Great Golf Magazine Spring 2013

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Great Golf

No.1. 2013 £4.95

Magazine

THE LUXURY TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

The spirit of Jamaica

Bulgaria - Thracian treasure The Azores - The secret islands Northern Ireland - Fine Courses and Liquid Sunshine Bubba Watson - The unconventional golfer Dubai - A mirage in the desert USA and China - The highest & the lowest Hilton Head - Southern comfort Garia - Birth of the Cool WIN A TWO NIGHT STAY AT FAIRMONT St ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

£4.95

• • • • • • • • •

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G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

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Great Golf

No.1. 2013 £4.95

Magazine

THE LUXURY TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Great Golf

Magazine

Contents TRAVEL FEATURES

The spirit of Jamaica

Bulgaria - Thracian treasure The Azores - The secret islands Northern Ireland - Fine Courses and Liquid Sunshine Bubba Watson - The unconventional golfer Dubai - A mirage in the desert USA and China - The highest & the lowest Hilton Head - Southern comfort Garia - Birth of the Cool

18 Islands of the Med 22 Golf & the City – Dubai 28 The spirit of Jamaica 44 Conan Doyle – The missing link 50 The Azores – The secret islands 66 Bulgaria – Thracian treasure 74 Northern Ireland – Fine Courses and Liquid Sunshine 106 Slaley Hall – Far from the madding crowd WIN A TWO NIGHT STAY AT FAIRMONT St ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

£4.95

• • • • • • • • •

www.greatgolfmagazine.co.uk

Cover photo: Half Moon Golf Club

THE INTERVIEW

60 Bubba Watson – The unconventional golfer LUXURY

38 Fashion – Clothes make the man 82 Aston Martin – The return of a legend 98 Garia - Birth of the Cool SPA, FOOD & WINE

112 Great Spa – Southern comfort 120 Thackeray's – A winning recipe 126 Bolney Wine Estate – Poetry in a bottle PROPERTY

132 Property, Thracian Cliffs - The pearl of the Black Sea 142 Golf Club guide 14 Win a two night stay at Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland 7

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Magazine

The Club Guide UK Turnberry Resort 143 Kingsbarns Golf Links 144 The Duke’s St Andrews 145 The Gleneagles Hotel 146 Dundonalds Links 147 Murrayshall House Hotel & Golf Courses 148 Saunton Golf Club 150 Trevose Golf & Country Club 151 St Enodoc Golf Club 152 Burnham & Berrow Golf Club 154 East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa 156

ITALY Bellosguardo Vinci Golf Club 158

SPAIN Sherry Golf Jerez 160

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COME AND PLAY GOLF…

IN THE CITY

ON CHAMPIONSHIP COURSES

GOLF TOURISM MALAYSIA

BESIDE THE BEACH

ALONGSIDE WILDLIFE

ABOVE THE CLOUDS

IN THE ROLLING HILLS

AT NIGHT

Welcome to Malaysia. No other country offers golf above the clouds, beside the beach, in virgin rainforests, at night and on world class championship courses. Come experience golf in Malaysia for your next holiday, adventure, corporate getaway or to learn from the experts in the best settings on Earth

IT’S PLAY TIME IN LUXURY RESORTS

www.golftourismmalaysia.com AND ON WORLD-CLASS COURSES

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Great GolfMagazine

GOLF TRAVEL YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE...

WELCOME to the 2013 spring issue of Great Golf Magazine. This is an exciting year for us with several new journalists joining our ranks and adding their take on the incredible locations to be covered. Our distribution is now truly global with copies available in Virgin Atlantic and British Airways Lounges in the UK, US and other select VIP Lounges around the world. We also increase our online coverage through Media Box at select International locations. The publication is as always, available at all top UK golf resorts.

In this issue Peter Ellegard travels to the US and China to play the “Highest & Lowest” golf courses in the world, while Linda Jackson goes back to her “roots” and visits Jamaica for some golf, good food and sun. Nearer to home we head to Northern Ireland to find out just why so many great golfers come from those shores. Darren Clarke says it’s the Guinness although we think there may be a little more to it than just the dark liquid. We go on to play the incredible Gary Player course at Thracian Cliffs on the Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria and drive a street-legal Garia Golf Car down Park Lane in London, much to the amusement of the local cab drivers. Savile row even comes under our scrutiny with an in-depth article on bespoke tailor Maurice Sedwell.

Angus Davies, our writer for all the finer things in life, meets up with Bubba Watson and surprises the great man when he says, “fantastic golf Bubba, but let’s talk about your Richard Mille watch.” We play golf in the footsteps of the novelist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and even dine at the premises of another great British writer.

Our competition gives you the chance to win a trip to Fairmont St Andrews, courtesy of the legendary course, Virgin Atlantic and Avis car hire. Dubai is our ‘City Breaks’ feature, a location to both amaze and impress you.

More wine is tasted and food eaten on our quest to give you not only places to play golf, but also what to eat and drink when you are there.

We would like to thank all the people and organisations that have helped to bring this latest issue to you, our travel-hardened journalists who have yet again endured a life of constant golf, five star accommodation and fine dining, and the locations that have put up with them. Also the tourist board’s who have provided assistance when needed.

We hope that you enjoy this latest issue and find it not only a good read, but also a good source of information.

Happy Golfing wherever you go.

The Team 10

G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

30 Eridge Road Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8HR United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1892 544 872 www.greatgolfmagazine.co.uk MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mike Kaas-Stock mike@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk EDITOR

Nils Bjornes nils@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk EXCECUTIVE EDITOR

Camilla Kaas-Stock camilla@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk ART DIRECTOR

Ketil Plassgaard ketil@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Linda Jackson linda@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

Peter Ellegard peter@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk LUXURY PRODUCTS

Angus Davies angus@escapement.uk.com COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Karim Ullah karim@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk PRODUCTION CONTROLLERS

Sophie Morrison Linda Jackson CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE

Peter Ellegard Linda Jackson Steve Jackson Angus Davies Dena Roché J. Eric Eckard Published by IPB Publishing Ltd Company No 6484115 Printed by The Magazine Printing Company www.magprint.co.uk All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written consent of Great Golf Magazine UK

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• Italy - The bright side of life • Darren Clarke - The Man and his passions • Six tropical golf courses • Fashion - Royal Albartross • Bentley - A regal ride • Arizona Spa’s - Pampering for the soul • England - Kent’s golden oldies • Property - Sotogrande - A Jewel in the Crown • WIN a luxury trip to Turnberry

Deep in the heart of Texas • Turnberry - A legend by the sea Magical Morocco • Bahamas - The Abaco Club • Spain - The road to La Manga Donnafugata - The Sicillian job • Property - Luxury living desert style Fashion - Designer Tony Q aja.

The spirit of Jamaica

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Bulgaria - Thracian treasure The Azores - The secret islands Northern Ireland - Fine Courses and Liquid Sunshine Bubba Watson - The unconventional golfer Dubai - A mirage in the desert USA and China - The highest & the lowest Hilton Head - Southern comfort Garia - Birth of the Cool WIN A TWO NIGHT STAY AT FAIRMONT St ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

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Golf on Hallowed Ground...

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Prize is for two people and includes

To enter competition go to www.greatgolfmagazine.co.uk

and register before 30th June 2013

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Two nights’ accommodation in a Deluxe Sea View Guestroom Full Scottish Breakfast each morning in The Squire Restaurant 18 Holes of Golf on The Torrance Course 18 Holes of Golf on The Kittocks Course 3 Course Dinner on one night in The Clubhouse Full access to our leisure facilities Return flights for two persons from Heathrow to Edinburgh with Virgin Atlantic. Flights are subject to availability • USA to Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic for two should a resident of the United States win (the winner would be responsible for airport tax charges) • Complimentary car supplied courtesy of Avis Car Rental

The above prize would be valid for stays before the 23rd December 2013, excluding Saturday nights, subject to availability.

It would be based on two people sharing Terms and conditions apply, for details go to: www.greatgolfmagazine.co.uk

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MEDITERRANEAN CLUBS

Islands of the

Med

By Nils Bjornes, photos The Resorts

SICILY - Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa Donnafugata Resort is a prestigious 5 star deluxe hotel with two 18 hole golf courses located on the southern tip of Sicily in the region of Ragusa. The North Course, a Gary Player Signature Design, is a parkland course nestling among the wild olive and carob trees typical of the Ragusan countryside.

The holes sit nicely in the landscape allowing the player to feel completely surrounded by nature. Each successive hole is very different, requiring new golfing solutions and strategies.

The South Course, designed by Franco Piras, is a links-like course stretched out over two big valleys, each with a lake that makes the game more interesting. The course is highly exposed to the dominant wind from the sea and has multiple tees.

The region of Ragusa is steeped in history and no one should leave this area without seeing the sights. The hotel’s concierge service is more than helpful when arranging trips. www.donnafugatagolfresort.com

CRETE - The Crete Golf Club The Crete Golf Club, near Hersonissos, is the only 18-hole golf course on the island and one of the most impressive courses on the Mediterranean. The course, which is both challenging and pleasant, has been built to international PGA standards by architect Bob Hunt. It has a mountain-style layout and is meticulously maintained, and as such provides an ideal venue for international tournaments. From 2012, the Crete Golf Club has been the official venue for the Ladies European Tour Access Series. It also hosted the EGA Men’s Challenge Trophy

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with great success in July 2008, while for 3 consecutive years it hosted the Aegean Airlines Pro-Am. The climate in the area is very mild all year round and the altitude ensures a light, cool breeze in high summer, making the game very pleasant. In winter, there is very little rainfall and the average temperature is between 15 – 20°C, with even the coldest day seldom dipping below 12°C. www.crete-golf.com

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CYPRUS - Aphrodite Hills Resort Located to the South West of the island and not far from the town of Paphos, Aphrodite Hills Resort is the perfect place for all of the family to indulge in a wide range of sports and leisure activities. The Resort consists of a five-star InterContinental Hotel, an 18-hole championship golf course with a Golf Academy, the Greco-Roman award-winning Retreat Spa, tennis and multi-surface courts with the Annabel Croft Tennis Academy, The Pirates’ Village kids club, Zias and Cove Beach

Clubs, nature and bike trails, and a total of 14 bars and restaurants offering a wide selection of international cuisine.

The par 71 course, designed by Cabell Robinson, is dotted with carob and olive trees, and the fairways are wide with large greens. Being on a plateau and near the sea, there is a constant breeze to take the edge off the heat. The course is well laid out and can be as tricky or straightforward as you want depending on your skill level. www.aphroditehills.com

MAJORCA - Club de Golf Alcanada Designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones Jr, Club de Golf Alcanada’s 18-hole course opened in 2003. Located on the north coast of the island with views of the Bay of Alcudia from nearly every hole, Alcanada is the result of Hans Peter Porsche's dream of owning a golf course, and the Porsche heir has not spared any expenses.

Situated on a gently sloping hillside facing the sea, this is a golf course that is extremely well kept and designed in a way that complements the natural beauty of the landscape.

Surrounded by pines and ancient olive trees, many of them

preserved almost like sculptures along the fairways, the design has elements of a links course, with some parts reminiscent of forest or parkland holes providing a varied and challenging game.

The club takes its name from a nearby island just off the shore which, complete with its own lighthouse, can be seen from most of the holes. Much of this course runs uphill, so unless you're looking to give your thigh muscles a serious workout, the advice is to take a buggy. www.golf-alcanada.com

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MEDITERRANEAN CLUBS

SARDINIA - The Pevero Golf Club The Pevero Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1967 and opened in 1972, is located in the north-east part of the island, the Costa Smeralda. The 6,751 yard par 72 course stretches over a surface of 3.8 miles and its obstacles include 70 bunkers and several lakes, with rocks and vegetation surrounding the fairways.

The holes of the Pevero are designed over a spectacularly beautiful routing, where the Mistral – the northern wind – often adds to the difficulty of the shots. There are natural

ponds amidst the rocks, the underbrush is fragrant with the perfume of juniper, myrtle and arbutus berries, and there are views of the sea on every hole.

To safeguard the score, it is imperative to avoid the rough, as it is one of the most punishing in known existence, and offers little hope of recovery. The weather is perfect for winter golf, the course has some of the finest hotels in Europe surrounding it and the challenge of the layout is as much as anyone could wish for. www.golfclubpevero.com

CORSICA - The Sperone Golf Course Designed by Trent Jones Senior and inaugurated in 1991, this golf course is already considered as a must-play and its reputation only continues to grow. With a total distance of 6,106 metres (par 72), Sperone is not an exceptionally long course. What matters here is the precision and tactical finesse of shots; the intervening wind can place real demands on the sagacity and shrewdness of the player.

The Sperone lies at the southern most point of Corsica, 25

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km from Figari International airport and 6 km from Bonifacio.

Bordering the Mediterranean Sea, it offers views of Sardinia and the Lavezzi islands in the distance.

The multiple tees allow variance in the length of the holes and the angle of the game to suit the novice or the best professional. The most amazing example is the 16th hole, a par-5 where the daring must hit over the sea twice, in order “to touch the green in two.” www.golfdesperone.com

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GOLF & THE CITY

DUBAI

A MIRAGE IN THE DESERT

Are you looking for a city break out of the ordinary? Well, look no further; in Dubai you’ll find the tallest, the biggest and the best. Whether it is ultra-modern shopping malls, luxury hotels, rolling sand dunes or championship golf courses, Dubai is dressed to impress and will both intrigue and allure you...

By Camilla Kaas-Stock, photo Dubai Tourism

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GOLF & THE CITY

A

fter one of the wettest years on record, you might be pretty tired of opening the curtains every morning to reveal the same grey, rain-soaked landscape outside. While you are trudging to and from work with the wind pulling and tugging at your umbrella, perhaps you are secretly hoping that it will lift you up like Mary Poppins and take you off to sunnier climes.

Well, if you are dreaming of somewhere hot, then Dubai would be the perfect place to escape to. Here, in this desert

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metropolis, if you're longing to be enveloped in luxury, to play golf on some of the finest courses in the world and perhaps indulge in a bit of shopping, then Dubai has it all and more.

Because here the expression less is more has been cast aside and thoroughly stamped into the sand. Here only more, and then some, will do.

Bigger is better Wedged between Europe, Asia and Africa, Dubai lays at a cultural crossroads. As the second largest of the seven emirates in the UAE,

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its strategic location, oil wealth and centuries-old trading savvy has helped it rise like a mirage out of the desert. e world has watched in amazement as the impossible has become possible, with gravity defying buildings, man-made islands, and the world’s largest and most opulent shopping malls with indoor ski-slopes. All this has helped to earn Dubai a reputation as one of the world's most attractive and rapidly developing holiday destinations. ough Dubai is located in a desert, don't expect it to be dry.

Summers are especially known for their high humidity levels and

with temperatures reaching 40°C, it can be pretty uncomfortable. e spring and autumn, on the other hand, are pleasantly warm with an average high of 32°C.

Golf ere is a wealth of fantastic golf courses in Dubai, but perhaps the most famous is the Emirates Golf Club, the venue of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Here you’ll find two 18 hole courses, e Majlis and the Faldo Course, as well as the par 3 which is suitable for all levels.

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GOLF & THE CITY

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Most famous are the opulent Mall of the Emirates, with its indoor ski slope, and the glamorous Dubai Mall, which is the largest in the world e Majlis, a challenging par 72, is also the Emirates flagship and was the first all grass golf course in the Middle East when it opened in 1988. Designed by Karl Litten, it features meandering fairways framed by hundreds of indigenous species of flora and fauna, fresh and saltwater lakes and the iconic clubhouse which has been built to resemble Bedouin tents.

Tranquil elegance Another superb course is the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and when playing here, why not stay at the adjacent Park Hyatt Dubai? is stunning 5 star hotel is a haven of tranquil elegance and the perfect place to spoil yourself. e Dubai Creek Golf Club is a beautifully manicured par 71course, with undulating fairways framed by date palms and coconut trees and with artificial lakes coming in to play on several of the holes. e eye-catching clubhouse, which has been designed to emulate the sails of the traditional Arab dhow, has become one of the most photographed landmarks since it opened in 1993.

New courses ere is also the Address Montgomerie Dubai, a 7,396-yard championship golf course designed by Colin Montgomerie. Since it opened in October 2002, the spectacular links-style course, managed by Troon Golf, is consistently ranked as one of the top courses in the Middle East.

But in Dubai there are so many fantastic courses with more springing up all the time; there is e Desert Course at Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Earth and Fire at Jumeirah Golf Estate, and the Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai Festival City to mention but a few. All of them are well worth a round or two.

A shopaholic’s paradise After a hot day on the golf course you might feel the need to cool down, so why not do like the inhabitants of this great city and head to one of the many shopping malls? Due to the hot, humid climate, these air-conditioned malls have become popular places to meet friends, eat – and of course shop! And there is no lack of

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GOLF & THE CITY

Though Dubai is located in a desert, don't expect it to be dry. Summers are especially known for their high humidity levels and with temperatures reaching 40°C choice, from smaller community malls to ultra-modern mega malls, here you can find exactly what your heart desires.

Most famous are the opulent Mall of the Emirates, with its indoor ski slope, and the glamorous Dubai Mall, which is the largest in the world and boasts an aquarium – also one of the world’s biggest, naturally. If you're not planning to shop, you should still make the time to visit at least one of these, because they must be seen to be believed.

If you are looking for designer labels, then Wafi City and BurJuman have cornered the market. Here you’ll find everything from Louis Vuitton and Dior to Tiffany and Ralph Lauren.

There are also the traditional souqs (markets) which can be a lot of fun, especially if you like haggling. There is the Spice Souq, the Gold Souq and the Textile Souq, to mention a few.

In other words, there is no need to leave Dubai empty handed.

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Around the world Apart from golf and shopping, there are many things to see and marvel at in Dubai. Although most of the old city has been demolished in the relentless drive towards the future, one neighbourhood has retained much of the old charm; the Bastakia Quarter where you can find art galleries and small cafés.

One of the most famous must-sees is the Burj Khalifa which, at 2,722ft, is the tallest building in the world. You can enjoy the breath-taking view from the top (price per ticket is around £20 if you pre-book, otherwise it’ll cost around £70). From here you can see Dubai Creek in the east and the Palm Islands in the west.

On a clear day you can also see e World, an artificial archipelago of islands that forms a world map in miniature. For those who suffer from vertigo, you can view the islands from boat.

After all, it's not often you can claim to have sailed around e World in an afternoon.

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JAMAICA

With more than one million visitors each year, this Caribbean island is highly praised for its warm hospitality, unspoiled beaches and sapphire waters. However, the fact that you can play on some world class golf courses is surprisingly little known...

By Linda Jackson, photos: Linda Jackson, also Half Moon - A RockResort, Cinnamon Hill Golf Course and The Ritz-Carlton

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JAMAICA

G

enerally it’s either the Bob Marley connection or some negative incident that draws media attention to Jamaica. Never is the island being headlined as a great golf destination, but after four visits I am in no doubt that it should be at the top of every golfer’s ‘must play’ destinations list.

Not only is Jamaica a captivating, lush, mountainous island where you’ll find some of the friendliest and most laid-back people in the Caribbean, but there’s also elegant accommodation, myriads of activities and top-notch golf courses that are a pleasure and a challenge to play – positively wicked at times.

Relaxing and romantic

ere are many golf courses in Jamaica, but the joy of playing the

Arriving at the airport, checking in at the dedicated reception area for Half Moon, A RockResort and being transferred (15 minutes) proves speedy and smooth. is long-established resort, with its high repeat guest stats, is spread over 400 acres of well-maintained landscaped gardens and offers a variety of accommodation options.

surprising little cluster of them located in a classy area of Montego Bay is that they are all within about 10-15 minutes’ drive from each other. ey, together with a selection of luxury hotels, are all just a short drive from Donald Sangster International Airport – so no long distance airport-hotel transfers involved. After a long haul flight, that’s a bonus worth considering. ere’s two additional bonuses which I appreciated on this

e Caribbean setting when I arrive at the resort in the earlyevening is charming. e crescent-shaped beachfront is enticing and my cottage accommodation classy and spacious, and just steps from the beach. Furthermore, the Half Moon Caribbean welcome cocktail is delicious and the open reception elegantly furnished.

Later that evening, the spreading branches of almond trees are twisted with fairy lights and the Seagrape Terrace Restaurant tables

Classy area

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trip and are worthy of mention to other golfers. Firstly, using I Love Meet & Greet UK airport car parking valet service; no dragging heavy cases and clubs on airport bus transfers for me – I love being mollycoddled. Secondly, having my golf clubs with me, carried free of charge (worldwide) when flying with Virgin Atlantic Airways is a huge perk, saving hundreds of pounds compared to other airlines which all charge for golf clubs carriage.

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are candlelit – definitely a relaxing and romantic place to eat.

Before dinner, I sample a couple of the barman’s cocktails, the ‘Island Ambassador’ and ‘Half Moon’s Magic’, after which I have no doubt I will be a frequent visitor.

Caribbean twist plus a melting pot of traditional Jamaican, Middle Eastern, and Indian dishes at Robbie’s Kitchen in the Half Moon Shopping Village. With such gourmet choices on my doorstep I need to remind myself I am here to golf not to gorge.

Delicious lobster

Perfect weather

In the restaurant, the hotel’s lobster dishes prove totally irresistible to me during my stay. I relish grilled spiny lobster tail with garlic and lime one night for dinner, lobster medallions another, and two days running a lobster and cucumber salad creation for lunch.

It also boasts a charming terrace for outside breakfasting, with lovely views overlooking the seashore.

Il Giardino Restaurant is an Italian establishment immediately adjacent to the Seagrape. ere are frescoes inside, casual candlelit

I’m planning to play the three courses that are members of the Rose Hall Golf Association which offers guests exclusive access to 54 holes of great golf at Half Moon, Cinnamon Hill, and the White Witch – a cluster of Jamaican championship golf courses each worth playing twice on any golf holiday. ere’s a frequent shuttle bus that runs from the resort to Half Moon Golf Course, minutes away, where I discover good practice facilities before my first round and an inviting 19th hole for

dining outside, and a variety of authentic Italian dishes on offer.

I can recommend the pork tenderloin fillet with mushroom and black truffle sauce served with potato and roast pepper timbale – it’s scrumptious.

Other eating options on the resort include an expansive buffet with grills and savoury Jamaican titbits served at the beach barbecue at Sunrise Beach, or international cuisine with a

afterwards. It’s a perfect November day for golf, not too hot or humid and the sun is shining, a welcome reprieve from winter weather in the UK.

Not well known e sight of a mass of towering palm trees lining lush fairways make me impatient to get my shoes on and caddied up. e 31

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resident British golf pro Spencer Edwards joins me. He loves living here, he tells me. “It’s a dream golf destination,” he says, “but not enough golfers know it.” He’s coached Ryder Cup and European Tour players so I’ll certainly take heed of his remarks about my putting stance and swing.

Delroy is my caddie for the day. He plays off scratch and is hoping to turn professional before too long, and what a great caddy he is too. Reputedly, Half Moon Golf Course has the best and friendliest caddies on the island. After 18 holes here, I won’t dispute that.

and renovated by designer Roger Rulewich (2004-2005), is pretty level so it’s not too arduous to walk.

It’s not windy when I play, fortunately; apparently eight holes can be particularly tough when it is. e greens are rolling and guarded by large bunkers, and the Bermuda grass is a lot trickier to play on compared with the type of grass used on UK courses. e par-4 13th is memorable. It’s the signature hole where two long and well-placed shots are essential to reach the elevated green guarded by bunkers and practically surrounded by palm trees.

