email: donafilipahotel@jjwhotels.com Book online: donafilipahotel.com A Member of JJW Hotels & Resorts

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017 ● Hilton Vilamoura, Algarve. Seven nights’ B&B, access to 24 hour gym and covered pool, 15% discount on all bar consumption, five rounds of golf at Oceanico courses (Pinhal, Laguna, Old & Millennium) with return transfers, costs from €657 pp (NovMar). To book call 00351 289 304 000 or email reservations.vilamoura@hilton.com quoting ‘Readers Today’s Golfer UK.’ LISBON Some 180 miles to the north of the Algarve, Portugal’s central west coast offers a different golf holiday experience. For a start it’s based around a city offering 900 years of fascinating history and culture. But also, although most courses still have an American vibe, the sandy soils and breezes of the dramatic Atlantic coastline creates the opportunity for some more linksy fayre. While 20 courses for the region means choice is behind the Algarve, their design, conditioning and location means the quality certainly isn’t.

Must play courses Although it only opened just 15 years ago, Oitavos Dunes has wasted no time establishing itself as arguably the pick of them all. The setting, in the Sintra-Cascais National Park against the breezy coastline, is literally breathtaking, and Arthur Hills’ pulsating layout takes you thrillingly along the seashore one minute and through sandy, pine-clad valleys the next.

This coastal area, 20 miles or so west of Lisbon, offers rich pickings for golfers. Within a couple of beefy drives of Oitavos is Robert Trent Jones Jnr’s Penha Longa. Framed by the Sintra mountains, the resort offers the championship Atlantico – 1994 Portuguese Open venue – and the nine-hole Monasterio.

Hilly and often windswept, Atlantico offers a stern though fun test, with an attractive mix of tree-lined and open fairways.

Also nearby is the splendid resort of Quinta da Marinha, laid out by Trent Jones Snr. On flatter, pine-studded terrain, this course offers Praia d’el Rey Lovely ocean backdrop.

38 TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

an enjoyable test with six delightful par 3s the stand-out holes.

While in the area, check out Estoril. One of the oldest Lisbon clubs, it measures under 6,000 yards. Slopes, trees and small greens create more than enough challenge for most though, and the downhill par-3 16th is a treat.

An hour’s drive north up the A8 from Lisbon you will come to medieval Obidos, and three courses that make the drive worthwhile.

Seve-designed Royal Obidos was opened four years ago but is already gaining a strong reputation. Long, uncompromising and full of exciting risk-reward challenges, it’s known for its fine conditioning and coastal views.

Though close by, magnificent Praia d’el Rey

has a different feel. Like Oitavos we are on sandy soil here with the front nine holes making excellent use of the pine groves while the run from 12-16 takes you into dramatic duneland. Look out for the opening of the venue’s second course early in 2017.

Completing the trio is Donald Steel’s Bom Sucesso. Though opened in 2008 the course has a throwback feel with a more eclectic design and sloping greens. This very fair course builds nicely to the 17th tee, the peak in every way possible, which offers stunning views as well as a spectacular, swinging downhill par 5.

Two treats to the south of Lisbon are Troia and Aroeira. Best reached by ferry from Setubal, Troia is a visual feast of sandy wasteland, pines and the Sado estuary and arguably offers the nearest thing to a genuine links experience. It is also one of the hardest tracks in Lisbon, so be sure to pack your A game.

On the Setubal peninsula, Aroeira offers 36 quality holes set in a beautiful preservation zone. Both courses enjoy sandy turf, and while Frank Pennink’s tree-lined No.1 course has hosted Portuguese Opens, the increased water and muscularity of Steel’s No.2 arguably offers more fun.

Getting there BA, easyJet, Monarch, TAP Portugal and Ryanair offer direct flights to Lisbon from all over the UK. Expect a 2hrs 30mins flight.

Monarch operates year-round flights from

PORTUGAL

‘Oitavos takes you along the shore one minute and through pines the next’

Oitavos Avoid the waste areas.

Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester with fares from £44 one way (£79 return).

Best time to go Portugal’s capital city claims 300 days of sun a year, though it also gets more rain than the Algarve with most failing in November and December. The on-shore breeze keeps things feeling fresh, though average summer temperatures of 28ºC mean it can be deceptively hot.

Where to stay Praia d’el Rey has an attached Marriott Golf and Beach resort (www.marriott.co.uk). The quality trio of Oitavos, Quinta da Marinha and Penha Longa all have their own hotels while south of Lisbon, Aroeira resort (www.aroeira. com/en) has a range of well priced accommodation.

Best places to eat & drink Cod has been a stable of the country’s economy and Bacalhau remains prominent on menus. Caldeirada is a stew of fresh fish, seafood and vegetables, while try the warm pastel de nata, served by The Pasteis de Belem bakery for more than 150 years. Port wine adds brandy during fermentation and is often served with desert.

Insider tips ● Expect to eat late in Lisbon – many restaurants open from 9pm. ● Visit in June in time for the Festas de Lisboa, the city’s biggest street party. ● Seek out the Lisbon Card for city attraction

deals, though many museums are free on Sunday mornings. ● Take robust footwear to combat the city’s cobbles and steep hills, and look twice crossing roads as the driving isn’t pedestrianfriendly.

Off-course attractions Take in historic Lisbon from Tram 28, the wooden tram that takes you to the prettiest parts including the ancient Alfama district… or join one of the sunset boat tours to enjoy one of the world’s great harbours from the water. Visit the world’s most expensive chapel, the golden Sao Roque church, or the resting place of Vasco da Gama at Jeronimo’s monastery.

Try it yourself… ● Liberdade Hotel, Lisbon city centre. Three nights’ B&B and two rounds (Quinta do Peru & Aroeira) costs from €291pp (two sharing a twin room) with free WiFi. Bookable until Sept 30, 2017 and TG readers receive a 10% discount. To book email cazalribeiro@ orizontegolf.com quoting discount code TGOrizonte 2016. ● Sesimbra Hotel & Spa. Four nights’ B&B with three rounds (Quinto do Peru and two at Aroeira), free WiFi, access to swimming pool, sauna and Turkish bath, costs from €298 pp (two sharing a twin room with sea view).

Bookable until Sept 30, 2017 and TG readers receive a 10% discount. To book email cazalribeiro@orizontegolf.com quoting discount code TGOrizonte 2016. ● Troia Resort. Three nights (based on double/twin occupancy) in studio at four star Aqualuz Suite Hotel apartments, two rounds costs from €204pp until Oct 31, 2017. To book email golf@golftroiaresort.com ● Bom Sucesso Resort. Three nights’ B&B in one bedroom villa (double occupancy) with two days unlimited golf (Bom Sucesso or Praia del Rey), rental of Mercedes Benz Class A costs €399pp. To book email danielaneves@bomsucesso.net ● Quinta da Marinha. Four nights’ B&B, one dinner, VIP treatment in room on arrival, welcome surprise gift, three rounds of golf (two at Quinta da Marinha, one at Oitavos Dunes, weekdays only), Health Club and swimming pool access, costs €483pp (sharing double room) Jan-Feb & from Nov 15 to Dec, 2017. To book call 00351 214 860 141 or email reservations@quintadamarinha.com RoyalObidos Risk-reward fromSeve.

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MADEIRA ISLANDS

These Portuguese islands in the Atlantic offer a lot more to the travelling golfer than just a famously good climate

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here might be only three courses in the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira, but the islands ought to be top of your list of contenders for your next golf break.

The background to considering a golf break here – indeed enjoying a holiday of any kind to Madeira – is of course the fabulous climate. Very few places on earth enjoy more consistently pleasant weather than that experienced by Madeira.

It means the islands are ripe for a golf break any month of the year, because the temperature barely moves from 20˚C and the sun never disappears for more than a day or two at a time. These conditions are available any month of the year, so it is a fantastic winter sun destination –yet is only four hours away. Equally, it is terrific in summer if you want guaranteed warm sunshine without blistering heat.

The summer (same as ours) is slightly warmer than their winter, but the difference in sun hours and temperature is minimal.

