GOLF NEWS TRAVEL SPECIAL 2022

MACHRIE AND ADFIN OFFER UNMISSABLE HEBRIDEAN GOLF EXPERIENCE

Two of Scotland’s leading clubs, The Machrie and Ardfin, have joined forces to bring visiting golfers a unique Hebridean golfing experience. For the first time, golf enthusiasts can combine a two-night stay at The Machrie on Islay, with an overnight stay at Ardfin Estates, on the neighbouring island of Jura. The twin-centre trip includes 36 holes on The Machrie Links and 18 holes at Ardfin.

Golf has been played at The Machrie since 1891, with the original design by Scottish professional Willie Campbell, the former Prestwick assistant who finished second at The Open in 1886. The iconic 18-hole championship course has since been fully modernised by course architect DJ Russell, who Played on unique dunelands bordering the magnificent Laggan Bay and set against the stunning backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, The Machrie has an unrivalled location. The inspired run-offs and revetted bunkers provide an array of shot selections, while the contoured greens demand plenty of imagination to find the right line to the cup

Meanwhile, Ardfin, located on neighbouring Jura, boasts an 18-hole course designed by legendary architect Bob Harrison. Sculpted into the shoreline at the island’s southern tip, the course has been devised to minimise interference with nature.

The Machrie and Ardfin Estates package is available from now until October 31, and includes 36 holes on The Machrie and two nights’ accommodation with breakfast, followed by 18 holes at Ardfin, and one night’s accommodation. Return transfers from The Machrie to Ardfin are included, with prices starting from £1,930 per person based on two people sharing a twin or double room. For more details, visit themachrie.com.

LA CALA PUTS GOLFERS IN THE SHADE AHEAD OF SWINGING SUMMER SEASON

LA CALA, SPAIN’S LARGEST GOLF RESORT, is ready to welcome British golfers back to its 54 holes of championship golf this summer after undertaking some significant improvement to its on- and off-course facilities during the pandemic.

Situated in the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas, with breathtaking views of the Andalusian countryside and distant Mediterranean, La Cala has long been a golfing mecca for UK travellers, with the resort being handily placed 30 minutes from Malaga Airport.

The three championship courses – America, Asia and Europa – present unique challenges and slot seamlessly into a natural, undulating backdrop of trees and flowers, rich with birds and wildlife. Although America has come to be regarded as the resort’s premier layout, all three Cabell B. Robinson-designed courses serve up spectacular mountain vistas, great playability and views to the coast.

The Europa course is the latest of the layouts to be renovated, with the course now benefitting from Bermuda grass greens to more consistently high quality putting surfaces, while the bunkers have also been renovated or remodelled to bring them up to the same high standards offered on the America and Asia courses.

The resort also boasts a 107-bedroom four-star hotel, Spain’s leading hydrotherapy health sp, and four award-winning restaurants. The resort’s superb clubhouse has also enjoyed a refresh over the winter, with an extension to the terrace and the creation of new shaded areas and new seating, enabling golfers to sit and relax in total comfort before and after a round.

Four-night stay-and-play packages, which offer the chance to enjoy all three courses (including free buggy hire), daily use of the health spa and a double room (including breakfast), start from £703pp. Green fees can be exchanged for spa treatments for non-golfers.

For more information and bookings, visit www.lacala.com.

GRAB A SLICE OF THE GOLF LIFE WITH SOTOGRANDE PROPERTIES

GOLFERS LOOKING FOR GUARANTEED sunshine and access to one of the best golfing regions in Spain, are being offered the chance to grab their own slice of golfing heaven with the sale of a superb pair of villas in the heart of Sotogrande in the Costa del Sol.

The two properties, which are on the same plot of land, were built by a British builder in 2010, who is now selling them on due to imminent retirement.

Located 12 miles from Gibraltar and with easy access to dozens of world class courses, including San Roque, Almenara, Valderrama, Alcaidesa and the two courses at Sotogrande, the air-conditioned villas are separate, making them ideal for guests, rental income from long and short lets. Facilities include a 10m x 5m swimming pool, four private patio areas for dining and entertaining and parking for up to a dozen cars. Priced at only £695,000, interested parties

details.

John on

■ THE MACHRIE

■ ARDFIN GOLF CLUB IS LOCATED ON THE ISLE OF JURA

Gavin Hastings

My first holiday memory is... going to Mallorca as a kid and having a ball with my brothers. We stayed in a multi-storey hotel and we all thought it was fantastic as there was a big pool which we were in all day. I have a feeling though that my parents hated it!

My most recent golf trip was to… The Grove in Hertfordshire as a guest of Crew Clothing. I joined the brand to celebrate the launch of its new golf apparel collection. Crew is a partner to the Legends Tour and I had the pleasure of meeting their team in Mauritius earlier this year. The brand is a big supporter of British sport and it’s been fantastic to spend more time with them in the past few months. The Grove was in fantastic nick and I’m delighted to say that our team won the competition – so a great day all round!

My favourite golf course abroad is... Shek O Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong. It’s a really superb test and one that I have enjoyed whenever I’ve been out there for the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. It’s a short course, measuring well under 5,000 yards, and with no par fives, but its clifftop location, with the front nine overlooking the Tathong Channel, is breathtaking.

My ideal holiday fourball would include... my three brothers – for the banter and the competition. We are aiming to have our first game since pandemic somewhere in Scotland this summer. Needless to say, there will be a lot of family bragging rights at stake!

My most memorable ever round of golf was at... the Old Course at St Andrews. Aged about 14 or 15, I needed a par on the 18th hole to break 100. I got up and down from in front of the green and felt like I had won The Open Championship!

My favourite golf resort is... La Manga in Spain. I have been there every year – barring Covid - for 20-plus years and the three courses are terrific. I have so many memorable times playing there with friends and always having a laugh. I used to

■ LA MANGA

play in the Wooden Spoon Celebrity Rugby Golf Classic there, which was always great fun.

I always travel with... my Apple iPad. It’s so light and convenient on the plane or in the hotel. I use it to keep up with emails, stream TV shows, podcasts and listen to music.

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in was... Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong. It is like catching up with an old friend and the staff are fantastic, as is the service and quality of food. The Captain’s Bar is a must visit.

My memorable meal while on holiday was at... the Hong Kong Hilton in 1990. Lunch lasted from midday until about 8pm. The food and drink we consumed was just mind-blowing and it just kept on coming.

My holiday reading/playlist would include.. anything to make me relax. I am a big fan of Jo Nesbo thrillers.

I’m planning a golf trip to... the USA, hopefully sometime later this year. The West Coast beckons, hopefully Pebble Beach, as it’s been on my bucket list for ages.

My top travel tip is... to set your watch to the time zone of the country you are visiting before you leave home. That way you’re straight into their time and you forget about jet lag. Just go with the flow!

To check out the new golf apparel range from Crew Clothing, visit crewclothing.co.uk

Scotland’s record-breaking full back is happiest when hoofing a howitzer down the fairways at La Manga’s South Course

Travel with

GUNNERS & GREENS: THE GROVE TEES UP ULTIMATE FOOTBALL AND GOLFING GETAWAY

Golfing diehards who like football – or football fans who like golf – should take a look at an unbeatable sporting package that is being offered by The Grove, the luxury estate located in Hertfordshire.

The package includes a two-night stay in a double or twin

room in the five-star hotel’s West Wing, two rounds of golf on the resort’s superb championship golf course – venue for the 2016 British Masters and the 2006 WGC-American Express Championship – and a ticket to watch an Arsenal FC Premier League game of your choice from the comfort of The Grove’s Executive Box at the Emirates Stadium.

This superb double sporting header also includes luxury coach transport to and from the stadium; dinner in one of The Grove’s award-winning restaurants on one night, and dinner in the executive box before the football match. Breakfast in The Grove’s Glasshouse restaurant is also included in the package, as is complimentary access to all the resort’s spa

LEARN FROM TOP PROS AT APHRODITE HILLS

If you want to be the best, it pays to learn from the best. And that’s certainly what’s on offer to golfers who join a brand-new series of tuition holidays launched by Amathus Active Golf, which has acquired the services of a host of bigname tour players to help pass on the tips that took them to the very top of the professional game.

The ’Hero Experience’ Collection of golf holidays will see the former US Open champion Michael Campbell, Women’s Open champion Catriona Matthew, and PGA European Tour star Simon Wakefield host a series of immersive golf clinics for guests at one of the top golf resorts in Europe.

The season tees off with all three players on call at Aphrodite Hills Resort in Cyprus from October 2-7, where there are just a handful of places left for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Designed to suit all golfers, from total beginners to experienced amateurs, these bespoke tuition packages are carefully curated to ensure every guests reaches their full potential.

With access to three magnificent courses – including two rounds at Aphrodite Hills’ prestigious PGA National Cyprus Golf Course, plus one round at the superb layouts to be found at Secret Valley and Minthis – the legendary trio will share tips and tricks between rounds to improve the fundamentals of your game – the full swing, chipping and putting – during the course to two-hour clinics held on each of the four days of the trip.

After golf, guests can mingle with the players over cocktails and dinner for one of the five nights and enjoy all the five-star facilities that Aphrodite Hills has to offer.

In addition to all green fees and tuition, the package, which costs from £2,100 per person, also includes return flights to Cyprus from Manchester or Gatwick, five nights’ B&B accommodation in a deluxe garden/pool view room at Aphrodite Hills, and all transfers.

For more details and bookings, call 0800 810 8420 or visit www.amathusholidays.co.uk/amathus-active/golf.

facilities, including swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gym.

Upcoming package dates include October 30-November 1, taking in Arsenal’s evening fixture against recently promoted Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, October 30; while the Gunners’ 3pm match against Manchester United on Saturday, January 21 is part of the programme for a break from January 20-22. Package prices cost from £1,018.50pp based on double occupancy in a double or twin room.

For all bookings and enquiries, visit www.thegrove.co.uk or call 01923 296010.

■ ARSENAL FC'S EMIRATES STADIUM

■ A TYPICAL WEST WING DOUBLE ROOM

■ CATRIONA MATTHEW

MOUNTAIN HIGH, GOLFING DEEP

Golf News Editor Nick Bayly travels to the charming Swiss town of Andermatt, where the opening of a championship golf course and the building of a major hotel and residential development has played a significant role in transforming the once sleepy Alpine village into a year-round leisure destination

from early April and closing at the end of October, although the impact of global warming is helping to shift the balance in favour of more golfing time.

As previously mentioned, the bulk of the 18 holes are thankfully laid out on the bottom of a valley, rather than the fearsome slopes that rise up steeply on both sides, with only a few holes – most notably the stretch from the third to the sixth – requiring a bit of effort to progress up the fairways. At over 1,400m above sea level, the ball travels 10 per cent further than normal, which is handy for those playing off the back tees, which take the course close to 7,000 yards, although there is a choice of tees for less powerful hitters that reduce it to 5,800 yards at its shortest.

Highlight holes include the 7th and 14th, both of which play from hugely elevated tees, while the short 13th runs along an escarpment and plays to a very small target. Water dominates the finish to both ninehole loops, with lakes lining the fairways at the 9th and 18th, which share the same green so that golfers can play the long or short versions of the game.

All in all, it’s an extremely entertaining golfing experience, where the quality of the design plays second fiddle – only by a small margin – to the stunning backdrop of the snow-capped mountains. The clubhouse – an impressive double-height chalet –offers a restaurant and a bar with fabulous views over the course and provides a wonderful spot to relax in before or after a round.

If that wasn’t enough of a golfing fix, a mile or so further up the valley is a wonderfully bonkers 9-hole course at Andermatt Realp, a rollercoaster of a layout that climbs dramatically up and down the side of the mountain, with stunning views from every angle give you just enough time to get your breath back before the next shot.

The Toblerone-style typography and eightmonth-a-year snowfall found in the Swiss Alps dictates that it will never rival Spain’s Costa del Sol or Portugal’s Algarve when it comes to attracting the golfing hoards, but if you’re looking for stylish resorts, refined service, clean air, and are fit enough to climb the odd vertiginous fairway, then Alpine golf has plenty going for it.

Already boasting over 90 golf courses, Switzerland is no newcomer to the honourable game, with many of its established layouts having been round for over half a century. And while it has so far failed to produce a world-class player – apologies to 1995 Cannes Open winner André Bossert – this land-locked country is making a bold bid to offer something alternative to simply breathing in fresh air or hiking in the hills for its summer visitors.

Thus, it was with a great deal of interest that I boarded an EasyJet flight from Gatwick to begin my journey to Andermatt, a little-known resort in the southern Swiss Alps which first dipped its toes into the golf market with the opening of Andermatt Swiss Alps Golf Club in 2016.

After a 75-minute flight to Zurich, followed by a delightful 90-minute train journey skirting the edges of Lake Zurich, and a short transfer by car up the sort of hairpin-filled, winding road that one often sees on Top Gear, I found myself checking into the four-star Radisson Blu Reussen Hotel.

The Radisson forms part of a major hotel and residential development that is helping to breathe new life into a local economy which had previously relied on a Swiss Army training centre for which every male citizen has to pass through as part of their threeyear national service duties. The base provided much of the employment in the area up until it was wound down in the mid-90s, and although the sound of new recruits jogging through the streets can still be heard, the town has succeeded in reinventing itself thanks to the investment of Samih Sawiris, a wealthy Egyptian businessman whose dream is to turn Andermatt into one of the world’s most talked-about mountain

resorts. To date, his company, Andermatt Swiss Alps, has spent over £1 billion realising his vision, and the handful of cranes that tower above the village is a clear indication that his vision is still taking shape.

The first stage of the transformation took place in 2013, with the opening of the 123-room Chedi Andermatt, one of the most dazzling five-star hotels in the Alps. It was followed in 2017 by the opening of the aforementioned 240-room Radisson Blu, which also boasts a state-of-the-art 650-seater concert hall and a conference centre. And it’s not hard to see where the money has been spent elsewhere, with a corner of the town filled with dozens of brand-new residential blocks –there are to be 42 when complete – whose luxury studios, spacious apartments and penthouses are selling like proverbial hotcakes long before they have been completed. With restaurants, piazzas, cafés and retail outlets all included in the masterplan, there is every chance that the site will enjoy a more lived-in feel once completed in 2024, but for now it feels very much like a work in progress.

At least four more hotels are planned, one of which will be family-orientated, while another will be designed to cater for the golfers who Savarri hopes will be flocking to play the course that he had specially built to keep residents and visitors happy once the snow has melted.

Located just a short walk from the Radisson Blu, the golf course at Andermatt Swiss Alps has been open just over five years and occupies a stunning valley floor location where the lush, green fairways stretch across the landscape like a rumpled carpet. The golf season, like the ski season, is at the mercy of the climate in these parts, with the course generally open

With a stream train chugging its way along the valley floor, and a group of classic Jaguars snaking down the windy Furka Pass road made famous by Sean Connery’s Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger, it really was the stuff of fairytales. All I needed was for Julie Andrews to spring out from behind a bush singing ‘The Hills Are Alive’ and the picture would have been complete. Oh, hang on a minute, that was in Austria….

ANDERMATT STAY & PLAY GOLF PACKAGES

Two nights in a double room at the Raddison Blu Reussen, including breakfast, plus 18 holes at Andermatt Swiss Alps and 9 holes at AnderMatt Realp costs from €295. For bookings, visit radissonhotels.com. Walk-on green fees at Andermatt Swiss Alps start from CHF65 (£55) rising to CHF150 (£130) during peak times during summer. For more details, visit www.andermattswissalps.ch/en/activities/golf.

For more information about the Andermatt Swiss Alps development and the properties for sale, visit www.andermatt-swissalps.ch.

QUINTA

It’s not only the Queen who has a landmark anniversary to celebrate this year.

Just as the world’s most famous lady prepares to mark 70 years on the throne this summer, somewhat fittingly, plans are continuing to gather pace at Quinta do Lago in Portugal to commemorate 50 years of the resort – an established member of the Europe’s golfing royalty.

You might think the comparison is a bit farfetched, but the idea is not as fanciful as it would first appear.

Just as the Queen has realised the need to adapt and change in recent years to keep up with an everchanging world, Quinta do Lago has also embraced the need to constantly evolve and modernise in order to maintain its position as Europe’s premier golf, leisure and lifestyle resort.

You only have to look at the venue’s forwardthinking attitude to the environment and sustainability and the recent €7m upgrade of its iconic South Course for proof of how seriously it takes its commitment to delivering the best experience possible to meet the needs of its residents, members and guests.

It seems incredible to think that it was way

back in 1972 that the Quinta do Lago’s founder, property developer André Jordan, first surveyed this magnificent corner of the Algarve and set about planning what would ultimately become one of the world’s elite golfing venues.

“It was a day I will never forget,” Jordan recalls. “I sat on the hill, looked across the marshlands and I had a vision of what would become the Quinta do Lago masterplan.”

The hill on which Jordan sat when he first set eyes on the site is now the refined setting of the resort’s Casa Velha restaurant. Then, it was just a crumbling 300-year-old farmhouse, with earth floors inside, inhabited by Maria and her husband José.

“Sometimes when you look at a property you have an instant view of what you are going to do,” Jordan says. “There was no road access to Quinta do Lago, so I had to drive along trails and through pine woods until I came to a high point overlooking it, with the ocean on the horizon. Within 10 minutes I had the concept for the whole project in my mind. I wanted to create a high-quality resort that reflected local character and style.”

Ever the forward thinker, Jordan set about his new project with relish, and the final result is a lasting

testament to his dream and vision.

