Golfers' paradise
01-Mar-07
When it comes to enthusiasts combining the game they love with exotic foreign travel then golf is streets ahead of its sports competitors. According to the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, a third of Britain's 1.6million regular golfers have been on a golf holiday in the past year, and with such a huge range of destinations and experiences available, that number can only increase.
The beauty of golf as a holiday bolt-on is that whether clients are after stunning Alpine scenery or a relaxed tropical paradise, the sport can be combined with a dream holiday at any time of year. For example, in the middle of winter, clients can head to Locarno, on the southern tip of Switzerland. They can stay at the magnificent Eden Roc hotel (www.edenroc.ch), enjoy golf at the excellent selection of local golf courses in the morning (including Ascona, a former European Tour venue) and in less than half an hour be at a ski resort for an afternoon.
Places such as the Czech Republic, Turkey, Argentina (including the world's most southerly course) and Botswana are now viable alternatives to traditional venues such as Spain, Dubai and Mauritius, with the likes of Bulgaria, Slovenia and India fast improving.
And for those who have caught the cruising bug, clients can combine a European holiday aboard an ocean liner or on a river vessel, as well as play some of Europe's finest courses, aboard a Peter Deilmann vessel. Destinations include Libya, Italy, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Poland and Germany. Packages include all green fees, travel to and from the course, caddies, pull carts, and an experienced escort (www.peterdeilmann.co.uk).
Only a lack of awareness of these new destinations is holding golfers back, and with that in mind, here's a selection of 12 golf destinations to help put that right.
TROPICAL LUXURY
Pick of the bunch
Raffles Resort Canouan
Canouan Island, Grenadines
Why: Simply the finest golf resort money can buy ... and if you don't believe us, just ask Donald Trump. It was he who decided to turn what used to be a beautiful, unspoilt speck in the Caribbean into a resort boasting an incredible hotel and one of the world's best new golf courses, designed by Jim Fazio. The golf course is great, but what you'll really remember are the stunning views of the island and surrounds. Get clients to bring plenty of balls, though: if their ball ends up in the jungle, they'll need a machete rather than a 7-iron. For non-golfers, there's the ultra-luxurious Raffles Amrita spa as well as the white powder beaches, so bright and clean that you'll think the short seaplane hop from Barbados has landed you in a dream that's too good to be true.
Green fees: Included in hotel room fee, $175 (£85) for non-residents.
Other sports: Any and all water sports, with the highlight being snorkelling and scuba diving on the coral reef that surrounds the island.
Best room: The Ocean View Mezzanine Suite, which is more than 1400sq ft, includes a huge terrace.
Price: £600 per night
Contact: www.canouan.com
BEST OF THE REST
Green Monkey
Sandy Lane, Barbados
Why: Douglas and Zeta-Jones call it home from home and Tiger Woods got married there - not bad as recommendations go. The hotel's Country Club course is good, but the Green Monkey is breathtaking.
Green fees: £200 for the Green Monkey and clients can only play if they're staying too.
Other sports: Standard Caribbean mixture of watersports and lazing around listening to the coconuts fall.
Best room: The 3,971sq ft penthouses (that's the size of four average semi-detached houses).
Price: £5,000 per night, the villa is £14,000 (Tiger Woods decided to park his own £20m yacht in the bay instead.)
Contact: www.sandylane.com
Bintan Lagoon
Riau islands, Indonesia (near Singapore)
Why: The best way in the world to mix a visit to a tropical paradise with a trip to a bustling 21st century city, with great courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Ian Baker-Finch.
Green fees: Around £60 if staying on-site, including the return catamaran from Singapore.
Other sports: Aside from the usual, the Bintan triathlon takes place here each May.
Best room: Angsoka villa, a four-bedroom house with its own pool and garden.
Price: £340 per night
Contact: www.bintanlagoon.com
Playa Paraiso
Yucatan, Mexico
Why: Stunning golf courses abound in Playa Paraiso and Playa del Carmen, a Caribbean town, which is Cancun's very upmarket neighbour. Pete Dye's Playa Paraiso is among the very best.
Green fees: £90 all-inclusive: golf, buggy, food, drink all included.
Other sports: The Yucatan peninsula borders the world's second-largest coral reef, offering scuba diving and snorkelling which is, without doubt, as good as any in the world.
Best room: Suites on an all-inclusive basis at the five-star Grand Hotel Paraiso
Price: £300 per night for two people.
Contact: www.iberostar.com
FAMILY FUN
Pick of the Bunch
Mar Menor, Murcia, Spain
Why: So new that the paint is still drying on some of the buildings, the resort complex at Mar Menor is one of the best new golf developments, not just in Spain, but in the world. Though the region as a whole has long played second-fiddle to the Costa del Sol in both golfing and holiday terms, with new resorts such as this popping up it won't be long before the more established Costas find themselves with a bit of extra competition. The golf course itself is designed by Jack Nicklaus - hence his appearance in the television advertisements for the nearby Polaris World complex - and is a cracking, US-style layout. Also nearby is Hacienda del Alamo, a wonderful new golf course by Spanish Ryder Cup legend Miguel Angel Jimenez, who has proven himself to be a top-class course designer.
Green fees: £45 (EUR70)
Other sports: Anything and everything. As well as the stunning on-site spa and gym facilities, the area boasts a fantastic range of activities based both on-site (including kids' club) and off-site at the Mar Menor itself, which is Europe's largest lagoon. It offers the benefits of the Mediterranean climate and beaches without the disadvantages and dangers of the sea, making it ideal for families ... as well as a watersports Mecca.
Best room: The Royal Suite - it's not cheap, but once clients have seen the incredible roof terrace with its panoramic views of the golf course and resort they'll wonder why it's so reasonable.