This climate has made Madeira a magnet for holidaymaker for centuries and means the islands have centuries of practise at satisfying tourists. It was first a stop off for explorers bound for Africa and America, and

then became the chosen holiday destination for European aristocracy. In the 21st Century, holidaymakers fly to Madeira for, among other attractions, the gastronomy, the famous wines, the nature trails, the world-class fishing, the bustling markets and the water sports. Whether travelling in a single-sex group, in a couple, or within a family, Madeira can keep everyone happy off the course as well as on its fairways.

The capital Funchal (close to both courses on the main island) has lots of wellappointed hotels, as befits such a popular tourist destination, and an obvious place to stay is Palheiro, given it has a course on site.

Madeira has a relatively low number of courses for such a popular destination, with just three courses to choose from. But what

‘Madeira can keep everyone happy off the course as well as on its fairways’

it lacks in quantity it compensates for with quality and variety. Santo da Serra, Palheiro and Porto Santo have two common themes: they have all been ranked in the Top 200 in Continental Europe... and they all boast uncommon beauty, whether in colourful flora or breathtaking coastal views.

Santo da Serra Santo da Serra opened in 1937 when a ninehole course was built on today’s site, but it was overhauled in 1991 by Robert Trent Jones Sr. The famous American architect created a new 18-hole championship course to turn the club into a 27-hole complex.

Its status as a regular host of the European Tour’s Madeira Island Open has meant Santo da Serra has necessarily been updated and upgraded to ensure it remains relevant for even the strongest players. It is frequently commended by European Tour stars, including Ryder Cup players.

Santo da Serra offers breathtaking views from its clifftop fairways towards mountains

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Porto Santo is a spectacular Seve Ballesterosdesigned course.

Santo da Serra is a regular host of European Tour tournaments.

Palheiro offers dreamy views of Funchal plus lots of colour inland.

and especially the ocean. It is routed over mountainous terrain that brings its own exacting characteristics, whether hitting approaches steeply uphill, driving the ball from elevated tee boxes over gaping ravines, or firing to infinity greens.

Located only five minutes from the airport and 20 minutes from Funchal, it can test the best – not least with strategic bunkering and lakes – but the wide fairways make it playable and enjoyable for all.

Porto Santo Designed by former Open and Masters champion Severiano Ballesteros, this is a predictably spectacular and exciting course on the coast.

Seve did a fine job of routing the course into the natural environment, which is no mean task given the mountainous terrain, the numerous indigenous plants and the existing lakes.

It is a course of two halves, the South section characterised by lakes and with an American parkland feel, albeit with the the backdrop of the beach and ocean beyond.

The North phase is set down on the edge of high cliffs with captivating sea views as standard from arguably the most memorable stretch, that being the run from the 13th to the 15th that sit right on the edge of the bluffs.

Located on the eponymous island of Porto Santo, it is reached on the daily twoand-a-half hour ferry crossing between the

‘All the courses have been ranked within the Top 200 in Continental Europe’ islands or on the 15-minute plane journey.

It is five minutes from the airport and the main hotels.

Opened in 2004, the beauty of the coastline-hugging scenes are matched by clever green complexes that are impeccably sited and offer as much golfing interest as the courses does aesthetic appeal. It is a

THE FACTS The course details portosantogolfe.com; palheirogolf.com and santodaserragolf.com General information www.madeiraallyear.com How to get there Fly direct to Funchal from Manchester (Jet2/Thomson/Monarch), Leeds (Jet2), Newcastle (Jet2/Thomson), East Midlands (Jet2/Thomson, Birmingham (Monarch/ Thomson), Glasgow (Jet2/Thomson) and Gatwick (Monarch/Easyjet/BA/Thomson).

modern, scenic classic.

Palheiro This is an exquisite resort, with a pretty course combining with a charming hotel. It was recently named as one of the Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe.

The family-owned venue boasts pictureperfect gardens, beautifully-designed bedrooms and sumptuous food.

The course opened in 1993 and was designed by Cabell B Robinson, an American architect with much experience of laying out courses among the kind of hills and valleys he found in this 200-year-old country estate overlooking Funchal.

Palheiro was renovated just over a decade ago, when two holes were replaced and a six-hole academy course created. The new configuration has been well received and the challenge here is one of elevation changes, well-placed bunkers and tight fairways.

Palheiro boasts some of the most beautiful flora and fauna on a golf course anywhere in the world – helped, of course, by the temperate year-round climate.

So, gorgeous inland holes mix with those with an ocean view. The clubhouse, indeed, perched 500m above sea level, has a truly awesome position – with unlimited views of the harbour of Funchal and the Atlantic Ocean– from which to reflect on the beauty of the course you have just savoured.

Palheiro is 10 minutes from Funchal and 15 minutes from the international airport.

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

Spain The country’s Costas and enchanting islands cater for every taste and budget under a scorching sun n established favourite, Spain has been entertaining British golfers since the early 1960s when the Spanish golf revolution began. From one end of the country to the other, it continues to do so – and now there’s some quality island golf on the Canaries and Majorca, too.

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COSTA BRAVA Squeezed between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean in the top right hand corner of the Iberian Peninsula, the Costa Brava stretches from Blanes, 60km north east of Barcelona, to the French border. It’s Catalan country with its own language, distinct culture, appealing architecture and proud

PGA Catalunya The Tour is one of two top tracks.

traditions. ‘Brava’ means ‘rugged’ or ‘wild’ and although back in the 1950s General Franco encouraged large-scale tourist development along the coast, vast tracts have retained their unspoilt traditional character.

Must-play courses No doubt about the main attraction: it’s the magnificent PGA Catalunya Resort, home of two classy 18-hole courses (Stadium and Tour), the former being a regular European Tour venue which made a strong case for hosting the 2022 Ryder Cup. Winning Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal reckons it’s one of the best courses in the world and with lakes featuring on seven holes, it offers a stern test. It’s always in pristine condition too as is

the neighbouring Tour layout.

The oldest club is Golf Platja de Pals.

Despite being tight and tree-lined, it’s not quite as intimidating as it initially appears as there is a fair bit more room than seems apparent from the tee. However, the magnificent 100-year-old umbrella pines that line both sides of most fairways provide a menacing presence that is sufficiently threatening to unhinge the hesitant.

Emporda opened in 1990 and has steadily expanded. It offers 36 fabulous holes divided into two contrasting layouts – wooded and links-style. Mature umbrella pines are an imposing feature on the former though wide fairways and a generous allocation of humps and mounds on either side render the course slightly less problematic than it first appears.

Also worth trying is Golf d´Aro Mas Nou, a rollercoaster of a layout within the National Park of Les Gavarres. Some 300m above sea level, the course provides stunning views as well as the opportunity to hit some unusual and exciting golf shots.

Getting there There are direct flights to Barcelona El Prat airport from all over the UK with a large

SPAIN

Emporda Two quality 18-hole layouts.

choice of airlines, including Monarch (from £76 return) from Birmingham, Gatwick, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.

Best time to go The Costa Brava enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long hot summers and short mild winters. Due to its north eastern location, Costa Brava’s weather is generally cooler and wetter than many other coastal areas in Spain. The cooler weather is much enjoyed during summer, when many other parts of Spain are scorching.

Where to stay The PGA Catalunya Resort has gone up another notch following the opening of a new five-star Hotel Camiral while we can also recommend Platja d’Aro’s clifftop four-star Silken Park San Jorge Hotel & Spa. Best places to eat & drink Visit any of the cafes along Las Ramblas in Barcelona and watch the world go by. The best time to go is in the evening.

Insider tips Avoid the huge queues by booking tickets to the spectacular Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in advance.

Off-course attractions The stretch of coastline between Roses and Tossa de Mar has many delightful small coastal towns. Cadaqués, near the French border, is a fascinating artists’ paradise and the Dali Museum at Figueres is great fun.

Try it yourself… ● Aparthotel & Villas Golf Beach. Seven nights in newly refurbished apartment with

‘With water on seven holes, PGA Catalunya always offers a stern test’ one bedroom and unlimited golf at Pals costs €545 per person (2 people) and €415 pp (4 people) until Apr 30. To book email commercial@golfdepals.com quoting GPGBTODAY20162017 ● Hotel Peralada Wine, Spa & Golf. Two nights’ B&B, three green fees at Peralada with manual trolley, unlimited access to aqua zone El Celler and free entry to Casino Peralada plus tapas lunch or dinner in L’Olivera restaurant. TG readers booking will also receive a bottle of Perelada 3 Finques red wine, a glass of Perelada cava after each round of golf and a discount voucher for pro shop purchases. Costs €355 per person until Jun 30 2017 (based on two sharing double room). To book email hotel@golfperalada. com ● PGA Catalunya Resort. One night’s double sharing B&B at the resort’s on-site five star Hotel Camiral and a round on the Tour course plus free access to Beauty Centre & Gym costs €136 per person (Nov 14-Dec 31).