A walk in the park

e White Witch, the second course I play, is not far from Half Moon. It’s an uphill drag all the way and the road is flanked by rainforest so thick that I begin to think the course should have been named after Indiana Jones rather than a wicked witch.

Wicked Witch It’s nice to have the option to walk 18 holes rather than have a buggy as is mandatory on many courses in Jamaica. e course, a 7,141 yard par 72 designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr in 1964

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e smart clubhouse sits in a clearing on the top of the hill; overlooking the golf course with the Caribbean Sea in the background, it must surely offer one of the best panoramic views in Jamaica. e first hole, a par-5, is stunning. e tee is up by the clubhouse, high above the fairway, from which I can see at least ten very large bunkers strategically placed, some guarding the table-top green which is hidden from view.

e golf course winds through the dense rainforest of the historic Rose Hall Plantation where, in the 18th century, a beautiful woman called Annie Palmer lived. Supposedly, she dabbled in black magic and murdered no less than three husbands and several male slaves over the years, finally being murdered herself by a slave called Takoo. Some say she haunts the Great House and grounds to this day.

Black magic and murder

e course is carved out of 600 acres of mountainous terrain, where it winds through lush rainforest and features awesome vistas of the sea from no less than 16 holes.

Most memorable are the downhill dogleg 10th, a par-5 that edges a gorge; the 14th, a par-3 across water to a shallow green; and the 17th, a picturesque par-3 featuring a green fronted by a

Breathtaking course It is more wicked here than you realise at first glance – not because of the challenging holes, the mountainous terrain, the vultures circling above, the shifting winds from dawn to dusk, or the fact that playing 18 holes will cost you mega bucks in golf balls – but because of the legend attached to it.

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stone wall and a backdrop of the Caribbean Sea. e White Witch, a Robert von Hagge and Rick Baril design masterpiece, is a breathtaking and wicked course. It can take around 5 ½ hours start to finish, even with mandatory caddies and a buggy. A ‘risk-reward’ course with long carries, it’s also quite distinct, rather misleading and definitely intimidating. Absolutely a ‘must play.’

Sugar plantation e third round of golf is at Cinnamon Hill; less challenging than the Wicked Witch, but with holes named ‘Witch’s Reef ’, ‘Caribbean Ghost’ and ‘Takoo’s Revenge’, you can’t get too complacent.

Designed by Hank Smedley in 1969 but redesigned in 2001

by Von Hagge and Baril, the course enjoys an open front nine where the wind can play havoc with clubbing, and a hilly back nine that winds through dense rainforest where fairways get tighter.

Created on land that was once a large sugar plantation, and with an ancient aqueduct used to grind sugarcane still in evidence, Cinnamon Hill is a beautiful course. e signature hole, the par-4 5th, is one I won’t forget in a hurry. is hole is aptly named ‘Majestic Blue’ as the fairway heads down towards the sea which creates an amazing aquamarine backdrop to the green. It’s followed by another scenic hole, a tantalising par-3 called the ‘Witch’s Reef ’ that runs adjacent to the ocean.

Johnny Cash Cinnamon Hill golf course is named after Cinnamon Hill Great House, an old plantation property once owned by mega star Johnny Cash which is tucked away to the left of the 14th fairway. ere are four great finishing holes on this course, particularly the 17th, a par-5 named ‘e Ruins’ because of the 18th century remains that still stand around the green. Your drive, like your second shot, has to be long, straight and well placed on this hole. is is essential as there are two wide ravines to cross before getting anywhere near the green.

Swimming with dolphins Early morning rounds of golf and the Wicked Witch have taken their toll so, after three days, it’s time to chill out. A visit to the Spa and a swim with dolphins is on the cards for my day of rest.

A sleep-in, a swim, and a late breakfast on the shaded terrace – what bliss. I drag myself away from laziness and summon a golf buggy to take me to one of the other bays on the resort. I have a date with a dolphin.

Safety drill done, life jacket donned, instructions on how to handle the friendly creatures received, and I’m ready to be approached by the dolphins, Toni and Pepe. My 30-minute experience is something I’ll never forget. It is limited to four people at a time who are able to swim with, touch and sometimes kiss the dolphins. ey even managed to push one girl back to shore. is attraction is just one of many activities at Half Moon resort: others include an Equestrian Centre, an array of water sports, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, thirteen lit tennis courts and four squash courts.

If you want to explore the island, popular activities off-site include ziplining, bamboo rafting, Mystic Mountain adventures, climbing the Dunns River Falls, and the Bob Marley tour.

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JAMAICA Day at the Spa It makes a change to have a Spa menu in my hand rather than a restaurant menu, but deciding on which particular pampering treatment I’m going to succumb to is not easy. I finally decide on the hotel’s Signature Massage at the Fern Tree, A RockResorts Spa at Half Moon. e ritual starts with a welcome warm footbath of calming Jamaican Cerassee (Jamaican bush tea) and my body is massaged with an oil blend of allspice, ginger and orange, then spritzed with a Jamaican Rum Splash before my feet are wiped with a towel infused in nutmeg oil. e Spa tranquil gardens match my mood so I sit there and meditate… must sort out my golf swing.

A Caribbean treat As a condolence for the thought of leaving Half Moon the following day, I dine at the hotel’s sophisticated Sugar Mill Restaurant, located near the golf club’s 19th hole. What a Caribbean treat it is too: crab, papaya and cucumber timbale as an appetiser, followed by coconut and saffron poached snapper, then a mango cheesecake – all accompanied by perfectly chilled sommelier-chosen wine from the restaurant’s fine wine cellar (it boasts over 150 different wines from around the world), and enjoyed in a chic and relaxing al fresco setting.

Even before I leave Jamaica, I know I’ll return again with my golf clubs in tow. In fact, wild horses couldn’t keep me away from the little cluster of championship golf courses I’ve discovered on this visit, and certainly not any old Wicked Witch. GGM

GOOD TO KNOW I LOVE MEET & GREET offers an efficient car parking service at Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted and Birmingham – virtually kerb-side to check-in within minutes. A driver meets you at the terminal: collecting, returning, and parking your car in a secure authorised car park until your return.

Tel: 01293 577988, www.ilovemeetandgreet.co.uk VIRGIN ATLANTIC operates three flights a week from London Gatwick to Montego Bay, Jamaica www.virgin-atlantic.com DESTINATION GOLF working in partnership with VIRGIN ATLANTIC is an established market leader in select golf holidays for individuals. They also specialise in group travel and organising Pro-Am, Corporate and Golf Society events. Tel: 01737 771613, www.destinationgolf.co.uk TOTAL GOLF EXPERIENCE: Contact Destination Golf for information on Half Moon’s Total Golf Experience package which includes unlimited golf at Half Moon GC, a cart and caddy for 18 holes daily, a sleeve of Half Moon golf balls and range balls, and one round of golf at one of the other two courses in the Rose Hall Golf Association – either the White Witch or Cinnamon Hill.

The package includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, drinks at hotel bars and return Jamaican airport transfers HALF MOON, A RockResort in Montego Bay, is a 400-acre luxury resort situated on a crescent-shaped white sand beach, with 198 rooms, suites and cottages as well as 33 four-, five-, six- and seven-bedroom villas – each with a private butler, cook, housekeeper, and its own swimming pool. Additionally, Half Moon features a Spinning® studio, 13 lit tennis courts, equestrian centre, fitness centre, several swimming pools, Hype Zone for teenagers, a colourful Anancy Children’s Village, numerous water sports, an exclusive dolphin lagoon, shopping village, and numerous bars and restaurants. www.halfmoon.rockresorts.com OTHER COURSES TO PLAY: The Tryall Club, Montego Bay, offers stunning hills and coastal views while inland Sandals Golf & Country Club, Ocho Rios, offers a gently rolling landscape.

GOLF IN JAMAICA – caddies and golf carts are mandatory at most courses and are in addition to green fees, so do check exactly what costs are involved and the tips expected with the Pro Shop before playing. US$ are accepted.

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Clothes make the man...

So the famous quote by Mark Twain goes, and continues: “naked people have little or no influence on society.” Well, perhaps it’s also worth mentioning another important ditty by that same illustrious gentleman: “A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval,” - and this rings just as true off the golf course, as on...

By Mike Kaas-Stock, photo Maurice Sedwell.

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T

hese quotations can easily be used in reference to the Savile Row bespoke tailor Maurice Sedwell and more importantly the heart of the company and owner Andrew Ramroop OBE. I arrive at Maurice Sedwell on a cold day in February and it’s funny how even though I am wearing a suit and a rather expensive coat, I still feel slightly underdressed. Could it possibly be that I am about to meet a man who will be able to summarize my apparel in a blink of an eye. Prepare to be critiqued!

As I step in off the street and through the door all my fears are washed away as Debbie, Andrew’s partner and co director of the company, and then Andrew himself greet me. This is a welcoming and warm establishment where the owner and staff make the customer feel at ease.

History e story of Maurice Sedwell, and indeed Andrew Ramroop who now owns the establishment, is almost worthy of a Hollywood movie. e brand was established by its namesake, Mr Maurice Sedwell in 1938 and was based in Fleet Street. Maurice went on to win many awards and eventually relocated to Savile Row in 1963.

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In 1970 a young man with a passion for tailoring boarded a boat in Trinidad in the West Indies bound for Southampton. at young man was Andrew Ramroop. His ambition was clear; to come to England, and more specifically Savile Row, to become a bespoke tailor. He arrived in England nine days later with little to his name but two suits of his own creation.

Opportunity knocks Andrew’s first exposure to the famous street was a position at Huntsman, but eventually he moved on to Maurice Sedwell. Even though his title was assistant to Maurice Sedwell, contact with customers for this aspiring young man was limited.

An opportunity came when Mr Sedwell went out to lunch one day and Andrew was left in charge. A particularly demanding client arrived with several suits in need of immediate alteration, which Andrew attended to. The customer in question was so impressed by the quality of his work that he later telephoned to say that he would like Andrew to attend to his tailoring requirements in the future. That client was Mr Lennox Boyd, the Private Personal Secretary to Margret Thatcher.

Word soon spread and it was not long before Andrew had six Cabinet members as customers.

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Andrew Ramroop is the only tailor from Savile Row to have received an OBE

Distinguished Customers In 1988, after it became apparent that Andrew was looking to set up on his own, Mr Sedwell agreed to sell the business to him. e company has since gone from strength to strength with many notable customers including Princess Diana, cricketer Brian Lara, golfer Adam Scott and the actor Samuel L Jackson to name but a few.

Yet another distinguished customer is Professor Henry Louis Gates of Harvard University. “I was at his daughter’s wedding in October last year,” says Andrew. “A number of my customers were there, which was a pleasant surprise for me. I noted that there was much comparing of suits during the occasion.”

On the subject of knowing the requirement of each of these very different and individual customers, Andrew says, “You have to take into account their lifestyle and aspirations. ey may have a very good idea as to the type of cloth, lining and buttons that they want, or they may look to you for advice to find what would best fit their needs. Personal attention is important and the customer must always enjoy the experience.”

First Fitting “Even before first fitting takes place we must take measurements,” Andrew continues. “is initial stage is to ascertain shape and

style. You have to engage and communicate with the client and I personally feel that a high degree of customer service is as important as the quality of the clothing. e garment is for the individual and he/she is the focus of all your efforts.

After first fitting the suit is dismantled completely and a master template is prepared. e material is re-cut and then we can start putting it together. is part of the process equates to about 15 hours of work.

Second Fitting is is when most of the tailoring is done. At this point everything takes on more of a three dimensional form and the customer starts to see and relate to an actual suit rather than just cloth. “For me, I can see how the garment will be from the first fitting but it’s a great moment when the customer gets a glimpse of how it will look,” says Andrew.

Advanced fitting At this point the final details are added, and by now some 90 hours or more have gone into the preparation of the garment.

Finally the customer comes in to try the suit on and give it a final approval.

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Komla Dumor BBC World anchor man chose Maurice Sedwell for his first suit in 2012

Mark Ramprakash, famous cricketer chose to tie the knot in a Maurice Sedwell suit

“For me, I can see how the garment will be from the first fitting but it’s a great moment when the customer gets a glimpse of how it will look” Style & Quality It’s not only the perfect fitting that makes the suits stand out; it’s also the unmistakable Ramroop Signature Style and superior quality of cloth. And when it comes to material, the sky really is the limit. Andrew shows me two suits, one that has real gold thread stripes and another with platinum. “We can work to whatever our customers demands and preferences,” he says.

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of what it would cost to buy a new Aston Martin! e wool is finer than any other in the world measuring only 12 micrometres in diameter.. An individual animal will produce only about one pound of wool a year.

When talking to Andrew it’s easy to see what has made him excel in his chosen field, passion and commitment. What is also self-evident is that this is not just tailoring, this is an art form.

The Material

Not beyond reach

Andrew explains to me that superior cloth is graded and starts at Super 80s. “We do not use anything under Super 100’s,” he says.

Superior cloth actually comes with a certificate of authenticity that accompanies each garment. He then shows me a cloth that is a Super 250, it actually feels almost weightless, a point often mentioned by customers.

As if this is not exotic enough, he then shows me some of the most exclusive fabric in the world, Vicuña. is fabric comes from an animal that is similar to an Alpaca, and is the national animal of Peru. e material is phenomenally expensive and should you wish for a bespoke garment to be made from it, think along the lines

I leave Maurice Sedwell much wiser and aware of yet another item to add to my wish list. Yes you can spend a small fortune on a bespoke suit if you want, but actually the price of a standard two piece is not beyond reach of even the most ordinary of us if we so desire.

One thing I realise is that once you have had a bespoke suit made for you, there is no going back. It’s like having a cheap car and then driving an Aston Martin or Bentley - how could you revert back to something of lesser quality and comfort afterwards!

And like any item of quality, you can be assured that you will have many, many years of enjoyment from it.

When Mark Twain wrote down that famous quote, it could be that he had just had a suit made for him.

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IJP DESIGN www.ijpdesign.com

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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at Crowborough Beacon

Celebrated British authors like Ian Fleming, Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle all had a passion for golf. But unlike the two others, Conan Doyle never let his famous detective Sherlock Holmes set foot on the golf course.

By J. Eric Eckard, photos courtesy of Crowborough Beacon Golf Club and The Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment

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n his novel G o l d f i n g e r, I a n Fleming had James Bond play a highstakes round of golf against his adversary, and Agatha Christie placed Po i ro t a n d h i s a s s o c i a t e Captain Hastings on a golf course in France in Murder on t h e L i n k s . H o w e v e r, throughout Sherlock Holmes’ life across 60 short stories and novels, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s master detective never played golf. But the game weaved its way through Doyle’s life – and ultimately through Holmes’ life, as well.

“Doyle was a very keen sportsman, and golf seems to have been a particular passion of his,” says Daniel Stashower, who wrote Teller of Tales: e Life of Arthur Conan Doyle. “I believe he was an exceptional athlete,” he adds.

Captain and president at passion and talent on the links led Doyle to serve as a captain of two decorated golf clubs around London – Hindhead Golf Club and Crowborough Beacon Golf Club.

Doyle actually helped found the Hindhead Golf Club after he moved to the tiny Surrey village in 1897 to get his sick wife away from the damp climes of London to the healing space of the countryside. But as the closest golf course to his new house was five miles away, Doyle and some of his friends got together to start

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a new golf club, and so it was that Hindhead Golf Club was born. e year was 1904, and Doyle was elected the first club president.

“We feel very proud of him as a founding member,” says Duncan Parker, a former captain of the club, when I catch up with him over a cup of coffee. “He was the driving force and if it hadn’t been for him, we wouldn’t have this club.”

Later the same year, his first wife, Touie, died of tuberculosis. e following year, he married Jean Elizabeth Leckie and moved to Crowborough in East Sussex. It was there that he joined Crowborough Beacon, a club that got its start in 1895, and in 1910 Doyle was elected club captain. Doyle loved the club and from his home, Windlesham Manor, he could actually see the fourth green.

The Doyle connection But Doyle didn’t limit his play to his home courses. Like inns throughout the United States that boast “George Washington slept here,” several courses and clubs throughout the world can lay claim to a Doyle connection.

He is said to have designed a golf course in Jasper Park in Canada, joined the nearby New Zealand Golf Club in Surrey (where a locker still bears his name), played golf with Rudyard Kipling in Vermont using painted red balls in the snow, played among ruins during a trip to Egypt and laid out a golf course near a hospital in Switzerland where he had taken his first wife. In his memoirs, he tells how his plans for this golf course were hampered by the curious trick the cows had of chewing up the red flags.

Celebrity golfers Over the years, many celebrities have taken up the game of golf.

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Bob Hope was a fixture on the golf course, and for years, his name was attached to a PGA event. Today, we have Justin Timberlake, Jamie Farr and Michael Jordan, celebrities who use their name to grow the game of golf through annual tournaments.

A century ago, Doyle was one of the most recognized names in the world. At one point, he was a single-digit handicap player and one of the first golf ambassadors – playing, designing courses and founding clubs in several countries.

regeneration project. More recently, the No. 12 teebox was moved over to a hillside to make it a more severe right dogleg and increase the challenge.

“It’s a course playable for all skill levels,” says Duncan Parker.

“We have 50 Category 1 players, which means they have a 5 handicap or less, which is unusual for a club in the UK But it’s also playable for players with a higher handicap.”

Hindhead Golf Club

It’s not a long course – a par-70 layout that measures just 6,356 yards from the back tees – but with its tight, narrow fairways, Hindhead can be challenging. Furthermore, as a qualifier for e Open Championship since 1999, Hindhead attracts golfers from throughout the UK, as well as overseas.

“Golfers from the States like to come over and play The Open qualifying courses. There are about 16 of them in the UK,” says Parker.

Perhaps one of the more challenging and scenic holes is the 6th,

Qualifier for The Open Hindhead hasn’t changed much since Doyle helped found the hilly and narrow course built into the glacial valley called the Devil’s Punchbowl more than 100 years ago.

Built into the natural setting of the countryside, Hindhead – a traditional heathland course – features plenty of heather. Over the years it has had updates and revitalization efforts and during the past 10 years, under the leadership of course manager Steve Holmes, Hindhead has undergone an extensive heather

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SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE Hindhead’s Little Gem. It’s a short par-3 that starts at the top of one valley and plays into a second valley on the course. With about a 200-foot drop from tee to green, club selection is important.

Parker’s favorite hole is the 9th, a straight uphill 419-yard par4 with an elevated green. Called the Little Augusta Hole, colourful blooms frame the fairway in springtime.

Doyle’s legacy at Crowborough Beacon not only lives on through the inner course and a special memorial in the clubhouse, but also through an annual tournament with Hindhead Golf Club. For the past three years, teams from each club have vied for the Conan Doyle Plate, which was established by former captain Patrick Burke. e home and away match play format has become so popular that organizers have added a second date during the year, and it now has a waiting list. e Crowborough Beacon team won the inaugural event in 2010, but Hindhead Golf Club has won it the last two years.

Hindhead and Crowborough Beacon have embraced their ties to Doyle, and the fixture between the two clubs is expected to continue annually.

Boxing and cricket

Crowborough Beacon Golf Club

Casual Doyle fans – and even many avid fans – know little of his time on the golf course, primarily because he never used it as a backdrop in his works.

“He wrote extensively on boxing, and he wrote a short story on cricket, but not on golf,” says Daniel Stashower.

Just two passing references make their way into Doyle’s work on Holmes – in ‘e Adventure of Black Peter’ and ‘e Adventure of the Greek Interpreter’.

By t h e t i m e Doy l e h a d m ov e d t o Crowborough in 1907, he was 48 years old and his handicap had climbed to 14. Doyle’s first tournament win after the move came in 1909 at the Club Whitsuntide competition, with a net score of 80. In his captaincy year, he won the December medal with a net 84.

A builder salvaged Doyle’s Whitsuntide medal in some rubble after World War II The return of Sherlock Holmes outside his former home. e medal was Although Doyle’s most enduring donated to the club, and a picture is displayed character never played golf and in Crowborough Beacon’s Conan Doyle apparently talked very little about it, Corner. the great detective owes his life to the Crowborough Beacon also is a short, game. narrow par-71 course that plays 6,319 yards.

Doyle had killed off Holmes in Magnificent views of the southern coast of ‘e Final Problem’ in 1893. But England appear on clear days. But even on during a golf outing in 1901 in not-so-clear days, the views can be spectacular Norfolk with Fletcher Robinson, a and might make you forget how challenging friend and fellow author, Robinson the course can be. Despite just a few bunkers, recounted a legend of a spectral Conan Doyle with his first wife Louise. the course is worth 2 on your handicap. hound that haunted a manor near e 14th hole, named Rough, is a 498Robinson’s home. is led to e yard par-5, with 100 yards of heather in the middle of the fairway, Hound of the Baskervilles, which at first was intended as a and with magnificent views toward the coast. On a clear day, you posthumous adventure of Sherlock Holmes, but its success was can see Beachy Head. so great that Conan Doyle agreed to write another series about the famous detective – thanks to golf!

GGM

The 4th hole One of Doyle’s favorite holes might have been the 4th, a 369-yard par-4, which he could see from his study at Windlesham Manor where he wrote the final third of his 60 Sherlock Holmes’ stories before he died in 1930 at the age of 71.

Being a converted spiritualist in his later life, the 4th is also the site where Doyle and his son, Kingsley, made a pact to meet should the younger Doyle die in battle during World War I. e elder Doyle believed he could contact the dead through séances.

Tragically, Kingsley Doyle died after being seriously wounded, and legend has it that the elder Doyle roamed the 4th green long after his son’s death.

Doyle’s legacy In the 1970s, Crowborough Beacon underwent several changes and in 2005, the club honored its famous past captain with an inner course called the Conan Doyle, which plays a little more than 5,000 yards and features one par-5 for the men and two for the ladies.

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GOOD TO KNOW Crowborough Beacon Golf Club Ltd Beacon­ Road Crowborough East Sussex TN6 1UJ Telephone +44 (0)1892 661511 www.cbgc.co.uk The Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment Established in 1989 by Malcolm Payne and Tony Yates Patron: Mrs. Georgina Doyle Honorary Presidents: Marian Yates and Barbara Payne Curator: Brian W. Pugh, 20 Clare Road, Lewes, Sussex, BN7 1PN Tel: +44 (0)1273 475558 Email: brianpugh140@btinternet.com www.the-conan-doyle-crowborough-establishment.com

Annonsetester_Layout 1 07.04.13 15.53 Side 1

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Azorene_Layout 1 07.04.13 15.58 Side 1

THE AZORES

The

50

secret islands

G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

Azorene_Layout 1 07.04.13 15.58 Side 2

Far out in the Atlantic Ocean sits an archipelago of volcanic islands, undiscovered until the 15th Century. Legend has it that this could have been the mythical lost island kingdom of Atlantis. The Azores, with their nine distinctly different islands, are mesmerizingly beautiful with volcanic peaks shrouded in clouds, cascading waterfalls, hot springs and deep caves. And now, with three great golf courses adding to the allure, who could wish for more?

By Steve Jackson, photo The Azores Tourist Board.

51

Azorene_Layout 1 07.04.13 15.58 Side 3

THE AZORES

hirty seconds was how long it took to accept the invitation for this trip, but my positive reply was immediately followed with a question that needed answering; ‘Where exactly are The Azores?’

A close friend had said great things about his holiday to these islands in the Atlantic Ocean. But considering that this body of water covers a fifth of the planet, they really could have been anywhere in my eyes.