Nestled within the privacy and security of the stunning Ria Formosa Nature Reserve and just a 20-minute drive from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago is the place to play golf in Europe, and it is little wonder that golfing royalty including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have all spent time playing and relaxing at the resort in recent years.

Featuring an array of world-class golf, sports and leisure facilities, not to mention the outstanding real estate and the small matter of 14 different bars and restaurants serving up a range of local and international cuisine, you’ll struggle to find anything that the resort doesn’t have.

It’s been my privilege to be a regular visitor to Quinta do Lago since my first trip 15 years ago, and every visit brings something new and exciting to explore.

My trip last autumn brought the opportunity to experience the new-look South Course, part of the resort’s impressive golf offering which also includes two other 18-hole championship courses – the North Course and Laranjal – a Paul McGinley Golf Academy and the only TaylorMade Performance Centre in Southern Europe.

■ QUINTA DO LAGO CELEBRATES

Set among 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park and located just 15 minutes from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago offers residents and guests an unparalleled location benefiting from a year-round temperate climate, a variety of lifestyle pursuits and a strong sense of community

Already a firm favourite among Tour professionals after hosting eight Portuguese Opens, the South Course is now looking forward to an exciting future after undergoing a major development to restore the layout to its rightful place at the forefront of European golf.

While most venues chose to consolidate and halt any development work in light of the Covid-19 global pandemic, Quinta do Lago was the opposite and took advantage of the enforced lockdown to give the par-72 course a major overhaul – the centrepiece of a multi-million Euro golf investment undertaken by the resort.

Among the changes made, all of the South Course’s fairways, bunkers, tees and green surrounds have received an upgrade, with subtle changes also being made to a number of holes to enhance the golfing experience.

To help provide a consistent playing experience, all the fairways, approaches, greens collars and tees have been resurfaced with a hybrid type of Bermuda grass.

All 48 bunkers on the course have been restored to their original size, with new drainage and sand added and compacted, while several bunkers previously within the pine tree canopy have been adjusted to give access to the green and two bunkers relocated to favour the modern game.

In addition, the lakes on the third and 17th holes

have been upgraded with new retaining walls giving a sharp modern look consistent with the other lakes on the course; the fairway on the eighth hole has been softened and a number of pine trees relocated to allow greater access to the green; and golfers will face a new challenge on the 16th hole with the lake behind the green brought into play, adding drama to the closing holes.

Carried out with sustainable goals in mind and with Quinta do Lago golf course superintendent Mark Tupling and his team working with the Golf Environment Organisation Foundation, a state-ofthe-art irrigation system has also been installed – maximising efficiency and reducing the use of non-renewable resources. In addition, a planting scheme of native species has been adopted to increase biodiversity, with the resort partnering with local conservation association Vita Nativa to further enhance the biodiversity message to residents and guests.

Named as Portugal’s Best Golf Course at the 2021 World Golf Awards, the alterations made are a big improvement and have eradicated many of the South Course’s old previous weaknesses. Already having been chosen to host the 2022 Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship – junior golf’s unofficial Major – the layout seems destined for great things in the future.

Away from the South Course, the North Course –which was the subject of a €9.6m overhaul by Paul McGinley, a regular visitor to the resort since he was a child, and Beau Welling in 2014 – and Laranjal have also undergone significant maintenance improvement programmes since last spring. The latter has also benefitted considerably from the switching around of its two nines, with the finishing hole now a classic risk-and-reward par-five that has

the potential to make or break any round.

To underline its its long-term commitment to preserving the environment, Quinta do Lago has also adopted a new eco-strategy to boost its sustainability

and such have been the recent strides that it has made in this area that it was named as the

recipient of the 2021 International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Sustainability Award for Resource Efficiency.

With its privileged position in the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, Quinta do Lago has always been passionate about the environment – only nine per cent of the resort has been developed with the rest devoted to golf, water and lakes and green spaces.

Working closely with the GEO and following its ‘On Course’ environmental stewardship programme,

Quinta do Lago multi-tiered eco-strategy focuses on three key aims: to foster nature, conserve resources and support the community.

As well as improving sustainability on its three 18-hole courses, the acclaimed Portuguese venue has adopted an enhanced approach to conservation across other business sectors of the resort including at its world-class sports hub The Campus, The Magnolia Hotel, all its bars and restaurants and general resort services.

With such a commitment and desire to constantly invest adapt and change, it’s easy to see why Quinta do Lago continues to be a favourite destination for some of the most famous names in sport.

Ireland’s rugby union squad became the latest high-profile team to head to the resort for a warmweather training earlier this year ahead of the 2022 Six Nations Championship and there are likely to be numerous well-known faces in attendance at the calendar of events that are being arranged to celebrate the venue’s golden anniversary.

Whether Tiger and Rory are among them to join in the celebrations remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure – if Quinta do Lago’s good enough for them, it’s definitely good enough for me.

more information

QUINTA DO LAGO IS PASSIONATE ABOUT PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT, WITH LESS THAN 10% OF THE ESTATE HAVING BEEN DEVELOPED, WITH REST DEVOTED TO GOLF, WATER AND GREEN SPACES

■ LARANJAL HAS SWITCHED AROUND ITS NINES TO OFFER A STRONGER FINISH

RELIVE THE RYDER CUP AT GLORIOUS GLENEAGLES

IF YOU FANCY FOLLOWING in the footsteps of the Ryder Cup heroes of 2014, then now is the time to book up a spring break to the fabulous Gleneagles Resort in Scotland.

Set in 850 acres at the foot of the Scottish Highlands, Gleneagles is a world-class resort offering guests an unrivalled choice of sports and leisure facilities. When it first opened in 1924 it was described as ‘a Riviera in the highlands’, and today the five-star resort retains that ambience, and a ratio of more than one staff member to every guest ensures an unprecedented level of service.

Gleneagles is home to three championship courses, as well as the nine-hole ‘Wee Course’. The courses were the inspiration of two of the world’s most famous golfers; James Braid, five-time winner of the Open, designed the King’s and Queen’s, while Jack Nicklaus created The PGA Centenary Course, on which the 2014 Ryder Cup was staged so successfully, as well as the 2019 Solheim Cup, which saw Europe triumphant once again.

The Centenary Course plays between 5,065 and 7,081 yards, due to five tee options at each hole, and from the back tees is the longest inland course in Scotland. Nicklaus combined the best of the earlier designs to create a modern classic that offers carpet-like fairways, deep-filled white sandy bunkers, and firm putting surfaces. With plenty of risk-reward holes, a smattering of water, and big greens on which pins can be tucked away, it’s a classic Ryder Cup course.

The 6,741-yard King’s Course, a regular host of the Scottish Open back in the day, is a traditional inland links, and features more undulating, slightly less manicured fairways than the Centenary. The par threes are particularly memorable, with the 160-yard 5th playing to raised green with trouble and steep banks on all sides, while the 7th, has a touch of the 12th at Augusta about it, albeit without the water to contend with.

The Queens is a classic heathland layout, with touches of woodland and moorland golf thrown in for good measure. At 5,965 yards, it is significantly shorter than its neighbours, but no less demanding. Occupying the highest ground on the estate, it offers stunning views over the surrounding countryside, which will come as a welcome distraction should you find yourself spending too much time in the heather.

Other golfing experiences can be enjoyed on a superb 18-hole, par-3 Wee Course, and there’s also a nine-hole pitch-and-putt close to the hotel which is ideal for young families to give golf a go in more relaxed surroundings.

Away from the courses, three restaurants and bars provide awardwinning menus and a choice of over 100 malt whiskies. The estate offers a wealth of outdoor pursuits, including horse riding, shooting, fly-fishing, falconry, mountain biking, tennis, squash and off-road driving.

For fitness obsessives, there are cycling, jogging and powerwalking trails, while the pulses can also be raised on a guided tour of the estate on two-wheeled Segways. The spa boasts 20 private treatment rooms offering every conceivable face and body treatment, two swimming pools, outdoor hot pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, gym and fitness training, a beauty salon, and posttreatment relaxation areas.

Stay-and-play packages during May start from £344 per person per night, including bed and breakfast, full use of the spa facilities, and a round of golf on The King’s or Queen’s. A round on the Centenary course can be added at £145.

For bookings, visit gleneagles.com or call 01764 449 029.

■ HOW THE NEW CLUBHOUSEWILL LOOK

AROEIRA TROPHY SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON LISBON GOLF

A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE ON AND OFF THE COURSE at one of Portugal’s most iconic golfing venues awaits players competing in this year’s Aroeira Trophy, which will take place from June 1-5.

Organised by ORIZONTE – Lisbon Golf, tournament packages for the 2022 Aroeira Trophy cost €470 per person, based on two people sharing a room, and include four nights’ bedand-breakfast accommodation at the chic Aroeira Lisbon Hotel and three rounds of golf on Aroeira’s two championship courses –Pines Classic and Challenge.

A welcome cocktail, free golf shuttles and a prize-giving dinner are also included – with a two-night stay for two people at the Aroeira Lisbon Hotel including two rounds of golf on offer to the winner of the 54-hole competition.

Designed by Frank Pennink and meandering through tall avenues of pine forest and surrounded by wildlife and nature, Pines Classic plays to 6,650 yards and demands accuracy and placement off the tee if you’re to score well.

Opened in 2000 and designed by Donald Steel, Aroeira’s Challenge course compliments its older sibling well and visitors will discover a course that possesses a few more thrills and spills along the way. At more than 7,000 yards from the tips, the course bares its teeth with water in play on nine holes and large, undulating greens testing the putter to the max.

Alongside the courses on the stunning Aroeira estate, the Aroeira Lisbon Hotel provides the ultimate in chic modern design, including 68 bedrooms and suites, an outdoor pool, a spa and a bar and restaurant, and offers easy access to the sandy beaches of the Costa Azul region.

ORIZONTE provides golfers with the opportunity to play five of the leading courses in and around Lisbon, together with exceptional value for money on a wide range of accommodation options.

For more details about the 2022 Aroeira Trophy and to book a place,  email booking@ orizontegolf.com or visit www.orizontegolf.com.

DUNAS COURSE SET TO RAISE THE BAR FOR GOLF IN THE LISBON REGION

GRAB A SLICE OF THE GOLF LIFE WITH SOTOGRANDE PROPERTY

THE OPENING OF THE NEW COURSE designed by one of the world’s most respected and influential golf course architects is set to prove a major draw for travelling golfers when it opens next year.

GOLFERS LOOKING FOR GUARANTEED SUNSHINE and access to one of the best golfing regions in Spain, are being offered the chance to grab their own slice of golfing heaven with the sale of a superb pair of villas in the heart of Sotogrande in the Costa del Sol.

The two properties, which are on the same plot of land, were built by a British builder in 2010, who is now selling them on due to imminent retirement.

The Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta will be first course in Continental Europe to be designed by Scottish-born David McLay-Kidd, whose famous layouts include Bandon Dunes in the USA, Queenwood and Beaverbrook in England, and Machrihanish Dunes and the Castle Course at St Andrews, Scotland

Located 12 miles from Gibraltar and with easy access to dozens of world class courses, including San Roque, Almenara, Valderrama, Alcaidesa and the two courses at Sotogrande, the air-conditioned villas are separate, making them ideal for guests, rental income from long and short lets. Facilities include a 10m x 5m swimming pool, four private patio areas for dining and entertaining and parking for up to a dozen cars.

McLay-Kidd has teamed up with Vanguard Properties – the largest real estate developer in Portugal – on his latest design project, with the eagerly-awaited layout set to be unveiled in July next year.

McLay-Kidd originally launched the links-style Dunas Course, which is situated one hour south of Lisbon, in 2010, and is thrilled that the project is finally coming to fruition 12 years later.

Priced at only £695,000, interested parties should email john@colomendy.co.uk or call John on 07785774590 for further details.

“I’m super excited about the course and it is pretty much finished,” said McLay-Kidd. “We are around seven months from a soft opening and, in the next few months, we’re going to be trimming up the bunkers and setting up the course so that it’s ready for players. And as part of that, I get to play to see how it feels after quite a few years of working on this project.”

He added: “It’s a lot of fun, but it’s not easy by any means, but you can get in back in play if you happen to get into trouble. With amazing weather, plus with the great beaches, the cafés, the food, the people – it’s all beautiful and I would encourage anyone to visit.”

Situated on Lisbon’s coast in a secluded setting on the edge of the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, the Dunas Course is one of two 18-hole championship layouts that is planned at the multi-million euro development. Created over 84 hectares of natural, sandy terrain, the par-71 Dunas Course has been built using the highest sustainable practices and is predicted to quickly become of Europe’s must-play golfing venues when it opens.

Rodrigo Ulrich, director of golf at Terras da Comporta, added: “What David has created here is truly special and golfers are in for a real treat. The course adheres to all his design principles – to create a layout that is as natural, seamless and sustainable as possible – and the way he has made full use of the terrain and location is incredible.”

Complementing The Dunas Course will be a new clubhouse and golf academy. Away from the fairways, an array of lifestyle activities will be available, including horse riding, sailing, with a wide range of plots for hotels and residential properties also on offer.

SAMPLE OF SLICE OF SUSSEX BY THE SEA AT THE BEACHCROFT

IF THE IDEA OF COMBINING A TRADITIONAL BEACHSIDE BREAK WITH A FEW ROUNDS OF GOLF I n one of the most picturesque parts of the country, then The Beachcroft Hotel in Felpham, West Sussex, is certain to tick some of your holiday boxes.

Located in the village of Felpham, on of the outskirts of Bognor Regis, The Beachcroft Hotel offer 40 spacious, well-appointed rooms, including dog-friendly ground floor rooms, family sea view rooms with a private terrace and a luxury penthouse suite with balcony.

For couples, families and small groups looking for a little more privacy or an extra touch of luxury, the Beachcroft also offers a range of four Beach Hut Suites. Opened in 2019, and located just a few yards from the hotel, these stunning split-level apartments offer two bedrooms, bathroom, and a double height sitting room leading out to a private deck directly overlooking the sea. They are kitted out with comfy sofas, Smeg fridges, coffee and tea-making facilities and big flatscreen TVs with Netflix.

A wide range of family-friendly facilities, including a spa, swimming pool and gym, and a choice of excellent eating options, make the Beachcroft a great beachside bolthole in which to relax and unwind. The newly expanded garden terrace restaurant Blake’s, with outdoor dining pods, offers light bites and traditional afternoon tea, while Tamarisk Restaurant and Monty’s Bistro serves freshly caught seafood dishes and traditional British fare.

The hotel also serves as the ideal springboard from which to explore the area and play some of the areas excellent golf courses. Just a few miles is the always enjoyable layout at Bognor Regis Golf Club, while there are two 18-hole courses on offer at Chichester Golf Club 15 minutes further inland, Golf at Goodwood’s Park Course, while Littlehampton Golf Club’s superb links/parkland style layout is just a few miles along the coast to the east.

Rates for B&B at the Beachcroft Hotel start from £126 B&B per night (Sun- Thurs) in a Classic Room based on two adults sharing. Beach Hut Suites, catering for up to four guests, start from £275. For more information, visit www.beachcroft-hotel.com or call 01243 827142.

Midweek green fees on Chichester Golf’s Cathedral Course start from £27. To book a tee time, visit www.chichestergolf.com.

Sir Viv Richards

My earliest holiday memory is… hopping on a bus to stay with relatives on the east side of Antigua. When we were children there were no funds for holidays. That was our break. Still, it was exciting for a little boy like me, and my grandmother was a fine cook. I think she gave me my love of seafood — wherever I go, I try and make sure there’s good fish to be had.

My first trip abroad was… on board a fishing boat as a 14-year-old schoolboy cricketer, travelling to the inter-island games. From there it was quite a shock to be on a plane to India for a Test — 70,000 people at the first game, more than lived on Antigua. Being able to travel was one of the great incentives for playing cricket – particularly to see England. We would listen to the commentary of John Arlott and Brian Johnston, hear them describe the ground, the weather, the break for tea... I was determined to get there, and cricket was the key.

DORSET RESORT SERVES UP TEMPTING SPRING BREAKS

THE DORSET GOLF RESORT I n Bere Regis has long held a reputation for being a quality golf break destination, thanks to its 27 holes of championship golf spread across its acclaimed Lakeland, Parkland and Woodland Courses, combined with its wide range of five-star accommodation.

The choice of quality accommodation, which includes 14 five-star eco lodge homes, two luxury cottages, and a 16-bedroom hotel, has been attracting stay-and-play golfers for many years, while the condition of the golf courses, and superb catering and hospitality, is clearly a winning combination for visitors.

The Woodland Course, which is cut through a forest of rhododendrons, boasts banks of pink, red and purple flowers through the summer, sparking thoughts of Augusta. The Lakeland and Parkland nine are also blessed with flourishes of rhododendron and cherry blossom, and the views across the huge lakes are spectacular. With a promise of no winter tees or temporary greens, and excellent drainage, the courses are always presented in great condition all year round.

A two-night stay in the hotel starts from £128.95pp (Mon-Thurs), with three rounds of golf, a three-course dinner and breakfast. One-night lodge breaks for a minimum of four people, with two rounds of golf, start from £139pp.

For more details, call 01929 472244 or visit www. dorsetgolfresort.com.

My favourite holiday destination is…home in Antigua. When you travel as much as I did and still do, one of the things people find hard to believe is that going home is a holiday. Catching up with people and playing golf it what gives me the most pleasure. Man, I love that 19th hole. We tee off early in the morning and sometimes we’re still at the clubhouse at 10 or 11 at night. If I had to travel away from Antigua, it won’t be too far, it’d be to St Lucia, a beautiful, island, or to Grenada, for the people and that lovely laid-back lifestyle, or to St Kitts. That’s just a 25-minute hop — and they have a great golf course at the Marriott – Royal St Kitts. That’s my idea of a holiday.

