Posts Tagged ‘Golf accommodation’

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La Cala Golf Resort, the best place for golfing holidays in Spain?

Monday, April 18th, 2011

La Cala Golf Resort, set in the hills overlooking the lovely little town & beach resort of Cala de Mijas (on the Costa del Sol between Malaga and Marbella), is a fantastic oasis of flowers and green rolling fairways contrasting strikingly with the mixed, sometimes dense dark green scrubland of the surrounding countryside.

Who in 1989 looked at this steep, hilly, rolling terrain with no access roads or services, land probably only fit for goat herds (of the hardy variety!) and thought “with a 1,000 acres of this I could create a fantastic, luxury resort for golfing holidays” is unknown to me, but vision of an extraordinary nature he/she must have had.

22 years later and the La Cala Golf Resort of today is a fantastic place for golf holidays offering three, very different, championship length 18 hole courses plus a David Leadbetter Golf Academy and a Par 3 Excecutive Course. In fact, following the addition of the third golf course and the latest housing development, it is now billed as the largest golf resort in Spain, having taken the crown from La Manga Golf Resort, further north in Murcia.

But, to think of La Cala Resort only as a destination for golf holidays is to miss the point. It is a residential community comprising low density developments of high quality apartments, townhouses and golf villas plus it offers a wide range of other general holiday activities including cycling, squash, tennis, swimming pools, a football academy, pilates classes… In fact I’d guess that, despite the quality of the golf facilities, at least 50% of the people on the La Cala Golf Resort are there just for a fantastic family holiday rather than a golf holiday, viewing the golf courses as simply a nice area of manicured greenery to make the resort even more beautiful.

Planning My Golf Holiday at La Cala Golf Resort

My story begins in January when I decided that, following the long winter layoff, I was in need of a ‘golf tune up’ prior to the onset of the all too short English Summer. Having pondered the options I concluded that a few golf lessons could best be tied in with a couple of games of golf all crammed into a short golfing holiday with the guys somewhere in the sun (so I could concentrate on my golf I suggested to an obviously sceptical wife). Anyway, after a bit of deliberation we decided on a golf ‘mini’ school at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at La Cala Golf Resort then a couple of games on the one or more of the golf courses at La Cala Golf Resort.

The logistics…

Having never been to La Cala Golf Resort before I searched the web and concluded that, as good as the resort sounds, it would be best to stay within walking distance of multiple bars and restaurants in the small town & beach resort of Cala de Mijas.  There were a good selection of golf villas and apartments to choose from on PackYourClubs.com – so accommodation sorted!

Getting there was easy enough, an Aer Lingus flight from Gatwick was a pleasant surprise, seats with more legroom than BA and a cheerful, professional flight crew.

Car hire was a little trickier as I didn’t want to bother with the offsite car hire companies (even if most of them are only 400 yards from the terminal – it’s not walkable!) but the onsite ones have appalling reputations (high excess on the insurance, forced to purchase a full tank of petrol even for a  three day hire, etc, etc) but then I found Auriga Crown Car Hire – office in the airport terminal, full insurance with no excess as standard (except windscreen and tyres) and with a good reputation.

Finally, that age old conundrum of whether to take your own clubs, pay the exhorbitant airline charges and still risk damaging them or just hire a set once you get there. Having gone through the process of custom club fitting only last summer I discovered (as apparently many people do) that I needed clubs with a standard shaft, standard flex, standard lie, I guess just call me Mr. Standard… So, not needing anything out of the ordinary, I hired a set of TaylorMade R9s from ClubsToHire.com as they are exactly the same as my own clubs (except I wanted to try the new TaylorMade ‘White’ driver so I asked that that be included).

The Resulting Golf Holiday…

Aer Lingus flight arrived on time in Malaga, hire car collection in the terminal was painless but where are ClubsToHire?  It transpires that they are with the hire car companies in a strip of buildings along the exit road 400 yards from the terminal. When we arrived we were welcomed with a smile and a personal greeting (they know your flight and so are expecting you) and the clubs were there waiting for us, all shiny and new. After a quick photocopy of my credit card and passport we were off.