I soon discovered these nine large volcanic rocks are positioned in the North Atlantic, between 930 and 1,300 miles west of

T

52

G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

Portugal. São Miguel is the largest island and also the location for the main airport, with SATA International flying directly from London throughout the summer months but unfortunately not in October, so I had to go via Lisbon.

Cocktail and seafood Taking my own golf clubs would have been fairly straightforward but I decided to hire a set at the courses. To make matters easier on my departure and return to Heathrow airport, I parked using the Holiday Extras Meet and Greet service. I just loved the idea

Azorene_Layout 1 07.04.13 15.58 Side 4

that a ‘chauffeur’ would be waiting on my return.

When I finally arrived at São Miguel Airport in the early evening it was already dark, so I would have to wait until the morning before taking in my first views of this magical island.

After I checked into the quaint Antillia Hotel in the centre of the capital city of Ponta Delgada I took a five minute stroll down to the dockside for a welcome cocktail and a bite to eat.

With a cruise ship as a backdrop in the glorious Portas do Mar marina, the Sem Espinhas restaurant provided the ideal spot to have a delicious meal. Among the islands’ specialities are plenty

of fresh seafood, such as tuna, blue jack mackerel and swordfish.

There are lobsters, Mediterranean slipper lobsters, crabs, spidercrabs and barnacles, but for me the Azorean tuna steak had to be the order of the day.

A melting pot History will have it that sailors landed on these islands already in the mid-14th century, but officially the discovery is dated to 1427 or 1431(there is a slight disagreement about the exact year) when Portuguese sailors arrived, and it would be a fitting description

53

Azorene_Layout 1 07.04.13 15.59 Side 5

THE AZORES

54

G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

Azorene_Layout 1 07.04.13 15.59 Side 6

to say that this archipelago has become a true melting pot of peoples and cultures.

The first few years after the discovery, livestock was brought over. Then from 1439 followed settlers – not only from mainland Portugal but from far and wide across Europe, as well as Moors and African slaves.

Today the official language is Portuguese and the majority of the islanders are Roman Catholic. However, because these once-uninhabited and remote islands were settled sporadically over a span of two centuries, their culture, dialect, cuisine and traditions vary considerably.

Furnas Golf Club As the biggest of the islands, São Miguel boasts two of the three full length golf courses (with the 18-hole Terceira on

the neighbouring island of the same name being the other main venue).

Originally designed by Mackenzie Ross in 1939 as a nineholer, the course at Furnas Golf Club was extended in 1992 under the guidance of architects Bob Cameron and Chris Powell to provide two distinct halves.

Keeping the ball out of the woods remains the main target, as the trees framing the fairways are so tightly compacted that if your ball ends up here, you’ll be in real trouble.

But Furnas isn’t just about the woodlands because the undulating greens are also challenging. So if you finish the game with no three-putts to your name, you must have had an exceptional round. As for me, I won’t go into the details of my scorecard, but let’s just say I had plenty of time to enjoy the views.

Whale watching and scuba diving On the journey back through the northern region of the island, I cheered myself up with a visit to the Gorreana Tea

55

Azorene_Layout 1 07.04.13 15.59 Side 7

THE AZORES

Apart from golf there are plenty of things to do on the Azores. Swimming with the dolphins or whale watching comes highly recommended. Scuba diving is another popular pastime, and for thrill seekers there’s cliff diving at the islet of Vila Franca do Campo

Plantation and Estate, which is Europe’s oldest remaining tea company and has been family owned and operated since 1883.

A lovely evening meal followed at Quinta Pico da Cruz, yet another family-run establishment.

Apart from golf there are plenty of things to do on the Azores.

Swimming with the dolphins or whale watching comes highly recommended, though my fear with this type of excursion has always been that I would need a telescope or set of binoculars to see anything. Happily, this is not the case; you do get up close and personal with some of the ocean’s largest and most graceful marine mammals, so don’t forget your camera.

Scuba diving is another popular pastime, and for thrill seekers 56

G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

there’s cliff diving at the islet of Vila Franca do Campo, although the latter wouldn’t exactly be my cup of tea.

Batalha Golf Club After breakfast the following day I headed west towards the gorgeous Batalha Golf Club, which boasts 27 holes in three 9hole loops that can be played in different combinations, making it a par-72. Built on volcanic rock, the course is a mixture of links and woodland, and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the remarkable landscape. Plus, the black volcanic sand in all the bunkers makes the Batalha a very memorable course.

Being a PGA European Tour course designed by Bob

Azorene_Layout 1 07.04.13 15.59 Side 8

Today the official language is Portuguese and the majority of the islanders are Roman Catholic.

However, because these once-uninhabited and remote islands were settled sporadically over a span of two centuries, their culture, dialect, cuisine and traditions vary considerably.

Cameron, the Batalha is essentially flat with long, wide fairways and large undulating greens flanked by tall trees. Being one of the largest and longest golf courses in Portugal (10,578 yd), I soon regretted not taking a buggy.

A memorable course With a wide open fairway to aim at, the first hole on the A course is a medium length par-5 which gently eases you into your round.

The second shot will have to carry the lakes on the left, setting up a simple approach to a gently rolling green. Unfortunately I misread the markers and dunked my ball in the water. By the time I had finished my round, I was on ball number seven!

A quick look at the B course suggested that there would be plenty of challenges, not least on the 5th hole, a magnificent par-5 where a tall eucalyptus looms in the middle of the fairway and creates the difficult choice of how to play it; left, right or over the top?

A question only you can answer! The elevated green and sloping surface is a perfect ending for this great hole.

On the C course, the double-kinked 2nd hole up the steep hill is an absolute brute of a par-5 into the wind, and the 7th and 8th also look particularly challenging.

Thermal baths After my prowess on the golf course, a trip to the hot springs at 57

Azorene_Layout 1 07.04.13 15.59 Side 9

THE AZORES

GOOD TO KNOW

the Caldeiras da Lagoa das Furnas and a swim in the therapeutic thermal baths, known as the ‘Brown Lagoon’, seemed perfect.

I wouldn’t say the smell or the colour of the steaming sulphurous water was especially appealing but it seemed to do the trick as all the aches and pains from a long day on the course melted away.

The next morning it was time for me to pack my bags and head back to the UK. I wish I could’ve stayed longer as there is so much to see in the Azores. There are subtle differences between each of the islands and the wonderful array of colours has given them nicknames like lilac, yellow, white, green and blue.

The climate is ideal, not too hot or too cold, so on my next visit I’ll definitely bring my hiking boots so I can get a chance to explore more of these islands with their waterfalls, volcanic craters, GGM lakes and mountains – this truly is a magical place.

THE AZORES A set of nine islands located in the Atlantic Ocean, between 930 and 1,300 miles west of Lisbon, Portugal. Santa Maria is the most easterly, Flores is the furthest west, São Miguel is the largest isle, while Corvo is the smallest inhabited islet. www.visitazores.com GOLF COURSES São Miguel hosts two of the three golf courses; 27 holes at Batalha and the 18-holer at Furnas. Terceira Island is the other full golf course on The Azores. www.azoresgolfislands.com FLIGHTS Direct flights from London Heathrow and London Gatwick are available using SATA International. Alternatively, connecting flights can be taken from a selection of European destinations, with Lisbon being the most convenient transfer. For price and availability, visit www.sata.pt/en AIRPORT PARKING To avoid the hassle of trying to park your vehicle at Heathrow Airport and then transfer your golf clubs and luggage though one of the busiest airports in the world, a ‘Meet and Greet’ car park booking with Holiday Extras is recommended. For full details, visit www.holidayextras.co.uk WEATHER Any island positioned in the middle of an ocean is subject to inclement weather conditions and the Azores are no different.

However, the climate does not get too hot in mid-summer and is usually warm throughout the rest of the year, even in the more rainy winter months.

FURNAS GOLF COURSE Email: info@azoresgolfislands.com A tree-lined par-70 measuring 6,232 metres from the longest tees on the island of São Miguel.

Green fees: €56 for 18 holes. Significant discounts for three-day or five-day packages.

BATALHA GOLF COURSE Email: info@azoresgolfislands.com A trio of par-36 nine-hole loops, measuring 3,307, 3,128 and 3,181 metres from the white tees.

Green fees: €56 for 18 holes. Significant discounts for three-day or five-day packages.

TERCEIRA ISLAND GOLF CLUB Email: info@terceiragolf.com Website: www.terceiragolf.com The only golf course on the island of Terceira is a par-72 with a maximum distance of 6,090 metres.

Green fees (18 holes): Weekdays: €30/€35. Weekends: €40/€50 (low/high season)

58

G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

Booking is easy! by phone 017687 75672 or online at www.azoreschoice.com

A GOLFING PARADISE

AZORES Mid Atlantic Golfing 8 days on São Miguel 4 x 18 holes 4 star hotel & car hire

Enjoy an amazing golfing adventure in the midst of a volcanic wonderland

EXPLORE THE DIVERSITY OF THE ISLAND

GO WHALEWATCHING & SWIM WITH DOLPHINS

TEE OFF AT two INCREDIBLE GOLF COURSES

From volcanic crater lakes to spectacular coastlines, secluded lagoons and spas to botanical gardens and pretty fishing villages, the Azores provide a dramatic backdrop to your golfing adventure.

For your time spent off the golf course, take to the waters – the Azores is one of the premier sites in the world to see whales and dolphins. Or perhaps try your hand at more adventurous activities like diving, canyoning and sailing.

From the beautiful mountain-set course at Furnas, sprinkled with lakes and stands of Japanese Cryptomeria, to the most challenging 27-hole course at Batalha, you’ll certainly be spoilt for choice.

Half way along the south coast of Sao Miguel, you’ll be perfectly placed to enjoy 4 days golfing on Sao Miguel’s excellent courses. Batalha is a magnificent 27 hole course with sweeping views over the Atlantic and Furnas is 18 holes set above the spectacular volcanic basin of Furnas with its boiling pools and famous gardens.

From only

£911

pp

BOOK NOW!

YOUR HOLIDAY. YOUR ADVENTURE. ARC2496 Full Page Advert - Golf Magazine_AW.indd 1

05/04/2013 09:22

Bubba Watson Watches_Layout 1 07.04.13 18.00 Side 1

GREAT GOLF INTERVIEW

60

G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

Bubba Watson Watches_Layout 1 07.04.13 18.00 Side 2

The

unconventional

GOLFER

Self-taught and talented with an unusual approach to mastering the game that distinguishes him from other professional golfers, Bubba Watson is a physical giant striking the ball with incredible force. A fun-loving family man, he wears his heart on his sleeve and uses his success to raise money for charity. He also has a passion for unique time pieces.

By Angus Davies, photo Jens HonorĂŠ and Richard Mille

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Bubba Watson Watches_Layout 1 07.04.13 18.00 Side 3

GREAT GOLF INTERVIEW

Bubba Watson

M

y experience with golf is, I must admit, rather limited. I did however have a few golf lessons long ago, and just as I thought I was mastering my swing, any perceived skill evaporated into the ether. My golf coach explained that this was all part of the game, which unfortunately did not sit well with my own rather impatient personality.

So when I was asked by Richard Mille, exemplar of neoteric haute horology, to interview their ambassador, the legendary golfer Bubba Watson, the prospect presented a challenge. How do you interview a top sports personality about a sport of which you have limited knowledge? Well for this interview the answer was obvious because for Bubba, there is so much more than just golf.

White and pink Bubba Watson was born in 1978 in Bagdad, Florida. A physical giant, standing at 6 foot 3 inches tall, he strikes the ball with incredible force resulting in an average driving distance of 313.1 yards. Bubba is a refreshing change from the usual pro golfers. He is known for wearing all white attire with pink detailing and using a pink driver in support of charity.

With a down to earth persona, he talks of his humble origins and shows his emotions. Tears streamed down his face on clinching victory at the Masters, hugging his mother in an affectionate embrace.

In his play-off against Louis Oosthuizen, his ball landed in the woods. e undergrowth should have put paid to his ambitions and frustrated his aspirations. However, after striking the ball with 62

G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

such ferocity that golfing wisdom would have suggested impending doom, he curved it out of the woods and it landed on the green. “It was just a crazy shot that I saw in my head.” says Bubba. is is not a man who follows convention. It is, therefore, no surprise that he wears a very special wristwatch, a Richard Mille RM 038.

Left handed Bubba is left handed, a rarity in the higher echelons of the game, and even more remarkably he is self-taught. So when I met him at e Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, I questioned whether he considered himself to be every golf coach’s nightmare.

“For most people golf lessons are the recommended means to improving your game, but I’m the exception to the rule. ere haven’t been many self taught pro golfers, but it has worked for me.”

Under the glare of the media spotlight, many golfers seek the aid of specialists to cope with the immense pressures of playing top-flight sport. “Is this something that you have ever considered?” I ask him.

“I don’t use any sports psychologist, I try and do it all myself.

You are going to have bad days and good days. But for me, it is all about having fun with the game. I like the fact that when I win it’s all down to me.”

No chocolate As a sportsman Bubba clearly puts thought into his diet and exercise regime. His personal trainer, who goes by the nickname

Bubba Watson Watches_Layout 1 07.04.13 18.00 Side 4

‘Fish’, is a qualified Physiotherapist and on hand should Bubba strain any muscles in this increasingly physical game. Whilst Fish monitors what Bubba eats, the man himself admits, “I could always do better. It’s an area I kind of slide on, but who doesn’t from time to time?” However, he then goes on to explain that he avoids soda, chocolate or caffeine based drinks and his svelte physique reminds me that I could possibly be more virtuous myself on the dessert front.

Back to school Bubba has chosen his own very unique approach to life. He went back to university in 2008 and successfully completed a degree in Consumer Economics. It was there he met his future wife Angie.

She played basketball, another sport close to Bubba’s heart.

“I overheard her talking about golf one day and told her that I could get us on the golf course if she wanted. Luckily she said “yes.” I played real good and she said, “You have played before!”

So I told her I was just about to turn pro. She was already a professional basketball player and was heading off to Italy to play so we didn’t see each other for quite a while. I called her every day, and two years later we got married.”

A new addition to the family Recently Bubba and Angie adopted a little boy, Caleb. I asked Bubba how he would feel if his son wanted to become a golfer.

“I would be really happy; we could play together just like me and my dad used to do. He taught me the basics and I took it from there. But if he wanted to play basketball, I would love that

too. Doing things as father and son would be great, as long as it isn’t piano. I don’t play piano,” he says, with a beaming grin on his face.

Charity Bubba is well known for his support of a number of charities, stating on his website that, “Helping these charities, and more importantly the families involved, can be more rewarding than winning a golf tournament.”

“It’s part of my belief system. Golf is fun and what I do for a living, but it also offers me the platform to help people that are in need, something that is important to me as a Christian. When I was growing up, we didn’t have much money, but there were plenty of people worse off than us. I especially want to help kids that are ill and also to support cancer research. is is particularly close to my heart as my dad died from cancer – the biggest killer in the world. I can play golf at a high level and still do some good for others. Of course, selfishly I want to win, but in turn that is what enables me to do more for charity.”

Becoming an ambassador Bubba does not seem to be the conventional watch brand ambassador and he’s definitely less corporate than others I have met. Whilst researching Mr Watson, I watched several video clips of his fun-filled antics, playing trick shots on ‘Bubba’s Bridge’ and striking balls from a bodyboard towed by a speedboat. However, he seems the perfect fit for Richard Mille, whose watches are equally unconventional.

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Bubba Watson Watches_Layout 1 07.04.13 18.00 Side 5

GREAT GOLF INTERVIEW

Richard Mille watches embrace new solutions to enhance robustness and accuracy, and eschew weight. Moreover, the designs have modernity, with pleasing forms born of functionality, all the outcome of Mr Mille’s creativity.

“e brand was looking for an American golfer who produced a high swing speed so they could prove that this watch still works under that sort of pressure,” says Bubba pointing to his RM 038 and adding, “I am recorded as having the fastest swing speed at 126 mph.” Bubba is clearly proud of his watch, which continues to function faultlessly despite the harsh treatment meted out to it.

Outside the box

Richard Mille

Bubba has a certain empathy with Richard Mille, the man behind the brand. “What does Richard do? He challenges himself and challenges the watch, and through this he shows the world what can be accomplished. Like me, he thinks outside the box instead of following tradition. I like to have fun and goof around,” says Bubba with a smile. “Once Richard decided he wanted a golfer and he saw me, he thought, “at’s the guy,” and that’s how we started working together.”

Bubba now has quite a collection of Richard Mille watches and I salivate as he relates the impressive inventory of models to me.

Richard Mille, French by birth, launched his brand in 2001 with his first high-end timepiece, RM001, costing €200,000. e inspiration was F1 racing, bringing together space-age materials with pleasingly dramatic results. He has always been honest, not hiding the youth of the company that bears his name.

His watches harness all the exquisite hand finishing of the finest traditional brands associated with haute horology. However, Richard Mille watches embrace new solutions to enhance robustness and accuracy, and eschew weight. Moreover, the designs have modernity, with pleasing forms born of functionality, all the outcome of Mr Mille’s creativity.

Journalists and fans of horology immediately took to Richard Mille and the brand has continued to enjoy growing popularity and respect ever since.

GGM

Down to earth Bubba is clearly gifted and highly intelligent. During our conversation his eyes seem to overflow with energy. He has a sharp 64

wit and genuinely made me laugh; no sycophantic guffaws required. e key aspect I drew from our conversation was Bubba’s grasp of reality and his down to earth values. I have no doubt that Bubba’s beliefs, his sense of belonging to a loving family and his need to put something back into society will provide the concrete foundations for a happy life and an enduringly successful career.

G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

C

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Bulgaria_St Enodoc 07.04.13 18.08 Side 1

BULGARIA

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G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

Bulgaria_St Enodoc 07.04.13 18.09 Side 2

Thracian treasure Q

For most golfers, Portugal and Spain are familiar haunts.

Even Turkey seems somewhat banal these days. So where else can you go within three hours flying time to play great golf and get a suntan? You may want to add Bulgariaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Black Sea Coast to your list...

By Mike Kaas-Stock, photo: Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort

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Bulgaria_St Enodoc 07.04.13 18.09 Side 3

BULGARIA

I

know Bulgaria well, having spent a fair amount of time here in the past, and I can see the possibilities that it has to offer. Most countries have suffered in the economic downturn, but somehow Bulgaria seem to have managed to keep its head above water even as more established neighbours such as Greece have slowly sunk into the dark depths of economic meltdown.

When I first visited back in 2006, this was a land of contradictions.

Crumbling Soviet era construction mixed in with beautiful traditional Bulgarian buildings. e few cars that you did see on the roads were Ladas and Trabants.

Now you are more likely to find 4x4’s, although there are still plenty of horse and carts to watch out for.

Bulgaria is a cornucopia of differing landscapes and environments, from sweeping mountain ranges to wide open plains. e summers are long and hot and the winters are short and cold. One thing has always seemed certain to me; this is a land that is perfect for the development of golf courses to match and even exceed many of the more well known locations.

Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort Designed by the legendary Gary Player, racian Cliffs Signature Course is truly inspirational. e way that it fits naturally into its surroundings is almost seamless. e course runs over two wide ridges set into the Black Sea cliffs with the front nine on the lower, then doubling back for the back nine on the higher ridge. You have the feeling that whatever hole you play, the sea is only a short distance away. e resort derives its name from the racian civilization that lived in an area stretching north from Istanbul, Turkey to the Bulgarian/Romanian border. ey left their mark in gold and treasure that is being discovered to this day. racian troops are known to have accompanied neighbouring ruler Alexander the Great on his conquests.

Important year I arrive on a warm evening in late September. racian Cliffs is located on the Black Sea Coast just 30 minutes north of Varna and close to the village of Kavarna. Nearby are two more courses, e Lighthouse and Black Sea Rama which make this corner of Bulgaria a one-stop golf location. 2013 is an important year for the resort as they have been chosen to host the Volvo Match Play Championships.

I announce my arrival and check in to the apartment that has been reserved for me, and as I’m hungry after my journey, the next stop is the Geti Restaurant.

To sit outside on the open terrace, looking out to sea with a glass of red wine and quite possibly the best food I have ever had in Bulgaria, is a real joy. Tomorrow I play some golf, but tonight I am content to sit back and soak up the atmosphere.

On the Course e next day after breakfast I head out. e sun is shining and it looks to be a perfect day. On arrival at the first hole I find Jordan Borisov, the golf pro, chatting to two golfers preparing to tee off. is is a par-4 with a raised tee and quite limited views down the fairway, especially from the back tees. From what I can gather, Jordan is advising them to tee off from the white, but they seem to have other ideas and head for the black.

We both watch as these two distinctly average players take aim. Both of their shots curve off to the right and disappear into the bushes at the top of the cliffs.

As they head off to discover just exactly where they might have gone, Jordan leans over to me and whispers, “ey may be some time.”

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G R E AT G O L F M A G A Z I N E

Bulgaria_St Enodoc 07.04.13 18.09 Side 4

The green is cut out of the cliff edge and protected by the sea on the right and scrub to the left.

69

Bulgaria_St Enodoc 07.04.13 18.09 Side 5

BULGARIA

The Thracian civilization left their mark in gold and treasure that is being discovered to this day.

We walk over to the front of the tee and watch in fascination as they rummage through the thick Bulgarian undergrowth in what seems to be a vain attempt to retrieve their balls. One thing I have already noticed about the course: with the front nine having the sea to the right, the chances for a lefty such as myself ending up in the water are much more limited. In some places I even have a cliff to bounce off – happy days!

Having a good day I make no attempt at heroics and, being fully aware of my capabilities, tee off from the white. us, I am rewarded with a shot that lands on the left side of the green and slightly behind a large mound. By this time, the two golfers in front of me have moved on to the second hole. I hope that they have stocked up with golf balls if they are insistent on playing off the back tees.

I now have a nice straightforward shot with a nine iron and am rewarded by landing on the green. Two shots later and I have a par on my scorecard. is course is being nice to me and I can see that today is going to be a good day.

Cliffhanger On to the next hole, the sea is on my right and the white cliffs are rising majestically to my left. About a kilometre off shore I can see what appears to be a set of posts sticking out of the water. I am reliably informed that it’s an Oyster Farm. I must remember to order some for supper at the restaurant.

On arrival at the sixth hole I have a real surprise. At 211 metres from the back tee, this is the longest of the par-3´s, but with a 40 metre drop to the green below it can play a little shorter. e green is cut out of the cliff edge and protected by the sea on the right and scrub to the left. is is no place for dramatics; a simple straight shot to the green is what is required.

I quickly check to make sure that the two golfers in front of me are not down below hunting through the bushes and quietly begin to chant my mantra, “there is no water, there is no sea.” I strike the ball and watch in wonder as it sails off and disappears into the blue ocean. I have the feeling that it will not be alone down there. Ah well, let’s just say that was a practice shot.

Next to the sea On to the seventh! Just when I thought that I was safe, I meet what could be my nemesis. is hole is a par-4 with a stroke index of 3. From the black tee this is a real test of mettle. To reach the green you must aim over the sea and avoid the cliff wall close by on your left. From the white tees the distance is shorter but the effect is just the same. I land on the green, much to my relief, and make short work of finishing the hole.

Soon the front nine are behind me and I move on to the tenth. I’m having an absolutely wonderful time. From the back nine, the views are just as stunning and even though you are slightly further away from the water, you still have the feeling that you are right next to the sea. Each hole has its own set of challenges, whether it’s a tee shot over scrub to the fairway or a precise shot to the green.