Favourite golf course? I have hosted a charity golf tournament every year at St Lucia Golf Club since 2002, so that has very specially place in my golfing heart. Beefy [Ian Botham] and Nasser [Hussain} always take part, and lots of other ex-cricketers, so there’s a great party atmosphere.

My home club in Antigua is Cedar Valley. It has no pretensions about being a championship layout, but the views are amazing and there’s always a great vibe in the clubhouse.

I always took my golf clubs with me when I toured with the West Indies, so we usually managed to get a few rounds in during every test series. If I had had the chance to play golf earlier in my life, before I took up cricket, I would probably have had a decent chance of making a career of it, but golf has always been my passion outside of cricket, and it’s great to be able to play it as you get older.

My favourite holiday meal… has to be something Caribbean. I love the street food shacks that you can find all over Antigua, where they serve dishes like pepperpot, steamed fish, goat water stew and cow heel soup. For something fancier, I’ll head to Le Bistro, on the eastern side of the island, which is a classic French restaurant, or for something more chillded I’ll go to OJ’s on Crabbe Hill beach, which does great seafood.

When touring, my favourite place I visited was… Kashmir. Each country has its different pluses, but Kashmir has a magical quality. The people, the culture, the houseboats at Srinagar, it was all magical. I swore to myself I would go back, hire a houseboat and take a proper holiday there, but, of course, I’ve not got round to it yet.

Former West Indian cricket captain Sir Viv Richards, reveals that he could have traded his bat for a set of golf clubs, but the 70-year-old Antiguan is making up for lost time by playing golf at every opportunity

Travel with

■ ROYAL ST KITTS

SICILIAN ADVENTURE

When someone with the reputation in the hospitality world as Sir Rocco Forte decides that he wants to build a golf resort, you know it’s going to be good.

leisure facilities, restaurants, bars, and two 18-hole championship courses.

WORDS BY MATT NICHOLSON

That is exactly what happened around the start of the new millennium when, after an exhaustive search, the worldfamous hotelier found what he was looking for – a spectacular plot of land on the south west coast of the volcanic Italian island of Sicily.

Things were not exactly plain sailing from there, as Sir Rocco encountered numerous problems in an eight-year planning battle with local officials in his bid to obtain the necessary permits. But as you can imagine for a man who, when working with the Trust Houses Group, had responsibility for more than 800 hotels, 1,000 restaurants and almost 100,000 employees, and now co-owns the luxury Rocco Forte Hotels group, he wasn’t going to let a bit of red tape stand in the way of his achieving his dream.

The final result is the five-star Verdura Resort; a 500-acre site nestling adjacent to the azure waters of the Mediterranean which opened in 2009 and features an extensive range of luxury sports and

Located on the southern coast of the island, a 90-minute drive west from Palermo airport, Verdura occupies a spectacular, mile-long beachfront spot overlooking the Mediterranean. Offering 203 rooms and 50 suites, the luxury resort boasts a wide range of sports and leisure facilities, including six tennis courts, a 60m two-tiered infinity pool, a 170sqm gym and a 4,000 square metre spa complex.

Guests can sample an authentic taste of traditional Sicily with an array of dishes at one of the resort’s seven restaurants and five bars – with fresh, organic produce sourced straight from Verdura’s own gardens. In addition, visitors can enjoy an array of cultural and culinary experiences where they can discover the secrets of Sicilian cooking and taste the many famous wines of the region. There is also plenty to keep the younger members of the family entertained, with dedicated kids and teen clubs providing a variety of activity programmes throughout the year.

But golf is the reason we’re here. A member at Sunningdale for 45 years, and also a member of The R&A, The Wisley and New Zealand Club, Sir Rocco is a self-confessed golf obsessive, so it was no surprise that the 12-handicapper turned

to the services of one of golf’s leading course architects, Kyle Phillips – who designed Kingsbarns in Scotland and The Grove in London – to create his three courses – the East, West and a nine-hole parthree course. Built to the highest specifications, a composite course of the East and West was used when Verdura hosted the European Tour’s Sicilian Open in 2012 – and again from 2017-18, although the tournament is sadly no longer on the schedule.

After picking up some useful inside tips on how to tackle the East Course from Director of Golf Antonio Castelo over a leisurely lunch in the hotel’s excellent Liola restaurant – the pizzas are not to be missed – we headed out to the first tee in a freshening breeze, excited, yet slightly nervous about what lay in store.

The East Course has been completely renovated since it first opened in 2009, with Kyle Phillips making the most of the closures caused by the Covid lockdowns to complete the work in 2021. Having not played the course in its original state, it’s hard to make meaningful comparisons, but the result is a stunning links-inspired layout that features new putting surfaces, additional bunkering and manicured fairways lined by rough featuring native grasses. With views of the Mediterranean from almost every hole, the setting is as magical as the flow of the design, which

With 36 holes of championship golf and a stylish five-star hotel, Sir Rocco’s Forte’s Verdura Resort has single-handedly put Sicily on the golfing map

■KYLE PHILLIPS HAS WORKED HIS MAGIC IN CREATING TWO WORLD-CLASS COURSES THAT COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER SO WELL

first takes you inland, before sweeping out to the shoreline, with the coastal stretches from 5-7 and 12-14 being obvious highlights. The 6th, a short par-4 which sits hard by the sea, and the par-3 13th, which is also adjacent to the water, would be my two personal favourite holes, but any number could be regarded as ‘signature’, such is the strength in depth of the design. Requiring creativity, accuracy and a sense of adventure, Phillips has created a superb course that makes you think before every shot and demands total concentration to score well. Factor in the wind, and you have a course that can, and has tested the best.

After my round I checked into my room in the hotel, where I was greeted by a jaw-dropping view from my balcony of the sea and the golf course and I had just played. The room was luxuriously furnished and generously sized, with the bathroom alone being the size of a standard double room in most hotels. The rooms are divided into Superior Deluxes, Classic Suites and Grand Suites – the latter come with central courtyards reminiscent of Roman villas. The Deluxe Rooms and Junior Suites have sea-facing terraces rather than gardens, and all are done out in a warm contemporary Sicilian style, with rich earthy colours and much use of natural materials – stone bathroom fixtures, wooden fourposter beds and ceramic tiles.

After a quick shower, it was off to the fine

WITH VIEWS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FROM ALMOST EVERY HOLE, THE SETTING IS AS MAGICAL AS THE FLOW OF THE DESIGN

dining restaurant Zagara for dinner, which serves exquisite Mediterranean food and was every bit as good as I’d hoped, with a mouth-watering selection of local and seasonal dishes, with freshly caught grilled fish and a prawn ceviche being a highlight, along with some superb Sicilian wines.

The following morning, after a relaxing sleep and a reviving breakfast at Café Buongiorno, I slung my golf bag on my back and hopped on one of the many bicycles that are freely available to guests to make the three-minute ride to meet my playing partners on the first tee of the West Course.

A little more undulating than the East, standout holes for me were the loop from the eighth to the 12th, and the seaside finish, which builds to a crescendo and finishes beneath the clubhouse. Each hole stands alone on merit – the long, ridgetop par-three 12th is a hole of simple design and beauty, but one of the hardest par-threes you’ll play – before the round finishes in breathtaking style with two memorable the par-fours. The 17th requires an approach up to a sloping green set deep into hillside, while the stunning 18th then takes you back in the opposite direction towards the clubhouse, with the glistening Mediterranean waiting on your right to swallow up any errant drives or second shots.

As you would expect for a Tourlevel venue, the practice facilities are outstanding too, with a double-ended driving range and excellent academy providing the ideal complement to the courses. Visitors can save on airline charges and leave their clubs at home, too, with the resort having invested in a significant upgrade of its club rental services, with two-round hire packages starting from €40.

After the round we had lunch at the pool bar overlooking the stunning outdoor swimming pool, after which I decided to get back on my bike and visit the resort’s impressive spa and use the Technogym Studio to burn off some of those lunchtime calories. The spa features four outdoor thalassotherapy pools, while its treatment rooms offer the usual mix of massages and facials, and form part of a wellness centre whose facilities would be hard to improve on.

Before dinner we were treated to a drink - or two - in the hotel’s stylish Granita Bar, where bar manager and resident mixologist Cristian

GOLF PACKAGES

Concari conjures up a range of superb cocktails. Cristian spent many years in London working in the capital’s finest bars and I can thoroughly recommend trying out one of his specials, including the Zafferano, which is made from oaksmoked whiskey, lemon juice and a homemade saffron syrup. After that we headed to the resort’s beachside Amare restaurant, where we dined on an amazing seafood platter as the sun went down. The following day, our last at the resort, I managed to squeeze in another quick 18 holes on the East Course – which went up even more in my estimation second time around, even if my golf wasn’t quite so good. As we had an early flight the following morning, we headed back to Palmero for the final night, staying in another luxury Rocco Forte hotel, the five-star Villa Igiea, a 120-yearcentury palazzo, with turrets and colonnades, which is perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Med. All of the 78 huge and elaborately decorated rooms and suites – designed by Sir Rocco’s sister, Olga Polizzi – boast amazing sea views, and the whole hotel experience proved a wonderful way to finish a trip that will linger long in the memory.

A three-night stay in a double room at Verdura, including three rounds of golf and daily breakfast, costs from €312pp for bookingS made between now and November 12. For more details,

■

Boasting Italy’s only PGA National championship golf course and a luxury hotel and spa, Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort provides a relaxing retreat on Tuscany’s unspoilt coastline, yet remains within striking distance of Rome’s world-renowned attractions

WITH ALL EYES in the golfing world turning to Italy next year as host nation of the 2023 Ryder Cup, it seems like a good time to get in an early sighter of what is on offer for the visiting golfer when it comes to places to play and stay before, during and perhaps after the biennial clash of continents takes place next September.

While the Ryder Cup matches are being held at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in the northeastern suburbs of Rome, my trip took me slightly up country to a golf resort 90 miles north of Italy’s capital that has been quietly building a reputation as a haven for Romans and overseas visitors looking for a bit of R&R amid olive grove-lined fairways since it first opened in 2006.

Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort – the ‘wellness’ element has recently been added to the name to reflect the diversity of spa and leisure activities that are on offer – is located on Monte Argentario, a blob of land connected to Tuscany’s mainland by two lagoons and a narrow bridge. A 90-minute drive from Rome, the resort occupies a secluded valley floor location which looms into view like a baddie’s lair in a James Bond movie as you drive up the long and winding entrance. The hotel, which is cut into the side of the valley, is said to resemble a dragonfly from the air, with the 78 bedrooms and suites representing the four wings located either side the lobby area’s body.

As you enter the vast reception area and move

through the main public spaces, the overall design style is probably best described as minimalist chic, with high ceilings, acres of glass and statement artwork, presented in monotone palette of black and white, creating the feeling that you’re in a carefully curated space.

The four floors of the hotel are all home to a different room category. First-floor rooms offer a minimalist contemporary design with white resin floors. On the second floor, rooms have hardwood floors and colourful design items that evoke a 1950s feel. The third floor is home to the Travel Club suites, which combine dark parquet floors, safari-style furniture and freestanding stone baths. Exclusive Master and business suites, as well as a wellness suite with private gym, are situated on the fourth floor. Is that enough talk of floors? I think so. All the rooms, apart from featuring floors (doh!), also have private balconies and terraces offering fabulous views out over the 18-hole golf course and across the valley to the Orbetello Lagoon and the Tyrrhenian Sea beyond.

If you are visiting with a large family or a group of friends, then the resort’s choice of luxury rental villas located on the hillside overlooking the golf course are well worth considering. The most impressive of these is Hills Lodge, which includes five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a living room, kitchen and patio. The villas offer the exclusivity of being away from the main hotel, yet you still have the convenience of

hotel service, along with complimentary use of a golf buggy. For those looking for a holiday home, there are some new villas currently being built that are for sale for those with deep pockets.

The resort has access to its own private beach, with a free shuttle service available to guests to take them on the short journey. Alternative water-based activities can be enjoyed in the hotel’s two large swimming pools, one heated and indoors and the other unheated and outdoors, the latter of which I’m sure is much in demand during the height of the Italy’s hot summers, but not so much in late March, when I visited.

The resort’s extensive, 2,700 m² spa boasts a fitness centre with Technogym equipment, bio-sauna with chromotherapy, Kneipp circuit, heated indoor swimming pool with saline water, six massage cabins and tanning showers, while the Espace Wellness Centre focuses on relaxation and pampering with its

■

HOTEL BOASTS

INTERIORS

many massage and treatment rooms.

Other leisure facilities include two tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch, and, somewhat incongruously, a polo field, although I forgot to bring my horse, so that ruled me out of a quick chukka or two. There are also miles of walking and jogging trails around the 80-hectare estate, but if I’m going to do any walking it will only be a with a golf bag in tow. And, thankfully, they cater for that too, in the shape of the 6,218-metre championship course that enjoys PGA National status.

Having the letters ‘PGA’ attached to a golf course – there is only one allowed in each country – no doubt adds a certain caché, but it also implies a level of difficulty, and that is definitely the case here, as the par-71 course, which measures a terrifying 6,803 yards off the very back tees – and 6,449 off the competition tees – looks and plays like it has been designed to challenge the very best. Let’s just say I was glad that our hosts generously dished out a sleeve of balls as we set out for the first tee, as the moderate stock that I smuggled into my hand luggage didn’t last much beyond the turn.

Given the land on which the course was built was previously used as the island’s rubbish dump, it must have taken golf course designer David Mezzacane no small amount of imagination – and millions of tons of earth moving – to create the layout that meets golfers today. First opened in 2006, the course is one

THE SOUND OF SWEARING AND GOLF BALL ON TREE ECHOED AS WE ZIG-ZAGGED OUR WAY TOWARDS THE GREEN ON WHAT MIGHT BE THE TIGHEST PAR-3 IN WORLD GOLF

of contrasts, with some holes winding their way up and down though densely wooded areas, where cork trees and oaks threaten to stymie you at every turn, while there are also far more open expanses, where wide fairways bisected by ditches and large ponds serve to keep you honest.

I won’t submit you to a detailed hole-by-hole description, but early highlights for me included the par-5 third and the par-3 fifth, both of which offer views out to the sea. The former is played from a raised tee to a crumpled fairway on the valley floor below that snakes its way up to a distant green, while the latter features a green protected by no fewer than seven bunkers.

The par-five 6th is a cleverly constructed threeshot hole that doesn’t allow you just fire off a driver and hope for the best, as two sections of water intersect the fairway at different points to ensure that you have to plot your way carefully to the green. The 7th was a slightly odd 240-yard par-4 with a lake guarding the direct line between tee and green and only a narrow sliver of fairway to aim at to the right. A 5-iron and a wedge would do the job, but it wasn’t my idea of what makes a decent short par four, as your options off the tee are too limited.

The 8th is arguably the tightest par three in world golf, with a tunnel of trees barely the width of a B road separating the tee from the green. The sound of swearing and golf ball on tree echoed throughout the 10 minutes it took our group to complete the task, and I was personally delighted to sign for a bogey.

After steading the ship around the turn where the course opens up a bit, things get more testing over the closing stretch, especially at the 17th, a 180-yard par three that features a green fronted by water and a ‘bail out’ area to the right features two bunkers. My tee shot found one of the traps and left me with a knee-knocking bunker shot back towards the pin with water behind. The closing hole is another potential card wrecker, with the fairway split by a group of trees, while the approach shot is tough too, with the green being small and well protected.

My overall impression was this was a course that demands multiple plays to appreciate its nuances and learn where to attack and where to defend, but also one that requires that all elements of your game

to be on point. Less than perfect shots will be punished, and often punished hard, so whether that makes for a fun round of holiday golf, I’m not so sure, but it was certainly never dull.

Playing in late March, after what I was told was an unusually dry winter, I was somewhat disappointed with the condition of the tees and fairways, which were parched in places and somewhat lacking in grass in others, but there was no faulting the greens, which were well presented, evenly paced and rolled out well.

On the food front, which comes a close second to the golf course for me when it comes to the demands of a memorable golf trip, the hotel offers two restaurants and a breakfast room. Dama Dama – which is the scientific name for the fallow deer that can be found roaming freely in the woods that surround the resort – is the fine dining option, but sadly it was closed during our off-season visit, so I can’t testify to its quality, but the menu looked interesting, with a focus on fresh seafood and reinterpretations of rustic Tuscan classics such as tagliatelle with wild boar ragu and rabbit-filled ravioli, while the wine list offers a good choice of red and whites from local producers in southern Tuscany at decent prices. The restaurant flows outside to an expansive terrace, which, I imagine, would be an amazing spot to enjoy a meal

on a warm summer’s evening.

The Clubhouse Restaurant, where we ate all our meals, serves light lunches and evening meals, with an emphasis on freshly caught fish and shellfish, pasta dishes, steaks and salads. It, too, boasts a large terrace overlooking the golf course which was a particularly enjoyable spot to relax after a challenging round with a chilled glass of Sangiovese. I should also add a shout out to the mixologist at the hotel’s Aper Bar, who certainly knows his way around a cocktail list and has plenty of his own creations up his sleeve.

Away from the resort, there is much to explore, including Monte Argentario itself, with the views from the very top stretching to Elba and Corsica, while the pretty coastal towns of Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole are also well worth a visit with their bustling marinas and collection of seaside restaurants and cafés. And, of course, you can also factor in time to spend in Rome on your return journey, visiting some of the world’s most famous sites.