Accommodation definitely up to scratch and Cala de Mijas is a very pleasant little town with a lovely beach and good mix of bars (Biddy Mulligans, Fluters, The Sports Bar to name but a few) & restaurants (Spanish, Italian, Chinese) plus the usual assortment of banks and shops.

La Cala Golf Resort is an 8-10 minute drive into the hills behind Cala de Mijas (or a €10 cab ride). On entering the resort you get a great view of the La Cala Europa Golf Course and then the La Cala America Golf Course before climbing up past the hotel and, finally, arriving at the Golf ‘Centre’ comprising a Golf Reservations office, large Golf Pro Shop, Caddy Master and a lovely Bar/Restaurant with indoor area and a huge terrace (some covered some not) looking across the La Cala Asia Golf Course and down to Cala de Mijas and the Mediterranean. Fantastic.

Unlike most other Portuguese and Spanish golf resorts I’ve seen La Cala Golf Resort has resisted the urge to line every fairway with golf villas. This gives a lovely feeling of space – you look over the clubhouse terrace and you see green rolling fairways with the luxury apartments and golf villas set well back higher up the hills away from the golf course – lovely…

Our first day activity was a game of golf on the La Cala Europa Golf Course (the baby of the three). On the strength of the advertising literature (flatter ground along the river valley…) we considered walking the course but decided that perhaps we’d have the buggy. What a result! The La Cala Europa Golf Course is about as flat as the foothills of the Himalayas and the walk green to tee is sometimes enormous. It’s a fantastic course, well designed, immaculately maintained and a great challenge but we concluded that if not for the buggy they would probably have found us lying face down on the 6th fairway, clubs still on our backs, unable to move further due to exhaustion!

Following a welcome beer on the terrace after the game we headed back to our accommodation for something to eat and an early night ready for the start of our golf school the next day.

The David Leadbetter golf school at La Cala was initially a bit of a disappointment. A large ‘log cabin’ type wooden building attached to the driving range. However, it was obvious that James Jewell, our instructor knows his stuff and quickly identified the myriad of problems with my swing and set about developing a few training exercises to unwind the worst of my bad habits.

Perhaps not the best way to build on our golf swing lesson, but the afternoon was spent playing the La Cala America Golf Course. This is a lovely course, probably best described as a ‘resort’ course it offers wide tree lined fairways and less opportunity to get into trouble than the Europa Course. Some of the views from the elevated tees are spectacular and, perhaps because of the late start, we didn’t see another soul on the course. A great investment of €59.

In summary, I’d fully recommend La Cala Golf Resort for golfing holidays or even for family holidays (with or without golf) as it offers possibly the best combination of scenery, location, quality, golf courses & low density golf villas which I have seen in Europe.

My Recommendations…

Definitely look at La Cala Golf Resort

Consider hiring your clubs at Malaga Airport (check out ClubsToHire.com)

If you prefer a leisurely afternoon/evening, perhaps around your own private pool followed by a BBQ then consider a Golf Villa on La Cala Golf Resort

If you prefer to be able to walk out to multiple bars & restaurants then consider holiday rental accommodation in Cala de Mijas or Calahonda

Play:

-          La Cala America Golf Course

-          La Cala Europa Golf Course (if you have a handicap of 18 or less)

-          Santana Golf & Country Club (in the next valley but much flatter)

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Marrakech Golf Holidays an exotic alternative…

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

Marrakech, set in the centre of Morocco, at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, is perhaps best known as a destination for a cultural, city break type holiday. Having been founded in 1062 it certainly has the history with an ancient underground irrigation systems, the Koutoubia mosque (a masterpiece of Moorish architecture which dominates the skyline), an array of museums, an ancient university and palaces. Plus of course the maze of alleyways which hold the souks (markets, one for leather, one for rugs, one for food etc) winding their way to the huge central market square. But what is less well known is that Marrakech is also home to some superb golf courses.

