In recent years it has become ever more popular to play golf in Portugal.

With its temperate climate and stunning landscape Portugal is the ideal location to combine a great holiday and playing golf. Below we look at 5 of the top places to play golf in Portugal.

Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo Resort

The luxury Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo Golf Resort is set amongst the stunning natural scenery of The Algarve and is one of the most sought after places to play golf in Portugal having won many awards. Located in Quinta do Logo the resort enjoys exclusive access to the renowned 18 hole San Lorenzo Golf Course. The course opened in 1988 and was designed by Joseph Lee, the legendary golf course architect.

Set in the beautiful Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, the San Lorenzo golf course is beautifully maintained with perfectly manicured lawns. A large part of the course meanders through undulating greens, lakes, freshwater lagoons and pine forest with the rest of the course providing breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and mountains in the distance.

Le Meridien Penina Golf Resort 5*

Le Meridien Penina Golf and Resort is another great place to play golf in Portugal Located between Portimão and Lagos in the Algarve, the resort is a true gem for any active person featuring, golf and tennis courts, a football pitch and running track alongside the hotel.

The 18 hole Championship Course at the resort was originally called The Penina and was designed by English professional golfer Sir Henry Cotton and is considered to be his masterpiece with it’s outstanding views and tranquil setting. Set in lush natural surroundings this was the first resort course of its’ kind to be built in Portugal. It has hosted the Portuguese Open on several occasions, most recently in 2006. There resort also boasts two 9 hole courses, called the Academy Course and the Resort Course.

Formosa Park Hotel & Apartments

The Formosa Park Hotel & Apartments makes another fantastic venue for playing golf in Portugal. If you stay here you have the choice of playing at several spectacular golf courses in The Algarve. These include San Lorenzo, Pinheiros Altos, The Vale do Lobo Ocean & Royal Courses, Quinta do Lago North, South & Laranjal and many more.

Pinheiros Altos is ideal for all levels of golfers and is set amongst stunning natural lakes and trees. Originally an 18 hole course designed by American architect Ronald Fream, an additional 9 holes were created by the Portuguese golf architect George Santana da Silva. Opening in 2007 the 27 hole course is presented in three contrasting nine hole formats known as The Pines, The Corks and The Olives.

The Royal and the Ocean courses at the Vale de Lobo are two challenging courses set amongst pine and fig trees with views out towards the Ocean.

Developed by the American golf architect Rocky Roquemore, these courses have hosted the Portuguese Open twice and are stunning locations in which to play golf in Portugal.

Vilamoura

There are several places to play golf in Vilamoura including, Laguna Millennium, The Old Course, Pinhal, Victoria and Vila Sol.

The 18 hole Laguna Course was designed by Joseph Lee and is an open course on level ground with few trees. The Old Course, with its affectionate name, is the second oldest course in The Algarve and a great place to play golf in Portugal. The holes run through a lush pine forest and the course presents an interesting challenge for the keen golfer. The Victoria Clube de Golfe Course is currently the longest 18 hole golf course in Portugal, laid out over some 90 hectares it covers virtually flat terrain. A beautiful series of waterfalls and lakes provide a stunning natural backdrop to a course that is gaining a growing reputation.

CS Sao Rafael Suite Hotel 5*

At the CS Sao Rafael Suite Hotel the Herdade dos Salgados Golf course is just 5 minutes away from the hotel and the Morgado or Álamos Golf courses 25 minutes away. All guests at the hotel benefit from a discount on the green fees.

The Herdade dos Salgados Golf provides a challenge to those who want to play golf in Portugal. Located near Gale beach, between Albufeira and Pera, the

18 hole course is laid out among wetlands and features 14 water hazards. The Morgado course is one of the Algarve’s newest golf courses. Located near Portimao in stunning countryside this long but enjoyable course is set on a large tranquil estate. The Alamos course is the sister course to the Morgado and is set within the same sizeable estate.

Tags: Golf, Resort

Spain is a much loved holiday destination offering a variety of activities as well as its warm, sunny climate. In addition to sun, sea and sangria, some of the other popular pastimes enjoyed by holiday makers include a variety of sporting pursuits, such as walking, water sports and of course golf in Spain remains ever popular.

In excess of 50 million people visit Spain each year and it is still considered to be the prime destination for golfers. Spain is regarded as the inventor of the golfing package holiday. Golf in Spain will not be disappointing for the enthusiast. There are an abundance of golf courses to sample whilst basking in the glorious sunshine throughout the region. From the Costa de la Luz to the Costa Brava, the Spanish coast line is littered with golf courses to suit anyone from the golfing beginner right up to the budding Tiger Woods.