TG readers will receive a free upgrade to a superior room depending on availability. To book this great offer email reservations@ pgacatalunya.com

Mas Nou Helter-skelter golf at its best.

La Reserva Robinson’s modern act.

COSTA DEL SOL The original low budget holiday destination for many millions of British tourists for several decades, the Costa del Sol has earned a special place in the nation’s affection. Golfers, too, have flocked to the familiar and friendly courses that are wrapped right around the coastline and its popularity remains as firm as the fairways.

Must-play courses Probably the most famous course on the Costa del Sol is Valderrama. With simply ➔

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

SPAIN

Finca Cortesin Immaculate Tour venue.

magnificent fairways, it is regarded by many as the best course on the whole of the continent of Europe. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr and opened in 1974, it was a longtime home of the Volvo Masters and enjoyed its finest hour when hosting the Ryder Cup in 1997. Although the green fee’s not cheap, it is possible to get on at Valderrama and certainly worth the effort.

Just to the east of Valderrama and close to the sea is Robert Trent Jones Snr’s first course in Europe, Sotogrande. It recently celebrated its half-century and has certainly stood the test of time. Used around the turn of the century as a European Tour School qualifying venue, it still poses tricky questions without being too intimidating. There are plenty of bunkers (they were the first in Europe to be filled with brilliant, white, crushed marble) and a generous sprinkling of water hazards, but it’s the trees – pine, cork oaks, eucalyptus and giant palms – that line the fairways that cause the most grief. The finishing stretch of holes is particularly demanding.

A private members’ club that welcomes visitors and has hosted the Spanish Open, it exudes a comforting old world charm.

Eminently walkable, the course is maintained to the very highest standard.

From 1993 to 2007, nearby San Roque also hosted the European Tour School. With two 44 TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

San Roque Testofstrategy andpower.

‘It’s the trees that line the fairways that cause the most grief at Sotogrande’ exceptional courses, it’s another private club that welcomes visitors. Again it’s not cheap but not absurdly expensive either. Opinion is pretty evenly divided as to whether the Old or the New is better. Designed by Dave Thomas and Tony Jacklin and opened at the height of the golf boom in 1990, the Old course is undoubtedly tougher, especially when played off the back tees. Built on elevated land once owned by the Domecq sherry family – the elegant hacienda-style clubhouse was

formerly the family home – it enjoys terrific views, especially of the mountains to the north and west.

Designed by Perry Dye on what was regarded as a particularly challenging site, the New course gives golfers splendid views of the Guadalquiton River in the valley below and, of course, the Mediterranean.

Also in this neck of the woods are a classy pair of modern Cabell Robinson layouts in the form of La Reserva and the spectacular Finca Cortesin which has been the venue of the Volvo Matchplay Championship.

Getting there Several budget airlines including Flybe, Ryanair and Monarch (from £70 return) fly into Malaga.

Best time to go Spain’s southern coast gets an impressive 320 sunny days a year, so it’s a great yearround destination. In summer, daytime temperatures don’t tend to stray from the 30s. In the spring and autumn, you can expect highs of between 18 and 22ºC, and it very rarely gets cold in winter.

Where to stay The four-star Hotel Almenara in Sotogrande has 27 holes of its own and is convenient for Valderrama, Sotogrande and San Roque. For those who want to be closer to the nightlife, then the Gran Hotel Guadalpin Banus, a shortish walk from Puerto Banus and a few ➔

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017 kilometres from Marbella, could well be the answer.

Best places to eat & drink Sloanes Bistro in Elviria offers delicious food and great value.

Insider tips ● The high season for golfers runs from March to May and September to October.

There are some great bargains to be had outside these months. ● Marbella is notorious for pickpockets.

Take a few Euros and a credit card when you go out but leave your wallet in your hotel safe.

Off-course attractions Puerto Banus is Marbella’s world-famous port, a millionaire’s playground with beach clubs, super-yachts moored in the marina and a long strip of bars, clubs and designer boutiques along the water. The glitz factor is high on the seafront Golden Mile, which throbs with bars and clubs. But there’s a

Alcanada Superior golf in Majorca .

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traditional side too, in the calm oasis of the old town. Just a 10mins drive from central Torremolinos, Aqualand is one of the largest waterparks in Spain.

Try it yourself… ● Three, four and seven night self-catering breaks at Macdonald Dona Lola Resort (groups of 8, one goes free) and golf at one of 12 nearby courses costs from £205pp (bookings made before Oct 31). Doesn’t include flights or transfers. To book visit http://resorts.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/golfholidays/ MAJORCA Ever since the birth of mass tourism back in the 1960s, the beautiful Mediterranean island of Majorca has been one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations. With its enviable climate, gorgeous scenery and glorious beaches it particularly appeals to sun-starved tourists, especially those from the UK.

Must-play courses The two superstars are Son Gual near capital Palma and the ultra-scenic Alcanada, the latter being a superb Robert Trent Jones II layout which opened 13 years ago and is attractively draped across the south-facing slopes north of Alcudia Bay in the north east.

The Thomas Himmel-designed Son Gual is highly challenging and you’re bound to find it in tip-top condition.

Real Bendinat is a particularly tough challenge and tight, tree-lined fairways put considerable emphasis on drive accuracy.

Three US Presidents have played at Santa Ponsa. Jimmy Carter, George Bush and Bill Clinton have all teed it up at this ravishing resort that boasts two 18-hole challenges and a nine-holer. Although only Santa Ponsa 1 is open to visitors, it is the most challenging of the three and has hosted the Balearic Islands Open six times.

Rather less intimidating and set among the

SPAIN rolling hills just behind Palma is Son Muntaner, an exceedingly beautiful course with some wonderfully elevated tees and breathtaking views.

Son Vida is Majorca’s oldest and arguably most prestigious club. Totally renovated a while back, it is now in great shape. With some fabulous adjacent properties and glorious views of the Sierra Tramuntana and Palma Bay, it is easy to be distracted from the often testing task of keeping out of the trees.

Another well established layout is Poniente.

With plenty of pine and olive groves, no shortage of water hazards (there are seven lakes) and measuring 7,000 yards off the back, it’s tough.

Opened in May 1998, Son Termens is a stunningly beautiful course just 10km to the north of Palma. Built on a former hunting estate in the hills, the course’s peaceful surrounding countryside and panoramic views make this an unforgettable experience.

Getting there Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways all offer flights from London to Palma, while Monarch (from £80 return) fly from Birmingham, Gatwick, Luton, Leeds and Manchester.

Best time to go Although it can get rather hot in July and August and does occasionally rain in winter, the climate is close to ideal. Early spring can be fresh.

Where to stay Even though they may not have swung a club when there, Princess Grace of Monaco, Brigitte Bardot, King Faisal, Yasser Arafat, Julio Iglesias and Mikael Gorbachev have all stayed at the magnificent Castillo Hotel Son Vida. It’s right in the midst of a cluster of courses and is highly recommended.

Best places to eat & drink Palma is full of great restaurants and lively bars. Sandro is relatively inexpensive and serves great Italian and European food.

Insider tips ● If you haven’t rented a car and are staying in Palma, save on the taxi and take bus number 1, which leaves for the capital from the airport every 15mins. ● Try and avoid August when the cost of flights soar.

Off-course attractions The magnificent cathedral in Palma should be top of everyone’s list of things to see.

And a drive through the beautiful scenery in the Serra de Tramuntana is simply breathtaking.

Try it yourself… ● Viva Zafiro Alcudia & Spa. Three nights’ B&B and two rounds at Alcanada plus use of the Balneum spa costs €300pp from Feb 1-28 (based on two sharing a junior suite). To book email infogolf@hotelsviva.com ● Lindner Golf & Wellness Resort, Portals Nous. Three nights’ B&B (double room), two green fees (at Bendinat), one golf massage, ➔

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

SPAIN La Manga 54-hole golf town.