GOLF & WELLNESS

GOLF PACKAGES

Three nights’ B&B in double superior room, including three rounds of golf, starts from €1,032pp.

■ THE PAR-R THIRD HOLE OFFERS STUNNING VIEWS TO THE ORBETELLO LAGGON

■ THE PAR-3 17TH FORMS PART OF A TOUGH CLOSING STRETCH

CLASSY CARROSSA OFFERS GATEWAY TO MALLORCA’S GOLFING DELIGHTS

MALLORCA has always had a reputation for being a top-of-the-range golfing destination in Europe and that standing soared even further following the opening of the five-star Carrossa Hotel back in 2018.

Located near the charming town of Artà, in the north-east of the island, the Carrossa is one of the island’s newest luxury boutique retreat, and one that enjoys breathtaking views of the bay of Alcúdia and rolling hills of Llevant.

Over €500,000 has been invested in upgrading the already impressive facilities during the pandemic, and guests can be assured of the very best hospitality throughout their stay.

And while the converted old manor house is a haven of tranquillity, courtesy of its stunning outdoor infinity pool, state-of-the-art spa and array of treatments, as well as fine dining complete with panoramic views, the Carrossa is also the ideal base to experience the best golf courses in Mallorca.

The Carrossa enjoys a great relationship with a host of nearby clubs, offering guests a range of exclusive stay-and-play packages and discounted green fees at the likes of Alcanada, Capdepera, Canyamel, Pula and Son Servera.

Alcanada, a multi-award-winning course, is one of the most prestigious clubs on the Balearic island and the only one next to the sea. Capdepera, which is less than 10 miles from the Carrossa, provides a real contrast, with the layout winding through both a valley and the scenic Llevant Hills, with its signature 15th hole one of the most memorable on the island.

Canyamel is a stunning 6,764-yard par-73 course that is known for high quality in a natural environment with sea views. Pula Golf Resort was originally founded in 1995 and redesigned by José Maria Olazábal just over a decade ago. The parkland Son Servera course is a scenic 18-hole course th at winds its way below a range of pine trees and mountains with beautiful views over the bay of Cala Millor.

For more details on the latest golf breaks to the Carrossa Hotel, please visit www.carrossa.com.

OLLIE’S NEW COURSES RAISE THE BAR AT COSTA NAVARINO

ADVENTUROUS GOLFERS looking to try their hand on a choice of four world-class courses in the same destination should consider booking a trip to Costa Navarino in Greece.

The luxury coastal resort already had two superb courses in the Dunes and the Bay, which opened just over a decade ago, but it now has 36 more championship holes to play following the opening of two layouts designed by two-time Masters champion José Maria Olazabal.

The new 36-hole Navarino Hills golf development comprises the International Olympic Academy Golf Course and the neighbouring Hills Course, both of which enjoy breaktaking views over the Bay of Navarino and the Ionian Sea.

Measuring 6,366m, the International Course received widespread acclaim when it was played for the first time at the fifth Messinia Pro-Am in November. The Hills Course is slightly shorter at 6,280m. Other golf facilities include 60-bay driving range and a 15,000m² short game practice area.

Olazábal said: “Costa Navarino ranks among the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Over the past five years, we have worked hard to shape two courses that not only respect the stunning surroundings but that also fit as naturally as possible into the terrain.

“The two courses are distinct in character. Golfers will find the International Olympic Academy Golf Course to be more polished in style and full of spectacular views across the Bay of Navarino while the Hills Course offers more of a rural feel, where we take you out through the gently rolling hills.

Costa Navarino offers a wide choice of luxury accommodation, including The Westin Resort, and the brand-new W Costa Navarino which is opening this summer at the Navarino Waterfront. For more information, visit www.costanavarino.com.

QHOTELS ENHANCES HEALTH AND FITNESS FACILITIES ACROSS GOLF RESORT PORTFOLIO

GOLFERS WHO LIKE to keep themselves in shape between rounds while on a golf break can do so in style after QHotels announced the completion of a multi-million-pound investment in the health and fitness clubs at its portfolio of hotels and resorts in the UK.

Working with industry leader Life Fitness, the upgrade works began at the beginning of the year and are now fully complete across the 16 hotels.

Belton Woods, Oulton Hall, Forest Pines, Telford Hotel – all of which offer golf courses – are among eight venues to have

received a full gym & health club upgrade, with new high-spec technology and top-of-the-range equipment.

The fitness refurbishments include Discover SE3HD interactive cardio machines, SPARC Trainers, PowerMill Climbers, IC7 indoor cycle bikes along with various strength and cable machines and lifting areas. Every health club member now has access to the Life Fitness Connect app – allowing users to track their workouts and progress.

Commenting on the recent investment, QHotels Golf, Leisure & Spa Director Keith Pickard said: “It has always been our desire

to offer the best gyms, fitness and leisure activities in the country. Now, after two years of planning, that vision is real. We’re delighted to reopen and welcome hotel guests, existing health club members and new members to explore the upgraded facilities. This is the company’s most significant investment in over two decades, so it’s tremendously exciting to have completed the rollout and see the positive feedback from guests and health club members.”

■ NAVARINO HILLS

■ ALCANADA

CLUBS TO HIRE EXPANDS TOUR AMBASSADOR TEAM AS GOLF TRAVEL GETS BACK INTO FULL SWING

LEADING GOLF EQUIPMENT RENTAL

COMPANY Clubs to Hire has expanded its team of tour ambassadors following the signing of a multi-year partnership with Germany’s Hurly Long.

Long joins David Howell as a brand ambassador for the company, which specialises in renting out golf clubs for travelling golfers.

Both players compete on the DP World Tour, an area where Clubs to Hire services most of its clients. Long, 26, graduated to the DP World Tour this season after securing a top 20 place on the 2021 European Challenge Tour. He picked up a first Challenge Tour victory at the 2020 Italian Challenge and represented Germany alongside Max Kieffer in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Speaking about his new role, Long commented: “When I first heard about the Clubs to Hire service being offered to the travelling golfer, I thought it was a brilliant idea. Imagine being able to rent a top set of clubs from €40 per week and not having the hassle of dragging them onto the plane. It really is the perfect solution both financially and for convenience.”

Howell added: “I think Clubs to Hire is a fantastic business that allows the travelling golfer the opportunity to try out all the latest hardware in the market, including my own favourite brand, Callaway, for a fraction of the cost. As tour professionals we get to try all the latest clubs, now traveling golfers can do the same by choosing from the sets available at Clubs to Hire.” Clubs to Hire offers rental sets from top brands like TaylorMade, Callaway, PING, PXG, Srixon, Titleist and Wilson. The company provides the option to pick up the sets from their outlets in Faro, Malaga, Alicante and Palma de Mallorca with the added bonus of being able to pick your own putter on arrival. Alternatively, delivery to your hotel or golf course can also be arranged. Outside of the outlets in the Mediterranean, Clubs to Hire also services various other airports through a network of agents, delivering upon arrival. With destinations outside of Spain and Portugal, like Turkey, Ireland, Cyprus, South Africa and Thailand, you will be able to rent your set and save yourself the hassle and risk of taking your own set. For more details, visit www.clubstohire.com

THE POINT AT POLZEATH ADDS MORE PROPERTIES

THE POINT AT POLZEATH, which boasts an award-winning 18-hole golf course and views over Pentire Point in North Cornwall, has expanded of its accommodation portfolio to include high-quality properties in the surrounding areas of Polzeath, Daymer Bay and Rock.

The Point is a year-round holiday venue within walking distance of Polzeath beach. In addition to the golf course, it also has tennis courts, a fitness centre with swimming pool, gym and spa, a restaurant and sports bar. There are plenty of walks and other activities for non-golfers to enjoy in the area, and as the friendly team at this family-run business all live in north Cornwall, they know all the best local places for guests to visit.

The Point Holidays now offers one of the best choices of holiday rental accommodation in North Cornwall, from onebedroom apartments to family houses sleeping up to 16 people – all close to The Point’s golf course and the neighbouring courses at St Enodoc and Trevose. For more details, visit www.thepointholidays.co.uk or call 01208 863000.

EL PRAT TEAMS UP WITH LA MOLA TO OFFER STAY-AND-PLAY PACKAGES

GOLFERS CAN NOW ENJOY A COMPLETE RESORT EXPERIENCE by playing the exclusive Real Club de Golf El Prat near Barcelona, a 10-time host of the Spanish Open, while staying in La Mola, the perfect base to enjoy one of Spain’s most highly rated golf courses.

The exclusivity agreement between the two venues has further strengthened El Prat’s portfolio of hotel partners and has made it easier for visitors to enjoy its Tour-proven facilities by partnering with the on-site hotel.

El Prat boast 45 holes, divided into five nine-hole loops, each built to USGA specifications. Designed by Greg Norman,

the Spanish Open layout is a combination of the Abjao and Arriba nines, which can play as long as 7,300 yards from the back tees, although there are multiple teeing areas to ensure it is playable for all golfers. The holes have been built across generally flat land, although there are some significant changes in elevation in places to raise the challenge. Much of the course is tree-lined on the front nine, before it opens out on the back nine to offer wide vistas and more generous fairways. The greens are big and feature lots of subtle borrows and tricky run-off areas.

Guests can take advantage of La Mola’s semi all-inclusive

board, including breakfast, daily aperitif with wine, cava and and snacks, as well as unlimited beer, soft drinks and tea/ coffee throughout their stay.

The four-star hotel boasts 185 bedrooms, three bars, restaurant, spa, infinity pool, steam baths and fitness centre.

A three-night stay on a semi all-inclusive basis in a double room, plus two green fees, starts from €364pp. Five nights with three green fees costs from €576, while a seven-night stay with five rounds begins at €864. For bookings, visit www. realclubdegolfelprat.com.

■ GUESTS CAN CHOSE FROM A WIDE RANGE OF COTTAGES, APARTMENTS AND HOUSES

BORDES FORCE

Matt Nicholson hops across the channel to visit Les Bordes, one of the most exclusive sporting country estates in Europe, which is now home to two world class 18-hole layouts following the opening of the much-heralded New Course

a Gil Hanse design which launched earlier this summer, alongside the opening of the renovated clubhouse and member’s accommodation, all of which had been carried out following a change in ownership.

The trip started off in suitably exclusive fashion with a flight on a 8-seater private plane from Farnborough airport which transported us in comfort for the 60-minute hop over the channel to Orléans. From there we had a 20-minute transfer to Les Bordes, whose 1,400-acre estate is located 100 miles south-west of Paris in the depths of the stunning Sologne Forest.

I’ve been lucky enough to tick off a few bucket list golfing venues in my life, but there are still quite a few that have gone unchecked – Pebble Beach being one of them and Augusta National, of course, being another. However, one of those at the top of the pile has always been Les Bordes.

I’ve lost count of the number of stories I have listened to over the years from some of my esteemed golf industry colleagues regaling me with the quality of its fabled Old Course, and the beauty of its surroundings. So, when a last-minute opportunity to visit the legendary Loire Valley club arrived in my inbox early one October morning, I jumped at the chance to put a tick beside this iconic venue and create some stories of my own.

The reason for the invitation was largely driven by the opening of the club’s aptly-named New Course,

The idea for Les Bordes was first conceived by Baron Marcel Bich, co-founder of the Bic company, who made his millions from ballpoint pens, cigarette lighters and razors. Bich, an Italianborn Frenchman, was joined in the enterprise by Japanese businessman Yoshiaki Sakurai, with both men married to the idea of creating a private club where they could invite their family, friends and fellow wealthy business types to enjoy a bit of luxury in total privacy.

The original plan was to build two golf courses on the estate, but Baron Bich was so delighted with the Old Course, which opened in 1987 and was designed by Robert Von Hagge, that plans for the second course were shelved. Bich died in 1994, leaving the club in the ownership of Mr Sakurai, before he too died in 2008, and it was sold on. It was later sold on again in 2018 to RoundShield Partners, a London-based private investment firm, who are now the current owners.

The latest landlords wasted no time in drawing

up plans to invest in the estate, with one of the first considerations being the construction of a second 18-hole layout to complement the Old Course.

American architect Gil Hanse, among whose most notable projects include Castle Stuart in Scotland, the Black Course at Streamsong Resort in Florida, and the course that hosted the 2016 Olympic golf tournament in Rio, was brought in to the design the New Course, as well as an additional 10-hole short course which goes by the fabulous name of ‘The Wild Piglet’.

But before we could tackle Hanse’s handiwork, we had the small matter of taking on the challenge of the Old Course. So, after an excellent lunch in the stylish clubhouse, and a warm-up on the magnificent Tour-standard practice facilities, we nervously headed off to the first tee of Von Hagge’s masterpiece, which holds a reputation for chewing through a golfer’s credibility as fast as it does their stock of golf balls. There is a board displaying the names of everyone who has ever broken 80 on the course. There aren’t many names on it and most of them have played top class professional or amateur golf.

The early holes provide a pretty clear indication of what lies ahead here, with the opening hole serving up an island green ringed by a massive waste bunker, followed by two narrow long holes and the first of the eye-catching par threes, the 4th, with its small target pressed up against a pond. The back nine has more water than the front and probably shades it a little in terms of excitement, with memorable holes including the beautiful par-three 13th and the two-shot 17th, which bends through the ancient birch forest. Also noteworthy is the typically bruising closing hole, which features a long, all-carry approach across water and into a shallow green with a steep step.

That I came off the course having lost just three balls, while some of my partners had to fully replenish their supplies before embarking on their next round, is worth mentioning in dispatches, but, needless to say, the Old Course is as tough as I was led to believe, perhaps more so, and I came away with new-found appreciation for the talents of Jean Van de Velde, who apparently holds the course record of one under par.

In need a bit of R&R after the trials of the Old Course, we enjoyed a superb dinner in the clubhouse after which we retired to the welcome comfort of our luxury lodgings for the night, the newly-renovated member cottages. Kitted out by the same design company that did the interiors for Soho House, a private members’ club which has

Measuring a stamina-sapping 580 yards from the tips, this snaking par five asks you to find a fairway guarded by bunkers left and right before making a sharp left-hand turn uphill for the lay up, and firing at an intimidating green that runs away from the player, with a steep run-off for pulled shots and a couple of bunkers down the right for players who fan their approach. It’s championship golf of the highest order.

There’s no let up at the par-4 5th – the hardest hole on the card – which measures a brutal 499 yards from the white tees, while the layout’s eclectic nature comes to the fore two holes later with a dinky 126-yard par three. What the hole lacks in length it more than makes up for in the fiddly nature of the green, with anything hit long running off the back, leaving a very difficult up-and-down for par.

The back nine is far more tree-lined and, as such, more demanding from the tee, while a number of deep bunkers serve to keep you honest on your approaches to the greens. It’s also where the drama really steps up a gear, with the stretch of holes from 13 to 17 being the strongest part of the course –deftly bringing out the best of the topography’s natural features.

The driveable par-four 15th, with a cavernous bunker front and centre just 50 yards short of a narrow green that slopes off on both sides, is notable for its fun as much as its strategy. It all sets up for a grandstand finish with the closing hole, a stunning par five where water comes into play if you chose to take on the green in two.

HANSE HAS CRAFTED AN OUTSTANDING COURSE THAT FEELS LIKE IT WAS SHAPED BY THE ELEMENTS RATHER THAN A DIGGER

There’s no doubt that Hanse has done a brilliant job here, carefully sewing together the lumps and bumps of the natural terrain to craft an outstanding course that feels like it was shaped by the elements rather than a digger.

The previously mentioned Wild Piglet course is a condensed version of the New – with all the same strategic challenges in miniature. None of the ten holes measures more than 150 yards, but good things often come in small packages and that’s certainly the case with this delightful little course.

Golfing challenges ticked off, the new-look Les Bordes is very much a country sporting estate, with the owners having introduced a host of new facilities, including a swimming lake with a white sandy beach, enhanced equestrian facilities, boating lakes, archery, fishing, cycle and electric quad paths and a new tennis centre. Children are catered for, with a go-karting track and a zipline being just some of the activities on offer for kids big and small.

outposts in Oxfordshire, Los Angeles and Berlin, they were every bit as comfortable as you’d expect at a five-star hotel.

The following morning, after a late breakfast and another trip to the driving range in a desperate bid to sharpen up my skills, I headed for the first tee of the New Course to see what Mr Hanse had conjured up. Where water features prominently on 11 of the Old Course’s 18 holes, the New’s defences are characterised by deep pot bunkers and the overall feel is more English heathland compared to the Old Course’s American lakeland style. Featuring large bunkers, subtle elevation changes and vast green complexes, the layout measures 7,211 yards from the back tees. While there is generally plenty of room off the tee, the big test for many will come on the greens, where sweeping contours punish anything that does not hit the right part of the putting surfaces. And while the generosity of the fairways allows the driver to be used, it will need to be hit hard if you’re to make a dent in the yardage on some of the longer holes.

That’s certainly the case at the second hole.

Les Bordes has also announced that the château the Bichs stayed in during their visits will soon be transformed into a Six Senses resort. Expected to open in 2024, the building will include a restaurant, bar and spa facilities, with branded suites and villas hiding among the woodland around the property. Phase one of its Cour du Baron development project will see a number of properties built throughout the estate to offer members a more permanent ‘home away from home’ when they are visiting to play the course. As part of the ownership, members will be able to offer their home back to the club to rent out when the property is vacant, should they so wish.