With over three hundred well manicured fairways to choose from within Spain and many more continually being built on the mainland and on the Canary and Balearic Islands, it is very difficult to give a definitive list of those considered to be the top courses. These golf courses cater for visitors to Spain as well as the 300,000 plus golf club members living here. We will look at five of the top courses to play golf in Spain based on popularity as rated by those visiting them year on year.

Valderrama Golf Club

In the heart of the Andalucian village of Sotogrande can be found Valderrama Golf Club. Valderrama is considered by many to be one of the best golf courses in the world and it is often ranked as number one in Europe. A prestigious place in which to play golf in Spain, it was originally designed in 1975 by Robert Trent Jones (and named Los Aves or ‘The Birds’).It was remodelled by billionaire Jaime Ortiz-Patino in 1985 under the watchful eye of the original designer. Golfers worldwide will be familiar with Valderrama as it has played host to many prominent championship events including the

1997 Ryder Cup, the Volvo Masters (which usually closes the European Tour

Season) and WGC Amex World Stroke Play championships. It is a difficult course; however there are tees to suit various levels of ability. The maximum permitted handicap is 24 for men and 32 for women; proof of handicap will be required. Booking is also compulsory.

San Roque Old Club

The San Roque Old Club is an interesting old course. With water hazards and undulating course, San Roque is situated at the foot of the Sierra Bermaja Mountains in Cadiz. The Club opened its doors in 1989 and not only caters for the golfer, but also integrates other sports facilities including tennis, swimming and horse riding plus a luxury hotel and spa. Designed by Dave Thomas and Tony Jacklin, each hole cost an alleged $1 million to build.

The San Roque Old Club is considered to be one of the best places to play golf in Spain. It’s suitable for most handicaps and is highly recommended to try if you can afford it. There are views overlooking the practice area from the clubhouse which is shared with the San Roque New Club.

San Roque New Club.

The New Club was designed by Perry Dye And opened in 2003. The new addition has a 36 hole course, incorporating a cork wood forest and is also highly regarded.

Real Club de Golf Sotogrande

Another highly regarded course designed by Robert Trent Jones is the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande. Opened in 1964, the course is still said to challenge the most accomplished who play golf in Spain. Most of the fairways are raised with subtle slopes in the greens, so choose your club carefully.

Sotogrande is a private members club with an air of reserved sophistication, but visitors are always welcomed. The Sotogrande has had royal status bestowed upon it and was used for the European Tour Qualifying Finals from

1998 to 2001 due to its prestigious reputation.

Abama Golf Course

A well maintained and rather dramatic course is Abama Golf Course which opened in 2005 on the Canary Island of Tenerife. Designed by architectural genius, Dave Thomas, the Abama boasts a five star hotel and heart stopping views across the Atlantic Ocean. It offers a superior golfing experience which is apparent in the green fee which is double that of any other golf course in Tenerife. It is a definite stop to make for the more discerning wishing to play Golf in Spain. There a huge changes in the terrain throughout, so a golfing buggy is a must.

Tags: Golf

Playing golf in Scotland is often regarded as a ‘must’ for the keen golfer, given Scotland’s rich history in the sport. Although there is no firm proof that golf originated in Scotland it is believed that a variety of the present day version of golf was played in the country as far back as the 15th century. It has also been said that Mary Queen of Scots was the first woman to play golf in Scotland and that she caused a great scandal when she was seen playing at the famous St Andrews course within only a few days of her husband’s murder.

There are many famous golf courses in Scotland and the R&A, which is the world governing body for the game (excluding the United States and Mexico) is based at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Fife.

With golf courses considered to be some of the best in the world, a holiday devoted to playing golf in Scotland is a must for any enthusiast of the sport. Below we look at 5 of the top places to play golf in Scotland.

FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS

Fairmont at St. Andrews, Fife, is an award-winning course and resort situated in the very ‘home’ of golf. It has two world-class courses, The Torrance and The Kittocks. The Torrance was originally designed by Sam Torrance but re-opened in July 2009 after improvement work. It now features eight new holes and is a traditional Scottish links with sizeable greens and undulating fairways.

The Kittocks (previously called The Devlin after its’ designer) opened in

2002 and is considered to be the more challenging of the two courses. It has recently been improved after a being included in the five star resort’s £17m refurbishment. The Kittocks offers dramatic views of the coastline and the Grampian Mountains in the distant horizon providing perhaps the ultimate experience for playing golf in Scotland.