‘Undulating and set in unspoilt scenery, Camposol Golf Club is well worth a visit’ Son Gual Cracking track near Palma.

two snacks for round of golf and free use of the Bahari spa costs from €355pp. To book email info.portalsnous@lindnerhotels.com ● Lindner Golf & Wellness Resort. Seven nights’ half-board and two rounds at Bendinat and one each at Santa Ponsa, Son Vida & Son Quint, costs from €1,004pp (double room) with a free 25-minute golf massage. To book email info.portalsnous@lindnerhotels. com quoting Today’s Golfer.

MURCIA Murcia, in the south-eastern corner of the country, is Spain’s unofficial capital of golf resorts. They are scattered throughout this hot and sunny region offering a wide range of facilities and obviating the need to go anywhere else.

Must-play courses The list of dedicated golf resorts is as long as a Bubba Watson drive, but the best known are Serena Golf Resort, Roda Golf and Beach Resort, Peraleja Golf Resort, the InterContinental Mar Menor Golf Resort and Spa and La Torre Golf Resort.

Of course, the grand-daddy of them all opened here many decades ago. Created by a visionary American, magnificent La Manga Club is more a small town than a holiday resort and offers everything a sports fanatic could possibly want. It boasts three fabulous golf courses, two-dozen tennis courts, squash courts, countless swimming pools, a spa and fitness centre, eight football pitches, Spain’s finest cricket wicket, rugby and hockey pitches, bowling greens and a lot more besides.

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Most go for the golf though and are rewarded with three outstanding championship challenges. The longest and most renowned is the South. Remodelled by Arnold Palmer 20 years ago and completely refurbished in 2004, it has hosted numerous Spanish Opens and the European Tour Qualifying School.

The North is significantly shorter but demands more in the way of precision. It also contains a barrage of barranca – natural storm gullies – that present real problems.

The large greens are tricky, a few are tiered and three-putts are not uncommon.

The West has the greatest elevation and consequently the best views. Despite the height, the course is still walkable. Set in pine woodland, it’s tight at times and regarded by many as the toughest of the three.

Serena Golf Resort lies on the shore of the Mar Menor. Designed by Manuel Pinero, it’s a flat course that’s easy to walk but quite tricky to play.

Hacienda del Alamo Bring power .

If it’s length you’re after then Hacienda del Álamo at 7,353-yards off the tips is for you. It’s yet another impressive resort with a Dave Thomas designed course at the heart of it all.

Camposol Golf offers a game of two halves with a fairly gentle front nine followed by an altogether stiffer examination on the back.

Undulating and set amidst unspoilt scenery, it’s certainly worth a visit.

Getting there Murcia is a very popular destination. Between them, easyJet, Ryanair, BA and Iberia, connect to most UK airports.

Best time to go Murcia enjoys a hot, semi-arid climate with mild winters and warm to hot summers.

Temperatures range from 16°C in January to 33°C in August.

Where to stay La Manga really has it all but Serena Golf Resort in Los Alcazares, right next to Mar Menor just outside San Javier, offers a more modest and quieter four-star alternative.

Best places to eat & drink Both the food and setting of El Parador del Mar Menor are hard to beat.

Insider tips With its rich legacy of art and contrasting cultures, Murcia city is a great place to gain a real insight into everyday Spanish life.

Carthaginians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Moors have all left their mark.

Off-course attractions If you’re adventurous enough, you might be bold enough to visit the largest, open-air, mud therapy area in Europe located at the top of the Mar Menor in Las Charcas de las Salinas.

Try it yourself… ● Hotel Principe Felipe, La Manga Club. Three nights’ B&B including three rounds costs from €340 per person (Dec-Mar) and from €405 pp (Apr-Jun, Sept & Oct 2017). To book visit www.lamanagaclub.com

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

TG Travel Awards 2017 T R AV E L AWA R D S

2017

Your chance to award gongs to the UK and Europe’s leading venues

hich course, hotel or resort has really impressed and stood head and shoulders above the rest for you this year both at home in the UK and abroad?

The competition, as always, is bound to be red hot but there is usually one venue which has delivered the goods big-time in terms of conditioning and service and other key ingredients which contribute towards a memorable break or golf day out. Let us know and you could have a big say in the outcome of the latest TG Travel Awards – the Oscars of the golf travel industry.

The TG Awards are decided by you the reader and are widely considered among the most coveted and sought after in the game,

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attracting thousands of votes every year. And if you vote (see how to opposite) you’re in with a chance of winning a fantastic golf break for two at luxury Devon resort Bovey Castle.

It’s a tough call, but to help you make your decisions we have produced a hit list of potential candidates for the 22 categories. Of course, your vote could well be for a course or venue not listed.

The 2017 Awards sees the introduction of a brand new category in the form of Continental Europe’s Best Overall Destination. Portugal’s Algarve and Spanish hotspots Costa del Sol and Costa Brava are expected to be among the frontrunners. This is a welcome addition to the popular Best Value Destination

(Continental Europe), won last year by Spain’s Murcia region starring the star-studded La Manga Club resort which will incredibly be chasing its sixth successive victory in Spain’s top hotel/resort category. Vilamoura’s grand Old Course is also striving for six of the best in Portugal’s leading course category.

So what are you waiting for? Head to todaysgolfer.co.uk/tgtravelawards to cast your precious votes before the Nov 30th deadline and remember, you can only win the Bovey Castle break prize if you’ve actually voted.

The list of winners will be revealed in the February issue of Today’s Golfer and online at todaysgolfer.co.uk in the new year.

TRAVEL AWARDS

ENGLAND NORTH Best Course Royal Birkdale Royal Lytham & St Annes Ganton Moortown Slaley Hall Alwoodley Formby Hillside Royal Liverpool (Other) Best Hotel/Resort Carden Park Rockliffe Hall The Mere Close House Rudding Park Slaley Hall (Other) SOUTH Best Course Sunningdale (Old) The Grove Woburn (Marquess) Royal St George’s London Club Walton Heath (Old) The Berkshire Prince’s Royal Cinque Ports (Other) Best Hotel/Resort Stoke Park The Grove Marriott Hanbury Manor Foxhills Heythrop Park The Oxfordshire The Lodge At Prince’s Luton Hoo (Other) WEST Best Course Saunton (East) St Mellion St Enodoc Trevose Burnham & Berrow Royal North Devon (Other) Best Hotel/Resort St Mellion Bovey Castle Manor House Castle Combe Bowood G&CC Trevose G&CC Carlyon Bay Manor House/Astbury Hotels (Other) EAST & MIDLANDS Best Course

Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) Hunstanton The Belfry (Brabazon) Notts GC The Lindrick Forest Pines Royal West Norfolk Sherwood Forest Little Aston (Other) Best Hotel/Resort The Belfry Marriott Forest of Arden Forest Pines Ufford Park Thorpeness Hotel & GC Greetham Valley Heacham Manor (Other) SCOTLAND Best Course Trump Turnberry (Ailsa) Gleneagles (King’s) Royal Troon Old Course St Andrews Castle Stuart Kingsbarns Muirfield North Berwick (West Links) Carnoustie Trump International Royal Dornoch Prestwick Machrihanish Dunes (Other) Best Hotel/Resort Trump Turnberry Gleneagles Old Course Hotel Rusack’s Hotel Trump International (Mcleod House) Cameron House At Loch Lomond Machrihanish Dunes Marine Hotel (N Berwick) Archerfield (Other) WALES Best Course Royal Porthcawl Celtic Manor Twenty Ten Wales National Conwy Royal St David’s Aberdovey Nefyn & District (Other) Best Hotel/Resort Celtic Manor The Vale

Marriott St Pierre (Other) IRELAND Best Course Ballybunion Old Course European Club Waterville Lahinch K Club Portmarnock Old Course Royal County Down Royal Portrush (Dunluce) Trump Doonbeg Old Head (Other) Best Hotel/Resort K Club Carton House Portmarnock Hotel Links Lough Erne Doonbeg Galgorm Castle Slieve Donard Co. Down (Other) SPAIN Best Course Valderrama La Manga (South) San Roque PGA Catalunya La Reserva Son Gual (Majorca) Finca Cortesin (Other) Best Hotel/Resort La Manga Barcelo Montecastillo La Cala La Quinta Salobre Resort Gran Canaria Melia Golf Vichy Catalan Finca Cortesin (Other) PORTUGAL Best Course Monte Rei Oitavos Dunes Praia D’el Rey Penha Longa Onyria Palmares San Lorenzo Penina Vilamoura Old Course Vilamoura Victoria Course Royal Obidos (Other) Best Hotel/Resort Vila Sol Le Meridien Penina

Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo Penha Longa Dom Pedro Vilamoura Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Praia D’el Rey Vale Do Lobo Conrad Algarve, Quinta Do Lago The Oitavos (Other) FRANCE Best Course Paris National (Albatross) Hardelot (Pins) Le Touquet (Mer) Fontainebleau Seignosse Golf Du Medoc Terre Blanche (Chateau) (Other) Best Hotel/Resort Le Manoir Terre Blanche Resort Golf Barriere Du Deauville St Malo Hotel G&Cc Hotel Westminster Hotel Du Golf Arras Evian Resort St Endreol (Other) BEST VALUE GOLF DESTINATION (Continental Europe) Bulgaria Majorca Gran Canaria The Algarve, Portugal Costa Del Sol, Spain Murcia, Spain Costa Brava, Spain Lisbon Coast, Portugal Turkey Northern France Czech Republic Morocco (Other) BEST GOLF DESTINATION (Continental Europe) The Algarve, Portugal Costa Del Sol, Spain Murcia, Spain Costa Brava, Spain Lisbon Coast, Portugal Turkey Majorca Gran Canaria Northern France Morocco (Other)

HOW TO VOTE

visit www.todaysgolfer. co.uk/tgtravelawards and make your selections. You can only pick one course and one hotel/resort per destination category (eg: one course and one hotel in Scotland, or the four English regions).

Multiple choices will invalidate your entry.

Closing date for entries is Nov 30, 2016.

WHAT YOU CAN WIN

Bovey Castle break for 2 2016 WINNERS ● Best Value Destination (Continental Europe):

Murcia, Spain. ● Spain Best Course

PGA Catalunya; Best Hotel/resort La Manga. ● Portugal Best Course Vilamoura Old; Best Hotel/resort Quinta do Lago, Penha Longa, Tivoli Marina, Vilamoura and Vila Sol. ● France Best course Paris National; Best Hotel/resort Evian resort. ● North Of England Best Course Royal Lytham & St Annes; Best Hotel/ resort Slaley Hall. ● South Of England Best Course Sunningdale Old; Best Hotel/resort The Grove. ● West Of England Best Course St Mellion; Best Hotel/resort Bovey Castle. ● East & Midlands Best Course The Belfry (Brabazon); Best Hotel/ resort The Belfry. ● Scotland Best Course Old Course St Andrews; Best Hotel/resort Gleneagles. ● Wales Best Course Royal Porthcawl; Best Hotel/resort Celtic Manor. ● Ireland. Best Course K Club; Best Hotel/ resort K Club.

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LYKIA LINKS

Your opportunity to enjoy high-calibre seaside golf in the warm sunshine of Belek...

Why LykiaWorld is ‘Paradise Found’ Set alongside a preserved 2.5km long sandy beach is the stunning LykiaWorld Antalya Resort near Belek. Whether you are a golfer or on holiday with the family, LykiaWorld is the perfect place to unwind with an all- inclusive experience.

Choose from a full range of accommodation – from Deluxe rooms, Suites, to upscale villas with exclusive services. Enjoy a wide selection of sports and variety of evening

The links look Sleepered bunkers give an authentic feel to LykiaLinks.

entertainment.

LYKIALINKS ANTALYA is a first for Turkey and the booming Mediterranean region of Belek. It is a truly stunning golf course located right next to the sea and a 2.5km stretch of golden beach.

LykiaLinks Antalya is a world-class golf course designed by the renowned architect Perry Dye, who took advantage of the natural terrain and textures to create a particularly challenging and rewarding golf experience. A ridge running through the middle of the course provides all the ups and downs of a classic links.

Wide fairways, grassy mounds and partially obscured greens complete this links experience. All 18 holes on this par 72 course have commanding views of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding mountain peaks.

The prevailing winds and cooling breezes will challenge golfers on the four holes on the coastline. These four – numbers 13, 14, 15 and 16 – are dramatically laid out among the dunes and will test your skills and your patience, to the limits.

➔

CONTACT DETAILS

Visit: www.lykiaworldantalya.com Email: reservations@ lykiaworldantalya.com or info@lykiaworldantalya.com Telephone: +90 242 754 4343 or for tee times +90 242 754 4318

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

Turkey

Turkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main golf zones remain untouched by its recent troubles, offering great quality and value

TURKEY

here’s no denying Turkey has seen troubled times of late. A failed coup and civil unrest in the capital of Ankara and Istanbul led to an instant downturn in tourism. Bookings at one of the most popular European golf destinations dropped as dramatically as Olympian Michael Phelps’ 153ft putt at Kingsbarns.

However, the Mediterranean coastal region

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was not affected by the civil unrest. Life in the southern city of Antalya for instance carried on much as normal – apart from a noticeable deficit of tourists.

Things are returning to normality again with bookings for the coming winter ‘high’ season back on the way up. Antalya continues as a thriving, modern metropolis populated with vibrant, forward-looking young people and a

vast array of off-course culture and entertainment. And the attraction of 14 topclass golf facilities and more than 50 five star ultra-high-end hotels continues to exert its influence. Are there any benefits to these changing times? Fewer golfers means course conditions around Belek have never been better or premium tee times more accessible, and there’s less slow play. ➔

Antalya The Sultan and Pasha layouts.

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

TURKEY

Gloria (New) Renovated and better than ever.

Golf package holiday prices have tumbled but unfortunately, the Pound/Euro Exchange Rate is not in our favour. However, Turkey with its all-inclusive food, beverage, golf and accommodation packaging still represents amazing value. Some clubhouses have even gone ‘all-inclusive,’ meaning your lunch, snacks and drinks are all part of the deal.

Must-play courses The top five challenges in the Antalya area remain National, Sultan, Montgomerie, Gloria Old and Carya. These are the big guns good golfers will relish taking on. Let’s throw Lykia Links in there also as it’s a great, long course.

Indeed, all of Antalya’s courses are in good shape these days – there’s not a weak link among them.

The National is the oldest and still holds its head up in the top tier. The new nine holes are perhaps not quite on par with the original layout but a good addition. The Sultan and Montgomerie have hosted European Tour events in recent years and they’re usually in top condition. Admittedly the latter’s greens took a bashing at last year’s Turkish Open but they’re better now, though the fairways and rough are still not at their best.

The renovation work now complete at Gloria has brought both the Old and New 56 TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

Sueno Lakes, pines and 36 holes.

‘Play Carya in the evening cool; its fabulous fairways are now floodlit’ courses into supreme playability and there’s no doubt they’ll be back in the leading lists of courses to play. Carya is making some major changes ahead of the European Tour’s Turkish Open this November. The outcome remains to be seen but there’s little doubt it will ratchet this already excellent course into the upper echelon. In the cool of the evening by the way you can continue to take on Carya’s fabulous

fairways – all 18 holes are now floodlit and are great fun.

Kaya Eagles didn’t used to get much of a rating but improvements means it’s now worth considering and the same applies to Sueno and Tat GC, now called the Titanic Golf Club, following recent renovation work. The other courses are pretty much the same without any major changes.

Getting there Thomas Cook and Jet2 have the most flights year round and Thomas Cook offer good group discounts. Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, operates flights to Antalya from Gatwick with fares, including taxes, starting from £69 one way (£133 return). Visit www.monarch.co.uk Best time to go Mid-November through to the end of May. Overseeding programmes take place in October. All courses are affected for approximately two weeks with no buggies allowed and greens noticeably slower. It’s also worth noting that from mid-November until mid-April the outside facilities in the hotels are closed. It can be quite cool in the evenings during this time so not always conducive to sitting out. Mid-April to the end of May has become one of the most popular periods with ➔

Untouched, unspoilt, tranquil

North Cyprus Golf Holidays

Along with 200 miles of enchanted coastline, over 300 days of sunshine every year and 9000 years of history and culture it is the breath-taking setting that sets this resort apart.