With just 200 members currently on the books, and no visitor play allowed except as a member’s guest, Les Bordes offers golf at its unashamedly most exclusive, but if you ever get the chance to go, clear the diary and make the pilgrimage. You won’t be disappointed, and you’ll have some envyinducing stories to tell your friends for many years to come.

For more details about Les Bordes, go to lesbordes.com. Matt flew from Farnborough to Orleans with Jetfly, the leader in fractional ownership of private jets in Europe for both business and private aviation, with a fleet of 50 Pilatus aircraft that can land at international airports and local airfields. For more details, visit jetfly.com.

■ THE OLD COURSE HAS A FLORIDA-STYLE DESIGN WITH WATER FEATURING ON 11 OF THE 18 HOLES

■ LES BORDES' NEW COURSE IS REMINISCIENT OF SURREY'S FINEST HEATHLAND TRACKS

MAGICAL MALLORCA

While the Challenge Tour’s Race to Mallorca grand finale was staged last month at the island’s T-Golf & Country Club, there’s little doubt in my mind that they would have been better served, and perhaps more severely tested, should they have had held the season-ending tournament at Alcanada.

That’s certainly the view of the good people at Top100courses.com, which has Alcanada rated as No.1 in Mallorca and No.12 in Spain, while T-Golf, which was formerly known as Poniente, sits at 5th and ?? respectively. While the latter has been much improved by a recent redesign under new ownership, I guess the demands of professional tournament venues are much different to those of the travelling holiday golfer, so while I respect the Challenge Tour’s choice, I know which course I’d

rather play every day of the week, paid or unpaid.

Even though Alcanada only opened its gates in 2003, the venue, which is located on the far north-east of the island, arguably has easily the best atmosphere, layout, views and clubhouse of any venue on the island. This seaside gem, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, embraces undulating terrain, pine forests, Mediterranean bay views, and features a breathtaking clubhouse. If you want to play serious golf, practice to your hearts content on an academy facility that would put a tour venue in the shade, dine on a magnificent terrace, then Alcanada is for you.

The opening hole, a parfive hole could be one of the trickiest we’ve encountered anywhere. A barranca crossing just in front of the green, makes the choice of third shot interesting – and, for the Bryson’s amongst us – the second, which is a forced lay up for the holiday golfer. The second and third holes are good par fours, but maybe a little repetitive due to their similar design, while the 400-yard fifth is a strong driving hole, as is the severely testing 8th, a 450yard par four which is played slightly uphill.

18th is equally testing, with the slightly uphill par four featuring a nest of six bunkers all down the left side and an almost unsighted raised green nestled in a corner, with red stakes around the back.

With lush fairways and greens running consistently true, there was little to fault the conditioning, while the course benefitted from a major bunker renovation at the beginning of 2019, and that has served to enhance what was already a first-class experience, with new cart paths and a new irrigation system helping to ensure that this course remains at the top of the golfing charts as far as Mallorcan golf is concerned.

WITH LUSH FAIRWAYS AND GREENS RUNNING CONSISTENTLY TRUE, THERE WAS LITTLE TO FAULT ALCANADA'S CONDITIONING

Needless to say, a glance over your scorecard, whilst supping on a superior glass of Mallorcan red wine, might reveal scores that enthrall or disappoint in equal measure. It’s a tough beast, but thoroughly enjoyable all the same. Our visit on a glorious early autumn day made everyone in our group vow to return and play again soon.

The first four holes of the back nine are somewhat adjacent to each other, and although nice, can feel slightly claustrophobic, while the par-3 15th is a superb short hole that sets up nicely for a birdie if you find the right part of the putting surface. The 480-yard 16th is another cracking long par four, with seven fairway bunkers punishing anything hit remotely offline, while the 350-yard

Our lodgings for the trip we at the Carossa Hotel & Spa, the island’s newest five-star resort, which is nestled in the hills near the town of Arta and provides picture postcard views towards Cala Millor and Alcudia. Once a farmhouse, with an imposing manor house, the Carossa is part of a group of five-star venues across Europe and the owners have made their Mallorcan outpost a place where one can relax, sleep, dine and generally ‘chill out’ in totally tranquility, and it is easy to see

A 72-hour trip to Mallorca sees Charlie and Linda Briscoe-Knight sample the exhilarating golf courses at Alcanada and Capdepera, and the chill-out vibes of the Carossa Hotel & Spa

■ ALCANADA

why it is so popular with yoga retreats and hikers, with its healing and restorative powers so much in evidence.

There are 45 suites located in block-style villas dotted around the estate, whilst a further 30 are situated within the 300-year-old Manor House. There are also four luxury 4/5 bed private villas and three rustic fincas, all with pools. It can feel monasterial at times, but the contrast between a hectic life in the city and this tranquility has to be experienced to believe how good one feels after two or three days of massage, swimming and sunbathing. With very clement weather, the openair restaurants – one looking towards the sunrise at breakfast, the other looking to sunset at dinner. The latter, under the direction of talented chef Ramón García, serves up fresh seasonal local fare with moreish dishes such as vitello tonnato followed by fresh turbot with fennel, grapefruit and hollandaise sauce, while Carrossa’s sommelier runs a very atmospheric wine cellar, offering tastings from the local vineyards.

Whilst Alacanada is a 45-minute drive from the resort, Capdepera Golf Club is just 15 minutes away and makes for a fun secondary course to play on a short trip. A splendid clubhouse lies below the hills containing most of the back nine, and above the flat layout of the front nine. While not to the same standard as Alcanada in design or presentation, the par-72, 5,867-metre course has some very interesting holes - not least the 10th, a short par 4 which doglegs around a Martello tower and a reservoir, creating some very tricky decisions to be solved off the tee. The 12th is a tight, yet interesting par five requiring careful placement around bunkers at the shoulders of a double dogleg, while short 15th is a lovely looking hole with subtle structures offering additional putting challenges if the green is found with the approach shot. There are other courses to be found nearby at Canyamel and Son Servera, but I’d save your ammunition, and your best golf, for Alcanada, Mallorca’s shining jewel.

For details on the latest packages to the Carossa Hotel & Spa, visit carrossa.com. For the latest green fee rates, visit golf-alcanada.com and golfcapdepera.com.

■ BELOW: THE CAROSSA HOTEL & SPA OFFERS

PROVENCE & COTE D’AZUR GOLFING IN PARADISE

The south eastern regions of France have enjoyed a longstanding love affair with British travelers going back to the Victorian age, when London’s wealthy elite would head for the glamourous coastal resorts to be found on the Riviera – including Nice, Cannes and St Tropez – to take in the azure waters, enjoy the year-round sunshine and promenade along the waterfronts in their finery.

Little has changed in that respect over the last 150

years, although the arrival of far quicker modes of transport – namely cheap short-haul air travel – has ensured that a holiday to the region is within reach of a much wider demographic.

France’s south east corner, taking in the regions of Provence and the Côte d’Azur, certainly has plenty going for it was a year-round holiday destination, with long, hot summers giving way to cooler winters and warm springs, while its stunning range of hilltop villages and

culture-laden cities, such as Arles, Aix and Avignon, combined with its chic coastal resorts, have provided an irresistible attraction for generations of travelers looking to experience its uniquely relaxed Mediterranean vibe.

Provence and Cote d’Azur makes for a wonderful destination for golf too, with year-round playability and an amazing choice of over 60 courses spread throughout the region making it more than a match for better known golfing destinations in southern Europe.

A REGION OF CONTRASTS

If you’re looking for two adjacent but heavily contrasting landscapes, then you need look no further than Provence and Côte d’Azur, which rub alongside each other in a harmony that gives visitors the chance to experience two of France’s most renowned destinations in the same trip.

Provence evokes images of fields of lavender and sunflowers, olive orchards and vineyards, all of which inspired artists like Van Gogh and Cezanne with the backdrop of sunlight and clear blue skies.

Provence has a history dating back before the Romans, who colonised the region and left an amazing legacy of architecture captured by the coliseum at Arles and the theatre at Orange, which are still in use today.

The Camargue on the Mediterranean coast Is home to an amazing fauna and flora, as it is a stopover for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds, while white horses and black bulls roam free – nearly- next to pink flamingo colonies, and inland you have the rugged Luberon and The Alpilles dotted with stunning hilltop villages.

Meanwhile, the Cote d’Azur – also known as the French Riviera – boasts a coastline that has captured the hearts and souls of travellers

from the beginning of time. The seashore that extends from St Tropez to the Italian border is one of the world’s great seaside destinations, packed with gorgeous beaches, luxury hotels,

designer bars, belle époque villas, coastal trails, red-rock headlands and offshore islands. From Monte Carlo’s casino and Nice’s Promenade des Anglais to the Cannes film festival and St Tropez’s yacht harbour, the Côte d’Azur is home to some of the most iconic spots in Europe’s collective consciousness.

Beyond the coast, the region is also home to some spectacular hilltop villages and mountain scenery, along with vineyards, flower farms that feed the French perfume industry and more than its fair share of great art museums.

With such heavily contrasting landscapes, it is not surprising that the golf courses in Provence and Côte d’Azur are similarly unique in their challenges. From the fiddly fairways to be found at the ultra-exclusive Royal Mougins in Cannes, to the two finely-sculpted Dave Thomas-designed layouts at Terre Blanche; from the exclusive retreat that is Pont Royal, home to the only Seve Ballesteros-designed course in France, and the stunning, but slightly more roughly-hewn course to be found at Domaine de Manville – which winds its way around an olive farm – Provence and the Côte d’Azur is a true golfer’s paradise. Here’s our guide to some of the region’s golfing highlights to help you plan your holiday itinerary…

With stunning hilltop towns, cultural cities, stylish beachside resorts, gastronomic delights, wonderful wines, and a fine collection of golf courses, the close-knit southern French regions of Provence and the Côte d’Azur are packed with hedonistic pleasures to delight all the senses

Pont Royal

One of the most revered golf clubs in the region, Pont Royal, which opened for play in 1992, enjoys the elevated status of being the only course in France designed by the late, great Seve Ballesteros. Located in the pretty town of Mallemort, in the foothills of the Alps, Pont Royal was built on 75 hectares of ‘garrigue’, ancient hunting ground through pine woods and hills covered in wild herbs, with a superb backdrop of the Alpilles, the Luberon, the Durance Valley, and the Massif of the Trevaresse.

The host of an Alps Tour event for a decade after it first opened, Pont Royal’s 6,327m course is a tight, demanding layout that requires plenty of imagination and the kind of shot-making skills for which Seve was famous. With holes that regularly plunge and soar across a forested landscape, Pont Royal is what they call a ‘thinking man's course’.

A classic example of the challenge on offer comes at the 462·yard 7th, a dramatic par four which sweeps down from the tee and then up to the left on a thrilling rollercoaster fairway; or the par-three 11th, a 200-yarder that requires an all-or-nothing shot from an elevated tee across a wooded gorge to a distant green perched on top of a rocky outcrop.

Closing out the back nine lies Pont Royal’s version of ‘Amen Corner’, with holes 15 to 18 all presenting different challenges, with the last hole providing a dramatic finish, climbing up and over a hill before the fairway sweeps left down to a sloping green next to a large lake.

With the often-present Mistral winds, some severe inclines, numerous large water hazards, and notoriously quick greens, Pont Royal is not for the faint-hearted, but it rewards players with stunning views, and with no two holes alike, you’ll be kept interested until you’ve holed the final putt.

The relaxed and stylish Provençal clubhouse offers an excellent choice of home-cooked Provencal dishes, while a glass of chilled rosé, grown from vines just miles from the clubhouse, always go down well after a round here.

For those looking to polish up their skills, the club also boasts a David Leadbetter Golf Academy, with practice facilities include a two-tier driving range, three greens for chipping and bunker practice and putting. There is also a six-hole academy course, which is ideal for beginners, as well as for better players looking to sharpen up their short game.

Although the club has no accommodation of its own, there are numerous villas and apartments available for rent nearby, while the five-star Moulin de Vernegues Hotel & Spa is situated just a lob wedge from the third tee and is naturally a popular destination for golfers.

A member of the Relais & Chateaux collection, it’s both traditional yet modern, boasting 100 well-appointed rooms spread out between a traditional old Provençal building and a more modern extension. Many rooms feature private patios looking out over the golf course, while a fine dining restaurant, a fabulous I’Occitane spa, and a large outdoor swimming pool, add to its many attractions.

Visitor Green fee: €134 (April-Oct) Golf Pass Fee: €114. golf-pontroyal.com

OFF-COURSE ACTIVITIES

GORGES DU VERDON, MOUSTIERS-SAINTE-MARIE

One of the largest canyons in Europe, the Verdon Gorge was carved by the Verdon River, which flows for 15 miles and empties into the man-made lake Lac de Sainte-Croix. The limestone cliffs range in height throughout the canyon but soar, at times, to over 700 metres, offering spectacular views from the clifftops to the shimmering turquoise waters of the river below. Activities in and around the gorge including hiking, rock climbing, kayaking and canoeing, while true adrnalin junkies will be tempted by bungee jumping and whitewater rafting.

THEATRE ANTIQUE, ORANGE

Orange’s monumental, UNESCO-protected theatre is unquestionably one of France’s most impressive Roman sights. It’s one of only three intact Roman theatres left in the world and its sheer size is awe-inspiring: designed to seat 10,000 spectators, its stage wall reaches 37m high, 103m wide and 1.8m thick. Little wonder that Louis XIV called it ‘the finest wall in my kingdom’. In its heyday the theatre would truly have been a sight to behold – covered in statues and carvings, and richly decorated in mosaics and marble slabs. Experiments have shown the wall was specially designed to focus and project sound. The site is currently undergoing renovation to protect it from the ravages of time, which means some part will be undergoing repair until 2024, but the theatre remains completely open to visitors, and still hosts its annual opera festival, Chorégies d’Orange.

PALAIS DES PAPES, AVIGNON

Inscribed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1995, the Palais des Papes is largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. served as the seat of papal power and the Roman Catholic church between 1309 and 1377 and hosted the inauguration of six popes. Ringed by 3m-thick walls, its cavernous halls, chapels and antechambers are largely bare today – but visitors can still see how they would have looked thanks to virtual-reality representations that form part of a tour. Highlights include 14th-century chapel frescos by Matteo Giovannetti, and the Chambre du Cerf with its medieval hunting scenes. The palace stages numerous special events during the Festival d’Avignon, including ‘Son et Lumiere’ shows from mid-August to September.

ART-LOVERS PARADISE

France’s leading region for culture in terms of number and variety of museums, Provence and the Côte d’Azur has seduced artists since the 19th century. Even today, some of the biggest names on the contemporary scene have set up home and created foundations here. With over 60 major collections and art venues to visit, the region is an art-lovers heaven, with landscape paintings, sculpture, photography and design: you’ll find every imaginable artistic discipline on display from Arles to Menton.

WINE TOURS

Although renowned the world over for its light and perfumed rosé, Provence and the Cote d’Azur spans several very different winemaking regions. In addition to the beloved pink stuff, the area also produces some exciting red and white wines, with the southern stretches of the Rhone Valley also being home to appelations such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras. Whereas by the coastline, bold and characterful red wine of Bandol stand alongside the fruitful and mineral white wine of Cassis.

From the gates of Nice to the Camargue region, the Provence wine route takes you from the seaside to mountains and scenic villages perched up high. It combines 430 vineyards and cooperative wine cellars, all of which are committed to quality. Virtually all vineyard owners, some that cultivate only a few hectares, will offer pre-booked tours, with many of them including lunch with a tutored tasting as part of the package, while some of the larger estates also offer B&B accommodation.

GASTRONOMY

While wine is on most people’s mind when they think of Provence, the region is also home to some of France’s finest restaurants, with the Michelin Guide’s inspectors having dished out many of its highest accolades to chefs with establishments in the area. These include L’Oustau de Baumanière in Les Baux-de-Provence, where head chef Jean-André Charial is cooking up a storm with his modern take on the rich flavours of classic French cuisine; while over in Moustiers Ste-Marie, La Bastide de Moustiers, which was founded by chef supremo Alain Ducasse, diners can gorge themselves on playful amuse bouche, sauce-heavy main courses and indulgent desserts, with much of the produce grown from the restaurant’s own kitchen garden. For those that over-indulge, there are rooms to stay in following a blow-out meal.

TRUFFLE HUNTING

Over half of the prestigious black truffles harvested in France come from the South-East, mainly the Var, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and especially Vaucluse, which is home to the country’s two largest professional truffle markets in Carpentras and Richerenches. Fresh truffles are widely available to buy in town markers from December to March, but don’t confuse black winter truffles with white summer truffles, as the former commands ten times the price.

From Roman amphitheatres to vast gorges, from sandy beaches to hilltop towns, and from leafy vineyards to gourmet restaurants, there’s plenty to occupy body and soul in between rounds of golf in Provence and the Cote d’Azur

■ THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ALPS PROVIDE A STUNNING BACKDROP TO A ROUND OF GOLF AT PONT ROYAL

SHOE-HORNED INTO THE TINY ESTATE, BETWEEN HUNDREDS OF LUXURY PROPERTIES, THE GOLF COURSE AT ROYAL MOUGINS OCCUPIES A SECLUDED VALLEY WHERE THE HOLES RISE AND FALL AT ALARMING RATES

TERRE BLANCHE

Located just 30 minutes from Cannes and 45 minutes from Nice, Terre Blanche Resort is home to a five-star hotel and spa and two 18-hole championship courses spread over 750 acres of stunning Provençal countryside.

Once owned by Sean Connery, the resort still enjoys a strong celebrity connection given its proximity to Monaco and there’s every chance that you might bump into a film star or two, while former F1 drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard are often to be found revving up their golf games here.

