David Boote tell us about some of the hidden golf gems he’s played in Europe.

On the Challenge Tour, we are lucky to travel around the world and play so many interesting courses.

Some of my favorites are somewhat off the beaten track but luckily I really enjoy the travelling side of my job!

Hopefully reading this might inspire you to take a golf trip to somewhere you haven’t thought about before!

The first on the list to mention is Adamstal Golf Club in Austria. This course is around an hour’s drive from Vienna and set in the lower Austrian Alps. It was built by Franz Wittmann, a successful Austrian rally driver, with spectacular views from so many different holes. Wittmann even built himself and family a rally track around the course and surrounding terrain! It really is stunning and one of the most amazing backdrops for scenery I’ve ever played.

The second course worthy of a mention is the Penati Golf Resort. This course in Slovakia is by Nicklaus design and is one of the best tests of golf we have on the Challenge Tour. It’s set amongst tall forest pines with a claim to fame that it boasts the longest hole in Europe, a 780 yard par 6! The finishing hole on the course is a demanding par 4 with a tight drive through the trees and a second shot to an island green!

Another of my favorites is Golf Bluegreen Pleneuf in Brittany, about a 5 hour drive from Calais. This corner of northwest France reminds me a lot of the courses on the Cornish or West Wales coast. The layout is fantastic, set up on the cliffs with beautiful sea views and also over the town of Pleneuf –Val-Andre. It has a number of really tight holes amongst the gorse bushes and, although the wind can blow, it is a true gem of the Challenge tour circuit.

A final course to mention is Royal Obidos Spa and Golf Resort in Portugal. Situated on the rugged Atlantic west coast the course is totally different to those found in the Algarve region. Obidos is a historic inland castle town which is around an hours drive north of Lisbon. Royal Obidos Golf course is 10 minutes away from the town next to the coast and is set in the hills with spectacular views and is a golf test to match. The town is great to walk around in the evening with its castle walls and local restaurants. Highly recommended as a golf and cultural holiday destination!

@davidboote123

Designed in 1926 by J F Abercromby, one of the finest British golf course designers of the last century, Bovey Castle’s 18 hole championship golf course in Devon is both challenging and beautiful.

Our 18 hole course is a wonder to play, with spectacular views of the valley and the hotel as the course makes its way round the estate. Whether you are a competitive golfer or a social player, you will appreciate the excellent condition and presentation of the golf course throughout the year.

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01/06/2022 11:04

We welcome groups from 12 to 100+ players. Waterlooville Golf Club is one of Hampshire’s friendliest clubs and you are sure to have a great experience, from the warm welcome, to the fantastic championship course right through to the great food after your game.

If you haven’t played it, put it on your bucket list! The friendliness of the welcome, the presentation of the course and the quality of the greens were all outstanding.

Andra, Gloucestershire Team Captain

Looking for a fantastic experience on your next society or away day? Why not come and play Waterlooville Golf Club, home of the 2016 English Women’s County Finals and Southern Counties Seniors Foursomes in 2021.

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