This 5 star Luxury resort’s 18 hole championship golf course is a dynamic 6,232 metres, 72 par gem designed for golfers of all standards and ages. The unique design enables the golfers to enjoy the views of the Five Finger mountains and the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean sea from each hole making it a breath taking experience and also a golfing challenge that golfers want to experience over and over again.

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

TURKEY

Montgomerie Monty-style accuracy a plus.

the courses in excellent condition and the hotel facilities fully open.

Where to stay The three most popular hotel resorts are Gloria, Max and Regnum. For style, comfort and sophistication these are the class acts.

Staying there ensures top quality all the way and well worth the extra expense. The new Sueno has opened and it is impressive in size but seems to be a bit slow to bring its service in line with the area’s high standards.

Best places to eat & drink Dining out in the Old Town of Antalya goes from strength to strength with new and interesting ‘concept’ restaurants opening every season. Quirky pizza and burger restaurants can now be found as well as traditional Turkish cuisine amid Ottoman-style housing down the cobbled streets… all renovated and in keeping with an authentic ‘old town concept.’

Insider tips ● Go all-inclusive. It is truly amazing value and the standard of food and presentation at all the hotels is quite bewildering. Buffets have never been better but ring the changes by including evenings in the multiple A La Carte restaurants at each hotel. You will definitely be delighted with the standards of food and drink at all the hotels.

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Carya Turkish Open host course.

‘In Lara you’ll find clifftop restaurants offering top views of the Mediterranean’ ● One of the best recent additions to the Belek scene is the Land of Legends Theme Park now fully open after four years in the making. It offers accommodation, entertainment, four fabulous restaurants and exhilarating rides along with a Water Park and Spa & Wellness centre. Definitely worth including on your non-golf days.

Off-course attractions You simply must visit the Old Town in Antalya

for its ambience and colourful bay.

Restaurants of note are ‘Vanilla’ & ‘Club Arma’ both in the Old Town and Harbour area. Above the harbour is Arma Restaurant and it’s by far the best for meat and fish. Also don’t miss out on its crème brûlée or chocolate soufflés. In Belek there are a couple of good local Turkish restaurants and the Belek Fish House is ever popular. Along the coast taking the new motorway (25 mins) and near the Kursunlu waterfall is the trendy suburb of Lara where you will find wellestablished fish restaurants, grill-houses and burger pubs on the clifftop offering great views across the Mediterranean.

Antalya’s nightclubs and bars are in abundance and the atmosphere is vibrant most nights. You might also note people are very well behaved – making for great late nights out with the locals.

Try it yourself… ● Lykia World & Links Golf Antalya. Five nights with sea view room and unlimited golf costs €250 per person between Dec 1-20. To book this deal email golfreservation@ lykiaworldantalya.com ● Lykia World & Links Golf Antalya. Seven nights’ all-inclusive, unlimited golf plus one at Nobilis costs from €400pp. To book email golfreservation@lykiaworldantalya.com

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

MONEY-SAVING TIPS

Top 10 travel tips Follow these to save time and money when you go away

1 2

Midweek rules. If you can, fly midweek as it’s usually considerably cheaper.

Be an early bird. Generally you’ll save far more by booking early with many resorts offering discounts of up to 30%.

3

Opt for hire clubs. With airlines charging up to £100 to transport your clubs, you can save yourself a wedge of cash by renting your sticks via ClubstoHire (www.clubstohire. com) and picking them up at the airport. Topquality rental sets are available from £30-£55 and they’re easy to arrange, with rental sets available at 23 locations worldwide. Naturally there’s nothing quite like using your own clubs, but we’ve tried them several times and it’s a terrific service.

4

Going BagSOLO. A new travel solution that provides the ultimate convenience for travelling golfers. It offers to courier your own clubs around the world from door-todoor from £29 each way. BagSOLO is partnered with world-leading courier services FedEx and UPS to offer golfers the premium service of door-to-door delivery of their clubs when they travel. No excess baggage charges, no queues at the airport check-in, and no heavy bags to lug around. Golfers can arrange pick-up and delivery to whichever destination they choose and can track their luggage every step of the way with a free tracking service.

Visit www.bagsolo.com

5

Bags of room. It’s worth noting that leading scheduled airline Monarch, who

Club solutions BagSOLO (left) lets you take your own clubs away; ClubstoHire sees you pick some up on arrival.

fly to many popular European golfing hotspots, is providing golfers with a 20kg golf bag allowance on top of 10kg of hand luggage per customer. With a standard bag and club set weighing in at around 10-12kg, golfers can maximise the spare space in their bag and avoid excess luggage charges. Cost is £25 one way for a golf bag when booked online. For a full list of Monarch destinations visit www. monarch.co.uk/destinations

6

In the bag. Packing tricks of the trade include rolling soft clothing to fill the gaps in your golf travel bag, ensuring you group several items together when doing so (this will reduce creasing); also place shoes, ideally wrapped in plastic bags, at the bottom of your golf bag and stuffed with smaller items such as socks, making the most of any spare space.

7

Handy hand luggage. Fold your clothing and stack in cubes to maximise space and provide easy access. And be sure to pack any light coloured clothing inside out so any

stains picked up in transit don’t show up when you reach your destination.

8

Car hire. Ensure you’ve got the right insurance cover for your needs and return the car with a full tank of fuel otherwise you run the risk of a big charge. Plus make sure, especially with a group, the vehicle is big enough to take your suitcases and golf bags to save back seat passengers having to travel with golf clubs on their laps!

9

The essentials. Keep all your essential travel documents – passports, driving licence, flight and any transfer details mobile phones etc – within easy reach at the top of your hand luggage, or on your person.

10

Airport parking. Before and after your golfing holiday, this can be a real pain in the proverbial. But it doesn’t have to be.

Check out www.ilovemeetandgreet.co.uk for hassle-free parking – rates are from £40 per week with up to 25 per cent discounts available for frequent flyers.

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TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

France

A quick hop across the channel and you’ll find some of Europe’s finest courses, hotels, food and wine

The Vineuil One of France’s very best.

t boasts some of the finest courses in contintental Europe and is preparing to host the 2018 Ryder Cup... reason enough to visit on their own. But with sensational hotels, food and wine to boot and the appeal of a quick ferry or tunnel crossing, it’s the perfect time to head across the channel.

I

NORTHERN FRANCE There is much to admire about northern France; it’s comparatively uncrowded, the roads are excellent, the scenery is delightful and the weather is marginally better than ours. The food is excellent and the wine is both plentiful and inexpensive. Because of its close proximity, northern France is particularly appealing to Brits who deserve at least some of the credit for the number and quality of the courses to be found here.

Must-play courses After dropping anchor in Calais, first port of call for most Brits is Hardelot, home of the wonderful Pines and Dunes courses. Further south, Le Touquet awaits, also with two 18hole courses with Harry Colt’s Classic La Mer being the pick.

Belle Dune is about a 20-minute drive away and, like Hardelot’s courses, is laid out among pine-lined sand hills.

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Further east in Normandy is delightful Deauville. Set on a hillside overlooking the town and with two cracking courses is Golf Barriere de Deauville.

Just along the coast is Omaha Beach. The Americans landed here on D-Day – June 6, 1944. The wonderful course overlooks the beaches where about 5,000 brave men died that day. There’s a pill-box and other reminders scattered about on the two lovely courses, all of which put a bad shot or round into perspective. Another star is Etretat, perched on the Normandy cliffs.

Rather more demanding is the magnificent links course at Granville near Breville Sur Mer. More than a century old, it has a wild beauty, natural feel and some unforgettable holes.

Established in 1887, Dinard is France’s second-oldest club and is steeped in history.

Founded by a group of British settlers and designed by the famous Scotsman Tom Dunn, it is clearly modelled on the great courses ‘back home’. Totally authentic and simply oozing class and quality, it’s an absolute joy from the first tee to the final green.

Getting there Since it’s so much easier travelling from course to course in a car, a ferry is probably the best bet. As well as Dover-Calais, there

Fontainebleau A heathland beauty.

are routes from Newhaven to Dieppe, Portsmouth to Cherbourg, Caen, Le Havre and St Malo and Plymouth to Cherbourg.

Best time to go Northern France enjoys weather which is only marginally better than it is in the southern half of England. And, as in the UK, the further west you venture, the wetter it gets.