The resort also been a popular stop for tour professionals, having hosted the European Senior Tour and the Ladies European Tour in recent years, with the two world-class courses – Le Château and Le Riou – both designed by Dave Thomas and designed to test every element of your game.

Le Château stretches out to a whopping 7,235 yards off the back tees and is renowned for its large, undulating greens and sculptured tree-lined fairways. Elevated tees on many holes add to the drama, as do two large lakes, which although man-made, look entirely natural. At 6,400 yards, the accompanying Riou course is shorter, but no less challenging, although it is only open for members and residents to enjoy its numerous tricky doglegs and splendid views. Those looking to improve their golf should take time out to make use of the Albatros Golf Performance Centre, the only European Tour Performance Institute certified in Europe, which offers the latest biomechanical technology and provides personalised programmes based on kinetic analysis of the body and a precise assessment of a player’s balance to enable them to shoot lower scores.

Away from the impressive golf facilities, the resort offers five-star accommodation in a range of 115 villa-style suites and private villas, while guests can enjoy a host of luxurious experiences, including Michelin-starred dining at restaurant Le Faventia, the award-winning spa and an infinity swimming pool offering panoramic views over the surrounding landscape. There is a myriad of other activities on offer within and around the resort, including horse riding, mountain biking, tutored wine tastings, cooking lessons, pottery, hiking and visits to local medieval villages.

including buggy with GPS (peak season) and unlimited practice balls. Golf Pass rate: €153 terre-blanche.com

ROYAL MOUGINS

Located just 15 minutes from the bustling resort of Cannes and the picture-perfect Cote d’Azur, Royal Mougins is ranked inside France’s top five courses, and after playing Robert Von Hagge’s superb design, you won’t find it hard to see why.

Shoe-horned into the tiny estate, between hundreds of luxury properties, the course occupies a secluded valley, rising and falling at often alarming rates, including the par-three 4th, which plummets to a green some 120-feet below the tee.

With five tees on each hole, the course can play as hard or as less hard as you like, but with eight lakes to contend with, vast bunkers, and pockets of trees, only the most accurate shots will avoid heavy punishment on this classic risk/reward layout.

Accommodation is offered in 29 spacious suites behind the clubhouse, each of which features a kitchenette and a private balcony or terrace, and although there is a lovely restaurant, superb spa, and excellent service, Royal Mougins is best described as a golf club with rooms, rather than a full-on resort hotel, and is all the more charming for it.

Visitor Green Fee: €200 (summer). Golf Pass rate: €150 royalmougins.com

DOMAINE DE MANVILLE, PROVENCE

Located in the heart of Provence, a short drive from Avignon, Domaine de Manville is the idyllic setting for a delightful 18-hole course that has been carved out of the natural terrain.

The course is part of a family-owned luxury resort that opened two years ago, which features a country hotel that offers 30 rooms and suites, a fine dining restaurant, spa, two swimming pools, and nine private villas.

Designed by French architect Thierry Sprecher, the course winds its way through olive groves, vineyards, streams and rocky terrain that are typical of the region, and features unusual angular tees and greens designed to resemble Provençal fields.

In a break from tradition, the condition of the fairways is governed by the seasons, so don’t expect to finely-tended carpets during the height of summer, as the greenkeepers let nature take its course – although the tees and greens, as you’d expect, are kept short.

Insist on the eco-responsible approach and the first French golf course to be awarded the Ecocert Label.

After a round, guests can relax in the exquisite spa, which features treatments involving locally sourced pine, olive oil, verbena, jasmine and

THE PROVENCE COTE D’AZUR GOLF PASS – YOUR PASSPORT TO GREAT GOLF AT A GREAT PRICE!

For golfers looking to play a variety of different courses in the region, the Provence Côte d’Azur Golf Pass is the only way to go. It allows you to enjoy savings of up to 40% on green fees, depending on the venue and the season, at 31 golf courses in the region.

The Golf Pass enables you to select two, three or four 18or 9-hole layouts or to create your own pass to focus on the courses you most want to play. The website gives details of all the clubs taking part in the scheme and from there you can book tee times in advance to suit your itinerary and guarantee you get to play when you want at a price that is well below the walk-on green fee. Once you’ve booked,

you’ll receive a voucher via email to hand over to the club on arrival.

You’ll find the full list of Golf Pass courses at provencecotedazurgolf. com, but they include some of Europe’s most highly rated venues, including Pont Royal, Terre Blanche, Domaine de Manville, Golf Grand Avignon, Royal Mougins and more.

For more details, visit www.provencecotedazurgolf.com.

■

OODLAND COURSE

SAINT ENDREOL

FEATURES PLENTY OF WATER

■ GOLF DU LUBERON HAS A DISTINCTLY SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS FEEL TO IT

honey,

Provençal

Steve Deconinck’s courtyard restaurant, l’Aupiho.

Visitor Green Fee: €65/€103 (low/high) Golf Pass rate: €52/€82 domainedemanville.com

Sainte-Maxime

Located just half-an-hour from Saint Tropez, this friendly and relaxed club boasts a wonderful 18-hole woodland/parkland course that offer fabulous views of the Provençale countryside on one side and the Côte d'Azur and the sparkling waters of Mediterranean on the other. Designed by Donald Harradine, and first opened just over 30 years ago, the course is a demanding walk, with its undulating fairways weaving in and out of the oak forests of the Var, with the front nine featuring elevated tees, steep gullies and water hazards, while the back nine drops down towards the village of Sainte-Maxime where a plateau provides magnificent panoramic views of the Maures and Esterel massifs, before climbing up again to the clubhouse and the on-site Amarante Golf Plaza Hotel.

Visitor Green Fee (high/low): €72/€81 Golf Pass rate: €54/€62 bluegreen.fr/sainte-maxime

FOR

RUGBY WORLD CUP

SEPT-OCT 2023

DIARY

While all eyes will be on Paris for the Olympic Games in 2024, those interested in rugby will be focusing their attentions on Provence and the Côte d’Azur for next year’s 2023 Rugby World Cup. The region is hosting ten of the scheduled matches during September and October, including six in Marseille and four in Nice, with highlights including England taking on Argentina in a pool match in Marseille on Sept 9, and South Africa playing against Scotland in Marseille on Sept 10. England will be in action against Japan in Nice on Sept 17, while Wales will also play in Nice on Sept 16. The French team will be playing in Marseille against a pool qualifier on Sept 21. Other matches are being held in Bordeaux, Lille, Nantes, Toulouse and venues around Paris, with the final taking place at Stade de France in Paris on October 28. The inventor of modern rugby, Englishman William Webb Ellis, who died 150 years ago in 1872, is buried in Menton, a few miles up the coast from Nice, near the border with Italy. For details on tickets, visit rugbyworldcup.com/2023.

NICE CARNIVAL

FEBRUARY 10-26, 2023

Saint Donat

Located close to Cannes and Nice, St Donat

offer a fun, varied and very playable course that represents ideal holiday golf. Not too long – at just over 6,000 metres, the par-71 parkland layout was designed by Robert Trent Jones II and boasts bags of charm. Hilly in places, especially over the front nine, and with a river coming into play on six holes, highlights include the par-3 10th, which plays over water with a church providing a stunning backdrop, while the par-5 15th is another stunner, with the elevated tee dropping down to the fairway below before rising back up to a raised green.

Visitor Green Fee: €90 Golf Pass rate: €70 golfsaintdonat.com

Saint Endréol

Set in dense woodland in the heart of Provence, around 10 miles inland from Cannes and St Tropez, Saint-Endreol Golf & Spa Resort boasts one of the region’s top tracks, with its tree-lined fairways occupying a wonderful spot north of the Rocher de Roqubrune mountain and meandering around the River Endre. It’s quite hilly in places, with significant changes in elevation on asome holes, most notably the par-3 13th which plummets dramatically downhill to a peninsula green. The course, which is always presented in excellent condition, concludes with a strong run of par fours, so make sure you get your scoring in early and try and hold on.

Visitor Green Fee: €82 Golf Pass rate: €70 st-endreol.com

Golf du Luberon

Offering the feel of a Scottish Highlands course but with much better weather, Luberon is a delightful family-run club with a welcoming atmosphere and an excellent golf course. Like many in the area, it is hilly in places, especially on the back nine, so a buggy is advised for all but the fittest.

Visitor Green Fee: €72 Golaf Pass rate: €54 golfduluberon.coma

With a history dating back to 1873, the Nice Carnival is one of the biggest in France with the two-week event attracting over a million visitors. A special theme is chosen each year, with local artists creating 18 floats and other figurines in traditional papiermâché, sometimes depicting animals or flowers, which parade the streets in a series of colourful parades which take place day and night. The theme for 2023 will be ‘Treasures of the World’.

EASTER MUSIC FESTIVAL, AIX-ENPROVENCE, MARCH 31-APRIL 16

Celebrating its 10th year in 2023, the Festival de Pâques in Aix-en-Provence has quickly established itself as one the classical music scene’s most popular festivals, attracting leading orchestras, renowned virtuosos, famous conductors and composers from all over the world. With some of the town’s most famous venues, including the imposing Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, providing a backdrop to concerts and recitals, its presents a feast for all the senses. For more details, visit festivalpaques.com.

FLY: British Airways operates regular services to Nice and Marseille. Easyjtet flies to Nice, Toulon and Marseille and Ryanair from several cities in the UK to Marseille.

DRIVE: The south of France is a 10hour drive from the Eurotunnel or ferry ports, taking the motorway all the way via Reims, Dijon, Beaune and Lyon. For further information on holiday itineraries, hotels, things to do and places to see in the Provence and the Côte d’Azur region, visit www.provence-alpes-cotedazur.com.

■

WONDERFUL PARKLAND COURSE AT SAINT DONAT WAS DESIGNED BY ROBERT TRENT JONES II

■

HOSTED

Amazing

With two championship courses and a range of superb private villas and apartments, it’s no wonder Amendoeira Golf Resort is proving a popular destination for golf groups and families visiting in Portugal’s Algarve region

DESPITE BEING a regular visitor to the Algarve over the years, I had never previously visited the much talked about Amendoeira Golf Resort, so when an invitation came my way late last year to experience the resort first-hand, I jumped at the chance to escape the gloomy skies of the UK and head out for some sunshine under cloudless Iberian skies and enjoy some first-class golf.

Hidden away among the picturesque Monchique Mountains in Silves, a 30-minute drive from Faro airport, the Kronos-owned Amendoeira Golf Resort has been making waves ever since it first opened in 2008.

The five-star venue covers a vast swathe of land – 270 hectares if we’re counting – and can sleep up to 1,200 guests across its range of luxury villas and spacious apartments. The crown jewel at the resort, for golfers at least, is the Faldo course, designed by the legendary knight of the realm, which, since opening just over decade ago, features high on lists of top courses in Europe. This signature layout is complemented by a further 18-

hole design fashioned by the late Christy O’Connor Jnr, which provides a perfect foil to Faldo’s more muscular test.

The resort also boasts a floodlit 9-hole, par-three course, which is perfect for beginners and those looking to sharpen up their short game. It is also great for a fun competition at night underneath the floodlights, more of which later. But the sporting fun doesn’t end there, as the resort also offers tennis courts, swimming pools, gym facilities and football pitches – the latter of which have been used by Fulham, West Brom and, most recently, the mighty Mansfield Town, for pre-season training –making it the perfect venue for a family break.

Flying into Faro after an early morning flight from London, a simple 30-minute transfer took us to the resort. After checking into our luxury 3-bed apartment, we grabbed a quick snack in the clubhouse before jumping into our buggies to take on the challenge of the Faldo course.

Four-wheeled transport is almost a prerequisite, as the 6,598-metre layout is carved out of the rugged Algarve landscape and involves several

■

FLOODLIT PAR-THREE COURSE

■

O'CONNOR COURSE PROVIDES THE PERFECT CONTRAST TO ITS MORE TESTING PARTNER

steep climbs and descents to fairways strewn with large, deep bunkers which jut out just far enough into play to swallow errant drives or loose approaches.

From the back tees there are some carries that might be a stretch for the mid-handicapper, but from the more forward tees most of the ravines and water hazards can be crossed with a decent whack. With hidden bunkers and the odd blind shot, it’s a typical challenging Faldo design. My favourite holes included the par-five 4th, which offers an inviting tee shot to the valley below, while the views from the tee on the par-3 12th are equally impressive. The par-5 13th was another excellent risk-and-reward hole that requires a little thought.

With pristine fairways and smooth-running greens, it was an thoroughly enjoyable test, although you’ll need to have your driving and putting boots firmly strapped on if you’re going to play to anything approaching your handicap.

Without a hotel, the clubhouse acts as base for those staying in the on-site villas and apartments,

YOU'LL NEED TO HAVE YOUR DRIVING AND PUTTING BOOTS FIRMLY STRAPPED ON IF YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY ANYTHING NEAR YOUR HANDICAP

providing the hub of activities, as well as the location for the restaurants and bars. For those that prefer a hotel base, the resort has a reciprocal arrangement with the nearby Vila Vita Parc Hotel, a five-star property that offers a luxury package of accommodation, leisure facilities and restaurants, including of the two Michelin-starred Ocean Restaurant and the Adega Restaurant, an authentic Portguese eaterie where we dined in style on the second night.

After dinner in the clubhouse on the first night we got the chance to play the par-three course in the company of European Par 3 champion Hugo

Espirito Santo, who shot the lights out – although thankfully not literally – with his seven-under-par score of 20. With the holes measuring between 75 and 120 yards, it’s a great test of your short game, and a lot of fun.

The following morning, and suitably refreshed after a night in one of the comfortable apartments, we took on the O’Connor Course. While the Faldo course could beat you up if you’re off your game, the O’Connor, like the man himself, is a much more welcoming and genial affair. Built over a much more walkable landscape – although I doubt many give up their buggies to play it –it’s no pushover at 6,708 metres from the back tees, although the 5,640m from the blues makes it much more like the holiday course that is aspires to be. Water, in the shape of ponds, creeks and wetland areas, comes into play at many of the holes, particularly on the front nine. The par threes at the 3rd and 6th are feature holes on the outward half, with pushed shots on either hole resulting in delve back into the golf bag, while the 402-metre par-4 eighth, lives up to its Stroke Index 1 billing with water all the way down and then across to avoid, before reaching the relative safety of a small, but undulating green. The inward half presents a number of memorable holes, though the first of these at the par-four 10th might be remembered for the wrong reasons because the acute angle of the right dogleg on this par four might be regarded as a little too severe by many. The 374-metre 18th also doglegs, but a little more gently this time, as the fairway rises slowly towards the two-tiered home green. All in all, although it won’t live quite as long in the memory as its neighbour, the O’Connor is an enjoyable way to spend four hours in the company of like-minded souls.

Later on we had a tour around some of the villas and apartments that are available to buy and/or rent. With swimming pools, luxury interiors, BBQ areas, and two great golf courses on your doorstep, it’s quite easy to see the appeal of a long-term investment here, although as place to hole up for a long weekend break or a fortnight’s holiday, it also takes some beating.

GETTING THERE

Direct

■

Dazzling Doha

Host of a European Tour event since 1998, the oilrich Middle Eastern state of Qatar is ploughing vast resources into broadening its range of sporting, leisure and cultural activities ahead of its staging of the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Nick Bayly went to try out its two world-class golf courses during an action-packed long weekend in Doha

Given the climate crisis and the impending destruction of the planet, it’s becoming increasingly hard to square the idea that building golf courses in regions where grass doesn’t naturally grow is a sensible use of the world’s fast-depleting natural resources. Yet, here we are in 2020, and tournament-standard courses are still springing up in countries whose annual rainfall is less than what fell on Wales in half-anhour during the storms that battered the UK last month.

So it was more than a little odd to find myself forced to take shelter from a torrential downpour in the smart new clubhouse at Education City Golf Club in Qatar during my brief visit there last November. Knowing that this had been the first significant rainfall in Doha for over eight months, the course manager should have been doing a little jig of delight, but unfortunately this was the wrong type of rain, the heavy sort that lands

on dry ground and immediately runs down the nearest storm drain, and not the gentle drizzle that nourishes rootzones that greenkeepers love so much.

Thankfully, Education City’s plush fairways and manicured greens and tees are irrigated in a more controlled fashion, with a state-ofthe-art sprinkler system drawing on supplies of desalinated water that are scooped straight out of the Arabian Sea. The course is also sown with something called ‘TE Platinum Paspalam Turf’, a type of grass that requires 20% less water to survive than your standard stuff, so they’re doing their best to mitigate against a climate where summer temperatures nudge 45c on a regular basis. Fascinating high-tech course management programmes aside, it’s fair to say that Qatar is not the obvious choice for a holiday, let alone a golf holiday. But then again, the same could have been said about near neighbour Dubai 25 years ago, and look at it now. Last year, just over 90,000 UK citizens visited Qatar, with the vast majority no doubt coming to do business in Doha, rather than simply sitting on a beach. That number was 20% up from 2018, and the figures will surely enjoy a further spike in two years time, when England fans head out to Doha to watch Gareth Southgate’s merry men lift the Jules Rimmet trophy for the first time since 1966 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We can but dream, eh?

Given the aforementioned summer heat, the tournament has been switched to December, which is also a prime time for golf in this part of the world, with daytime temperatures hovering around the pleasant mid-20s.

With all eight football stadiums being used for the World Cup located within Doha’s city limits, it’s going to be one of the most compact tournaments ever hosted, with fans able to hop between venues via a newly-built metro system

without having to break sweat.