TURNBERRY RESORT 5*

Turnberry Golf Resort is situated along the rugged coastline of the outer Firth of Clyde in the south west of Scotland making it another dramatic location for playing golf in Scotland. It was designed by James Miller and features a hotel, a lodge, cottage accommodation and a golf academy alongside three, traditional links courses.

The Ailsa Course was named after the owner of the land where it was built the third Marquess of Ailsa. It was redesigned by Mackenzie Ross and completed in 1951. The Ailsa has hosted The Open Championship four times.

The par-72 Kintyre course opened in 2001 and hosted The Open Championship final qualifying round in 2004. The nine-hole Arran course is regarded as a good introduction for the novice player, it opened in 2002.

OLD COURSE HOTEL ST ANDREWS 5*

The 5-star Old Course Hotel in St Andrews is the perfect place to stay for the keen golfer with its uninterrupted views out to sea over the 17th hole.

The hotel is part of the prestigious Kosaido Golf and Resort Management and incorporates the Kohler Waters Spa.

The Duke’s golf course was carefully designed to fit in with the five links courses along the stunning coastline at St Andrews. It was designed by, five-times Open Champion, Peter Thomson but was renovated in 2006 by Tim Liddy and given five completely new holes. The stunning views over the historic town of St Andrews and the dramatic coastline make this an idyllic place to play golf in Scotland.

MACDONALD CARDRONA HOTEL, GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Just 23 miles from Edinburgh and set amongst the undulating hills of the Scottish Borders, the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf and Country Club in Peebles features an 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course alongside state-of-the-art spa facilities.

Considered to be challenging, the 18-hole championship golf course was designed by former Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas. It is set in a combination of woodland, river and mature parkland and has spectacular views of the Tweed Valley. Gaining a growing reputation as a world-class location it has hosted the 2004 and 2007 Euro Pro Tour in 2004 and 2007 and the European Challenge Tour in 2007 and 2008.

GLENEAGLES

The Gleneagles Hotel boasts three championship golf courses set amongst dramatic views of the Perthshire hills. 
The golf courses were designed by two world famous golfers, five times winner of the Open Championship, James Braid, who designed the King’s and Queen’s courses and the legendary Jack Nicklaus, designer of the PGA Centenary Course.

The luxury Gleneagles hotel is currently undergoing redevelopment in preparation for 2014 40th Ryder Cup Matches, which are to be played on the PGA Centenary Course.

Tags: Golf

France is famed for many things, from a colourful history of revolutions and guillotines, to legendary emperor Napoleon and more recently, the not quite so robust but perhaps now equally legendary, Miss Carla Bruni, now Madame Sarkozy.

Countless visitors flock to France each year to sample the wealth of museums, art galleries, theatres, gastronomic delights and free flowing wines and champagnes. With assets in such abundance, you’d be forgiven for not realising that one of the other attractions is golf in France.

Blessed with over 700 golf courses, golf in France is as popular as its European neighbours Spain, Portugal and Ireland. With the advent of the Channel Tunnel and Eurostar, France is more accessible than ever and with courses in every region, it’s even feasible to pop over for the day for a quick round. Selecting the top five courses for golf in France is wholly subjective and depends upon what you’re expecting to find.

Les Bordes

If, like many golfers, you’re looking for a challenge, Les Bordes in the Loire Valley cannot fail to make an impression. A comfortable pair of golf shoes is a must here, as at over 7000 yards and covering an area of more than 1500 square kilometres, this course requires stamina. It also requires patience and skill to negotiate the water hazards posed by Sologne’s lakes, which come systematically into play on twelve of the eighteen holes.

Thankfully if you are truly exhausted after completing your walk through acres of lakes and woodland, Les Bordes offers luxurious accommodation to rest the weary head and feet for the night.

Golf de Chantilly

Considered one of Europe’s, let alone France’s, most prestigious clubs is Golf de Chantilly, around 30 miles north of Paris. A home to golf in France for more than 100 years, Chantilly has played host to several French Open championships. Recommended for the serious golfer, its Vineuil Course has a challenging layout designed to test even the most adept of championship golfers. At a little under 7000 yards, the layout reflects English style courses, with areas of woodland and open fairways. Chantilly is also home to a second course and whilst no less charming and challenging than its neighbour, the par 73 Longeres is a touch more forgiving for those seeking a more genteel test.