Bogey and a beer On to the fifteenth which is a real joy; a par-3 from an elevated tee, this hole requires concentration and accuracy to land on the green and not spend the rest of the day in the thick undergrowth.

Seventeen and eighteen are where water comes into play in the form of a lake. For the seventeenth, which is a long par-5, you have to be careful – especially the big hitters – as the water runs along the left hand side of the fairway and green. My round

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Bulgaria_St Enodoc 07.04.13 18.09 Side 6

For non-golfers and also returning heroes from the course, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to visit the beach.

This is after all a Golf and Beach Resort.

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BULGARIA

You can soothe those muscles with Bulgarian specialities such as Kazanlak Valley rose oil, traditional herbs and honey or Black Sea healing mud. is completed on the eighteenth, a superb par-3 across the lake. ere is plenty of room on this hole to land behind the green, with the added luxury of a bank. Better a long putt than a swim.

I overshoot and land on the bank behind the green. My round ends with a bogey but I am happy on the whole with my performance. I retire to the clubhouse for a well deserved beer.

On the beach For non-golfers and also returning heroes from the course, don’t forget to visit the beach. is is after all a Golf and Beach Resort.

You have a choice of Bendida beach which is open to the public, and Argata beach which is purely for guests. With hammocks set along the shoreline, you could be mistaken for thinking that you were in the Caribbean. Complete with a wooden Jacuzzi set under the olive trees, a bar, and barbeque/restaurant, you can relax and watch the sunset.

Thracian Spa After a day on the golf course, or even just because you deserve it, I can recommend a visit to the Spa at the resort. You can soothe those muscles with Bulgarian specialities such as Kazanlak Valley rose oil, traditional herbs and honey or Black Sea healing mud.

Or perhaps even a traditional Moroccan Hammam.

We Brits have been pouring into Bulgaria for years but we seem to have not got the memo about racian Cliffs. Could we just possibly be missing one of the best courses in Europe? Over a coffee the next morning with the resort managers, Sandrina and Perry Einfeldt, I put the question to them. “e Russians and other Eastern Europeans are very used to coming to the Black Sea for their holidays,” says Sandrina. “So naturally they visit and also buy properties here. Being German, we tend to attract the German golfers. Our goal now is to increase 72

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the visits from countries such as the UK.” ings are afoot for the further expansion of racian Cliffs in the form of a Marina, Luxury Hotel, villas, and further apartments.

I depart after a wonderful couple of days. e golf course has been a delight to play and I am keen to return again, the sixth hole being one I want to improve on. Yes, it’s a course that will test you, but it does also give you the opportunity to play to your level and as long as you don’t try any heroics, no one should leave here discouraged. And if you do visit and find two golfers still hunting around in the undergrowth, smile, wave and move on to the next hole.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW GETTING THERE You can fly direct to Varna with Bulgaria Air from London Heathrow and Whizz Air from Luton. EasyJet flies to Sofia, where it is possible to catch a connecting flight to Varna which takes about 45 minutes. www.easyjet.com www.wizzair.com www.air.bg/en/ CAR HIRE Car hire is available through Avis at both Varna and Sofia airports. www.avis.co.uk THRACIAN CLIFFS Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort 9656 Bouzhuretz Village, Kavarna (next to Cape Kaliakra) Bulgaria www.thraciancliffs.com

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Northern Ireland_St Enodoc 07.04.13 18.53 Side 1

NORTHERN IRELAND

Fine Courses and Liquid Sunshine

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Northern Ireland_St Enodoc 07.04.13 18.53 Side 2

For a country with a population slightly less than Qatar, Northern Ireland has contributed more major golf champions in the modern era than any other European country with three in the space of just 14 months, from the US Open in 2010 to the Open Championship in 2011.

So what is the secret...

By Mike Kaas-Stock, photo courtesy of the clubs and Northern Ireland Tourist Board

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NORTHERN IRELAND

Roe Park Golf Club

Roe Park Resort is located just 16 miles away from Londonderry and offers access to a wealth of tourist sites and other places of interest.

I

have at various points in my life travelled around the UK. England, Scotland and Wales are locations that I know well. But Northern Ireland is uncharted territory, separated as it is from the rest of the UK by a bit of water known as the Irish Sea. So it was with great curiosity that I boarded a plane bound for Belfast last summer.

With a population of only just over 1.8 million people, it’s staggering how many wellknown golfers come from here. is corner of Ireland is home to Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell to name but a few. So why are there so many top golfers? According to Darren Clarke it’s the Guinness, although if I drink too much of the dark liquid I don’t have a hope in hell of being able to hit a small white ball, so I think that there is a little more to this phenomenon than just beer. Could it be that they have some fantastic golf courses?

Time for Guinness I arrive at Belfast George Best Airport in brilliant sunshine after leaving a wet and dreary England behind. My taxi is waiting to take me to Roe Park Golf Resort which is located in the north of the country and not far from Londonderry. is is to be my centre of operations for the period of my visit.

I’m really not sure what I expected to find on arriving here but as I look out of the car, it could really be anywhere in the UK. After about half an hour I arrive at my destination. I check in, drop 76

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off my bags and retire to the bar for a cool Guinness, which I hasten to add I consider vital if I am to experience the true Ireland.

It’s not long before I’m joined by various other members of the journalistic fraternity, who generally aren’t known for their love of orange juice and Babycham. However, I am conscious of the fact that tomorrow we are all booked on a day trip to Derry, so after a couple of pints I decide to have an early night.

Irish humour e next day we congregate in the lobby, some looking slightly worse for wear, and are introduced to our guide Lowell Courtney. Lowell runs a travel firm called Lynchpin Tours. He has the added skill of knowing his history inside out and also getting us in fits of laughter with his dry Irish humour.

If you want to know the history of Ireland in condensed form, he’s your man. Of course if you want the long version, he’s also your man!

Now, you cannot say that Derry is without problems, even today there is an on-going discussion as to whether this is Londonderry or Derry. is is still a city with a community learning to live together, but things have changed and there is no going back to the bad old days.

The wall A walk along the old city walls on the banks of the river Foyle is a must and gives you views over the surrounding area. Built originally to defend

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Royal Portrush Golf Club

Castlerock Golf Club

Royal County Down Golf Club

Ardglass Golf Club

the city from attack by various marauding Irish chieftains; it stands at 26 feet high and 30 feet thick in places and over a mile in length.

Completed in 1618, it proved to be a formidable barrier when in 1688 thirteen apprentice boys raised the bridge and closed the city gates against the Jacobite forces of King James. The Protestants held out for several months.

I would add a note of caution here, enter any bar in Londonderry at your own risk, the people are friendly and may insist on you staying for one too many. Several of our party returned flushed and glassy eyed.

and sending several shots wayward, there are a few players that are rather hoping that this may still happen.

Soon enough Darren Clarke appears, followed by Rory McIlroy and Colin Montgomerie. But it’s not long before the heavens open and play is stopped. Well there is a reason why it’s so green here, and it does involve water. I believe the locals call it liquid sunshine!

Play does begin again much later but by that time we are all on the coach and heading back to the hotel. Oh well, there may just be time for me to try my hand back at Roe Park.

Portrush and the Open

Roe Park Resort is located just 16 miles away from Londonderry and offers access to a wealth of tourist sites and other places of interest, including the “Giants Causeway”, one of Irelands top tourist attractions.

Here you will find an area full of hexagon shaped columns of volcanic rock formed by the cooling of an ancient lava flow. At least that’s the scientific version, we all know that it was really a bridge between Scotland and Ireland that was destroyed by the Scottish giant Benandonner while trying to escape from Irish folk hero Finn McCool.

Roe Park Golf Resort e following day we travel to the masters at Portrush, it’s pouring with rain and none of us are overly confident that we are going to see much golf today, but we board the coach and head off. It’s a short drive from Roe Park, but in the time that we are travelling the rain eases off. ere are two courses here but the main one is Dunluce links, a wonderfully dramatic course that will test a golfer of any standard. All I can say is if you land in the rough make sure that you have packed sandwiches and a tent! e wind coming in off the North Atlantic seems to drop to nothing one moment, then a split second later it’s howling in like a crazed banshee. e term banshee is Gaelic/Irish and refers to a wailing spirit warning of impending doom, quite apt in some cases.

I and several other journalists decide to head for a position near the tees on the sixth and the green on the fifth, a perfect place to watch some big names coming through.

The heavens open It’s worth noting that in 1982 this exact area had to be rescued from being washed into the sea. With the wind gusting around 78

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Relax and enjoy e resort is set not far from the causeway coast and has a backdrop of mountains to the south. is may be a less challenging course than Portrush, but just as enjoyable and enough to keep any golfer on their toes.

With the first five holes heading towards the river Roe and consisting of a nice gentle downhill par-4 to start things off, this is a course on which to relax and enjoy the views. e third hole is a par-3 with a well-positioned lake which might cause problems for those with an aversion to water.

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Giant´s Causeway

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Duke of York Pub

Play safe

Time to leave

After the fifth hole the course moves to the opposite side of the hotel and meanders its way up the hill. Make sure that you have your game hat on when playing the sixth as it’s overlooked from the Brassiere. Here perhaps it’s best to play safe as you are almost guaranteed a critical audience.

Water again comes into play on the twelfth, a par-3 over a pond. e fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth I found to be particularly pleasant with wonderful views and wide fairways.

All I can say is that you are guaranteed a pleasant round on this course. And where better to sit after your game than in that Brassiere, have some excellent food and also become a critical spectator of the sixth hole.

By the time you reach the fourteenth you will either be light with success or lighter still with the balls that you have lost. You end as you began, with a nice par-4 at which to make up for any loss of face over the previous holes.

Alas my time here is at an end and I am soon on my way back to London. If you are planning a golf trip don’t forget this Northern realm, it really is worth the visit. ere are many other great golf courses that I did not get time to visit, most notably Scrabo Golf Club near Newtownards.

It’s a small country and you never know who you may meet while on the course, it could be the next Rory McIlroy or Darren Clarke, or it could be one of the great men themselves.

I can definitely recommend the Guinness, but you may find that the only person who thinks that it improves your game is you and Mr Clarke.

GGM “Sláinte”

Belfast and the Titanic Museum In between the golf it’s well worth taking a trip to Belfast and the Titanic Museum. It was here at the Holland & Wolfe Shipyards that the infamous vessel was built along with its sister ship Olympic. Titanic was launched from here on the 31st May 1911 and we all know the story of its maiden voyage. e museum itself is a glistening work of modern art and I would personally recommend a visit. e building which is called “Titanic Belfast” is influenced by various maritime themes including, quite obviously, ships hulls. It covers 14,000 square metres of exhibition space within which are nine interactive galleries complete with the “dark ride underwater exploration theatre” and recreations of the ship’s decks and cabins.

Castlerock For my last day I had arranged to play Castle Rock but time was limited so Lowell kindly offered to give me a tour of the course.

It’s a real shame that I didn’t get to play as this is a real gem, a truly classic links course set amid towering dunes.

Having two courses and only limited time we decided to take a tour of the eighteen hole Mussenden course. It starts off pleasant enough with a nice par-4 with a slight dogleg right. At the second, which is again a par-4, you have a chance to practice your uphill shots, all the way to the green in fact.

I particularly liked the fourth, aptly named “Leg O’Mutton”, due to its shape I think rather than possibly what the golfers here like to eat. is is a tricky par-3 of 200 yards with bunkers on all side of the green. e eighth is where it all seems to get rather interesting. is is an uphill par-4 with a long dogleg right. Following on is the ninth, aptly named “Quarry”. is is a quirky par-3 with water to the left and just waiting to lure a lefty like me to his doom. I can almost hear the call of the banshee!

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GOOD TO KNOW HOW TO GET THERE Easyjet fly to Belfast from London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as Amsterdam, Paris, Geneva and Nice. www.easyjet.com Roe Park Resort, 40 Drumrane Rd, Londonderry, Limavady, BT49 9LB Tel 028 7772 2222 reservations@roeparkresort.com www.roeparkresort.com

Royal Portrush Golf Club Dunluce Road , Portrush, Antrim, BT56 8JQ Northern Ireland Tel +44 (0)28 7082 2311 Email: info@royalportrushgolfclub.com www.royalportrushgolfclub.com

Castlerock Golf Club 65 Circular Road, Castlerock, Co Londonderry BT51 4TJ Phone: (028) 7084 8314, Fax: (028) 7084 9440 Email: info@castlerockgc.co.uk www.castlerockgc.co.uk

Lynchpin Tours Lynchpin Tours, 4 Dhu Varren Gardens,Portrush, N.Ireland BT56 8LW Members of Irish & International Golf Tour Operators Associations Tel. +44 (0)28 7082 3232, Fax +44 (0)28 7082 5757 Email info@lynchpintours.com

Prosjekt1_IrishGolfTours 24.10.12 12.25 Side 1

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Aston Martin_Layout 1 15.04.13 11.53 Side 1

GREAT CARS

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Aston Martin_Layout 1 15.04.13 11.54 Side 2

The return of a legend If the James Bond movie “Goldfinger” was to be made today, they might have chosen the new “Vanquish” if not the exclusive “One 77” model as 007’s car, but when Sean Connery raced across the silver screen in his Aston Martin DB5 in 1964, it instantly became the most famous car in the world. Now this iconic automobile is once more back in the limelight as the super spy’s car of choice in the new film “Skyfall.” Not a bad way to celebrate the company’s centennial. By Angus Davies, photo Aston Martin 83

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GREAT CARS

Vanquish is the flagship of a superlative Aston Martin range which defines a new breed of Super Grand Tourer

I

recall during my salad days, joining millions of other budding alpha males in short trousers and falling for the silver birch DB5 in the film Goldfinger. But, I also remember my inquisitive fingers turning the pages of books and admiring cars like the DB4GT Zagato or the DB4 Convertible with its prominent air intake atop its beautiful bonnet.

I was too young to remember the DB4 being launched but it featured in books I received from family friends. I recall the word “Superleggera” adorning the bodywork of some sought after models. ey featured aluminium panels affixed to a tubular frame conferring strength and lightweight properties before today’s composite materials became popular. So it was with a great deal of anticipation I set off to visit Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell where vintage models are lovingly restored down to the finest detail.

Marble floors In recent times, Aston Martin Works has received a make-over with a gala opening in May 2012. A shiny, prestigious showroom proffers automotive delicacies to tempt passers-by. It is modern, brightly lit with luxurious marble adorning floors and walls alike. e modernity of this opulent retailing temple appears far 84

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removed from the oily garages I recall as a child growing up. e floor appears to be sanitised, unsullied by dust or other troublesome contaminants. is should have provided a clue as to what lay in store within the various departments that constitute Aston Martin Works.

At the time of my visit a pre-owned Aston Martin One-77, in midnight blue, took pride of place in the showroom. Its sinuous form still beguiles and deserves every covetous stare. Yet, my interest in this model was usurped by the heritage models which were residing in the workshop.

The history Aston Martin was formed a hundred years ago by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. It started its life at Henniker Place in Kensington, moving to Abingdon Road in Kensington in 1920, and then relocated to Feltham. However, like many admirers of the Aston Martin marque, I always think of the brand’s spiritual home as Newport Pagnell.

Wooden carts were once assembled on Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell before the advent of the modern motorcar. In 1954 Aston Martin moved to this address and it is here that some of the most iconic sports cars were brought to life.

Aston Martin_Layout 1 15.04.13 11.54 Side 4

Sean Connery with the DB5

Aston Martin DBS

Aston Martin One 77 interior

Aston Martin Vantage

Aston Martin has a long-term relationship with James Bond.

The association began in 1964 with the film “Goldfinger” featuring an iconic DB5 and has continued to present day

David Brown Back in 1948, Aston Martin was acquired by David Brown (whose initials gave name to the DB series) and it was he who introduced the Works Service. Aston Martin Works offers a broad array of services from new and used car sales, servicing, parts and accident repair. All of the facilities are arguably available at a local franchise.

However, it is the peerless delivery of the Aston Martin experience which distinguishes this particular home to the marque.

A key aspect of Aston Martin Works is the restoration of older generation cars or “heritage models” to use Aston Martin parlance.

original, ensuring authenticity is preserved.

Body panels are shot blasted and corroded parts replaced where necessary. I witnessed a chassis of a DB2 which had been made from scratch. e painstaking construction of its framework was the fruit of an artisan’s skilled endeavour.

New front wings can be shaped by hand. Deft use of hammers and other tools forming intricate shapes and exemplifying handicrafts I incorrectly assumed had long since been rendered extinct. e gearbox, engine and other mechanical components can be stripped back to bare metal, re-coated, glossed and rebuilt to exacting standards.

Patient craftmanship e company can procure a project car for the customer and then lavish hours of patient craftsmanship on its sculpted form. e end result can surpass the build quality of the original car the day it left the factory gates. It is this rekindling of historical models, imparting new life into their pulchritudinous torsos, which provides the most excitement to this reborn school boy.

The restoration process can be exhaustive. A car can be fully stripped, with each component laid out on a white sheet and photographed. Provenance is of vital importance to any collector, hence replacement parts are sympathetic to the

An array of colours Whilst I like silver birch, I am saddened to see that a high percentage of owners select this colour. I fell for the charms of a dark blue DB5 destined for Japan. It appeared to have just been removed from a vacuum sealed bag, free of defects as if cryogenically preserved from the day it left the factory back in 1960.

A vast array of colours is available, pandering to every wish and whim of the most demanding of clients. Classics such as Dubonet Red and British Racing Green can capture the mood from a bygone era. These days all paints are water-based, 85

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GREAT CARS

With an unrivalled history and heritage, Aston Martin strides forward into a second century with the strongest model line-up ever created

ensuring environmental concerns are not overlooked.

Cars are placed in a brightly lit room post painting and scrutinised under probing lights for any sign of blemish or flaw.

Only perfection will do.

Wood, leather and paint can all be tailored to suit the needs of the most discerning of clients. I read about Beryl Reid’s DB5 in midnight blue being extensively restored and resprayed in Gabbiano blue. e burgundy coloured interior, the sumptuous outcome of time-served skill, practised by one of the company’s machinists in the trim shop.

Abundance of upgrades Like many men of my generation, I have succumbed to modern creature comforts. e pre-requisites I now demand in a modern car include air conditioning, premium hi-fi and electric seats to fine-tune my seating position. ese will not be typically found in a car from this period. Nevertheless, those who seek convenience and current day accoutrements need not despair.

Aston Martin Works can provide a wonderful plethora of upgrades to satisfy every craving. Discreet modern hi-fi can be covertly hidden behind a period radio. Electronic ignition, window motor upgrades and alarms are further options to make the chosen car even more pleasurable to own. Moreover, 86

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mechanical enhancements can augment enjoyment by upgrading brakes, suspension and the power train.

Car of the future At the conclusion of my visit to Aston Martin Works I was left aching to own a DB5. e tour of the facility at Newport Pagnell would cause profuse salivation in anyone with a pulse. Some of the cars I witnessed will sadly elude my grasp due to my finite budget, but there were models which were more accessible.

For instance, I keep admiring an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish Coupe on the company’s website. It dates back to 2003, but looks factory fresh. A classic car of the future, it was made in Newport Pagnell and has a timeless appeal befitting a car wearing the winged badge on its nose. “Stronsa Silver” is a term which keeps rolling off my tongue.

Pursuit of perfection e greatest advert Aston Martin can ever create is to provide an insight into their world in Newport Pagnell. Attention to detail and the uncompromising pursuit of perfection are at the centre of Aston Martin Works paradigm. ey are preserving motoring heritage and the skills necessary to make the finest cars. One day I hope to return in my own heritage model to the ancestral home of motoring excellence that is to be found on Tickford Street. GGM

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H G I H SEEKING AND Golf is a game of highs and lows, as anyone LOW who plays will testify. But for real high or low, how about playing golf courses at both ends of the elevation spectrum? Peter Ellegard has done just that – and in some pretty extreme weather conditions, too.

Photo: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, Peter Ellegard, Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Robert Kaufmann

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Besides golf, the area is a delight to explore. Spend time wandering the hilly, cobbled streets of Old Lijiang with its ornate rooftops and gushing streams

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M

y g o l f i n g “ l ow” c a m e w h e n I v i s i t e d California’s Death Valley and played Furnace Creek Golf Course. At 214 feet (65 metres) below sea level it is the world’s lowest golf course and is well-named; Death Valley is also the hottest place on earth, with Furnace Creek recording an eyewatering 134ºF (57ºC) in July 1913.

At the other end of the scale is the delightfully-named Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, set in a national park in China’s south-west Yunnan province. Close to Tibet and set amidst the “little” brothers of the nearby mighty Himalayas, it sits at an altitude of 10,170 feet (3,100 metres) with the snow-covered peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain towering 18,360 feet (5,596metres) above it.

Altitude sickness It is a breathtaking golf course in every sense. e mountain and forest scenery is nothing short of sensational, while the altitude makes the air so thin that golfers need to acclimatise themselves before playing a round to avoid altitude sickness. e thin air also means that golf balls fly 20% further. As a result, when he designed the course in 2001, Canadian architect Neil Haworth stretched it out to a monstrous 8,548 yards, making it the world’s longest golf course. Yet still only a par 72!

Jade Dragon is not the world’s highest 18-hole course. at distinction is held, according to Guinness World Records, by the Yak Golf Course in Kupup, East Sikkim, India, at 13,054 feet (3,979metres) . However, that plays to less than 5,000 yards and has browns instead of greens. e other contender, La Paz Golf Club in Bolivia, celebrated its centenary this year and lies at10,885 feet (3,318metres), but again it falls short with its 6,771-yards length. At that elevation, it equates to only just over 5,200 yards if it was a sea-level course – executive course length. By comparison, Jade Dragon would equal close to a healthy 6,850 yards at sea level, so it can truly claim to be the world’s highest full-length course.

Magical and enchanting While few European golfers venture onto its fairways, Yunnan is gaining a growing reputation for golfing excellence, with several top courses close to the provincial capital Kunming (including the Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones Jr layouts at Spring City Golf & Lake Resort) to the south as well as a couple around Lijiang, the exquisite UNESCO World Heritage town and gateway for Jade Dragon half an hour away by road. is part of China has a magical and enchanting feel about it.

Just the other side of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the celebrated Tiger Leaping Gorge, popular with hikers. e rushing waters of the Jingsha River flow through it, turning into the Yangtze River shortly after. e region beyond it, with its Tibetan villages and monasteries, has been renamed Shangri-La, in recognition of the fabled utopia where time stands still which was popularised in the 1933 novel and subsequent movie Lost Horizon.

Forest fire I had first come across the Jade Dragon golf course while filming a documentary TV series with a Chinese film crew in October 2003. Having taken a cable car to a viewing platform near the top of its eponymous mountain, I gazed longingly down on its bright green slivers of fairway but there was no time to stop off and play it after we descended.

I returned to visit Lijiang again several years later, determined to play. However, the omens were not good and my plan to tee off early that April morning had almost gone up in smoke, thanks

to a nearby forest fire which had flared the previous day. Although I had called the course and checked it was open, the guards manning the national park gate would not let my driver pass, tee time or not. ey relented only after I returned to Lijiang and obtained the necessary official signature.

Awakening of the dragon As my playing partners and I made our way to the first tee a threatening black cloud had begun to engulf the jagged peaks, reinforcing the earlier bad omen. e opening par-5 of 681 yards plays directly towards Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Somehow I hit perfect tee and approach shots and managed a par, but as the menacing cloud edged closer there was a sudden, sharp crack. Not thunder, my host assured me as I looked up nervously, but a chemical-filled rocket that had been fired to seed the cloud and induce rain so that it would help douse the resurgent forest fire.