The gaps between matches will give visiting fans plenty of time to soak up the city’s cultural treasures and sporting pleasures, including its two world-class 18-hole golf courses. Domestic golfers are pretty thin on the ground out here, with the membership of Qatar’s two clubs, Doha, which was founded in 1998, and Education City, which opened just last year, largely drawn from the sizeable expat community that has built up around the oil and gas industry.

Education City, as the new shiny new toy, took over hosting duties for this year’s Qatar Masters, which has been a mainstay on the European Tour’s now somewhat disjointed ‘Desert Swing’ since 1998. Held between March 6-9, José Maria Olazabal’s 7,300-yard layout proved a suitable challenge for Europe’s elite, with Spain's Jorge Campillo winning after a play-off with a score of 13 under. Although not quite the draw that is once was, the tournament still attracts a decent enough field, and the introduction of a new course, built by a legend of the European Tour, has certainly helped to revive its status in the tournament schedule.

The course itself is a tough challenge for the club amateur with a sea of bunkers greeting players off virtually every tee, while water – yes, that rarest of commodities – is a strong feature on the layout, coming into play on ? holes. The huge greens are slower than they look, but you certainly don’t want to be putting on the wrong side of the slopes.

Fulfilling its remit to bring on fledgling domestic talent and live up to its rather ‘does what it says on the tin’ name, Education City boasts of two other courses — a full-length six-hole course, and a nine-hole floodlit par three, while the worldclass academy boasts five indoor swing studios and a putting studio, all featuring the latest swing analysis technology combined with a team of

PGA-qualified coaches, headed up by Director of Golf Rhys Beecher, a Welshman who took who the role following a stint at Celtic Manor. There’s also double-ended driving range fitted with Toptracer Range, a number of practice greens, a dedicated ladies-only green with its own entrance so that local Muslim women can practice in private.

Doha Golf Club, offers a distinct contrast to its arriviste golfing rival, and has a much more relaxed, lived-in feel that you’d expect given its 20-year head start. No longer the only golf show in town,

■ QATAR'S TWO GOLF CLUBS, DOHA AND EDUCATION CITY, WILL BE A POPULAR OFF-COURSE ATTRACTION DURING THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP

VISITORS TO DOHA ARE SPOILT FOR CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO LUXURY ACCOMMODATION, WITH THE CITY BOASTING OVER 50 FIVE-STAR RATED HOTELS

its members will probably enjoy not having their course taken over for a month each year now that the Qatar Masters has switched to Education City.

The 7,374-yard course, which was designed by Peter Harradine, is not quite at the same level of presentation as its neighbour, although we had arrived during the dormant season for grass, so the course was by no means at its best. That said, the layout is excellent, with generous fairways and contoured greens routed through numerous lakes, big bunkers, limestone outcrops, dunes and desert.

Among the highlights were the ninth, a 600-yard par 5 that will test your stamina and patience; the par-4 12th, whose impressive limestone formations guard the entrance to the green; the tough parfour 15th, which requires a lengthy second shot over water; and the drivable 16th, which requires a lusty blow over a huge rocky outcrop to reach the putting surface. The 140-yard 17th requires a pinpoint shot over a deep, duck-filled pond to reach a shallow plateaued green, while the 527-yard 18th is a suitably challenging par-5 with water down the left-hand side. Played off the whites, which take the course down to a more manageable 6,640 yards (the yellows are 6,300 yards), it was very enjoyable test, with a good mix of risk-and-reward holes all played in front of the backdrop of Doha’s impressive city skyline.

In addition to the Championship course, there is a 9-hole floodlit course, which we didn’t have time to play, although we did factor in a lunch in the characterful clubhouse, which boasts an excellent bar (alcohol is served here, although not at Education City) and restaurant, which is popular with golfers and non-golfers alike at weekends –Friday and Saturday in this part of the world – when

the course is buzzing.

Between rounds of golf we were treated to a whistlestop tour of Doha’s many and varied attractions, including a trip to the Waqif Souq, a bustling warren of alleyways housing small shops crammed with everything from spices, perfumes and Arabian coffee pots, to jewelry, leathergoods, and even a live falcon, if that grabs your fancy. These elegant, intelligent birds are highly prized in Qatar, with the best specimens changing hands for five-figure sums.

After a memorable Persian meal at the mosaicbejewelled Parisa restaurant in the souk, we boarded a motorised dhow for an night-time tour of the harbour, which gave us the chance to take in the sheer scale of the city, with our eyes craning up to the vast number of highrise offices, hotels and apartments that have created a skyline that is fast rivaling that of Dubai or Hong Kong.

As a pleasant escape from the bustle of the city, we also enjoyed a desert ‘dune-bashing’ trip an hour’s drive away, to the shores of the Khor Al Adaid inland sea, on the border with Saudi Arabia, where we thundered up, down and occasionally sideways on steep, golden sand dunes in a Toyota Landcruiser. Chaperoned by an experienced driver, it was certainly exhilarating stuff, although I’m not the most relaxed of passengers when hurtling over a sandy precipice!

The cultural highlight for me was a visit to the National Musuem of Doha, which is housed in an award-winning building that resembes dozens of concrete discs that have collided into each

■ DOHA OFFERS A HEADY COMBINATION OF MODERN LUXURY HOTELS MIXED WITH TRADITIONAL ARAB CULTURE

BELOW: DOHA GOLF CLUB'S 18-HOLE COURSE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST CHAMPIONSHIP LAYOUTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

other at varying angles. It’s a jaw-dropping structure, while the art, natural history and culture contained within its sloping walls and floors are equally impressive. Art lovers should also visit the Museum of Islamic Art, whose stunning collection of jewelry, paintings, textiles and ceramics are housed in a magnificent five-storey tower that pays homage to Islamic architecture both inside and out.

Visitors to Doha are spoilt for choice when it comes to luxury accommodation, with the city boasting more than 50 five-star rated hotels, and another 70-odd that fall into lower categories. Our group stayed at the impressive Ritz-Carlton Doha (pictured left), a five-star venue built on its own island with its own 235-berth marina, adjacent to the Lagoona shopping mall. For a more central stay, the Mandarin Oriental, located close to the Corniche, is a suitably luxurious affair, while its eighth-floor Mosaic restaurant, which offers nine different kitchens to take you on culinary journey from countries along the Silk Road, is also well worth a visit in a country that draws its influences from so many different cultures.

Qatar Airways flies fly direct from London Heathrow to Doha from £670 return (qatarairways.com). For more information visit www.visitqatar.qa.

For the latest green fee rates and tee bookings at Doha GC and Education City GC, visit www. dohagolfclub.com and www.ecgolf.com.

GOLF COAST

CAPITAL CHOICES

Drive just a few miles along the coast west of central Lisbon and you’ll discover half a dozen excellent golf courses to enjoy, as well as the must-visit towns of Sintra and Cascais

1. QUINTA DA MARINHA

Located close to the pretty coastal town of Cascais, a 35-minute drive from Lisbon, Quinta da Marinha has featured prominently on golfing itineraries to the region ever since it first opened in the mid-80s, thanks to its firstclass accommodation and quality golf. Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, the course hosted numerous tournaments in its early life, including Senior, LET and Challenge Tour events, although it is eminently playable for the holiday golfer, with generous fairways and receptive greens mixed in with the odd water hazard and some wonderful views over the seas. Re-routed in 2016, the course features cleverly located bunkering, raised greens with tight, sloping shoulders, and several fiendish dog-legs.

After a round, golfers can relax in the five-star, on-site hotel, which offers 198 rooms and suites and 40 villas, and an excellent choice of bars and restaurants.

quintadamarinha.com

Estoril’s superb 18-hole course is located in one of Europe’s oldest established tourist resorts and boasts wonderful views out to the Atlantic. A masterpiece of design by Mackenzie Ross, the layout makes good use of the surrounding pine trees and eucalyptuses. Although a short course, at 5,808 yards, its par of 69, coupled with uneven terrain and tight fairways, demands accuracy and good course management to score well.

3. OITAVOS DUNES

Providing a hybrid experience of both links and woodland golf, Oitavos Dunes enjoys one of the most dramatic settings on the Lisbon Coast, with magnificent views of the Sintra Mountains, Atlantic Ocean and Cabo da Roca.

Host of the European Tour’s 2018 GolfSixes event, precision rather than power is the order of the day over the opening holes, as anything hit off line will almost certainly require a chip out. Once safely negotiated, the course opens up as you rise out of the woodland, with an opportunity to open the shoulders on the par fives at 7 and 8. Moving to the back nine, the pick of the holes are 14, 17 and 18. The 14th is a wonderful par three that plays over ravine, while the final two holes are both par fours measuring over 450 yards. The 17th is slightly easier, as it has a downhill approach, but the green is tricky and the bunker front left must be avoided. The 18th is a classic finishing hole – a long dogleg left with a narrow fairway, and trees and dunes bordering the rough on both sides.

course is largely flat, and a good walk will set you up nicely to enjoy

excellent food on offer in the stylish clubhouse or the five-star hotel.

2. GOLF DO ESTORIL

■ QUINTA DA MARINHA IS A MUSTPLAY COURSE ON ANY TRIP TO LISBON

OITAVOS DUNES OFFERS STUNNING VIEWS OVER THE ATLANTIC

■ GOLF DO ESTORIL

4. BELAS

Set in the beautiful Carregueira Mountains, a short drive from Lisbon, the Rocky Roquemore-designed Belas is a demanding championship course that offers fantastic views of the surrounding hills and valleys beyond. The 6,700-yard layout features gently mounded fairways – several of them set in deep valleys – large scalloped bunkers, plenty of significant rises and falls, and a liberal number of streams and lakes to avoid.

There is a great variety of holes on offer, including an attractive selection of par threes, including a couple of drop holes, while the closing stretch is both challenging and memorable, with the downhill par-5 15th, the par-4 17th, with water on both sides of the green, and the par-4 18th, which requires a carry over a U-shaped lake with your approach, all adding to the drama of an entertaining round. belasclubedecampo.pt

5. LISBON SPORTS CLUB

One of the oldest clubs and most traditional clubs in the region, having been founded in 1922, Lisbon Sports Club is a little gem that is well worth searching out during any trip to Portugal’s capital city.

Tucked away in the forests of Sintra, 20km from the city centre, the course measures just under 5,300 metres, with a par of 69. A Fred Hawtree design, it is characterised by tree-lined fairways flowing through a peaceful valley setting. Raised tees and greens add to the challenge, while clever bunkering places an emphasis on distance and direction control, rather than brute force. The greens are sloping and fast. Some of the holes criss-cross each other, so it’s advisable to keep your eyes peeled for balls coming from all directions.

HOST OF THE EUROPEAN TOUR'S GOLFSIXES EVENT IN 2018, PRECISION RATHER THAN POWER IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY AT OITAVOS DUNES OVER THE OPENING HOLES, AS ANYTHING HIT MARGINALLY OFFLINE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY REQUIRE A CHIP OUT SIDEWAYS

LISBON CITY GUIDE

Located at the mouth of the River Tagus, Lisbon is connected to the south by two iconic bridges, the 25th April and the Vasco da Gama. The former is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and is overlooked by one of city’s most famous landmarks – Cristo Rei – a 260ft statue of Christ, similar to the one found in Rio de Janeiro. The city is very walkable, although living up to its name of ‘The City of Seven Hills’ it’s advisable to make use of the extensive tram system (buses and subway) or take a ride on one of the many threewheel tuktuk taxis. Don’t miss a tour around St George’s Castle, which overlooks the whole city, while the streets of the trendy Chiado district will find yourself amid beautiful boutiques and a mix of bohemian cafés and bars, where a glass of Ginjinha – a sour cherry liqueur – will set you up for an evening of listening to famous Fado singers in a local restaurant.

SINTRA

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992, Sintra is a charming hilltop town located 25km west of Lisbon that demands a visit between rounds.

Don’t miss a tour of the Pena Palace, a former royal summer residence whose mixture of architectural styles will amaze and surprise, while the region’s Moorish influences can be seen most impressively at the Castelo dos Mouros, a mist-enshrouded ruined castle that looms over 400m above the surrounding forest, which can trace its history back to the 10th century.

CASCAIS

The historic and beautiful coastal town of Cascais lies on the Estoril coast, just 30 minutes from Lisbon. The pretty harbour town boasts a yacht-filled marina and lots of great fish restaurants, while its small, sandy coves are ideal for swimming and water sports. Take a tour around the Palácio da Cidadela, which was commissioned as a summer palace in 1870 by King Dom Luís I. This captivating museum remains the official residence of visiting heads of state in Portugal.

If walking gets too much, hire one of 1,200 bikes offered through the BiCas free bike-hire scheme, which are available from 76 points between Parede and Estoril, and hit the cycle path that runs the entire 9km stretch from Cascais to Guincho.

For a bit of nature in the raw, stop off at the Boca do Inferno to watch the Atlantic waves pummel the craggy ‘Mouth

10 THINGS TO DO IN LISBON

• Take a trip on one of the five tram routes that criss-cross the city. The most scenic tram route is 28, which travels through the Alfama district, while 12E is also popular, climbing from the Baixa to the Castle.

• Hop on one of three funicular railways to climb Lisbon’s steepest hills, or take a ride in the Elevador de Santa Justa, a 150ft tall vertical lift built in 1902 which offers fine views of the city from the top.

• Visit the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) and Gulbenkian museum and gardens.

• Visit the historical quarters of Chiado and Bairro Alto, which are packed with avant-garde boutiques, lively bars and buzzing restaurants.

• Reserve a table for dinner in one of the many Fado houses in Alfama and Bairro Alto which offer this melancholic, but extremely moving musical art form while serving a traditional Portuguese menu.

• Visit The Pilar 7 Bridge Experience - an interactive exhibition overlooking the April 25 Bridge which combines virtual reality technology with a panoramic viewing platform over the bridge and the city.

• Take the 15 tram out to the Belém monumental area and discover the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Jeronimos Monastery, where Vasco de Gama is buried, and visit the architecturally impressive Belem Tower. Take in an exhibition at the Centro Cultural de Belem, and don’t forget to stop off at the iconic Pasteis de Belem café for coffee and a Pasteis de Nata – a custard pastry treat to die for.

• Walk through the Parque das Naçoes - the exhibition grounds for Expo ‘98 – and visit the Oceanarium, which is home to over 8,000 different aquatic species, including sharks, penguins, rays and sea dragons.

• Visit the Time Out Market. Boasting a dizzying choice of 32 restaurants and food stalls, eights bars, a dozen shops, a cookery school and a live music venue, the market brings together all of Lisbon’s finest culinary traditions under one gigantic roof.

• Catch a football match between Lisbon’s two Primeira Liga teams, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon. Tickets are like gold dust for this fiercely competitive derby, so be sure to book ahead for the games.

6. PENHA LONGA RESORT

Located 30 minutes east of Lisbon, Penha Longa (‘Long Rock’) boasts 27 holes of championship golf set against a spectacular and ever-changing backdrop of beautiful countryside and stunning coastal views to Estoril and Cascais.

Home to a five-star Ritz-Carlton Resort, it’s a peaceful spot in which to test your skills on the famed Atlantic North Course. With its requirement for bold drives, courageous approaches and artful putting on the fast greens, Robert Trent Jones Jr’s design is both an adrenaline rush and a soothing journey through one of Portugal’s most inspiring landscapes.

With half the holes framed by trees, and several lakes to contend with, straight hitting is required to score well, although there are plenty of birdie opportunities out there on an undulating course which is not long by modern standards. The Atlantic South Course is a less challenging, but still entertaining option, with its nine holes winding through some of the most historical parts of the estate.

The Ritz-Carlton hotel boasts 194 guest rooms, six restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, a spa and fitness centre, jogging track and a children’s activity centre. penhalonga.com

7. PESTANA BELOURA RESORT

Located between Sintra and Estoril, 30 minutes from Lisbon, Pestana Beloura boasts a pleasant parkland course set among the verdant foothills of the Sintra mountains. Featuring mature, tree-lined fairways, six lakes and several streams, there are plenty of natural hazards to contend with on the 5,573-metre, 18-hole course, which was designed by Rocky Roquemore and first opened in 1993. Full irrigation ensures the course is always presented in great condition year-round, while the bentgrass greens are a please to putt on. The welcoming clubhouse features an excellent restaurant and bar with a terrace overlooking the course in which to enjoy a post-round meal.

The course is located next to the Pestana Sintra Golf and Spa Resort, which boasts air-conditioned rooms and offers two restaurants, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools and tennis courts. pestanagolf.com

WITH ITS REQUIREMENT FOR BOLD DRIVES, COURAGEOUS APPROACHES, AND ARTFUL PUTTING, PENHA LONGA IS BOTH AN ADRENALINE RUSH AND A SOOTHING JOURNEY THROUGH ONE OF PORTUGAL'S MOST INSPIRING LANDSCAPES

■ PENHA LONGA'S ATLANTIC NORTH COURSE

NORTHERN DELIGHTS

There is a wonderful collection of championship layouts to enjoy north of Lisbon, with the new links at West Cliffs being a dazzling highlight

13. BOM SUCESSO

Occupying a spectacular site alongside the Lagoa de Obidos, the 18 holes at Bom Sucesso first opened in 2008 and were designed by Donald Steel. It is the very epitome of resort golf – offering generous fairways, a smattering of water, and some interesting changes in elevation.

After a gentle opener, the course quickly gets into it stride at the second, a very strong par-5 which sweeps downhill to a green protected by a lake on the right. The same lake is then carried to the par-3 third. The back nine kicks off with a pretty par three, while the 12th is a testing 400-yard par four with water to the right with the hole turning left to an off-set green.