Price: £800 per night (EUR1,100)
Contact: www.intercontinental.com
BEST OF THE REST
Bay Hill
Orlando, Florida
Why: Arnold Palmer's home club is as dramatic and challenging as they come, rated among the best US courses open to the public. And it's on the doorstep of Disney, Universal and all the other Orlando attractions. Green fees: £110, including buggy
Other sports: Tennis courts, spa, beauty salon, pools.
Best rooms: The suites.
Price: £170 per night
Contact: www.bayhill.com
Vilamoura
Algarve, Portugal
Why: This resort on the Algarve is the largest tourist complex in Europe and a perfect holiday spot for families. The new Victoria course at Vilamoura - used for several tournaments, including the WGC World Cup - is good, but the original Old Course is one of the best in Europe.
Green fees: £100 (discounts through tour operators)
Other sports: Full holiday facilities.
Best rooms: Presidential Suite at the Tivoli Marinotel, right on the beach.
Price: £1,400 per night.
Contact: www.vilamouragolf.com
Muirfield
Gullane, Scotland
Why: None other than Nick Faldo believes this to be the best test of golf in the world. And while you're on the links, your family can live it up in one of Europe's liveliest cities, Edinburgh, which is just half an hour away.
Green fees: £135
Other sports: East Lothian is all about golf and birdwatching.
Best rooms: The Colonel's House, part of the adjacent Greywalls Hotel sleep eight people.
Price: £950 per night
Contact: www.muirfield.org.uk
INSIDER'S GUIDE
Morgan Clarke
Owner, Concierge Collection
With so much disposal income at the high end of the market, we are certainly noticing that people want something a little bit different. Places such as Dubai and Mauritius are still excellent, but people are still coming away feeling like they have been in a resort - having paid the high price, but not necessarily received the premium service to match.
The Concierge Collection is more about bespoke holidays that we hope are well kept secrets. France is certainly a venue that knows how to do luxury better than anyone and is a very green option, not needing to be flown to. Burgundy, Provence and now the Rhone Alps are excellent, with places like the Four Seasons Provence (www.fourseasons.com/provence) being the perfect example. It was 62% full in its first year, which is astonishing, and now that a brilliant new spa has been added to the two Dave Thomas course, it is going to be one of the best in the world. Les Bordes (www.lesbordes.com) is a magnificent course that is going to be turned into one of the world's best resorts.
Further afield, Canouan Island (www.canouan.com) in the Grenadines is simply unbelievable, the height of luxury, with one of the world's best golf courses and the most incredible spa for non-golfers to enjoy.
www.conciergecollection.com/welcome
SERIOUS GOLFER
Pick of the Bunch
Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Why: Just-finished refurbishments have turned one of the US's most eye-catching courses into one of its very best. With its thick, rough, outrageous bunkers and omnipresent water hazards, for most it's the epitome of US-style golf. Aside from the golf there's a beautiful, dune-backed Atlantic beach, great nightlife in nearby Jacksonville Beach and Orlando is a three-hour drive.
Green fees: Have to be booked as part of a hotel package with the on-site Marriott: £270 ($500) will buy a two-night stay with a round of golf on both the Stadium course and its less-famous sister, the Valley course.
Other activities: Spa in the hotel and beach activities. Daytona's famous racetrack is an hour away.
Best room: The PGA Tour Experience Suites are yet to be finished (at the time of writing), but promise unparalleled luxury within the hotel.
Price: £150 per night
Contact: www.sawgrass.com
BEST OF THE REST
Pebble Beach
Monterey Peninsula, California
Why: The most dramatic golf course in the world.
Green fees: £250 for guests at the lodge.
Other sports: There are half a dozen other courses within a 10-mile radius.
Best room: The Palmero Suite at Casa Palmero - overlooking the course.
Price: from £975 per night
Contact: www.pebblebeach.com
Turnberry
Ayshire, Scotland
Why: On a good day, the best place in the world for golf.
Green fees: £135 for hotel guests (otherwise £160)
Other sports: Pool, gym and spa
Best rooms: Go for one of the lodges, including a chef.
Price: From £975 per night
Contact: www.turnberry.co.uk
St Andrews Old Course
Fife, Scotland
Why: The world's first, and most famous, golf course.
Green fees: £125.
Other sports: Beaches are clean, sandy and beautiful.
Best room: The suite Tiger Woods stays in at the Old Course Hotel is £659 per night.
Contact: www.standrews.org
ADVENTUROUS TYPES
Pick of the Bunch
Llao Llao
Patagonia, Argentina
Why: An area that is normally only seen by sheep farmers, but clients making the effort to get here will be rewarded with a beautiful golf course that is overshadowed on all sides by spectacular scenery.
Green fees: Free to hotel residents.
Other sports: Fab open-air pool with mountain views.
Best room: Presidential suite at £1,400 per night.
Contact: www.llaollao.com
BEST OF THE REST
Mission Hills
Shenzen, China
Why:World's biggest golf club is soon to open its 11th and 12th courses. All designed by different architects: Nicklaus, Norman, Faldo, even Annika Sorenstam.
Green fees: £25-£40 per round.
Best room: The three-bed, three-bath Imperial Suite.
Price: From £975 per night
Contact: www.missionhillsgroup.com
Phakalane
Botswana
Why: It lets clients combine golf and safari.
Green fees: £18.50
Best room: Executive suites.
Price: £56 per night, chalets £70.
Contact: www.phakalane.com
Karlstejn
Czech Republic
Why: The golf world's best-kept secret with its stunning castle backdrop, just a few minutes drive from Prague.
Green fees: £72 (£48 weekdays)
Best room: Room 704 in Hotel Josef in central Prague.
Price: £220
Contact: www.karlstejn-golf.cz, www.hoteljosef.com.