It worked. Almost instantly a Himalayan April shower was in full flow, huge raindrops sheeting down like pellets. e dragon had been woken from its slumber. ankfully the buggy provided occasional shelter as we continued our game, but the poor girl caddies had to brave the elements as they hitched a ride on the back. e shower eventually passed, though, and we finished our round in sunshine.

Wide fairways Despite its altitude, Jade Dragon can be played all year and snow is rare. e best time is from May to October. e course was not at its best in April but was still eminently playable. e opening nine, around the base of the mountain, has wide, generous fairways, with five lakes coming into play, while the hillier back nine features more challenging, undulating fairways with more doglegs and several blind shots. e course has numerous bunkers, most noticeably on the par-3 3rd hole, where the raised green is protected by a ring of them if you avoid the lake to the left. e overriding feature of the course, however, is its length.

Even knowing the ball flies further does nothing to help stop you trying to lash every shot, not least when 12 of the holes measure over 450 yards (three of them over 680 yards), four par-4s are over 500 yards long and all par-3 holes over 230 yards. Most of my problems on a course stem from trying too hard, duffing the shot as a result. And duffed shots don’t travel 20% further at altitude.

Trust me.

Daddy of the holes was the 711-yard, par-5 5th hole, a dogleg right with its green tucked alongside the biggest lake, while the par-5 18th is only slightly less daunting, playing 695 yards uphill and finishing by the clubhouse.

Dongba symbols Besides golf, the area is a delight to explore. Spend time wandering the hilly, cobbled streets of Old Lijiang with its ornate rooftops and gushing streams. It is home to the blue-clad Naxi minority people and their shaman, the Dongba, whose symbols are the only pictograph script still in use in the world today. You will also see Tibetan traders and girls from the Mosuo minority group dressed in their traditional red and white. China’s only matriarchal society, the Mosuo people mostly live around Lugu Lake, a torturous five-hour road trip from Lijiang but worth adding on for a few days’ stay.

Take your pick from the selection of restaurants and cafes in Lijiang, where you can find pizzas and fast food as well as fare from France, Mexico and other countries besides Chinese food and local Naxi and Tibetan specialities.

If you like a party atmosphere head to boisterous, bar-lined Xinhua Street, where among restaurants is French-run Le Petit

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Paris serving French cuisine with a Chinese twist. e brave might want to seek out Tibetan favourite yak butter tea. Once was more than enough for me.

Death Valley Having experienced such a golfing high, I plumbed the golfing depths on a spring visit to California’s Death Valley in 2012. e 18-hole, par 70 Furnace Creek Golf Course lies in the heart of the valley close to Badwater, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 280feet (85metres) below sea level. e course is part of a resort offering the year-round Furnace Creek Ranch and, nearby, the Furnace Creek Inn which only opens for the winter.

Created originally in 1927 with just three holes by a date palm farmer, it was expanded to nine holes in 1931 and became California’s first desert course. e second nine holes opened in 1968 to make Furnace Creek an 18-hole layout before the course underwent a major makeover in 1997 by noted architect Perry Dye, who added a full irrigation system.

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An oasis in the desert Surrounded by desert and the sun-bleached Panamint and Funeral mountain ranges, what strikes you is how green and lush the course is. Helped by the irrigation, Furnace Creek is an oasis amidst the fiery, devil’s cauldron that is Death Valley. Fairways are lined by large, mature tamarisk trees and dotted by date palms and there is water on nine holes, with ponds edged by thick beds of reeds. e abundance of water and greenery attracts many birds; indeed the Furnace Creek course is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. There is even a bird-watching hide alongside one pond and some tee markers are shaped like a roadrunner – a bird you might see while you play.

Underlining where you are, signs by the first tee proclaim it as the lowest course on earth while a large thermometer adorns the pro shop wall. Beginning my round at 8am on an April morning, it was already nudging 100ºF (38ºC) in the shade. By the time I finished it was well over the mark. I had chosen to stay, and play, during the hottest-ever April recorded in North America with afternoon temperatures maxing at 113ºF (45ºC)!

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Few bunkers Being below sea level the ball does not travel as far, even in the searing sun. I found I was under-hitting by one club until I adjusted. At 6,236 yards Furnace Creek is quite short and its fairways are wide and forgiving, but small, multi-level greens ensure it is no pushover. e course is a flat track, with the trees and ponds adding difficulty and, along with the wildlife and pink-coloured mountains, of visual interest. Surprisingly, given all the sand in the surrounding desert, there are few bunkers.

Some of the best holes incorporate water. I particularly enjoyed the par-3 2nd and par-4 11th, both skirted by the same reed-filled pond, and the par-5 10th, which has a stream running past the tee box, separating it from the 9th green.

“Drive-through” restaurant One unusual touch at the 19th Hole Bar & Grill is a buggy ramp so you don’t even need to get out to order or collect your mid-round snack. It is closed between June and September

though, when the summer heat is at its fiercest.

Unusually for an American course, walking is allowed. But when it is hot, the shade provided by a buggy as well as that offered by the trees is welcome. Just remember to leave a towel where you sit. Even in the short time it takes to play a shot or take a couple of putts, the hot seat will scorch bare thighs.

Heatstroke Open If you like extreme golf, you can take part in the annual Heatstroke Open golf tournament at the course. Played in late June, when temperatures can hit up to 125ºF (52ºC) by day, it attracted 50 adventurous golfers when the inaugural event was held in 2011.

Playing in summer does have the advantage of the fairways being virtually empty, save for a few other hardy souls, and green fees are just $30 including buggy. But even in winter, when daytime maximums drop to a more comfortable 65ºF (18ºC) average, it won’t break the bank at $60 per round plus $13.50 for a buggy.

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Casual dining Adjacent to the course, the Ranch at Furnace Creek is open all year and offers 224 rooms in a casual setting, a general store, spring-fed swimming pool, tennis courts, horse riding in the desert and the Borax Museum, featuring the wagons used by miners to extract the ore. A mile up the road, the Inn at Furnace Creek is a more luxurious resort property with 66 rooms and suites, fine dining and a spring-fed pool, but is only open from mid-October to mid-May. Dining is casual at the Ranch at Furnace Creek. e Wrangler Buffet features a daily, self-service, all-you-can-eat breakfast and lunch buffet, while dinner options encompass a soup and salad bar, and staples such as roast chicken, beef and baked cod. e 49’er Café offers family dining with a Western menu from pancakes and biscuits with gravy for breakfast to burgers and fried chicken for dinner. Snacks such as pizza, buffalo wings, and hot dogs are available at the Corkscrew Saloon. ere are no reservations at all there and dinner orders are only taken up until 9pm.

Desert inspired e Furnace Creek Inn Dining Room is a classier experience, with a “casual elegance” dress code in a stylish setting with stunning desert and mountain views. e menu incorporates classical, Continental and Pacific Rim influences. Some menu items are desert-inspired, among them crispy cactus fritters and prickly-pear margarita. Afternoon tea in the lobby is a tradition dating back 85 years. e restaurant, like the Inn, is closed from June to September. ere is plenty to see and do while staying in Death Valley, including seeing the gnarled rock formations of Zabriskie Point (after which a cult 1970 movie was named), an overview of the valley from on-high at Dante’s View, and the salt pans at Badwater. You may also come across a sign saying Devil’s Golf Course. Don’t be tempted to get your clubs out, however. It is just GGM another rock formation.

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GOOD TO KNOW JADE DRAGON SNOW MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB www.ljxsgolf.com ­ Location: 30 minutes from Lijiang, Yunnan province, China Flights: Lijiang is served from destinations in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming and Chengdu as well as several destinations in Asia. Airlines include Air China and China Eastern.

FURNACE CREEK GOLF COURSE www.furnacecreekresort.com Location: Furnace Creek Resort is located in the heart of Death Valley National Park, about 120 miles north-west of Las Vegas and 295 miles north-east of Los Angeles.

Flights: Las Vegas has non-stop flights from the UK by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Direct UK flights to Los Angeles are operated by BA, Virgin Atlantic, United, America Airlines, Air New Zealand and American Airlines ACCOMMODATION There is no hotel at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, so stay in Lijiang, 30 minutes away. The best hotel in Lijiang Old Town is the four-star Lijiang Yinxiang Old City Hotel, a courtyard-style hotel in the heart of the ancient town. Tel: +86 888 510 2670 Furnace Creek Resort accommodation includes: The family-orientated Ranch at Furnace Creek (open all year) The 4-diamond Inn at Furnace Creek (open October-May) GOLF Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: 18-hole course, par 72, 8,458 yards Facilities: clubhouse, driving range Green fees: 18 holes including buggy and caddie approximately £82 weekdays, £92 weekends and public holidays Furnace Creek Golf Course: 18-hole course, par 70, 6,236 yards Facilities: pro shop, 19th Hole Bar & Grill, driving range Green fees: 18 holes winter season $30 including buggy, $60 at other times plus $13.50 buggy (sundowner rates available)

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A D V E R TO R I A L

8

Manor from Heaven H

ome to a Ryder Cup described as the “greatest ever” in 2010, the Celtic Manor Resort should be on the bucket list of any travelling golfer.

With three championship golf courses, including the spectacular Twenty Ten Course purpose-built for golf’s greatest team tournament, the five-star resort in South Wales is the perfect location for an extended golfing break.

You can even play in excess of 100 more of the world’s most famous golf courses on a new simulator in the Golf Academy, which also boasts state-of-the-art tuition and fitting studios. So the golfing options at Celtic Manor are boundless.

The après-golf is every bit as fulsome with a sumptuous spa for golf widows or those wanting to tease out the knots and creases following a day on the fairways, two health clubs each with 20metre swimming pools, adventure activities to keep the whole family entertained and no fewer than six restaurants to refuel in.

The Twenty Ten

views of the Severn Estuary distract you from the course’s tricky, sloping greens.

The Montgomerie Colin Montgomerie, who will be forever remembered as the man who led Europe to victory at Celtic Manor, has left another stamp at the resort with his design of a third golf course on the site.

The Ryder Cup legend has remained true to his Scottish roots with some penal pot bunkering on this undulating course which features some breathtaking tee shots over deep ravines and exhilarating downhill approaches.

The Golf Academy The Welsh National Centre of Excellence, Celtic Manor boasts one of the finest equipped golf academies in Europe with three custom-fit teaching suites, an indoor putting studio, a 32-bay driving range and an all-weather, short play practice area. A team of qualified professionals is on hand to deliver expert advice, tuition and club fitting to all levels of player.

No golf fan will ever forget Graeme McDowell with his arms aloft after holing his crucial birdie putt on the 16th hole or the rapturous scenes of celebration that followed when he secured Europe’s last-gasp Ryder Cup victory on the next green.

We can’t guarantee that you will play like McDowell and his Ryder Cup team-mates of 2010 but the breathtaking Twenty Ten Course gives you the unique opportunity to follow in their footsteps and try to repeat their heroics.

Your match-winning putt on the 18th hole might not earn quite the reception that the European players enjoyed underneath the clubhouse balcony, but you can always be assured of a warm Welsh welcome and a golfing experience that will make you feel like a star.

From lacing up your shoes at the same lockers which still carry the name plaques of the world’s best players to a post-round meal in a clubhouse festooned with images of Ryder Cup drama, there is a special vibe to every round on the Twenty Ten Course.

With water on half of the holes, this is a tough but exciting challenge for any standard of golfer with all the risk-and-reward tests of strategy and course management you would expect from the first course ever to be constructed specifically for the Ryder Cup. Still the home for the annual ISPS Handa Wales Open on the European Tour, the Twenty Ten Course builds up to an exciting climax with the driveable par-4 15th hole thrown into a tough closing stretch before the final, heart-stopping approach over water to the 18th green.

The Celtic Manor Resort was voted the UK’s best for golf and spa in the 2012 Spa Traveller Awards and its Forum Spa offers the finest Elemis treatments in 16 luxurious treatment rooms.

No fewer than six restaurants include the award-winning, fine-dining offering at Terry M and the Newbridge on Usk, a beautiful country inn six miles upriver form the main resort.

Merlins Bar and the Cellar Sports Bar in the Manor House offer enticing watering holes to extend your post-round discussions beyond the 19th hole provided by the two golf clubhouses.

To burn some of the calories consumed, two health clubs are fitted with the latest Technogym equipment and both can boast 20-metre swimming pools. The more adventurous can also take to the treetop ropes course, Forest Jump, or enjoy some fresh air on mountain biking, jogging and walking trails.

The Newbridge on Usk even has fishing rights and shooting can be arranged nearby if golf is not your only pastime of choice.

There are activity programmes and a dedicated childcare service for kids and two nine-hole adventure golf courses provide another testing challenge in miniature for those who can’t get enough of their golfing fix, whatever their age.

So, no matter what your idea of the ideal golfing break and whoever make up your travelling companions, the Celtic Manor Resort has something for everyone for a trip that is sure to live long in the memory.

The Roman Road

Golf breaks

The first course to open at Celtic Manor in 1995, the Roman Road Course staged the Wales Open on the European Tour from 2005-2007 while the Twenty Ten Course was being constructed.

It also staged the All*Star Cup celebrity version of the Ryder Cup in 2005 and 2006 but don’t let some wonderful

The Triple Tee package to play all three courses and stay two nights starts from £172 depending on season One-night, two-course stay and play packages start from £79 To see the latest offers visit celtic-manor.com or call Reservations on + 44 (0) 1633 410262

Other facilities

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GARIA - BIRTH OF THE COOL I have driven golf carts on courses all over the world, but I never dreamt I would be driving one in traffic down London's Park Lane...

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By Mike Kaas-Stock photo Garia and Nils Bjornes

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T

here is nothing like sitting behind the wheel of a luxury car.

And should you wish to have the same experience on a golf course there is only one choice, and that’s a Garia.

Garia have taken the concept of the golf cart and turned it on its head. As with a car, you can go for the cheap version or you can aspire to the luxury brand, and when it comes to golf a Garia is definitely top-of-the-line. ey are street legal with indicators and headlights, giving you the opportunity to drive them to the golf course, or anywhere else that you care to go for that matter.

A cold day in London Town We had been waiting for better weather, but as the forecaster on the BBC announced that the bitter cold was here to stay, the editor and I decided that with a deadline looming there was nothing for it, this week we would drive a Garia Golf Car down Park Lane in London, and at least hope for a little sunshine.

I called Dan Zuckerman over at Bob Forstner Park Lane, a 100

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luxury car and Garia dealer in London and set the day. For anyone not familiar with Park Lane, you know when you are getting close to Bob Forstner’s by the large collection of petrol heads staring longingly through the showroom window. How can you blame them, for where else can you find a Koenigsegg Agera R next to a Spyker C8 Spyder and a Pagani Huayra! Add to this esteemed collection the Garia, and you are indeed on hallowed ground.

We are met by Dan and the company’s namesake Bob Forstner who welcomes us into the warm showroom. e Garia that we are going to drive today is the Monaco 2+2 and it has already been moved to the rear doors in preparation for our epic journey. Dan has fixed on the licence plates and all that is required is to drive it down the ramp and out onto the street.

The Monaco e Monaco is the regal ride compared to the Roadster which is the sporty version. Our model is the four person option (2+2)

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with a top speed of 25 mph/40kmh. Along with countless features this model includes leather seats, seat belts, refrigerator, headlights, indicators and mirrors. ere is also a sports mode setting for days when you feel the need for a bit of a boost.

From humble beginnings e company and its Garia Golf Cars are the brainchild of Dane Anders Lynge. e idea began to take shape while he studied at a design school in Denmark, and progressed further when he worked for a Mercedes tuning company. Garia was established in 2005 with the first golf cars and street-legal models being launched in 2010. e idea was to create the world’s first luxury golf and leisure car in both design and technology, planned from day one to be street legal. e cars feature a double wishbone front suspension in cast aluminium with upright coilovers (just as you would find in a high-end sports car) which provide unparalleled stability and

handling. With a longer wheel base than a traditional golf cart to remove any overhanging weight, this also provides for a smoother ride. e Garia has all-round brakes, discs at the front and drum brakes at the rear for maximum stopping power.

Other technological additions include an automatic parking brake which engages whenever the vehicle is at a standstill, and a hill descent control, a regenerative braking system which helps to recharge the batteries and so extend range while maintaining the speed that you select with the throttle. en there are the Mansory upgrades, but more on that later.

Park Lane London Within minutes we are pulling out into central London traffic, Dan is driving, the editor is riding shotgun and I have the rear two seats to myself. Obviously driving through central London in a Garia Golf Car is not a daily occurrence judging from the looks we receive from passers-by.

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London taxi drivers are particularly keen to wind down their window and give us directions to the nearest golf course. Dan indicates right and we move lanes in preparation for turning into Knightsbridge. I wonder if Harrods would mind if we drove through their store and did a little shopping. We should fit down the aisles nicely.

Perks of the product It’s worth pointing out that as this is an electric vehicle there is no congestion charge, no road tax and free parking in central London. is baby could save you a small fortune and turn heads in a way that is usually reserved for Ferrari drivers. .

Hyde Park We eventually find ourselves in Hyde Park and not far from the Serpentine Lake. A photo shoot is taking place of a soon-to-bemarried couple together with the groom’s Aston Martin. ey soon find themselves down two cameramen as they catch site of the Garia. One even asks if we would be so kind as to park next to the Aston Martin so that they can include it in their pictures.

Another quick spin up Park Lane and it’s time to return our chariot to the showroom. e Monaco has handled fantastically well in traffic and several motorists were put to shame when feeling the need to try to overtake. We took it to its maximum speed which it handled superbly and I am keen to take the new Garia Mansory Currus version out in the near future. Unfortunately we would require somewhere out of the mandatory city limit of 30mph as its top speed is 37mph/60kmh.

Mansory For those who want something really special, Garia have teamed up with luxury car modification firm Mansory to create the ultimate luxury recreation vehicle. Mansory are renowned for their bodywork upgrades of performance supercars. Modifications to the Garia include specially designed carbon fibre body panels and supercar-inspired improvements over the whole vehicle to convey superior quality. e cabin floor can even be lined with teak if you so choose!

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The Ambassadors Paula Creamer, the well-known American golfer, is one of several ambassadors for Garia. As a professional she has eleven tournament wins to her name, including nine LPGA Tour events.

She has reached as high as number two in the Women's World Golf Rankings and was the 2010 U.S. Women's Open champion. “e Garia is amazing,” says Paula. “I love its looks and the fact that it has some serious get-up-and-go, it’s also fun to drive.”

Back at the showroom We leave the Garia back with its illustrious companions which include a Lamborghini and that stunning Koenigsegg. A very important fact has occurred to me. To upgrade from a regular car to a supercar will set you back serious money, but upgrading to a Garia for around £20,000 is within the realms of even the most humble of us. With this thought in mind, I may just have to place that order.

GGM

Contact details Garia Head Office - Denmark Garia A/S Lunikvej 44 DK-2670 Greve Phone: +45 46 570 580 www.garia.com Bob Forstner Excalibur Park Lane Ltd Avenfield House 118-127 Park Lane Mayfair London W1K 7AF United Kingdom Tel. +44 (0) 207 629 7020 www.bobforstner.co.uk

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Enjoy a Golf Break in the Heart of The Garden of England .

Get away from it all miles from city life - yet just 45 minutes from London.

Tudor Park, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club offers championship golf, comfortable accommodation and local sights including Leeds Castle and excellent Vineyards. Finish your day in our award winning golfer's 'Zest Bar and Eatery' then enjoy a pint at a cosy local pub. Book now to make the most of your weekend in the countryside.

Sunday Saver £85.00 per person - Dinner, B&B + two rounds of Golf To reserve your room, call 01622 734334 or visit Marriottgolf.co.uk

TUDOR PARK, A MARRIOTT HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB Maidstone, Kent

Rates are per room, per night, based on limited availability, not applicable for groups of 10 or more rooms.

BRITISH PAR 3 CHAMPIONSHIP 6TH - 9TH AUGUST, 2013 Nailcote Hall, Warwickshire

Once a year, Nailcote Hall’s Cromwell Course in Warwickshire attracts a global field of leading professionals to play in Europe’s most prestigious Par 3 tournament. Televised on Sky Sports and covered by influential national publications including Golf Monthly and The Daily Telegraph, the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship is a unique celebration of sporting legends, celebrity guests, amateur golfers and thousands of spectators.

Adopting a format similar to the famed Dunhill Links Championship on the European Tour, the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship sees celebrities, amateurs and professionals playing together in a unique tournament experience format, while the professionals battle it out for the massive £100,000 prize fund.

PENSIONS & WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Once again this year, the event will be hosted by sporting legend and pioneer of European golf Tony Jacklin CBE, who welcomes and entertains fellow competitors, spectators and amateur participants alike.

PENSIONS & WEALTH MANAGEMENT

HOSTED BY

SPORTINGLEGEND TONY JACKLIN CBE

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A golfing trailblazer, Jacklin won the Open Championship in 1969 before becoming the only European player in an 84 year span to win the US Open a year later in 1970.

Jacklin’s contribution to the world of golf will be celebrated throughout the four days of the championship. Following the momentous European triumph at last year’s Ryder Cup, the championship will pay tribute to the man who made the tournament what it is today.

As Ryder Cup captain from 1983 to 1989, Jacklin completely rejuvenated Europe’s chances in the event by winning Europe’s first trophy for 28 years in 1985 and achieving the first ever victory on US soil in 1987.

This year, the event will be extra special as the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship celebrates its 80th anniversary.

The Ryder Cup legend particularly favours Par 3 golf, identifying it as “fast-paced, exhilarating and high octane”, something that characterises the Par 3 competition perfectly. As grandstand roars envelope the picturesque Warwickshire course at the championship’s climax, none of the thousands of spectators who make their way to the event would disagree!

Jacklin isn’t the only golfing great to tee it up for the tournament. In recent years, the event has attracted an ever impressive list of major winners, European Tour stars and Ryder Cup players. Highlights of the field last year included former Masters winner Ian Woosnam OBE, Senior Tour star Gary Wolstenholme MBE, Champions

Tour star Mark Mouland, Ryder Cup legend Brian Barnes and Scott Jamieson, who is currently 2nd in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. Other leading European Tour stars who regularly compete in the event include 2007 World Cup winner Marc Warren, Tiger Woods-beating Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Robert Rock, former PGA Championship winners Scott Drummond and Andrew Oldcorn and former Open De Alstom champion Graeme Storm.

This global event attracts competitors from around the world, all competing for the impressive £100,000 prize fund. Taking place between the 6th and 9th August this year, the championship attracts the involvement of influential businesses and individuals, offering a festival atmosphere, with a large tented village providing space for a host of different retailers, from luxury goods to golfing gadgets, the highest quality food and drink, as well as so much more. The glamorous event sums up the dynamic world of European golf and it is little wonder that such a diverse array of personalities and sporting heroes descend upon the course to pit their playing skills against some of the biggest household names, including all-time greats and the best new talent.

The course itself is highly regarded as one of the world’s very best Par 3 layouts. After choosing the tournament as his comeback event following injury last year, golf legend Brian Barnes confidently proclaimed the Cromwell Course as “better than the Par 3 at Augusta!” It certainly offers the toughest of

tests, which guarantees drama and intrigue right up until the last putt drops!