Where to stay Hôtel du Golf Barrière Deauville enjoys wonderful views over Deauville and is as comfortable as it is classy. It’s a great place to stay and play golf.

Best places to eat & drink Perhaps like most things, French cuisine is not as pre-eminent as it once was. However, if only there were more restaurants like l’ilot

FRANCE

Golf du Chateau de la Chouette Perfectly manicured.

‘Along the coast is Omaha Beach, where the Americans landed on D-Day in 1944’ Thurs Apr 13 (Sun to Thurs). To book call 0033 321 062828. ● Two nights’ dinner, B&B at Les Ormes Golf & Resort, Brittany, three days of unlimited golf with complimentary buggy costs from 285pp (based on two sharing a room). Valid Oct 2017. To book, call 0033 299735340 or email hotel@lesormes.com PARIS

Le Golf National L’Albatros will host the Ryder Cup.

Vert in Boulogne, it would soon recover the top spot.

Insider tips ● Because French golf clubs seem to take as much care over the appointment of a chef as they do a greenkeeper, it’s often a good idea to stay and have a meal in the clubhouse after your round. ● Overnight ferries save time and reduce hotel bills.

Off-course attractions There’s good quality racing most days in July and August at Deauville.

Try it yourself… ● Two nights’ B&B in a classic room at Le Manoir Hotel, one dinner and 36 holes at Le Touquet costs 230euros from Sun Oct 16 to

The already tangible excitement in Paris at the prospect of the Ryder Cup coming in 2018 is certain to grow over the coming months. Golf is a game that fits in well with the traditional chic and elegant image of the French capital and Parisians are lucky in that there are beaucoup de très bonne (many very good) courses close to the city.x Must-play courses Ryder Cup work has already commenced at Le Golf National. Opened in 1990, it is the perfect ‘stadium’ course and that’s no doubt one of the reasons it was selected to host the big biennial battle between Europe and the USA. Both courses – L’Albatros and L’Aigle – have always been pretty tough and the former is about to be ‘softened’ for the big match.

A spectacular chateau that doubles as a clubhouse stares down on the delightful course at Golf du Chateau de la Chouette while Le Golf Parc, set within 200 exquisite acres, is an unalloyed pleasure to play with truly magnificent specimen trees that are just as beautiful as the holes.

Undoubtedly one of the greatest courses in France, Vineuil is the more widely acclaimed of the two at Chantilly (the other is Les Longeres) and is certainly not flattered by its high ranking in France’s top ten. Designed by the legendary Tom Simpson around the turn of the last century and set amidst the forest of the Ile de France about 30 miles north of

Paris, it has the feel of one of the great Surrey courses.

Fontainebleau is another classic Simpson design that makes you think of England. It has undergone a few changes since opening in 1909 but nothing has altered its considerable charm. Set amidst the glorious Fontainebleau Forest, it remains a stunningly beautiful heathland course.

Getting there There are flights from most UK airports and there’s the option of a cross-channel ferry or train.

Best time to go Although perhaps marginally better, the weather is remarkably similar to that of southeast England.

Where to stay The four star 200-room Dolce Chantilly hotel is a handy base, being located 40mins from the capital while it boasts its own golf course.

Best places to eat & drink Paris is of course rife with fine restaurants and great entertainment options.

Insider tips ● Probably best to avoid the obvious places such as the Champs-Élysées and look on the Left Bank instead.

Off-course attractions The Eiffel Tower clearly stands out although you don’t have to go all the way up to the highest platform if you don’t fancy it. Equally mandatory is a stroll along the ChampsÉlysées, which is lined with expensive boutiques, restaurants and elegant hotels.

Try it yourself… ● Versailles from £408pp including overnight return Portsmouth to Caen ferry with cabin, two nights on board, two nights B&B at Hotel le Versailles and three rounds (Golf de Courson, Golf National and de Rochefort). To book visit www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/golf TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 61

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

Off the beaten track A quartet of best-of-the-rest European destinations guaranteed to provide great value, quieter courses and a memorable golf experience

BEST OF THE REST

hen it comes to taking a golf break Morocco, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Belgium are unlikely to be the first options on your list. But here are some compelling reasons why they could be.

W

MOROCCO Why you should go Firstly, there’s the weather. It’s a year-round destination and whenever you pitch up the sun is guaranteed to be shining, though probably too much for golfers in summer.

Secondly, there’s the courses themselves.

There are quality layouts popping up all over the country on a regular basis with most based around the magical red-walled city of Marrakech where you’ll find striking courses designed by Kyle Phillips, Jack Nicklaus and Colin Montgomerie.

Overall, it’s a value, cheerful destination with the green fees substantially less

expensive than similar-quality venues in the established European golfing countries.

There’s every chance too of picking up a cheap budget flight to Marrakech, Agadir and Casablanca.

It’s good news too that most of the golf venues have on-site hotels, usually four or five-star standard, enabling you to stay and play, wine and dine in style.

Marrakech is tops for inland action with the established Trent Jones-created Palmeraie and Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah, complete with a particularly challenging final four holes. It’s close to the classy, fresh new pair of The Montgomerie and Kyle Phillips’ Assoufid with its stunning 17th hole being one of the best short holes in Morocco.

If you prefer seaside action, there are some wonderful offerings near Rabat, El Jadida, and Agadir. Royal Dar Es Salam is the pick in the northern part of the country with two 18-

hole courses plus a nine-holer available.

Gary Player’s magnificent Mazagan Beach, managed by Troon Golf, is a fantastic links and must-play while further down the coast near Essaouira is another Player-designed course, Mogador, similarly an effortlessly spectacular and beautiful layout.

The most southerly courses are all close to Agadir and include the thrilling new rollercoaster of a track that is Tazegzout while you’ve 36 holes to negotiate at Du Soleil.

Ideal time to visit is November for Marrakech (averaging a high of 22ºC) though you’ve got more scope to visit the Atlantic coast venues with temperatures ranging between 28-32ºC in the summer – so probably not too hot for golf.

Ultimately Morocco offers something different, unique and full of character. Having had a taste of it, there’s a good chance you’ll be back for more. ➔

Lighthouse Woosie test in Bulgaria.

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

Palmeraie Shotmakingin Marrakech.

Try it yourself… ● Seven nights’ B&B at Palmeraie Palace, deluxe double room, five rounds (Palmeraie, Amelkis, Noria, Montgomerie & Ourika) and airport and golf transfers, costs from €717 per person sharing (valid Dec 2-27). To book email info@morocco-unlimited.com ● Minimum of three nights’ B&B at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, unlimited golf & use of driving range, two 50% discount vouchers on selected Mazagan spa treatments excluding Carita, access to casino & nightclub, and airport transfers, costs from 2165 DH/£169 per person sharing (valid 1 Jan -24 Mar). To book email info@morocco-unlimited.com ● Seven nights’ B&B with six dinners at Domaine des Remparts, Marrakech, airport and golf transfers and five rounds at Montgomerie & Tony Jacklin courses, costs €952pp in a double junior suite until Dec 23.

To book email reservation@ domainedesremparts.com BULGARIA Why you should go Bulgaria was IAGTO’s Undiscovered Golf Destination four years ago, thanks to offering amazing value-for-money and boasting one of the most spectacular courses on Planet Golf, in the form of Thracian Cliffs. What more do you want?

Gary Player’s feisty and dramatic Thracian Cliffs is perched thrillingly on the cliffs overlooking Cape Kaliakra, occupying a dramatic split-level clifftop plateau high above the Black Sea. It proved the perfect setting for the Volvo World Matchplay a few years back.

With one memorable hole following another to guarantee a round to remember, Thracian Cliffs is undoubtedly Bulgaria’s no.1 course but there are other impressive venues waiting in the wings. Ian Woosnam’s Lighthouse Golf & Spa, and BlackSeaRama, another cracking Player track, occupy the same spectacular headland around 15 miles north of Varna where you can fly into with budget airline Wizz Air from Luton or with new Balkan Holidays Airlines flights from Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow.

You can make it a brilliant Bulgaria break by doubling up with capital Sofia where you’ll 64 TG TR AVEL GUIDE 2017 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

BEST OF THE REST Mazagan Classy links from Player.

Thracian Cliffs Pure drama.