Le Golf National

Heading South West of Paris by around 20 miles will take you to Le Golf National, where a links-style aptly, if somewhat dauntingly, named Albatross course, was completed in 1990, a venue which has also played host to the French Open. With countless bunkers, an array of water hazards and rolling fairways, this course proves an uncompromising test of nerve and endurance to any golfer. Not for the faint hearted, Le Golf National also offers a further 18 holes on its Eagle course and a more sedate, though no less testing assessment of skills on the enchantingly named 9 hole Sparrow course.

Golf de Moliets

Though few serious players will admit to being fair-weather golfers, it’s hard to deny that the pleasure of chasing that little white ball around is enhanced not only by the beautifully manicured surroundings but the satisfying feel of the sun on your back. In the warmer climes of the south west coast, bordering the Bay of Biscay lies the Biarritz region of France, home to Golf de Moliets. With a pine forest backdrop across vast areas of the course, straying from the fairways on this 27-hole creation could lead to some time consuming searches, whilst part of the course hugs the coastline, bringing with it a host of distinctive challenges. That said, the atmosphere is refreshingly relaxed and part of the allure of Moliets, along with its year-round climate, is its accessibility to golfers of all standards.

Sperone

America has long been internationally renowned for its array of golf courses, combining absurd complexity with breathtaking beauty. Not surprising then that American architect Robert Trent Jones Senior should chose the island of Corsica on which to design one of the most spectacular settings for golf in France. Sperone is comparatively short at 6500 yards but commands almost unrivalled views of the Mediterranean. Set across cliff tops, the terrain is both as undulating as it is unforgiving, requiring some inspired club selections and sheer acts of bravery in equal measure.

Sperone’s mixture of splendour and intricacy combine to offer an unforgettable experience of golf in France, whatever the final numbers on your card.

Golf in France is accessible for golfers of all ages and abilities and should be acknowledged as a serious contender for a stimulating and enjoyable golfing break. And if, as Mark Twain once observed, golf really is just a good walk spoiled, at least you’ll never be short of somewhere to drown your sorrows – or just maybe, celebrate that elusive hole-in-one.

Tags: Golf

An avid golf player will often go to great lengths to find a challenging and interesting course. In search of the ideal golf challenge, many consider travelling abroad. However, it is not always necessary to travel and when considering golf breaks UK courses have a great deal to offer. Clearly, there is considerable debate as to which golf course is the best in England, so here is a look at 5 of the contenders.

Royal West, Norfolk

Royal West in Norfolk is a coastal golf course, where players have to cross a beach just to get between the course and the club house. Although by no means the most challenging course in England, the Royal West is still worth considering for golf breaks UK wise. Here, golfers can have an experience quite unlike other global courses; the unique setting of this course and the feeling of seclusion and isolation when playing the Royal West is unparalleled. This is a prime example of a completely natural links course with tidal marshes and large bunkers, framed by wooden sleepers. Holes 8 and

9 carry over tidal water. Rapidly changing conditions and fast coastal winds add to the challenges at Royal West and make this a golf course UK players would do well to consider.

The Belfry

Hidden in the countryside in north Warwickshire, The Belfry has three golf courses, of varying levels of difficulty, but the Brabazon is the course of choice for keen golfers. The Belfry is the only PGA course in England and hosts the PGA National. Brabazon is considered the spiritual home of the Ryder Cup. Brabazon has a couple of notably challenging holes. It has been redesigned and is currently in superb condition. If you have played the Brabazon course before, the recent improvements are worth exploring. If PGA and Ryder Cup standard courses sound a little daunting, then there is always the Derby, an all round course that is engaging for players at every level of ability.

Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake is considered a classic links course with a good record for holding tournaments at the professional level. The Royal Liverpool is a challenging course, with the tricky conditions common to all links courses. The wind has a strong presence around Royal Liverpool, which makes for an interesting challenge. The wind-swept flat expanse in front of the club house, navigating between dunes and consistently superb views of the Dee estuary mean that there is a lot to like about Royal Liverpool. The Royal Liverpool is the second oldest links course in England and also hosts the largest collection of golf memorabilia outside of St Andrews. When planning golf breaks UK based players will find that the Royal Liverpool is more than just a course for players as fans of the sport will find the collection fascinating.

Royal Birkdale

The Royal Birkdale golf course used to be known simply as Birkdale until 1951, when the Royal Charter was granted to the club. Royal Birkdale is certainly one of the top English Golf courses. Ideal for golf breaks UK players will find that the exhilarating coastal setting adds extra excitement as well as coastal winds to address. One of the distinguishing features of the Royal Birkdale course is the art deco clubhouse. Engulfed by the surrounding sand dunes, the Royal Birkdale golf course demands skilful reading of the greens. There are numerous high tees with clear views and well framed holes that allow players to appreciate the challenges of each.