National, regional and golfing media alike set up camp at Nailcote Hall for the event, including media partners such as Sky Sports, Challenge TV, Golf Monthly and the Daily Telegraph, all of whom provide extensive features and analysis in the run up to, during and after the championship. It is no surprise, then, that the event attracts sponsorship from leading brands including Britvic, Nicky, John Letters, Mercedes-Benz and Dunlop.

Last year’s championship was won by former European Tour winner David “DJ” Russell in a nail biting finish.

The event also proves to be a key celebrity event, attracting a range of stars from the football field, cricket pitch, stage and screen.

This year’s high profile line up is set to make the celeb-am competition a sparkling on course performance, with players including Sir Alex Ferguson, William Roache MBE, Peter Schmeichel MBE, David Seaman MBE, Peter Shilton MBE, Len Goodman, Willie Thorne, Anton Du Beke, Jasper Carrott OBE, Johnny Herbert and Matthew Hoggard MBE, to name but a few.

With so many clamouring for a day on the Cromwell Course, it is little wonder that the championship is a year-on-year success, growing all the time. Glamorous, entertaining and combining exhilarating sporting excellence with unbeatable entertainment, 2013 looks set to be the Farmfoods British Par 3’s best ever year.

To sponsor or play in the event please call: 08453 31 30 31 or visit www.britishpar3.com

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With its widespread coal mines, it once played a major part in the industrial revolution, leading to the development of the first railways. Today, Northumberland is the most sparsely populated county in England, with only 62 people per square kilometre. But with more than forty golf courses, some of the country’s most magnificent medieval castles and Britain’s greatest Roman monument – Hadrian’s Wall – it’s certainly a place which is more than worthy of a visit...

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o go on a golf break anywhere in the UK during the winter months can be quite a gamble. Ask anyone who has done it. In fact, after a trip to Slaley Hall in Northumberland in mid February, I discovered for myself how unpredictable the weather can be. ´It wasn’t too bad when my colleague, Mike, and I left Heathrow in the morning, and a phone call to the resort the day before had confirmed that the golf courses were open. However, on leaving the plane at Newcastle International Airport and picking up the rental car from Avis, we couldn’t help noticing that it had started snowing, and some forty minutes later we arrived at the resort in a virtual blizzard.

Tour of the facilities With any outdoor activities out of the question and as our room was not yet ready, we took the opportunity to tour the facilities together with Sales Executive Steven Newman, who reassured us that this weather front would pass by the afternoon and that the forecast for the next day was a lot better. e hotel has 142 bedrooms and suites, three restaurants and several bars, including the informal Claret Jug; the stylish Hadrian’s Brasserie; the 19th Bar, overlooking the golf course; and 108

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the more formal Duke’s Grill, where several dishes will be prepared at your table. e resort also has a choice of luxury lodges, ideal for families or groups, which sleep up to eight people.

Edwardian mansion Set in 1000 acres of Northumberland moorland and forest, De Vere Slaley Hall is located some 28 miles west of Newcastle airport and six miles south of the town of Hexham.

Originally an Edwardian mansion built by Charles Samuel Hunting between 1912 and 1914 on what had been known until then as Bog Hall Farm, it has remained virtually as it was, with the exception of the removal of the top floor which used to be the servants’ quarters. e Hunting family, whose business empire encompassed shipping, building and mining, took up residence at Slaley Hall in 1914. Particularly during the roaring 20’s, their many guests enjoyed wonderful parties, hunting and fishing, with servants on hand to cater to their every whim.

From Hunting to Priestman Following the death of Charles Hunting, the Hall was sold in

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1947 to Major & Mrs Jack Priestman, who had owned Ashington Collieries, situated north of Newcastle, prior to the nationalization of the coal industry. ey acquired additional moorland, invested heavily in forestry and concentrated on developing the excellent shooting, hunting and fishing at Slaley Hall.

After Major Priestman died in 1966, his wife remained in residence until 1984 when it was sold to the present owners and eventually became the hotel we see today.

Lunch by the pool During our tour of the hotel we also visited the spa and the indoor pool where, not surprisingly, many of the guests had taken refuge from the hostile weather conditions outside and were enjoying lunch by the pool in their bathrobes.

We spent the rest of the afternoon chatting to guests and members of the staff in the bar while frequently looking out

through the big windows towards the golf course, hoping for a change in the weather. It didn’t look too good, but we were still optimistic.

After dinner in the Brasserie, we found ourselves a couple of comfortable chairs in front of a roaring fire in one of the lounges and sat down with a drink. Not a bad way to spend the evening.

On the course e next morning, we were pleasantly surprised to see blue sky and that most of the snow was already gone. Now we got our first glimpse of the golf course – or rather golf courses, because Slaley Hall has two championship courses: the Hunting and the Priestman, obviously named after the two prior owners.

My colleague, Mike, determined to keep his tee-time at nine o’clock, was getting ready while I opted for a much more comfortable way to experience the courses; being taken out in a 109

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warm pick-up truck by the head grounds man Stephen Cram. As expected, it was freezing cold, and the wind didn’t improve matters.

But, as a true Brit, Mike stuck it out for more than four hours.

I have often wondered about this. Me being a Norwegian, you would think I should be more prepared for and used to these kinds of cold conditions. But to be honest, I don’t think my Viking forefathers liked the cold that much either. Why else did they go south?

To the left, a stream that will swallow an errant tee shot, never to be seen again. To the right, three large fairway bunkers await to catch anyone trying too hard to avoid the trouble on the left.

If you are fortunate and have managed to find the fairway, the hole doglegs to the left, leaving a slight uphill approach over a stream to a two-tiered sloping green. Just to finish this hole with the same ball is an achievement; a par here is a bonus.

The Hunting

Another hole worth mentioning is the 511 yard (from the white tee), par-5 fourth, which starts from an elevated tee with great views over the Tyne valley. It’s a tricky tee shot, with out of bounds on the left and a wooded area along the right. e prevailing wind is from the left and often catches out the player who slices.

There is a large lake in front of the green and another to the left, so although not a particularly long par-5, drive placement is important.

The fourth hole We caught up with Mike on the sixth hole, a rather intimidating par-3 at 180 yards from the yellow tee where you need to carry at least 150–160 yards to avoid ending up in the lake. e green is rather narrow here so accuracy is a must because if you overshoot, you’re in the woods. e 7000 yard, Par 72 Hunting course incorporates forest, parkland, and moorland with an abundance of lakes and streams.

Designed by Dave omas and opened in 1990, the course has hosted several flagship events and has been the venue for the PGA Seniors for the past five years.

The tricky eighth hole e front nine on the Hunting might very well be one of the toughest stretches of golf you ever play. Each hole presents a stern challenge to even the best players, with narrow fairways and lots of trees and rhododendron bushes flanking the fairways. e eighth, a 480 yard, par-5, slight dogleg right has proven to be rather tricky for most players. So has the challenging 453 yard, uphill, par-4 ninth, which is the signature hole. us, if you’re not among the more fearless, the advice is to play it safe and score on the back nine which are more open and a lot more forgiving.

The Priestman Located on the west side of the estate, the Priestman course, designed by Neil Coles and opened in 1999, is a 7000 yard Par 72, with undulating but more open fairways and slightly larger greens, which is suitable for all levels of golfers. at’s not to say it lacks challenge; this course regularly hosts major Seniors’ events.

Water comes into play on six of the holes and many of the fairways are criss crossed by streams. In addition, there are plenty of bunkers that need to be carefully negotiated, and the wind will certainly be a much bigger factor. e signature hole, which is also the most challenging, is definitely the 402 yard, par-4 fourteenth. It begins with a tee shot that must sail over the gorge that lies between the tee box and the fairway. A rather narrow fairway, surrounded by dense woodland.

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Other activities Should you like to involve yourself in some other outdoor activities beside golf, there are several options at Slaley Hall, from 4x4 off-road driving and quad biking, to clay pigeon shooting, archery and paintballing. Not your type of activity? How about enjoying the sunset at Bamburgh Castle or following in the footsteps of Roman legions along Hadrian’s Wall?

For me, I think I would settle for a relaxing evening enjoying the beautiful surroundings from the garden terrace. But that will have to wait till my next visit, which will definitely be in the summer.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW HOW TO GET THERE ­ flights to Newcastle from British Airways has multiple daily London Heathrow www.britishairways.com Rental car www.avis.co.uk

De Vere Slaley Hall Hexham Northumberland NE47 0BX Phone: +44 (0)871 222 4688 www.devere-hotels.co.uk

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Been in the rough?

Time to relax...

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S OU T H E R N COM FORT With more than 20 championship golf courses, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina is widely recognized as a golfer’s paradise, but it’s also the perfect place to unwind and indulge in a bit of pampering...

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I learned about an odd activity called ‘porching’. Its meaning is exactly what it sounds like – sitting on your cottage porch with a beverage, a snack and some good company

N

estled in the heart of the Lowcountry is Hilton Head Island, the largest barrier island between New Jersey and Florida. Home to many charming towns and communities, like Palmetto Bluff, it’s also a bastion of top level golf in the United States.

You may have heard that things move more slowly in the South, and it’s true. Here, time is a bit more fluid, people are quicker with a smile and it’s easier to let go, relax and connect during your vacation.

I’m a Type A, on-the-go kind of girl, so when I found myself pulling over to the side of the road in order to drink in the beautiful, tree-lined drive into the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, I knew a profound change had taken place. I was truly relaxed, unhurried and enjoying the simple things I usually speed past.

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sitting on your cottage porch (or with other guests around the Inn’s fire pits) with a beverage, a snack and some good company.

I decide my souvenir from this trip will be to incorporate the concept of porching into my daily life.

Following my new resolution, I make sure to continue the tranquility at the Auberge Spa. At the reception desk, I’m asked to choose what kind of health-boosting elixir I would like added to my post-treatment beverage, and in the lounge a hot neck pillow is draped around me as I await my service.

A bath on the veranda I’m trying a sampling of some of the spa’s top treatments by starting with a wild rice and mulberry leaf scrub that is created using ingredients harvested on the property. e spa is known for its array of “Baths on the Bluff” – a blissful soak in a claw-footed tub on a private veranda off the treatment room. Your choice of a wide array of herbs, oils and salts can be added to the water, in order to complete your experience.

After the soak I’m relaxed and ready for e Deep South

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treatment, a full body massage that fuses Western convention with Eastern techniques to craft a service designed for bodies sore from golf and other activities. Golfers will also appreciate the Out of the Rough pedicure and the 20th Hole treatment combining steam, Vichy shower and a deep tissue massage.

Following my treatment, I relax by the fire and peruse a book of comments from past guests. It’s Gigi who best summarises my thoughts, proclaiming, “is is so much better than the Betty Ford Clinic!”

classic American grill, featuring meats and seafood with an array of sauces and sides. Save room for the build-it-yourself desserts or roasting s’mores (marshmallows and chocolate sandwiched between two graham crackers) by the fire pits.

After your action-packed day, you’ll sleep like a baby, wrapped in down bedding and Italian linens. e private cottage suite, decorated in beach chic, also features a private bedroom, living room, fireplace and a screened in porch.

The Canoe Club

Just 30 minutes from Palmetto Bluff lies Hilton Head Island, known for its 24 top golf courses and over 350 tennis courts tucked away into the quiet marshland and surrounded by oak trees draped in Spanish moss. Scottish immigrants organized America’s first golf club here in 1786. Today Condé Nast readers put Hilton Head on the Top 10 U.S. Island List. It’s no wonder, with 50 miles of bike trails, top beaches and over 250 restaurants to choose from.

Like Palmetto Bluff, Hilton Head exudes a luxurious, laidback feel. What sets the island apart is that it is broken into gated plantations, each with its own personality. While there are top

The first golf club Lest you get too relaxed, the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature May River Golf Course beckons, with sweeping views of the May River, wide fairways, strategic bunkers and natural waste areas. e course is unique because it was designed to enhance the land and fit in with the natural topography of the area. All tee boxes and fairways feature Paspalum, the latest in eco-friendly turf.

Whether you work up an appetite from spa-ing or golfing, a dinner at the Canoe Club is sure to satisfy. e room is designed to make you feel as if you are in a canoe, with a wooden, hullshaped ceiling and maritime décor. e menu puts a spin on the

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The non-golfer will enjoy going to the spa for the Golf Widow’s Revenge package that pampers with a facial, massage, scrub and Peppermint Pedi. hotels on the island, like the Westin and the Inn at Harbour Town, the best way to experience plantation living is to rent one of the thousands of private homes and villas for your stay.

A home of your own rough Wyndham Vacation Rentals and ResortQuest, I reserved a spacious home on the golf course in Sea Pines Plantation that slept up to 20 – perfect for a family trip or an escape with a few golfing buddies. e size of the home allows everyone to have their own space while enjoying the “great room” (living room), professional kitchen, game room and outdoor pool. But what I enjoyed most was the peace and quiet, which can be rather elusive when staying at a hotel. e serenity was a perfect backdrop for the in-home massage, booked through the Island’s top day spa, Faces. It’s the ultimate in decadence to have the masseuse come to you, especially after a long day on the links. However, the non-golfer will enjoy going to the spa for the Golf Widow’s Revenge package that pampers with a facial, massage, scrub and Peppermint Pedi.

Golf and tennis In the summer, Hilton Head beaches are the perfect respite from the sticky days, but even if it’s too cold for a dip, there is plenty to do. For golfers, Hilton Head is as close to nirvana as it gets.

Harbour Town at Sea Pines was ranked second by PGA players in 2012 and hosts the RBC Heritage PGA Tour event every April.

Other must try courses include the Robert Trent Jones course in Palmetto Dunes Plantation and the Arthur Hills course in Palmetto Hall Plantation. If you’re looking for a challenge, the George Fazio course in Palmetto Dunes is regarded as the toughest links on the island.

As a former college tennis player, I was thrilled to book a private tennis lesson at the Van Der Meer Tennis Center with its resident pro, Marcos Ondruska, a former top 30 ATP player.

Tennis buffs will also relish the fact that the island has grass, clay and hard courts to enjoy.

Cycling is also popular here, and pedal power is an excellent way to explore the island, which was named a Silver-Level BikeFriendly community in 2011.

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GOOD TO KNOW HOW TO GET THERE ­ Hilton Head is served by the Savannah/Hilton Head airport.

United, Delta and U.S. Airways offer flights. The most direct way to get to the island from Europe would be to fly into Atlanta, but any U.S. hub will offer connecting flights. Hilton Head is about 45 minutes from the airport. Shuttles, taxis and rental cars are available.

FEATURED ACCOMODATION Inn at Palmetto Bluff www.palmettobluff.com/the-inn.aspx Wyndham Vacation Rentals www.wyndhamvacationrentals.com RESTAURANTS Red Fish www.redfishofhiltonhead.com Old Oyster Factory www.oldoysterfactory.com

Traditional food With all the activity during the day, you’ll easily work up an appetite, and there are plenty of dining options to choose from.

For an iconic Lowcountry experience, try the historic Old Oyster Factory. It’s the antithesis of trendy, serving Southern specialties like hushpuppies, grits and, of course, oysters.

For a modern spin on the area’s cuisine, head to Red Fish, which employs a farm-to-table philosophy and boasts a wine list that is recognized by Wine Spectator magazine.

While golf isn’t known for producing calm in its players, the South Carolina Lowcountry will lull even the most competitive golfer into a Zen-like state with its quiet charm, friendly people and tranquil landscape. e area is a perfect North American spa and golf escape for anyone looking to enjoy the finer things in life GGM and experience a true slice of wholesome Americana.

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SPA SERVICE Auberge Spa at Inn at Palmetto Bluff www.palmettobluff.com/theinn-spa.aspx Faces Day Spa www.facesdayspa.com TENNIS Van Der Meer www.vandermeertennis.com CLIMATE High season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend. Low or Shoulder Season runs March through May and September through October. Hilton Head truly only has three seasons – winter is very short here and even then average temperatures are an average high of about 16 and a low of 3. Many say April, May, October and November are great months to travel to Hilton Head because there are less travelers and the weather is gorgeous. In high season, weather will be hot and humid.

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Great Food

After great golf comes good food...

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THACKERAY´S - KENT

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In the heart of the quaint Kentish spa town of Tunbridge Wells lies Thackeray's, a Michelin starred restaurant which, with its modern French cuisine, seems to hit just the right spot.

Reputed to be one of the best in Kent, it oozes class and charm. So if you've perhaps been following in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's footsteps and played golf at The Crowborough Beacon or the excellent Nevill Golf

e p i c e r g in

n n i Aw

Club, why not head over and sample its delights...

By Camilla Kaas-Stock, photo Richard Phillips Group

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I

t is on a rather cold and windy day at the end of March that my husband and I make our way to the Michelinstarred restaurant, ackeray's, to enjoy a spot of lunch.

I have walked past this building many a time and looked longingly in through the windows: the interior always seem to have a warm cosy glow. is unique Grade II-listed building, which is set back on a green just off the main road with views across the Common, oozes old world charm with its white painted weather-boards, so typical of Kent. Once the home of novelist William Makepeace ackeray, hence the name, it has for the last twelve years been the place for fine dining in Tunbridge Wells.

Accolades a plenty It was in 2001that TV celebrity chef Richard Phillips, at the tender age of 29, opened ackeray's, where he was promptly awarded a Michelin star. In the twelve years since, the restaurant has won many more accolades including three AA rosettes and the ‘Best Gourmet Restaurant’ in Kent.

With an early restaurant career starting off at London's famous Savoy Hotel, going on to work alongside the likes of the Roux Brothers at Le Gavroche and then becoming Head Chef for Marco Pierre White at e Criterion, Mirabelle and Les Saveurs, it's no wonder Richard Phillips has made such a name for himself.

Warm and welcoming As we walk through the door we are immediately greeted and shown to our table. Despite it being Tuesday lunchtime there are quite a few people here quietly chatting over their food, something that just goes to prove the popularity of ackeray’s. e low beamed ceilings and slightly wonky ancient floorboards give the restaurant plenty of charm, and the sympathetic décor and soft lighting add to the cosy warm atmosphere. ere are two dining rooms, one each side of the entrance, and when you ascend the old original stairway, two further private dining rooms, a lounge and a bar await. ese areas have been imaginatively designed and opulently decorated to provide experiences ranging from the intimate to the spectacular.

Food glorious food Before ordering we study the menu extensively, there is so much to tempt and my stomach rumbles in anticipation. ere is pan fried foie gras, Dorset crab salad, roast Herefordshire beef, pan roasted wild sea bass, roast stuffed loin and rack of Kentish rabbit.

And then of course there are the desserts, dark chocolate Black Forest gateau, apricot and tonka bean soufflé, caramel banana and rum panna cotta, roast carrot and orange cake, to mention but a few.

For my starter I choose pavé of natural smoked haddock with clams, salted cucumber, sea purslane and a caviar dressing, while my husband goes for pan roasted fillet of gurnard, with bouillabaisse velouté, saffron purée, baby fennel and shellfish oil.

The appetizers While we sip our wine and wait for the food our very friendly Hungarian waiter, Zsolt Szasz, who grew up in Transylvania, brings us bread and butter. My caramelized onion bread is truly delicious and I could eat a basket full of it, but I try to restrain and save my appetite.

My husband chooses the rosemary and roast potato bread which is also lovely, but after a taste of mine he decides he has to have some for himself. Before our starter we receive a small appetizer which looks so beautiful on the plate it almost seems a shame to eat it.

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Once the home of novelist William Makepeace Thackeray, hence the name, it has for the last twelve years been the place for fine dining in Tunbridge Wells.

en finally our dishes arrive, my smoked haddock is delicate, subtle and beautifully served. My husband eyes it up but although I, out of the kindness of my heart, allow him a small taste I make sure to keep most of it to myself, but he doesn't seem to mind as he is too busy enjoying his own starter.

Picture perfect As soon as we have finished our very attentive waiter, who constantly makes sure our glasses are filled, removes the plates.

And we don't have to wait long before our next dish arrives. I am sticking with the seafood theme, so for my mains I have ordered baked fillet of line caught cod with cannelloni of salt cod brandade, confit leeks and smoke-infused cream.

My husband decided on marinated Kentish venison with puy lentils, port braised salsify, raisins and venison jus. Every dish arrives looking pretty as a picture and every mouthful is a joy – there is no doubt why ackeray's has won its Michelin star and three AA rosettes.

After finishing off everything on our plates, leaving no scrap behind, it is time to think of what to choose for our dessert. I might pretend to myself that I am on a diet at the moment but I am definitely not strong enough to resist something sweet. ere is always tomorrow I tell myself.

Hungarian wine One of the choices on the menu is a selection of British and French cheeses with spiced apple chutney and artisan biscuits, but I let myself be tempted by a Yorkshire rhubarb soufflé, with rolled oats and English custard. My husband has a weakness for rice pudding so the vanilla rice pudding condé with Granny Smith apple, honeycomb, apple sorbet and butterscotch, is the perfect choice for him.

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wine, the award winning “Royale Tokaji 5 Puttonyos”, which he thinks will perfectly complement our pudding, and after my first sip I know I'm in love. It has a warm mellow sweetness with just the right amount of acidity and a seductively lingering finish. en my soufflé arrives and is so light and beautifully delicate it just melts in my mouth. Of course I try some of my husbands too – well, after all, we are here to sample the food so I make sure I get my share of sampling.

Coffee and chocolate truffles After finishing our meal we sit back and just soak up the atmosphere. Our stomachs are happy and satisfied but a cup of coffee will hit just the right spot. Besides it's so lovely sitting here neither of us really wants to leave and, looking out through the window at the grey March weather, we decide to savour it as long as we can.

Our coffees arrive with macaroons, Madeleines and some small dark chocolate truffles covered in red marbled dusting which I at first suspect to be beetroot. But luckily it's not. I have nothing against beetroot mind, but perhaps not with my coffee.

At ackeray's Richard Phillips has created an intelligent modern French menu which explodes with flavour. e preparation and presentation of every dishand the attentiveness of the waiters all reflect the restaurant's atmosphere of understated elegance.

After our wonderful meal we reluctantly leave, but I think that next time I walk past my feet and stomach might find it hard GGM to resist just another sample of the delicious food...

Thackeray's Restaurant 85 London Road, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1EA Phone: +44 (0)1892 511921 info@thackerays-restaurant.co.uk www.thackerays-restaurant.co.uk

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Great Wine

A good round is worth celebrating

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y r t e o P E L T T O B IN A

wns, in the heart of On the gentle slopes of the South Do th its 40 acres of e wi rural Sussex, lies Bolney Wine Estat land. Here awardvineyards nestling into ancient wood ving once and for all pro winning wines are produced, firmly a leading role on the that English wine growers deserve nvinced â&#x20AC;&#x201C; why not take world stage. And for those not yet co for yourself... a Cream Tea Wine Tour and find out

ey Wine Estate

By Camilla Kaas-Stock, photo Boln

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I

t was in 1972 that Rodney Pratt and his wife, Janet, decided to plant 3 acres of vines on a site that seemed perfect for growing grapes. is was at a stage when the English wine industry was still in its infancy, but in truth they were carrying on a proud tradition brought to Britain by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago.

Over time, the estate has grown to 40 acres, specialising in the production of red wines. In the 1990s, Rodney and Janet’s daughter, Samantha Linter, took over the management, and since then she has seen the winery go from strength to strength, winning many an accolade.

Golden awards It's on a cold and windy day in March that I make my way down Foxhole Lane, just 14 miles north of Brighton, to enjoy a wine tour at Bolney Wine Estate. As I walk into the café, I am met by Tour Guide, Alan Jenkins, who hands me a welcome glass of bubbly and a home-made shortbread biscuit.