At a little over 3 ½ hour flight from the UK Marrakech is only a short hop past Spain but it is a world apart.

My Golf Holiday in Marrakech

Getting there was easy enough with various flight options available from British Airways, Easy Jey, Air Moroc, Thompson and, if you really are that desperate, Ryan Air.

We had decided to stay in Marrakech and travel out to the golf (it is only 3-5 miles dependent on course) and, having decided to stay in Marrakech we thought we might as well be right in the heart of Marrakech. So a traditional Riad in the Medina for us (the Medina is the walled part of the old city).

The riad was lovely but, because it was designed and built three hundred years ago to be cool in summer plus not allow women in the house to be seen from the street, it was a three storey high building with no windows to the outside (all facing into the two/three internal courtyards). Which meant you walked along an alley to a big door, banged on the door to get in and once in it had the feeling of an enclosure.  The roof terrace was however a lovely retreat and a great place for a late afternoon beer.

The Medina itself is comprised of a twisting maze of ‘streets’ which are more like 12ft wide alleys with shops either side, a milieu of people and thousands of mopeds buzzing back and forth with the rider’s finger permanently attached to the horn.  When walking you had to be on constant alert for mopeds whilst being persistently assailed by invitations to look at goods on display on either side of you or actually enter the shops. Looking at something was tantamount to agreeing to buy it and what remained was merely to negotiate the price (any attempt to deny you wanted it or even walk away was viewed simply as a negotiating stance). If you did go so far as ask the price it was at least twice what you were actually expected to pay (unless you were an idiot). I am now firmly of the belief that the sketch in Life of Brian where ‘Brian’ is desperately trying to buy a beard to disguise himself but the stall holder won’t sell it to him because he won’t haggle was born out of the writer’s experience in Marrakech! In all, for a person who views shopping in general as a necessary evil, strolling around the souks was a far from enjoyable experience.

It is a Muslim country and a very accommodating and liberal one (people were generally very friendly and helpful), but having been a French colony until 1956 I had expected almost a cafe culture and was therefore surprised to find it was anything but. There were numerous licensed premises but if you wanted an alcoholic drink you had to be seated where you could not be seen from the street (like being 16 again…). There were no Parisian style smart cafes (not even in the huge central square) from which you could relax with something light to eat and a cold beer to while away an hour or so watching the world pass by.

But the golf, the golf is simply fantastic. La Palmeraie Golf Resort to the north west of the city was apparently voted ‘Top Golf Resort in Africa 2006’ an accolade I can easily understand. Everything was immaculate, the service, the facilities, the course, everything. The Amelkis Golf Resort to the south west of the city was similarly magnificent, not a penny spared in creating a fantastic holiday resort with golf villas surrounding the course and the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. Across the road from the Amelkis Resort is the renown Royal Marrakech Golf Club which looked very exclusive indeed. Then to complete the set you have the Samanah Country Club to the south west of the city.

So, a mixed bag really.  When we return (and we will) we will certainly stay on one of the golf resorts just outside Marrakech and then, when not playing golf, we can get a 10 minute taxi into the Medina to ‘experience’ it before retreating back to the relaxed atmosphere of the private resort with a beer or two by the pool with the mountains in the distance.

Check out these links for holiday and golf information:

Golfing Holidays Morocco

La Palmeraie Golf Resort, Marrakech

Amelkis Golf Resort, Marrakech

The Royal Marrakech Golf Club

Samanah Country Club, Marrakech

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Murcia, the perfect golf destination to escape the English Winter?

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

The fantastic golfing region of Murcia is part of the Spanish Costa Calida, a beautiful region on the Mediterranean coast one hour south of Alicante and easily accessible from most UK airports with flights of a little over 2 hours available to either Alicante or San Javier airports.

This coastal area of Spain is protected by the magnificent Sierra del Puerto mountains giving Murcia its own ‘micro climate’. Here the annual average is for 320 days of sunshine with an average winter temperature of 15c and clear blue skies.