‘Thracian Cliffs is perched thrillingly on cliffs overlooking Cape Kaliakra’ discover an Ian Woosnam course (Pirin), a Paul McGinley re-construction (St Sofia) and Pravets, a classy stay-and-play venue.

Try it yourself… ● Seven nights’ B&B at Thracian Cliffs (four guests sharing two bedroom suite), four rounds (2 Thracian Cliffs, 1 Lighthouse, 1 BlackSeaRama) and airport & golf transfers costs €465pp in Apr (for 8 or more). To book call 0800 0836 376. ● Seven nights’ B&B at Lighthouse, seven rounds (6 Lighthouse, 1 Thracian Cliffs) and airport & golf transfers costs €435pp in Apr (for 8 or more). To book call 0800 0836 376. ● Seven nights’ B&B at Lighthouse, unlimited golf at Lighthouse, use of spa, pool, fitness centre and all airport transfers, costs from £383pp sharing (1 May- 12 Jun). To book email reservations@lighthousegolfresort.com ● Seven nights’ B&B at Thracian Cliffs with free upgrade to sea view suite with a bottle of wine and fruit platter, return airport transfers, free wi-fi and access to spa and outdoor pools, three rounds (at Thracian Cliffs) costs from €670pp for double accommodation (May-Sept). To book email reservations@ thraciancliffs.com

PRAGUE Why you should go It’s not only stag-do heaven and one of Europe’s greatest, liveliest and historic cities but you’ll be amazed by both the quantity and quality of golf courses on offer around Prague.

Prague has so much going for it as a golfing destination despite the fact that the season is short (Apr-Oct) and the sun isn’t guaranteed to shine. It’s very affordable with green fees, accommodation – and just about everything else you can think of – substantially cheaper than virtually anywhere else in Europe. A pint of the best beer costs around £1.50 – now that’s what we call valuefor-money.

The Czech Republic’s capital is dead easy to get to too with direct flights from many UK airports. Within a couple of hours you’ll be touching down in Prague.

The Czech Republic, and Prague in particular, is taking golf very seriously and nowadays you’ll discover around a dozen contrasting venues in and around the capital with all being within an hour’s drive of the city centre.

Prague’s golfing reputation has been bolstered by the outstanding Keith Prestondesigned par-72 Albatross course which opened in 2009 and is always in immaculate condition, having recently hosted the Czech Masters won by American Paul Peterson.

Other highlights within Prague striking distance include Konopiste, a class resort act with two outstanding gently rolling parkland ➔

GOLF IN BULGARIA WWW.GOLFINBULGARIA.COM

CALL FREE 0800 08 36 376 OFFICE@GOLFINBULGARIA.COM

BOOK YOUR ALL-IN-ONE

GOLF PACKAGE

NOW EXCLUSIVE GOLF @ THRACIAN CLIFFS

UNLIMITED GOLF FOR AVID GOLFERS

BEACH AND GOLF 5* ALL IN HOTEL

-

- 3 nights with breakfast - 3 games Lighthouse golf - All transfers

- 7 nights park view - All Inclusive - 1 game Lighthouse golf - 1 game BlackSeaRama - 1 game Thracian Cliffs - All transfers Group 8+ : £535/ May’17

3 nights with Breakfast 1 game Thracian Cliffs 1 game BlackSeaRama All transfers

In group of 8: £229/ April ‘17 Ask for our group offers * Thracian Cliffs and BlackSeaRama are Gary Player designed courses

Group of 8+: £175 Individuals: £199 valid for April‘17 * All inclusive Supplement: £65/ stay ** Lighthouse is an Ian Woosnam designed course

* Melia Grand (beach hotel) is located in Golden Sands, 20 min from Varna airport. Many nightlife options.

CALM NIGHT LIFE IN 4* NEAR GOLF

- 7 nights with breakfast - 1 game Thracian Cliffs - 1 game Lighthouse - 1 game BlackSeaRama - All transfers Group of 8+: £399 April‘17 * Sea view rooms ** Dozen restaurants and bars

* Early Booking Spring Offers 2017 – Cape Kalaikra Destination * Valid for April-May 2017, with 50% deposit by 31 Dec. 2016 * Ask for special group offers.

DIRECT FLIGHTS AVAILABLE: From Luton, Gatwick, Glasgow, and Manchester to Varna.

From Cardif, Norwich, Newcastle, Humberside, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Bristol, Doncaster/Sheffield, and Birmingham to Burgas.

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DRIVING THE HISTORY OF THE BULGARIAN GOLF TRAVEL

4

TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

BEST OF THE REST

Konopiste No walk in the park.

courses (Radecky and D’Este) and a stunning mansion house which provides luxury country retreat accommodation. You’ve also got to try Karlstejn, plotted amidst wonderful countryside and overlooked by the majestic Karlstejn castle. It is a former European Tour venue and provides 27 holes of rolling parkland golf with hardly a weak one in sight.

Closest courses to the centre are Prague City and Black Bridge.

As for staying options, party capital Prague has it all with a range of hotels from budget to luxury. Elsewhere, the city enjoys a rare blend of history and culture, shopping and sightseeing that makes a golfing break here an even more enticing prospect.

Try it yourself… ● Czech Golf Festival. Four nights’ B&B at four star hotel in Prague, three rounds of golf (Karlstejn, Konopiste & Albatross) including one competition round on Stableford basis, welcome cocktail, prize presentation dinner, sightseeing tour of Prague, airport and golf transfers, costs from €549 per person sharing (valid from Jul 9 2017). To book call 020 8133 4366. ● Prague golf break. Three nights’ B&B at a three star hotel in Prague, two rounds of golf (Prague City GC & Black Bridge) and all airport and golf transfers, costs from €299pp sharing (valid Apr-Oct). To book this deal call 020 8133 4366.

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Karlstejn Czech treat in the hills.

BELGIUM Why you should go Other than the production of world-renowned beer and chocolate, Belgium isn’t famous for too many things. Somewhat surprisingly though it boasts a cluster of top-notch golf courses, all of course just a short trip away – by plane, boat or train – across the Channel.

It’s a relatively small country so base yourself in capital Brussels and virtually every course is within striking distance. And while it’s still a developing golf nation, you should take full advantage of the incredible-value green fees and the fact that most courses won’t be overcrowded even at peak times.

Courses may be sparse but if Belgium lacks for quantity, it doesn’t fall short in the quality department. Indeed it’s pretty highend stuff with plenty of ‘Royal’ labelled courses around. The Royal GC of Belgium (better-known as Ravenstein) and Royal

Ostend are the leading duo.

The historic and heralded links of Royal Zoute near Bruges is another top club though Royal Antwerp carries the tag of being the oldest course in this particular low country.

Royals Waterloo, du Hainaut and Latem are all excellent layouts.

The town of Spa is best known for its F1 circuit but its golf course Royal des Fagnes is a pretty hot track too, wonderfully weaving through dense woodland and demanding pinpoint accuracy with every club in the bag.

Of the non-Royals, one of the most welcoming clubs is Enghien on the outskirts of Brussels. After recently adding nine holes, its more established outward half is still the better loop with a good blend of interesting woodland holes, featuring a handful of water hazards and bunkers.

You’ll be well impressed too with the variety of Mont Garni, featuring three contrasting loops of six around the beautiful clubhouse mansion built over a century ago. Hulencourt is another extremely well kept modern course with several memorable holes.

After your game, you can visit and reflect on the Battlefields of Flanders or check out the Town Hall Hotel de Ville in the Grand Place in Brussels. It’s been there since 1402!

Try it yourself… ● Visit www.martinsgolfpass.com for reduced rates and green fees at nine Martin’s hotels and 14 courses.

A Scottish touch in the heart of Marrakesh !

Between the majestic Koutoubia and the Atlas Mountains, a few drives away from the effervescent Jemaa El Fna square, the legendary Colin Montgomerie has laid down fairways in the very heart of the red city. Undulating greens, well-placed water hazards and numerous bunkers make this a challenge for every level of golfer. â&#x20AC;˘ Par 71 - 6230 m / 6813 Yards - Grass driving range - Putting green and chipping green â&#x20AC;˘ Catering : O'Mammy Burger (Gourmet burgers) - Cocotte (New Mediterranean cuisine)

www.themontgomeriemarrakech.com

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Email : TheMontgomerieMarrakech@opengolfclub.com

00 212 524 390 644