I sit down with the rest of the group, who have all come to expand their wine-making knowledge and, of course, to have a taste or two. As I nibble on my biscuit, Alan tells us a bit about the winery and how it all started.

Last year marked 40 years since the first tender vines were planted, and what better way to celebrate this milestone than with being awarded ‘UK Wine Producer of the Year’ by the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), as well as ‘Gold Outstanding Medal’ at the Prince Lev Golitzen Specialized International Sparkling Wine Competition? So it wasn’t just the athletes competing at the Olympics that won gold for England in 2012.

Wellies and vines After we’ve all finished our drinks, it’s time to take a look at the vineyard. We wrap up warm and file out as Alan leads us up the gentle slope where row upon row of vines are eagerly waiting for spring to bring some warmth and sunshine.

While we huddle around, Alan tells us about the vines and the different grapes they grow at Bolney, and keeps us entertained with his humour and charm, thus helping us forget cold toes and frozen fingers. At the moment there’s not much to see, but they grow both red and white varieties in their vineyard. ere is Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Seyval Blanc, to mention but a few. “e last couple of years’ tumultuous weather has been quite difficult for English wine growers,” Alan says. “In fact, it has been hard all over Europe.” I guess this comes as no surprise to any of us, as last year was one of the wettest on record and the squelching under our feet is the proof in the pudding, so to speak.

they are getting it right, winning international awards for their Blanc de Blancs and their Cuvée Rosé.

Taste the difference en at last it’s time for some tasting and we all head back into the warmth of the café. I grab a table and stare expectantly at the empty wine glasses in front of me, as Alan expertly pops the cork of a bottle of sparkling wine. First up is their Sirrus Rosé.

We all follow Alan’s instructions and swirl and sniff, before finally taking a sip. We are told how a good wine should have a long finish and linger on our taste buds. Next up is the Cuvée Rosé, which is the Rolls Royce of sparkling wine at Bolney, made from 100% Pinot Noir. is wine is sophisticated and full bodied, with flavours of cherry, blueberries and toasted brioche. Ah, I think to myself, this is the life – yes, I definitely have a weakness for a good bubbly. e award winning Lychgate Red follows. I have to admit that I have never tasted an English red wine before, but I am pleasantly surprised – it’s lovely. Made from Dornfelder and Rondo, it is dry, medium bodied, with cherry flavours and a hint of toasted oak. e last bottle we try is the Cuvée Noir, a unique, red, vintage sparkling wine, and this is another first for me. Made from a 100% Dornfelder, this is truly an interesting wine. It’s wonderfully rich and creamy, with aromas of stone fruits and a lingering hint of spice.

After all the wine tasting, I’ve really worked up an appetite and the promise of a cream tea and a chat with Samantha Linter, who has taken over as Head Winemaker and Managing Director, awaits me.

Scones and a chat As I sit down to enjoy some homemade scones with jam, Samantha comes to join me. And while we sip our tea, she tells me how it all began. “My father got the idea while at university,” she says. “For a while he did some work at a vineyard in Germany and that’s where the first seeds were sown, so to speak.”

After planting their first three acres back in 1972, Samantha’s parents bought more land little by little, finally ending up with the 40 acre vineyard we see today. In the beginning, they shipped their grapes to a contract winery, but eventually they bought their own equipment.

“I worked as a hairdresser for 10 years, but grew tired of it,” says Samantha, and it was while pregnant with her second child that she started working at Bolney. “My father was under a lot of pressure so my mother suggested I step in and help,” she continues. “To make a long story short, I found I loved it and ended up going to Plumpton College where I learned all about wine making,” she says with a smile.

Lack of funding The winery In 2005, Bolney invested in a brand new winery with the help of a grant from DEFRA. Packed with state-of-the-art equipment, it's designed to facilitate the processing of their grapes into the award-winning wines they have become known for. Here they can prepare an array of different types, from their award-winning still reds, whites and rosés, to their top quality bubbly.

Alan shows us the equipment and explains the process the grapes go through before they end up in our wine glasses. First, after picking, the grapes are weighed, sorted and cleaned, then destalked and de-stemmed, before they are then pressed, fermented and stored. After this follows a complex variety of procedures to achieve the right blends and flavours. ey also make sparkling wine at Bolney, following the same method as in the Champagne region of France, and it looks like

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In the years since Samantha joined the business, she has seen big changes in the English wine industry. “When I first started, English wine had a bad reputation, but since then there has been a lot of investment in both equipment and in learning the process of traditional wine making. Now we produce wines that win international awards, but we still need to make the public, both here and abroad, aware of how good English wine really is,” she says.

“We don’t get any funding from the British Government, which is a shame,” she continues. “e big wine producing countries have had a lot of help, but despite the lack of funding, we as an industry have worked hard to grow and get the recognition we deserve. And I feel so privileged to be part of it,” she says. “It’s filled with wonderful, passionate people and I love the fact that every day is different, constantly offering new challenges.”

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Rodney Pratt

Samantha Linter

"Now we produce wines that win international awards, but we still need to make the public, both here and abroad, aware of how good English wine really isâ&#x20AC;?

Samantha Linter, wine maker

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SUSSEX - WINE Quality before profit While I chase the last scone crumbs around my plate, making sure I haven’t missed any, Samantha prepares to return to her work.

But before she goes, I ask her one last question: what is the key to a successful winery? “Quality,” she says without hesitation. “For me, quality will always come before profit,” and then she is off, back to her grapes and bottles.

Blanc de Blancs 2008/2009 A very stylish Vintage traditional (fermented in bottle) method quality sparkling wine, smooth and full bodied with lots of citrus fruit character and wonderful yeasty undertones. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. Great as an aperitif - its effervescence stimulates the palate, as well as making an ideal partner for food. Good with shellfish, seafood, poultry, pork and strong cheeses. This wine is aged for 2½ years on the lees prior to disgorgement.

2012 – Gold Outstanding & Gold Medal, IWSC – 2007 vintage 2012 – Silver, UKVA Competition – 2007 vintage 2011 – Commended, IWC – 2006 vintage

UK Wine Producer of the Year 2012

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Cuvée Noir 2009/2010 Vintage traditional method quality red sparkling wine with aromas of red stone fruits, especially red cherry, and sweet blueberries. Made from 100% Dornfelder grapes.

In the mouth there is a wonderful creamy richness and full bodied mousse, packed full of summer fruits.

Almost like a summer fruit pudding with cranberry coulis. A lingering finish, with a slight hint of spiciness.

Delicious!

2011 – Bronze medal, IWSC competition – 2009 vintage 2011 – Bronze medal, Decanter competition – 2009 vintage

rough the years, Bolney have established themselves in the industry and their reputation for producing top quality wines is testament to the hard work and commitment the family and the team have put in over the past 40 years.

Before leaving, I make sure to get my complimentary bottle of wine, and a bottle of bubbly for good measure – after all you never know when you might find an excuse to celebrate… GGM

Cuvée Rosé 2009 A classy vintage traditional (fermented in bottle) method quality sparkling wine, smooth and full bodied with lots of strawberry fruit character and wonderful yeasty undertones. Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes.

Ideal with hors d 'oeuvres and starters, wonderful with fish and most red berry fruit puddings. This wine was aged for 18 months on the lees prior to disgorgement.

The wine underwent a malo lactic fermentation prior to bottling.

2012 – Gold Outstanding, Prince Lev Golitsyn 4th Novy Svet Competition – 2009 vintage 2013 – Silver Medal, Premium Select Wine Challenge Prowein – 2009 vintage 2012 – Bronze Medal, Decanter World Wine Awards – 2009 vintage 2012 – Bronze Medal, IWSC – 2009 vintage 2011 – Bronze medal, IWSC – 2008 vintage 2011 – Bronze medal, Decanter competition – 2008 vintage 2011 – Commended, International Wine Challenge – 2008 vintage

Sirrius Rosé 2009/2010 Vintage, traditional method sparkling wine with wonderful strawberries and cream character, along with hints of vanilla and loganberries. Made from Merlot and Seyval Blanc grapes. Great by itself but can be really fun with desserts. Try peaches, cherries, raspberries, redcurrants, plums, apples, pears, passion fruit, strawberries, almonds – the list is endless and these combinations bring an explosion of flavours! Also good with savouries like picnics and barbeques, white fish, seafood, grilled sardines, pizza and pasta.

2011 – Bronze medal, Decanter – 2008 vintage

Lychgate Red 2009 A medium bodied smooth dry red wine, lots of red fruit flavours and hints of tannin in the background and complimentary oak notes.

Very elegant. Purple/ruby in colour. A very easy drinking wine made from a blend of Dornfelder and Rondo grapes.

Fabulous with roast beef & Yorkshire pudding!

This wine is also a wonderful compliment to pork, (especially if cooked with apricots), game, steak, turkey and Lamb and also with black berry desserts.

The wine was aged for six months in one year old oak barrel, half French oak and half American oak.

Stylistically like a Cabernet Franc from the Loire.

2012 – Bronze Medal, SEVA competition – 2009 vintage 2011 – Bronze Medal, Decanter competition – 2009 vintage

Bolney Wine Estate Foxhole Lane, Bolney, HaywardsHeath, RH17 5NB Sussex, England Phone: +44 (0)1444 881 575 www.bolneywineestate.co.uk Email: info@bolneywineestate.co.uk

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because you need a place to put your clubs

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BULGARIA GOLF PROPERTY

The PEARL OF THE BLACK SEA

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On the Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria lies the

world-renowned golf resort,

Thracian Cliffs. For those thinking of investing in their own little piece of golfing heaven, rather than placing their trust in banks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; well look no further. Thracian Cliffs are raising the bar in Bulgaria by teaming up with Chedi Resorts and together they aim to make this the most prestigious address on the Black Sea...

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BULGARIA GOLF PROPERTY

N

o one can deny that the property market worldwide has taken a rather big beating the last few years and Bulgaria hasn’t escaped the t u m b l i n g p r i c e s . Bu t , a c c o rd i n g t o Rightmove and Global Property Guide, things are starting to change. is might just be the perfect time to invest – at least, racian Cliffs certainly think so. In October 2013, in addition to the already existing Condominium Hotel, racian Cliffs will launch 30 luxury Chedi villas, 20 luxury Chedi Club Suites and 40 Golf View Residences, as well as a 60 room, full service Chedi Hotel. With the spectacular golf course as your front garden, what more could you want?

“Chedi has an unique position in the market place and commands some of the most impressive numbers for return visitors,” says Director of Real Estate, David Belinko. “It is also well known that the high end, luxury properties tend to be much more immune to economic conditions,” he continues. “In fact, capital appreciation at racian Cliffs has reached 75% during the course of the past five years. ese are all signs that those who invest in a vacation home at racian Cliffs will benefit from both the magic and logic of a great investment.”

Luxury and elegance General Hotel Management Ltd (GHM), which was established in Singapore in 1992, is the brand owner of Chedi Hotels and they are renowned for selecting only the most exotic destinations, such as Bali, Vietnam, Oman and now Bulgaria. “ey cater exclusively to those that demand the highest level of comfort and service, because here luxury and elegance is key,” says David, “and this high standard will be reflected in the development at racian Cliffs.”

As well as the already established Marina Village and Hillside Residences, Chedi will build a luxurious hotel with 60 suites at its core and here you will find all the facilities and services you can expect from a 6-star boutique resort. Its architecture and interior design will reflect contemporary Asian style, but will also incorporate racian elements.

Rental program For those who prefer a bit more privacy, e Chedi Club Suites will offer 20 lucky owners the chance of having their own detached 180m2 holiday home.

“Chedi is renowned worldwide for their performance and ability to generate cash flows for their owners, so if you are an investor looking for a return on your money, then here you have the opportunity to include your property in a rental program managed by Chedi,” explains David. “e contrast of the raw and dramatic landscape combined with the elegance of Chedi Hotels and Resorts makes this a winning combination.”

Golf View e 40 Chedi Golf View Residences will be designed to fit into the landscape above the signature Golf Course and will consist of nine separate buildings surrounding e Gary Player Clubhouse in the heart of the Resort. All the 1 and 2 bedroom apartments will be overlooking the dramatic 18-hole signature golf course.

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General Hotel Management Ltd (GHM), the brand owner of Chedi Hotels are renowned for selecting only the most exotic destinations, such as Bali, Vietnam, Oman, Mexico and now Bulgaria

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If you are looking for something more lavish, then one of e Chedi Villas, might be just the ticket. With a living area of 400m2 set in 2500m2 of landscaped gardens, they will nestle into the cliffs along the fairways and offer owners all the luxury they can dream of.

The Hillside Residences e Hillside Residences are located just 150 meters from the sea, above the Marina Village, and consist of ten buildings of traditional Bulgarian design. Every apartment has unobstructed views over the swimming pools, the Marina Village, the golf course and the sea.

Here you can choose from studio apartments and two- or three-bedroom suites, all with spacious living areas, LCD TVs, Wi-Fi internet access, and kitchenettes. Guests may relax in one of the three infinity pools and sun terraces overlooking the golf course and the sea below. e design of the six residence buildings in the Marina Village alludes to regional building traditions. Furthermore, they are perfectly situated – only a few metres from the water and a stone’s throw from a planned wide variety of bars and restaurants. Whether you fancy some Scandinavian food, Mexican food, fine fish and seafood at Geti’s, or perhaps just a drink at the resort Pub, here you’ll find it all. e village is built around a cosy, colourful piazza and will eventually directly overlook e Yachting Marina and Pier.

Luxury spa Built on the cliffs with panoramic views across the Black Sea, the founders of racian Cliffs want to create a second luxury spa resort to complement the existing spa which today forms the heart of a vibrant village. e proposed Chedi Spa will be the perfect place to rejuvenate and pamper yourself. ere will be heated pools to sooth sore muscles and therapists will provide a plethora of treatments from ai to Indian and Bulgarian, as well as a Hammam for those looking for deep massage and purification.

Besides golf, and eventually the Spa, the guests of the resort can experience many other activities, from windsurfing and sailing to beach volleyball and tennis, to mention but a few.

For those guests feeling especially brave and adventurous, there is the wild beauty of the nearby National Hunting Reserve, Kaliakra, which holds the International Award for wild boar tusks.

Volvo World Match Play “e original vision for racian Cliffs was to develop a premier, world-class golf destination and today, with the 2013 Volvo World Match Play being held here, the vision has been realized,” says David Belinko, “and with industry experts, as well as Gary Player himself, predicting that this will be one of the top 3 golf courses on the planet, the future certainly looks bright.”

With the contrast of the raw and dramatic landscape combined with the elegance of Chedi Hotels and Resorts, this is bound to become an address worth having.

GGM For ownership opportunities and to register for the Chedi launch at Thracian Cliffs, please visit the website at: www.thraciancliffs.com 136

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Made in England

There is nothing so beautiful as a thing well made www.marshallandstewart.com 0800 311 8199 Crawford Street, London W1H 2HN

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KENYA GOLF PROPERTY

Alfajiri Villa:

• Sitting on the gorgeous white sands of Diani Beach, Alfajiri Resort in Kenya is ideal for a golfing holiday with a difference. Located half a mile from the villa, the Leisure Golf Club is often frequented by celebrities looking for a golfing escape in the most beautiful of settings. e 18-hole championship course, home to the Diani Beach Masters, is recognized as one of the most exciting golf courses in East Africa.

Consisting of three private properties, e Cliff Villa, e Garden Villa and e Beach Villa, each with a private pool, Alfajiri Resort delivers the perfect setting to relax after a long hard round. A large veranda provides stunning views over the white sand beach and across the Indian Ocean, with direct access to a private beach. Designed to reflect the regions link with Asia, Alfajiri Villas are bright and breezy with flowing fabrics, East African artefacts, wooden beams and carved Lanu doors. Each villa has its own personality and unique design yet all maintain the same award winning service. Each villa can accomodate up to eight guests with 4 en-suite bedrooms, a dining veranda and a lounge which dominates the front of the villa and overlooks the swimming pool and ocean.

A host of other activities are available, including deep sea fishing and diving, kite surfing, quad biking, and day safaris.

Alfajiri is an all inclusive resort, offering you a private chef to conjure up a menu to your taste.

Seafood is caught daily and includes some of the freshest crabs, prawns and lobsters available. To compliment, a choice of good quality South African wines are provided to help guests unwind after an action packed day.

Having won awards including ‘Best undiscovered golf location 2008’, Alfajiri Resort has built a reputation of delivering an impeccable service. Golf club hire, along with transfers to and from the Club are included in the rental price and the welcoming staff are committed to making your stay a memorable one.

Alfajiri villas are always rented on exclusive use and our rates are based on the number of guests occupying the villa. e villa and can be rented on a per day basis.

Rates from just $7,000 per week.

Please quote‘Great Golf’.

Contact: Quintessentially Villas www.quintessentiallyvillas.com Email: info@quintessentiallyvillas.com Contact Telephone Number: +44 (0)845 269 6673 Property link: www.quintessentiallyvillas.com/villas/17294

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The 18-hole championship course, home to the Diani Beach Masters, is recognized as one of the most exciting golf courses in East Africa.

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Great Golf Guide

A selection of outstanding courses - at home and abroad...

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Scotland

TURNBERRY RESORT VE R V I E W Turnberry, an icon of Scottish VERVIEW: hospitality and home of four Open Championships, has been treasured for more than a hundred years. Turnberry Resort is part of Starwood’s acclaimed Luxury Collection portfolio following a multi-million pound restoration in 2009.

LOCATION: West coast of Scotland. Approximately 55 miles (one hour) from Glasgow Airport, 25 miles (30 minutes) from Glasgow Prestwick Airport, and 100 miles from Edinburgh Airport.

ROOMS: A total of 150 rooms, including four Specialty Suites and four eight-bedroom lodges. Eight newly renovated Lands of Turnberry self-catering apartments are also located in the heart of the resort.

GOLF: Turnberry offers some of the best golf facilities in the world, with 45 holes of magnificent golf, the world’s first links golf academy and a sociable Clubhouse.

The 18-hole Ailsa championship course – venue for The Open Championship in 1977, 1986, 1994 and 2009 and consistently ranked as the UK and Ireland’s top golf course.

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The 18-hole Kintyre championship course – a final qualifying course for The Open Championship in 2004.

The 9-hole Arran course – used as a teaching course by Turnberry’s Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy.

Scotland’s first and only TaylorMade Performance Lab. THE SPA AT TURNBERRY: Featuring an inviting 20-metre indoor pool, eleven individual treatment rooms, fitness studio, heat experiences and pool-side Jacuzzi and offering a range of treatments by ESPA including reflexology and hot stone massage.

CUISINE: Turnberry has six restaurants, bars and lounges – the signature restaurant 1906, Duel in the Sun bar, The Ailsa Bar & Lounge, James Miller and The Grand Tea Lounge. In the heart of the Turnberry kitchens is the ultimate dining experience, The Turnberry Chefs Table. Turnberry also boasts the Tappie Toorie restaurant, which is situated in the Clubhouse.

OUTDOOR PURSUITS: Rifle target shooting, clay target shooting, 4x4 off-road driving, trout fishing, archery, quad biking, falconry, horse riding, all-terrain carting, mountain biking and children’s activities.

CONTACT

TURNBERRY, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT, Maidens Road, Ayrshire, KA26 9LT, (0)1655 331 991 www.luxurycollection.com/turnberry • turnberry@luxurycollection.com

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Scotland

KINGSBARNS GOLF LINKS ocated just seven miles south-east of St Andrews Kingsbarns is a must-play seaside links course which regularly features in top 100 golf course rankings in the world. Designed by Kyle Phillips, the golf course opened in 2000 and is set in an amphitheatre along the coast line, so nearly every hole boasts spectacular views of the sea. At 7,181 yards from the championship tees, Kingsbarns is a formidable enough test to be included in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship rota each autumn alongside the Old Course, St. Andrews and Carnoustie Golf Links.

Kingsbarns prides itself on excellent customer service and great accessibility of tee times. As Kingsbarns does not operate a membership programme, visiting golfers are each treated like members for the day, with staff on hand to ensure that they each enjoy the golfing experience which the team at Kingsbarns are so proud of.

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Kingsbarns Golf Links offers an unforgettable golfing experience, which is proving increasingly popular with the corporate market. Companies are using it as a venue for both large and small groups when they really want to make a favourable impression with clients or show their appreciation to valued members of staff.

Our proximity to St Andrews and a wide range of accommodation providers makes us a no hassle venue to book.

With two five star hotels, The Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa and The Fairmont, St Andrews on our doorstep along with a choice of 4 and 3 star hotels, there are accommodation offerings for every budget.

There is an extensive range of flight options from London to Edinburgh (1hr 20 minutes from St Andrews) and CityJet fly from London City to Dundee (20 minutes from St Andrews) offering a no charge for your clubs option.

CONTACT

KINGSBARNS GOLF LINKS, Kingsbarns, St. Andrews, Scotland, +44 (0)1334 460861 E-mail: info@kingsbarns.com â&#x20AC;˘ www.kingsbarns.com

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Scotland

T H E D U K E´S S t A N D R E W S he Duke’s is the only heathland course in St Andrews daring to be different amongst the famous list of links courses, including of course the Old Course, in the Home of Golf. The Duke’s rolling terrain and elevated position above St Andrews provides spectacular panoramas of the surrounding countryside, The Grampians, the West Sands and the “Auld Grey Toon”. Moreover the sheltered inland location of the course offers a welcome respite from the blustery, sometimes brutal linksexperience elsewhere in the location.

Owned like the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa by the Kohler Co., The Duke’s was originally designed by five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson and was officially opened by HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in 1995. However American Tim Liddy, a protégé of distinguished golf course designer Pete Dye, remodeled The Duke’s in June 2006 transforming it into a majestic layout reminiscent of the true heathland courses of the 1920s.

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It now boasts five completely new holes and the addition of 118 natural, rough-edged bunkers. The championship course now measures 7512 yards and is a Par 71 that offers a set of five tees on each hole, making it a challenge for golfers of every standard.

The Duke’s Clubhouse offers five-star service and a warm Scottish welcome in relaxed surroundings. Amenities include The Duke’s Bar & Grill, a traditional wood-panelled bar and restaurant with a terrace overlooking the course for al fresco dining on warm days, The Captains’ Room for private dining or meetings, a well stocked Pro Shop and equipment hire.

It also boasts comprehensive practice facilities that include a large practice range, extensive putting green, two practice par-3 holes and a chipping/bunker area. The Duke’s was recently voted the ‘Best Club in the UK’ by the Golf Club of the Year Awards and in 2008 & 2010, Golf World magazine included The Duke’s course in its Top 100 Courses in the UK. Today the course is very much on many players “must-play” list.

CONTACT

THE DUKE’S ST ANDREWS, Craigtoun, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 8NS. Contact: Alan McColm, Golf Coordinator T: 01334 470214, Green Fee Summer £115/Winter £55 www.playthedukes.co.uk • alan.mccolm@oldcoursehotel.co.uk

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Scotland

T H E G LEN E AG LES H O T EL et in its own magnificent 850-acre estate, The Gleneagles® Hotel 5 Red Star resort is only one hour’s drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh and is a byword for style, elegance and comfort.

Gleneagles offers 3 championship golf courses set in the heart of the stunning Perthshire countryside. The King’s and the Queen’s are both top Scottish Championship courses, whilst The PGA Centenary has been chosen to host the 2014 Ryder Cup Matches.

The golf courses were the inspiration of two of the world's most famous golfers, James Braid, five times winner of the Open Championship who designed the King's and Queen's, and Jack Nicklaus, Golfer of the 20th Century, who created the PGA Centenary Course.