14. DOLCE CAMPOREAL

■ DONALD STEEL'S BOM SUCESSO IS ACLASSIC RESORT GOLF TEST, WITH GENEROUS FAIRWAYS MIXED IN WITH PLENTY OF WATER AND SOME DRAMATIC ELEVATION CHANGES

The closing two holes are show stoppers, with the tee on the par-5 17th commanding the best view on the entire estate, although this demanding 580-yard dogleg will require all of your attention. The 18th offers a similarly inviting view from the tee, although the drive requires a little more thought, as a stream crosses the hole twice before you reach the safety of the green. bomsucesso.net

6. PENHA LONGA RESORT

7. PESTANA BELOURA RESORT

14. DOLCE CAMPOREAL

A 45-minute drive north of Lisbon will take you to the championship course at CampoReal, a Martin Ebert design which first opened in 2005 and blends serenely into the surrounding countryside, while providing an enjoyable and interesting round. Blind shots, steep inclines and wooded valleys create a series of hazards that will test all of your shot-making skills on this charming layout, which hosted the Ladies Portugal Open in 2010 and 2011.

The on-site hotel coasts 155 well-appointed rooms and suites, while there is also a range of private apartments, town houses and villas which are ideal for families and larger groups. The hotel boasts four restaurants and two bars, the Southeast Asian-themed Mandalay Spa, while other leisure facilities include tennis courts, bike hire and a children’s activity club. dolcecamporeal.com

■ DOLCE CAMPOREAL

CLIFFS IS SPREAD OUT AMONG 200 ACRES OF ROLLING SAND DUNES AND COASTAL VEGETION, OFFERING

VIEWS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN FROM EVERY HOLE

15. PRAIA D’EL REY RESORT

Situated less than an hour north of Lisbon, Praia D’El Rey enjoys a wellearned reputation as being one of Europe’s top golf resorts. A firm favourite with golf groups and families thanks to its extensive array of five-star facilities, which include a 177-room Marriott hotel, a wide selection of rental villas, five restaurants, tennis academy, multi-sports court, luxury spa, health club, and two championship golf courses - Praia D’El Rey and West Cliffs.

The former is a par-73 championship course is set amidst a combination of extensive pine forests and undulating dunes, and features spectacular views over the Atlantic and the Berlengas Islands beyond. Designed by Cabell Robinson, it deserves its reputation as one of the continent’s top layouts. While the front nine flits between the ocean and some inland holes, the course gets into its stride on the back nine, especially on the three-hole stretch from 13-15 that runs along the coast. All are superb tests, with the signature par-3 13th and the 15th, a demanding 400-yard par-4 with a big dip short of the green, being personal favourites.

praia-del-rey.com

16. ROYAL OBIDOS SPA & GOLF RESORT

Royal Obidos was a stunning addition to the region's golf offering when it opened in 2011. Well known as the last course ever designed by the late Seve Ballesteros, it provides a superb lasting legacy, with the 7,320-yard layout being one of the great man’s best works.

With views over the Atlantic and the Obidos Lagoon, its presents a serious challenge to all levels of golfer, especially on the eight holes that feature water, while the numerous run-offs around the greens offer the chance to practice your Seve-style up-and-downs.

Opened in 2014, the boutique-style Evolutee Hotel sits in splendid

isolation overlooking the golf course. Boasting just 39 rooms – make sure you bag one with an ocean view – the five-star venue features an Elemental spa, two swimming pools, a restaurant and bar. More importantly, it’s just a short walk down the hill to the clubhouse. royalobidos.com

17. WEST CLIFFS

Voted one of the most exciting new course openings of 2017, the stunning links at West Cliffs, located an hour north of Lisbon, deserves to be on everyone’s list of must-play courses in 2020.

Designed by Cythia Dye, niece of the legendary golf architect Pete, it took 14 years to create West Cliffs from start to finish, and her first layout in Portugal has been well worth the wait. Occupying a privileged location high above the sea, the spectacular par-72 clifftop links has been created over 200 hectares of natural landscape, rolling sand dunes and coastal vegetation, and offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean from each hole.

Not overly long – it measures barely 7,000 yards off the back tees –its clever design features a number of carries and an array of outstanding holes that have to be negotiated if you’re to score well.

The experience is enhanced by stylish, eco-friendly clubhouse, which was built using natural and certified materials, and offers exclusive panoramic views of the course and the Atlantic from three sides of the glass-fronted building.

West Cliffs is managed by Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort, which is situated less than a 10-minute drive away and provides the ideal base for a golfing break.

■ THE DRAMATIC COURSES AT WEST CLIFFS (ABOVE) AND NEIGHBOURING PRAIA D’EL REY (LEFT) HAVE TURNED THE REGION NORTH OF LISBON INTO ONE OF EUROPE HOTTEST GOLF DESTINATIONS

SOUTHERN STARS

Head south across Lisbon’s two iconic bridges to sample yet more superb golfing treats

8. AROEIRA I & II

Tucked away in a 900-acre private estate 30km south of Lisbon, Aroerira’s two championship layouts, named I and II, cut a swathe through a dense pine forest. Aroeira I, which was built in 1972, some 30 years before II came along. Despite its numbering, the lower numbered course is not the first string, as it perhaps lacks the stadium setting, and the length, of its younger sibling, although they both enjoy similarly elevated positions in the various European course rankings.

Designed by Frank Pennink, Aroeira I plays 6,650 yards off the back tees and requires unerring accuracy off the tee to score well. The round kicks off with a gun-barrel straight par five, but the pressure soon ramps up at the testing 400-yard, par four second, which gently turns right off the tee around a large pond, before rising to a well-protected green.

Water comes into play at the first par three – the 170-yard fourth – and reappears besides the green at the 340-yard par-four sixth, where a 3-wood off the tee leaves you a short iron to a large, but undulating green.

Arguably some of the best holes can be found on the back nine, with the par-3 14th, with the green fronted by water all the way from the tee, and surrounded by a canopy of majestic pines behind, being a highlight.

Aroeira II is more of a championship layout than I, and it’s easy to see why it enjoys a reputation as being the ‘Wentworth of Lisbon’. Built at the turn of the century, there is plenty of maturity to the pine-tree lined layout. Measuring

just under 7,000 yards from the back tees, water comes into play on no fewer than nine holes, and there are many pot bunkers and large, undulating greens to negotiate. Although wider off the tee in places, it’s grown up golf, and is more demanding than your average holiday golf course.

Last autumn saw the opening of the much-antipcated Aroeira Lisbon Hotel at the resort, a stylish venue that provides the ultimate in chic modern design, offering 68 bedrooms and suites, an outdoor pool, a spa and a choice of five bars and restaurants. orizontegolf.com

9. MONTADO

Located close to Setubal, a 30-minute drive south of Lisbon, Montado Hotel & Golf Resort is surrounded by famous muscatel vineyards that were planted more than a century ago, and offers a quiet retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.

The par-72, 6,380m course, which opened in 1992, and was redesigned in 2005, enjoys a pleasant rural setting, with easy-walking fairways laid out between lines of old oaks and younger olive trees, chestnut and pines, winding around creeks and natural lakes.

There are plenty of interesting holes on which to test your skills, but there’s no doubting that the par-three 18th, which requires a tee shot to a island green, is among the highlights, especially if the match is all-square.

On-site accommodation is offered in a four-star hotel, which boasts 90 rooms, two restaurants and a spa.

montadoresort.com

10. QUINTA DO PERU

Just a 30-minute drive from the centre of Lisbon, the enchanting tree-lined course at Quinta do Peru is framed by the Arrábida Natural Park with its 18 finely-crafted holes meandering gently through avenues of tall pines. First opened in 1994, it was designed by American architect Rocky Roquemore, the 6,640-yard layout has matured nicely over the last 25 years, and is tidy without being pristinely manicured, and the greens are devilishly quick, so its vital to be below the hole if you want to give it anything more than a nudge with the putter. Although the tree-lined fairways are generally not too narrow, big and astutely-placed bunkers, and rapid putting surfaces, ensure that Quinta do Peru is a solid test off the back tees, and most holiday golfers will have more fun off the yellows, which take the course down to a more manageable 6,175 yards.

■ AROEIRA BOASTS

CHAMPIONSHIP LAYOUTS

■ MONTADO HOTEL

GOLF RESORT

BY VINEYARDS

9. MONTADO

QUINTA DO PERU

AROEIRA I & II

WEST CLIFFS

D’EL

RESORT

11. TROIA

Located an hour south of Lisbon, and accessible via a lovely short ferry crossing from Setubal, Troia offers a magical setting for Robert Trent Jones Senior’s magical, yet significantly underrated, seaside course, which first opened for play in 1980. Jones utilised his trademark bold bunkering, raised greens and doglegs on the par-72, 6,317m layout, which stretches along the beach and sweeps between pine trees, offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Arrábida mountain range. Although too short and tight for modern tournament play, Troia hosted the Portuguese Open back in 1983, when Sam Torrance was the only player to break par for the championship, telling everything you need to know about the course’s challenge. It’s recent rise to No.8 in Golf World’s Top 100 Courses in Continental Europe ranking shows a club that is not resting on its laurels. troiaresort.pt

12. RIBAGOLFE I & II

Set within a nature reserve 40km east of Lisbon, Ribagolfe offers Portuguese golf at its most rural and tranquil. Boasting two courses, I and II, Ribagolfe I, a monstrous 7,300-yard layout that we thankfully reduced to a still not inconsiderable 6,600 yards by hitting from the yellow tees. Played in early spring, the course was lush, green and visually stunning, and with no villas or houses to interrupt the views or the flow of the layout. Each hole is sheltered from the next, and requires your utmost concentration to make par. Deep bunkers will halt progress up the fairway, while sheer length will prove most players’ undoing. The huge greens are even paced and excellent to putt on, although finding the right level was never easy.

Hole highlights include the 7th, a 448-yard par four which is framed by a lake all the way down the right side. Although the water is barely in play, it provides a stunning view from the green at this testing stroke index two.

Ribagolfe II is a shorter test than its sibling, but still measures more than 6,800 yards. It’s a more forgiving, but equally appealing course, with wider fairways and more generous landing areas, while large, contoured greens make it a stiff test, especially if the wind blows. orizontegolf.com

TROIA OFFERS

A MAGICAL SETTING FOR ROBERT TRENT JONES SNR'S MAGICAL, YET SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERRATED SEASIDE COURSE, WHICH FEATURES HIS TRADEMARK BOLD BUNKERING, RAISED GREENS AND DOGLEGS

18. ALDEIA DOS

CAPUCHOS GOLF & SPA

Located in the historic town of Vila dos Capuchos, on the Costa Caparica, 20km south of Lisbon and 3km from the sea, the 4-star Aldeia dos Capuchos Resort boasts a aparthotel, a full-service spa, three swimming pools and a 9-hole golf course. There is a driving range, practice putting green and pro shop. Eating and drinking

on site include two restaurants, a café and two bars.

BOOK YOUR GOLFING TRIP TO LISBON

For more details on Lisbon and its many attractions, visit www.visitlisboa.com, where you will find details on hotels, transport, restaurants, sightseeing and shopping, sport and leisure activities, music festivals, art and design exhibitions and much, much more. You can also call +351 210 312 700.

■ ALDEIA DOS CAPUCHOS

A

THE

OF LISBON

RANKED

WORLD'S TOP

■

ALDEIA

GOLF

UP COLOUR

Magical MADEIRA

Clive Agran enjoys a pre-pandemic trip to Madeira, where the sloping fairways on the island’s championship courses provide the backdrop for a relaxing break amid the dramatic volcanic landscape

Although it lies a few hundred miles off the west coast of Africa, in many ways Madeira is not unlike the UK, which perhaps partly explains its popularity with British tourists. Coming from an island, we love other islands and around this one, the sea is a lot warmer. Indeed, the pleasant year-round weather is a major part of Madeira’s appeal.

We’re lucky to be able to fly there as finding a spot flat enough to land an airplane on its rugged and rocky volcanic landscape proved problematic but, with the help of some impressive engineering, Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport, to give it its full name, receives flights from across Britain and around the world. If you don’t fancy flying, countless cruise ships stop over at the pretty port in downtown Funchal – although I doubt many are operating in the current pandemic.

There’s more impressive engineering to admire on the 25-minute ride from the airport into town and all over the island in the shape of decent

roads and countless tunnels. Unfortunately, when it comes to courtesy and consideration, driving would appear to be one significant activity where any positive British influence isn’t apparent.

But there are other, possibly more important areas, where we have evidently played a constructive role. For example, in the design and layout of the numerous glorious gardens where the fertile volcanic soil supports a brilliant range of colourful and sweet-scented plants.

Elegant country houses are scattered about the steep hillsides enjoying panoramic views over the steep-sided slopes. Many have been sensitively converted into hotels. My first two nights were spent in one such lovely place, Casa Velha Palheiro. Sepia photos of King Carlos playing tennis confirm its regal connection and, since it has a king-sized bed, I fantasised His Majesty may even have slept in my room.

Its wonderful garden, tea-house and croquet lawn hint heavily at British influence, which is further fortified by the adjacent golf course.

Not unsurprisingly, Palheiro is a hilly 18-holer where flat lies are rare and straightforward putts even rarer. Although not everyone does, you can be forgiven for taking a buggy. If you don’t want to spoil a good walk by having to miss-hit a ball every so often, Madeira is endowed w ith dozens of wonderful hikes of varying lengths. Many follow the route of levadas, which are old irrigation channels hewn from the rock some centuries ago. There are nearly 2,000 miles of these weaving through lush tropical forest, alongside ravines, next to waterfalls and amongst spectacular scenery.

For the even more energetic, there’s mountain biking. You might think it would be too hot to cycle, but thanks to the combined influence of the Gulf Stream and Canary Current, it’s a surprisingly moderate climate, with mild year-round temperatures that average out at a near perfect 20°C. Most of the rain falls between October and April, when snow settles on the mountain peaks. Always rather suspicious of so-called micro-climates, I have to confess that Madeira proved me wrong.

Having moved from Casa Velha Palheiro into Funchal’s latest luxury hotel, the Savoy Palace, a taxi took me from a sun-soaked city up into the hills and dropped me at Santo da Serra Golf Club, where the cloud and rain had reduced visibility so much that even I, a modest striker of the ball, could have hit it out of sight. I’m glad I returned to try again the next day, because the sea views are sumptuous on this wonderful 27-hole layout that has hosted the Madeira Open on innumerable occasions.

Although golf is arguably the UK’s greatest gift to the world in general and Madeira in particular, there are others, not least of which is magnificent Madeira wine. As with port in mainland Portugal, Brits have made a significant contribution to the production and development of this popular tipple. The Blandy family in particular appear to have played a pivotal role and a tour around Blandy’s Wine Lodge in Funchal is both fun

■ ABOVE: A TUTORED TASTING OF MADEIRA'S FORTFIED WINE IS NOT TO BE MISSED.

■ LEFT: THE SAVOY PALACE HOTEL IN FUNCHAL PROVIDES A RELAXING BASE FOR A GOLF TRIP

ALTHOUGH GOLF IS ARGUABLY THE UK'S GREATEST GIFT TO THE WORLD, AND MADEIRA IN PARTICULAR, THERE ARE OTHERS, NOT LEAST OF WHICH IS MAGNFICENT MADEIRA WINE

and fascinating. Provided the cork is replaced, Madeira doesn’t go off in the same way regular wine does when opened and it ages much better. Consequently, remarkably old wines dating back to the 18th century can be bought with confidence as they are certain to taste great. And the Blandy family have also aged pretty well so that today the seventh generation is running the show. Just in case you were wondering, Madeira cake is only indirectly connected to the island as it was developed right here in the UK as a compliment to accompany the wine.

Wandering, possibly weaving, around the Old Town district of Funchal after visiting the Wine Lodge, you should focus on the charming, narrow, cobblestone streets and quaint buildings. Fish is a favourite in most of the restaurants and if you fear you might be sobering up too quickly, a traditional ‘poncha’ containing, amongst other things, brandy and lemon juice, should keep you cheerful for a few more hours. Provided you’re not the envious type, strolling around the marina admiring the multi-million dollar yachts is a pleasant way to kill an hour as is a ride on the cable-car that lifts you nearly 2,000 feet

up the mountainside. Although there’s no snow at the top, you can toboggan back down the steep streets on a wicker sled guided by two ‘gondoliers’. I spend my last couple of nights in the Castanheiro Boutique Hotel, which is slap bang in the middle of town. Up early the next morning to catch the car ferry over to Porto Santo, which is the only other occupied island of the four that make up the archipelago. After a couple of hours at sea, you disembark onto a wild, craggy, remote and wonderfully atmospheric narrow island that is surprisingly full of fascinating curiosities.

Apart from the spectacular beach, perhaps the greatest attraction on the island is the glorious Seve Ballesteros designed golf course, Porto Santo Golfe. It takes you on a thrilling roller-coaster ride through gorgeous scenery with jaw-dropping views down to the rocky coast below. Its wowfactor is right off the Richter scale, which, if you’ll pardon the expression, gently jogs me to mention that, on my last night in Madeira, I experienced my first and probably last ever earthquake. Madeira really is full of surprises, nearly all of them extremely pleasant.

14 days on your return to the UK remains in place as

went to

For the very latest advice, go to www.gov.uk/ foreign-travel-advice/portugal.

TRAVEL ADVICE: Madeira and the Azores are exempt from UK Government advice against all non-essential international

■

■ PALHEIRO GOLF