Hotchkin

The Hotchkin golf course at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire is widely considered to be the top golf course in England. There are many distinguishing features that make the Hotchkin course tricky but also extremely rewarding to play. The infamous deep, intimidating bunkers of Hotchkin are only part of the challenge that faces players. Gorse and heather define the course; and the pine and birch trees that surround the Hotchkin enclose golfers in an attractive setting. When considering golf breaks UK parties with players and non-players alike will appreciate the presence of a spa here.

Before spending vast sums on travelling abroad in search of interesting and challenging golf experiences, it is worth remembering that the sport of golf is alive and well in England. Whatever it says on your handicap card, there should be a suitable course within easy reach. When choosing golf breaks UK players and other members of the party should find much to entertain, with so many courses located in fascinating historical locations and others within easy reach of spas, leisure facilities and the coast.

Tags: Golf

Do you enjoy golfing as a hobby? If you do, have you ever considered taking a Hawaii golf vacation? Although many tourists visit Hawaii to take in the beauty of the islands and to participate in beach related activities, many come to golf. In fact, did you know that Hawaii is known as one of the best destinations for golf vacations?

If and when you decide that you would like to take a Hawaii golf vacation, it is important that you start making your Hawaii travel arrangements right away. As previously stated, Hawaii is a popular vacation destination for golf vacations and golfing is and activity enjoyed by making locals. To ensure that you have the Hawaii golf vacation of your dreams, you will want to start making your Hawaii travel plans right away.

Speaking of your Hawaii travel arrangements, there are some important decisions that you will have to make. For example, when many take Hawaii golf vacations, they make the decision to stay at Hawaii golf resorts. Hawaii golf resorts are similar to traditional vacation resorts, but many have onsite golf courses. They also tend to offer packages that include free rounds of golf or free golf cart rentals. This may be an option that you will want to consider. With that in mind, it is also important to remember that you do have other options.

Another one of your options, in terms of your overnight accommodations, when looking to plan a Hawaii golf vacation is that of vacation rentals. Hawaii vacation rentals come highly rated and recommend by many tourists. They are ideal because they boast the comforts of home, as well as privacy. If your Hawaii golf vacation is trip with a large group of friends or if your golf vacation is also going to double as a family vacation, you may want to take the time to examine Hawaii vacation rentals, particularly Hawaii vacation homes or Hawaii villas.

Should you wish to book a stay at a Hawaii vacation rental, like a Hawaii vacation home or a Hawaii villa, you will want to visit an online travel website, namely one that deals exclusively with Hawaii vacations. This is likely to increase your chances of finding the Hawaii vacation rental of your dreams, as you are often presented with more options. Also, did you know that many online Hawaii travel websites also allow you to make other travel arrangements?

Before focusing on the additional travel arrangements that you will need to make for your next Hawaii golf vacation, it is important to refocus on Hawaii vacation rentals, like Hawaii vacation homes and Hawaii villas. Unfortunately, many automatically assume that they are inconvenient, as travel is required to reach the nearest golf course. Yes, this is true, but with a little bit of research you should be able to find a Hawaii vacation rental that is located a reasonable distance away from a golf course. In fact, this approach is nice as you may be able to play on world-known golf course, as opposed to a traditional hotel golf course.

Returning back to your Hawaii travel arrangements, you will need to make Hawaii airline reservations. As previously stated, many online Hawaii travel websites enable you to make your overnight accommodation reservations, like for a Hawaii vacation rental, as well as other travel arrangements. These travel arrangements should include your airline reservations. This approach is nice, as you do not have the spend time researching Hawaii airlines. All you should have to do is type in your starting point, your destination, and your intended dates of travel and you should be provided with a list of available flights to Hawaii.

Another Hawaii travel arrangement that you should make is that of a car rental reservation. Even if you book a stay at a Hawaii golf resort, a car rental is still advised. To have a memorable Hawaii golf vacation, you may want to visit and play on an as many Hawaii golf courses as possible. Having a car rental will make this easy for you to do. Speaking of available Hawaii golf courses, you will want to take the time to research and examine each of your options before you leave. This can help you create a game plan for yourself, as well as let you know if golf reservations are required.

Tags: Golf, Hawaii, Planning, Vacation

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