As well as playing great courses at Gleneagles golfers can also brush up their skills at The PGA National Golf Academy that offers tuition for all abilities, beginner to scratch player, and a 320-yard double ended driving range. For those who want to

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practice what they have learnt but are not quite ready to take on an 18-hole championship course, they can make the progression to the testing but fun 9-hole par 3 PGA National Academy Course.

Once golf is over you can retire to the newly refurbished Dormy Clubhouse facilities, and rue the lipped putts and toast the holed chips while enjoying food and drink of a quality that no-one can argue with, all while looking out over the 18th greens of the King’s and Queen’s courses.

As well as golf, there are a host of outdoor activities including riding, fishing, off road driving, falconry, shooting, archery and gun dog lessons.

To relax further there’s an award-winning destination spa

by ESPA with all the latest therapeutic treatments, as well as a range of bars and restaurants, including the Two Michelin starred Andrew Fairlie. Gleneagles is a sanctuary from the modern world, offering the best of Scotland every day of the year.

CONTACT

THE GLENE AGLE S HOTEL, Auchterarder, Perthshire, PH3 1NF, Tel +44 (0) 1764 662231 www.gleneagles.com • resort.sales@gleneagles.com

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Scotland

DUNDONALD LINKS he West coast of Scotland is famous for its stunning championship links and Dundonald sits right up there alongside the very best of them.

Opened in 2003, this modern day classic links was inspired by the timeless architecture of the great Ayrshire links courses of Royal Troon, Prestwick and Western Gailes, all connected by the historic rail line. Acclaimed architect, Kyle Phillips, also known for Kingsbarns and The Grove, intimated from the outset that it was his intention “to create a championship Ayrshire links that felt and played as though it was an old, rediscovered course.” The course is featured in the Top 100 in UK and Ireland.

Dundonald Links is now recognized as one of Europe’s “must play” links having played host to a number of professional and amateur tournaments, including pre-qualifying for the European Tour for four consecutive years and the Senior British Open Championship.

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The course is located at the very heart of Ayrshire’s golf coast, just 10 minutes from Prestwick Airport, half an hour from Glasgow, and an hour and a half from Edinburgh Airport, A wide selection of accommodation to suit all budgets can be recommended within easy reach, including the 4 star Gailes Hotel on its doorstep, and the 5 star Turnberry Resort.

Players can benefit from good accessibility to weekend teetimes and a new online booking system now ensures you can book in advance and guarantee the best rates and availability.

Owned by Loch Lomond Golf Club, the course is renowned for its exceptional standards of service and a warm welcome awaits. A team of PGA Professionals will co-ordinate group golf days to suit your individual requirements whether it’s to impress clients or simply for pleasure.

The course is proud to be recognized for its best environmental practices and recently achieved its goal of zero waste to landfill, the first in the country to achieve this status.

CONTACT

DUNDONALD LINKS, Ayrshire, Scotland T: +44 (0)1294 314000 E: reservations@dundonaldlinks.com • www.dundonaldlinks.com

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Scotland

MURRAYSHALL HOUSE HOTEL & GOLF COURSES urrayshall Hotel is the home to both the Murrayshall and the Lynedoch Golf Courses, two prestigious but very different eighteen hole courses, providing a hugely enjoyable challenge for all golfers.

The Murrayshall course meanders through tree lined fairways, undulated parkland and has several natural burns which have been used to protect the large greens. The introduction of the white sand bunkers which are a feature of the Murrayshall course lie in waiting for errant shots. In creating Lynedoch the course designer made great use of the existing Scots pine woodland, utilising the wild flower meadows and carved a real wee gem of a course.

Both courses are a real contrast to one another - Murrayshall the wider, longer course requires length and accuracy from the tee shot, this will allow golfers the opportunity to approach greens from the correct angle, widening the view of the pin. Lynedoch

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however is shorter but no less a challenge, tighter fairways, bracken filled gullies and tall Scots Pine trees narrow the golfer’s view of fairways and greens.

With two different golf courses, both set out to a fabulous standard of play, the courses have attracted national and international events over the years. Currently the home to the Paul Lawrie Scottish Schools Championship Murrayshall and Lynedoch have also hosted PGA events along with SGU National Finals and most recently was the Inaugural Scottish venue for the Sky Sports Trilby Tour.

Murrayshall also gives our resident golfers the chance to visit the famous courses of St Andrews, Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and Gleneagles, which are all within short driving distance of the hotel.

With so much on offer to keen golfers of all levels, it’s no surprise that Murrayshall House Hotel has become renowned as a provider of top quality golfing breaks and golf days out in the historic home of golf.

CONTACT

MURRAYSHALL HOUSE HOTEL & GOLF COURSES, Scone, Perth, Scotland, PH2 7PH, +44 (0)1738 551171 sales@murrayshall.co.uk • www.murrayshall.co.uk

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Golfclub Vechta-Welpe e.V.: one out of over 40 Partners of the "Golfland Niedersachsen"

GOLFLAND NIEDERSACHSEN ”ARE YOU READY TO ”TEE-OFF“ IN NIEDERSACHSEN – THE LAND OF GOLF?“ GOLFLAND NIEDERSACHSEN – GOLF BETWEEN NORTH SEA AND HARZ MOUNTAINS

golf guide 2012 Hole in One im Golfland Niedersachsen.

GET INSPIRED BY OUR GOLF- AND HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS 2013 ORDER YOUR FREE COPY OF OUR “GOLF GUIDE 2013”.

Simply send an email with your address to: info@deutsche-golfstrasse.de or order your copy online at www.golfland-niedersachsen.com Choose Niedersachsen for your next golf vacation: over 80 golf courses of the highest standard are waiting for you between the North Sea Coast and the Harz Mountains.

“Golfland Niedersachsen” is a golf marketing cooperation managed by “Golf Tourism Development & Services” – D-21335 Lüneburg/Germany, (www.golftourismusdeutschland.de) under the Patron of TourismusMarketing Niedersachsen GmbH (www.reiseland-niedersachsen.de)

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England

SAUNTON GOLF CLUB wo of links golf’s most precious gems are set in the remote shadows of the towering sand dunes of Braunton Burrows at Saunton Golf Club in North Devon, less than half a mile from the Atlantic Ocean. When the club was inaugurated in 1897 its clubhouse doubled up as the local post office, yet now its two championship courses, East and West, are considered among the greatest links in the world.

The basis for the present East Course was laid out under the direction of the renowned course architect W. Herbert Fowler in the 1920’s. A completely natural layout set amid the spectacular sand hills, the East Course provides a peaceful environment with only the sound of the sea for company as well as a great test of golf for players of all standards.

The West course is also an exceptional challenge in its own right and it was here in 1997 that a 17-year-old Sergio Garcia

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won the British Boys Championship, just two years before making his Ryder Cup debut. Indeed over the years Saunton has played host to many major national and international championships during its 113- year history.

The East Course will host the South West Amateur Championships and West of England Championships in 2011 whilst the West course will be used in 2012 by the English Golf Union for the Mid Amateur Championships, Logan Trophy.

England’s most successful modern day golfer, Nick Faldo, has been one of Saunton’s many fans since playing here as a boy. The multiple major winner once said of Saunton’s East Course, "I've no doubt if the East Course were located on the coast of Lancashire or Kent it would have hosted an Open Championship by now." Saunton, a member of the England’s Atlantic Links golf network, is easily accessible via the M5 and A361.

CONTACT

SAUNTON GOLF CLUB, Nr Braunton, North Devon EX33 1LG Contact: Peter McMullen T: 01271 812436. Green fee £74 weekdays/£79 weekends www.sauntongolf.co.uk • gm4@sauntongolf.co.uk

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England

TREVOSE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB heltered by the majestic Trevose Head, the experience of playing the Championship Course at Trevose Golf & Country Club is enhanced by the spectacular views of the North Atlantic Ocean, wide sandy beaches and dramatic North Cornish coastline. A true test of links golf, the course was designed by Harry Colt in 1925 and will test all aspects of your game. As with all of Colt’s designs, the course is in two loops of nine holes with the front nine holes hugging the sand dunes and coastline and back nine forming inland links, although the sea can be seen from every single hole.

Like all great links courses the difficulty lies in the wind – so beware when the wind blows! No two days are ever the same, and those who are prepared to be more creative with their shot making will be well rewarded. The greens are quick all year round and due to the temperate micro climate the area enjoys, the course condition is excellent 365 days a year. Come rain or shine, wind or calm, Trevose

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will test every shot in your armoury and every club in your bag!

As one of the top championship links golf courses in the British Isles, Trevose hosted the 2008 Brabazon Trophy (English Men’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship) and The McGregor Trophy in 2012 and it regularly plays home to touring professionals and top amateurs alike. Indeed Paul Way, exEuropean Tour and Ryder Cup player, has said of Trevose, “I have played lots of Harry Colt courses and Trevose is up there with his best. The setting is fantastic and you need every shot on this course.”

With a range of 3 to 5 star on-site (self catering) accommodation, as well as first-class dining, three tennis courts, a beauty/therapy salon, swimming pool, children’s play area, seven nearby beaches and three courses to choose from, Trevose offers the ideal golf destination with a relaxed holiday atmosphere.

Trevose, a member of the England’s Atlantic Links golf network, is easily accessible via the M5.

CONTACT

TREVOSE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, Constantine Bay, Padstow, Cornwall PL28 8JB Contact: Nick Gammon T: 01841 520208. Green Fee £65 Summer/Winter £40 www.trevose-gc.co.uk • ngammon@trevose-gc.co.uk

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England

St ENODOC GOLF CLUB ornwall’s St Enodoc, designed by celebrated golf course architect James Braid, is a sparkling jewel of links golf in South West England that once trodden, is never forgotten. Founded in 1890, it boasts a magnificent setting amongst the rolling sand dunes and exposed cliff tops that overlook the Camel Estuary and the dramatic coastline of the North Atlantic ocean giving it some of the greatest sea and estuary views of any course in the world. Indeed St Enodoc prides itself on its stunning panoramas over the water that can be seen from every single hole.

St Enodoc’s Church Course is so called because of the 11th century Norman Church that was uncovered from amongst the sand dunes in Victorian times in the middle of the course at the bottom of the winding 10th hole. This is where the Poet Laureate John Betjeman lies following a lifelong love of Cornwall and the golf course. The undulating track that trails the natural contours

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of the landscape has no two holes the same and is world renowned for its towering Himalaya bunker - reputedly the tallest bunker in Europe - that entirely blocks golfers’ view of the 6th green from all but a slither of fairway.

Testament to the quality of the course St Enodoc, one of the most charming championship links courses in England, has played host to top amateur events including the English Ladies Amateur Championship in 1993 & 2002 and the English Counties Championship in 1989 & 2005. Over the years, the charm of St Enodoc and its history has lured a host of legendary Open Champions to its fairways including James Braid of course, Henry Cotton, Jim Barnes and Tom Watson which has added to the prestige of this exceptional course. The club offers excellent practice facilities complete with driving range, two putting greens and two PGA coaching professionals and recently invested heavily in a new short game practice area, a new target green on the range and a new covered bay facility.

CONTACT

ST ENODOC GOLF CLUB, Rock, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 6LD Contact: Tuck Clagett T: 01208 863216. Green Fee £67 www.st-enodoc.co.uk • tuck.clagett@st-enodoc.co.uk

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Golf ball marker and putt alignment tool.

Confidently putt through your chosen line and watch your one putt percentage improve.

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Add a permanent personal laser-engraved message, logo, or club badge to any GrooveFix product.

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BURNHAM & BERROW GOLF CLUB omerset’s Burnham & Berrow Golf Club is a fine example of a classic English links course that offers a superb challenge to golfers of all abilities. Founded in 1890, the championship layout is particularly noted for its distinct sand hills that form stubborn, natural obstacles along with the buckthorn and even a marsh mid-way through a round that golfers are advised to avoid.

As with all links golf the challenging factor is the wind and its unpredictability, which means that the course can play differently almost every day. The prevailing south westerly winds that whip in from the dramatic backdrop of the North Atlantic Coast and along the Bristol Channel ensure that golfers are treated to a links challenge that is not for the faint hearted. The greens are renowned as true and quick and the temperate coastal location means that the course is guaranteed to be in good condition all year round. Excellent drainage due to the sandy subsoil ensures that the course is rarely, if ever, closed.

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The nature of the course demands that you use almost every club in the bag, ensuring that the experience is both memorable and challenging.The course has evolved over the decades but today’s layout is largely the work of Harry Colt. The club’s first professional was the legendary JH Taylor, five times an Open champion, who played an important part in development of the playing side of the club and once described the course as “one of the most sporting courses conceivable”.

Burnham & Berrow has hosted a string of prestigious amateur tournaments from as early as 1906 when it staged the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship. More recently it has been proud to be chosen as the venue for the 2006 English Amateur Championship and the 2009 Tillman Trophy. In 2011 it will be the host venue for The Brabazon Trophy as well as the British Boys Championship. Conveniently located just off the M5 in Burnham-on-Sea, Burnham & Berrow is part of the England’s Atlantic Links golf network.

CONTACT

BURNHAM & BERROW GOLF CLUB, St Christopher’s Way, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset TA8 2PE Michael Blight T: 01278 785760. Green fee £70 www.burnhamandberrowgolfclub.co.uk • secretary.bbgc@btconnect.com

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England

E A S T S U S S E X N AT I O N A L et in 1100 acres of quintessentially English countryside, yet only 40 minutes from Gatwick Airport and close enough to several major transport routes to make travelling a breeze, we can’t think of anywhere more conducive to a relaxing, awe-inspiring golf break than right here in this glorious setting.

Boasting two world class 18 hole Championship Golf Courses as well as 104 bedroom hotel, a fully equipped health club, 20 metre pool and a nine treatment room spa, East Sussex National has it all.

From the moment you tee off, to the first drink back at the clubhouse, we’re confident it’s an experience you will want to repeat time and again. We welcome everyone who wishes to spend time on our spectacular courses; we just want to give those who enjoy the game a chance to live the experience. Today, it represents the nearest you can get to perfection in the design and condition of the golf courses. Our meticulous attention to detail and clubhouse facilities among the finest in Europe,

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make the game even more enjoyable.

SUPERIOR COURSES, UNRIVALLED APPEAL Both our championship courses were designed by Robert E Cupp, one of Jack Nicklaus’s course architects, with major championship golf in mind. It’s no wonder that the club staged two European Opens and played host to some of the world’s leading players including Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Vijah Singh, Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal, Nick Price and Ian Woosnam.

GOLF ACADEMY The East Sussex National Golf Academy boasts some of the finest practise facilities in Europe: a 13 acre driving range, with open grass tee and covered bays, greenside and fairway bunkers, pitching and chipping areas, three putting greens and a championship three hole academy course featuring a par 3, par 4 and par 5 holes.

CONTACT

EAST SUSSEX NATIONAL, Little Horsted, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 5ES. 01825 880088 www.eastsussexnational.co.uk

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Golf

Golf

Hotel Hotel

Spa Spa

Restaurant Restaurant

Resort Resort

enjoy your game

discover the italian lifestyle

take your time

tasting delights

living in paradise

Live the emotion of Italian Style Enjoy your “Full immersion” in the world of GOLF! It is the virtuous combination of antique and modern that makes the Chervò Golf Hotel Restaurant Spa & Resort San Vigilio so unique. Our efficient services and features work in partnership with nature, comfort and enhancement of your body and spirit on your quest for wellness and relaxation.

Our resort is in Pozzolengo, just south of Lake Garda, between Sirmione and Desenzano, in the center of the most important cities in northern Italy. At its heart is the ancient Benedictine abbey

of San Vigilio built in 1104. New buildings and historic residences have been constructed around the abbey in a harmonious fusion of line and form, providing facilities for the hotel, restaurant, spa, resort and the 36-holes golf course.

AIRPORT CONNECTION: VERONA 18 KM - BERGAMO 58 KM - MILANO/VENEZIA 120 KM. Transfer from/to airports - On request.

Chervò Golf Hotel Spa & Resort San Vigilio

Special Packages for your stay

N. 1 ITALY GOLF DESTINATION

N. 1 ITALY GOLF DESTINATION

TOP 20 GOLF & HOTEL RESORT IN THE WORLD

TOP 20 GOLF & HOTEL RESORT IN THE WORLD

Loc. San Vigilio, 1 - 25010 Pozzolengo (Bs) Lago di Garda - Italy Tel +39 030 91 801 - Fax +39 030 91 80 999

Investment opportunity Direct Sale N. 1 ITALY GOLF DESTINATION

TOP 20 GOLF & HOTEL RESORT IN THE WORLD

info@chervogolfsanvigilio.it www.chervogolfsanvigilio.it

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Italy

BELLOSGUARD O VINCI GOLF COURSE A TRULY TUSCANY GOLFING EXPERIENCE ellosguardo Vinci Golf Course, the Tuscan Golf destination. Known for its Wine and Oil production, Bellosguardo Vinci as its name suggest is located close to the birthplace of the great Leonardo Da Vinci. Nestled in the undulating hills of Tuscany, the golf course consists of 9 plus 9 holes with an overall length of 6322 m playing two rounds.

The fairways can all be viewed from the vantage point of the club-house, a perfect place to sit and taste the local wine.

Immaculate greens follow a wide valley as it winds its way through a picture perfect Tuscan landscape that will capture the imagination of any golfer.

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Our team of attentive staff will consider it their mission to make your visit something to remember whether in the clubhouse or on the golf course. Make use of our well stocked pro-shop to purchase or hire anything that you may need to make your round of golf complete.

Our exquisite restaurant where chef Marco Pagni creates food to match the charming view over the Tuscan landscape is a must for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the ambience of to location.

We offer our guests who want to stay and truly experience all we have to offer excellent accommodation with the choice of four comfortable and tastefully furnished rooms, all with views of the breathtaking countryside and with views directly to the golf course.

CONTACT

BELLOSGUARDO VINCI GOLF COURSE. Via Provinciale di Mercatale, 25 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 50059 VINCI (Firenze) Phone +39 0571. 902035. Fax + 39 0571. 901015 www.golfbellosguardovinci.it

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Emotional golf on Lake Garda The best golf destination in Italy with over 10 golf courses easily reachable from Palazzo Arzaga.

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The first Italian Golf Resort with two golf courses on-site, the 18-hole championship Jack Nicklaus II and 9-hole Gary Player with the Golf Academy to approach this sport or to refine the technique.

Palazzo Arzaga, a 5 stars luxury resort a few minutes from lake Garda, combines golf excellence in an old mansion with frescoes,

fireplaces,

wooden

ceilings,

antique furniture and a totally renewed Arzaga Spa.

Palazzo Arzaga Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort Via Arzaga, 1 - I - 25080 Calvagese della Riviera (BS) - Lake Garda - Tel. +39 030 680600 - Fax +39 030 6806270 reservation@palazzoarzaga.com - www.palazzoarzaga.com

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Spain - Cadiz

SHERRY GOLF JEREZ esigned by Stirling & Martin from Global Golf Company, Sherry Golf appears like an accessible course for amateurs and challenging for professionals. Proof of this are the many important tournaments we have had the honour to host, like the Spanish Open Amateur Championship, two years in a row, and the Seniors International Championship. We are also the official venue of the 2nd Stage of the PGA Qualifying School.

The layout is characterized as being one of the most pleasant walkthroughs in Spain: - 18 holes Championship course: 6572 meters, Par 72 - Pitch & Putt course: 911 meters, Par 3 Sherry Golf is within the new concepts of American golf course design: fun but safe in the game with undulations and well placed hazards, without making it too hilly, in order to ensure a pleasant

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walkthrough. Wide fairways and ample greens, puts Sherry Golf into the category of a luxury course.

The Clubhouse counts more than 2,800 sq metres designed under the Sherry flair, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere just like the city of Jerez. Its facilities caters to every single aspect of the sport as well as tournaments, including pro-shop, club storage room, locker rooms, restaurant, terrace grill, cafeteria, spike bar, lounges, golf academy, and much more.

The exceptional geographic location of Jerez and its surroundings make this area the perfect destination for the visitor.

3,200 hours of sun light per year, gives this area of the coast its name, Costa de la Luz (Coast of light).

Sherry Golf is located only 5 minutes from the international airport of Jerez, 50 minutes from Seville airport and 1 hour from Malaga International, thanks to the new motorway from Jerez to Los Barrios.

CONTACT

SHERRY GOLF JERE Z, 11407 Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz Telephone +34 956 088 330. Fax +34 956 088 331 Email info@sherrygolf.com â&#x20AC;˘ www.sherrygolf.com

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LE TOUQUET - FRANCE Manoir Hotel and Golf Resort

From â&#x201A;Ź290*

Punch Communication 03 21 32 69 69

Enter a World Apart and let us Care for You.

TTEL. EL. 0 0 33 33 ( 3 ) 2 1 0 28 00 066 2288 28 FFAX AX 00 00 33 33 ( 3 ) 2 1 0 066 2288 29 29

EEMAIL MAIL manoirhotel@opengolfclub.com manoirhotel@opengolfclub.com

* Price per person sharing a double inclusive of 2 nights, buffet breakfast, one welcoming dinner excl. drinks and 3 rounds of golf at Le Touquet G.C. Valid midweek from 12th April to 26th October 2013. Subject to availability.

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THE NEXT ISSUE

Great Golf

Magazine

Nick Faldo also reads GGM, photo Peter Ellegard

... and the journey continues We hope that you have enjoyed this latest issue of Great Golf Magazine and that we have both entertained and provided you with ideas for where to go and what to do in 2013. This is the first of three issues this year with GGM going quarterly in 2014.

We have some fantastic articles and features coming up for the summer, including in-depth coverage of all that Malaysia has to offer; Scotland, land of the brave and a test drive of the new Mercedes Shooting Brake. Vietnam, Kenya and Mexico are all vying for space, and you can rest assured that our journalists are already out there preparing the ground.

Our worldwide coverage is expanding yet again with further placement in Virgin Atlantic and British Airways lounges in the US and other selected global locations. Online, we are moving into the Middle East with Media Box, a new online magazine viewing system available at airports and hotels.

If you enjoy reading GGM, why not subscribe and make sure that you always receive your copy? You will find a subscription form on the website â&#x20AC;&#x201C; www.greatgolfmagazine.co.uk To advertise in the next issue, please visit our website or call us on +44 (0) 1892 544 872

See you soon!

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CHOOSE CONVENIENCE With up to 23 sailings a day to choose from you’ll be able to travel when you want. So sailing with us really is the best way to start your holiday.

The Spirit of Britain and Spirit of France are the biggest and newest ships on the Dover to Calais route. Step on board to relax in our luxury Club Lounge, have fun in our Family Lounge and pick up bargains in our huge onboard shop. And there’s a range of delicious meals in the Food Court and The Brasserie for you to enjoy too. So book your journey with us today.

POferries.com dover calais • hull zeebrugge / rotterdam • cairnryan / troon larne • liverpool dublin

Only a Pre-Owned Bentley has passed the most exacting technical inspection by technicians trained by Bentley. Only a Bentley dealer can offer you this reassurance and fully validate its service history. And only a Bentley dealer will check it against our own original build specification records to ensure authenticity. Only then can it carry a comprehensive and exclusive 12-month Unlimited Mileage Warranty with 12 monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bentley Roadside Assistance.

Quite simply, a Bentley cannot just become Pre-Owned; it has to earn it.

For more information visit preowned.bentleymotors.com/gg

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