Two hours from the UK, a winter climate which is warm, with sunny days and clear blue skies, a location offering a backdrop of imposing mountains and views out across the crystal blue Mediterranean sea… not really a surprise then that the Murcian region has been for some years the top location for golf course construction in the whole of Spain.

Currently the region boasts sixteen luxury golf resorts including world famous names like La Manga, Roda, Hacienda del Alamo and the Jack Nicklaus Polaris Resort courses at La Torre, El Valle, Mar Menor and Hacienda Riquelme plus the new Jack Nicklaus ‘Signature’ Course at Alhama. In addition further courses already under construction include a number designed by golfing greats such as Seve Ballesteros, Maria Jose Olazabal and of course Jack Nicklaus.

Luxury Golf Resorts

The majority of these high quality golf courses are built as the focal point of large self-contained holiday resorts. Typically these luxury resorts offer a huge range of holiday accommodation from cost-effective duplex apartments to luxury green side detached villas plus fantastic golf and leisure facilities including swimming pools, tennis courts, cycling routes, shops and of course, multiple bars and restaurants. In fact everything you need for a fantastic family holiday with something for everyone and perhaps the option of a round or two of golf for you, or as the centre for a 100% focused golf break with friends.

Where to Stay

If there are two of you then perhaps a room in a hotel is the cheapest solution, but for families or larger groups undoubtedly the best, most flexible and cost-effective option is to rent a holiday apartment on the complex or perhaps a luxury golf villa with private pool and green side views. Whether it’s a short break for you and the guys or a holiday for all the family to include a round or two of golf, renting a golf apartment or golf villa is definitely the way to go.

Who to Go With

PackYourClubs.com, one of the market leaders, offer a superb range of golf apartments, golf villas and other golf holiday accommodation in Murcia at direct from the owner prices. Plus they offer online tee time booking at discounted prices.

Mediterranean coast, fantastic golf courses, 320 days of sunshine, huge range of holiday accommodation to suit all requirements and only 2 hours from the UK. What’s not to like?

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Golf holidays in Portugal

Sunday, February 6th, 2011

Portugal has everything you could wish for in a golf holiday – sunshine, pretty villages, good food, friendly people, miles of beaches plus some of the best golf courses in the world; and all this at under 3 hour flight time from the UK.

And the best bit? With direct flights from most UK airports Portugal is extremely easy to get to and for everything else you only have to go to one place – PackYourClubs.com. PackYourClubs.com offers a vast superb range of golf holiday accommodation at ‘direct from the owner’ prices plus an online tee time booking facility via their partner Golf Switch. So, whether you want a Luxury Frontline Golf Villas on Praia D’El Rey, a Townhouses on Vila Sol Golf Resort, an Apartments on Vale do Lobo or in Vilamoura Town, PackYourClubs has the range of golf holiday accommodation in Portugal that you are looking for.

So for a cheap golf holiday in Portugal look no further than PackYourClubs.com

Essentially golf in Portugal can be split between the Algarve and the Silver Coast (around Lisbon).

The Algarve

The Algarve, 90 miles long with beautiful beaches, still active fishing villages, history and charm plays host to some of the most iconic golf courses in the world.

Traditionally when golfers talk of the Algarve they really mean the Western Algarve, the area west of Faro (and the airport). This is where Sir Henry Cotton started the trend with the development of his masterpiece, the Penina Championship Golf Resort, but the trend continues to this day with more recent additions of Vale Do Lobo, twice the host of the Portugese Open,  San Lorenzo, voted No. 2 in Europe, Vila Sol, two times venue for the Portugese Open plus the simply superb Oceanico Amendoeira Golf Resort offering the fantastic Christy O’Connor designed ‘Lakes’ course plus the equally stunning Nick Faldo designed ‘Hills’ course.

However, the West Algarve has more recently seen a stiff challenge from its previously less known sibling, the Eastern Algarve.  Here you will find a much more laid back environment. The beautiful historic town of Tavira, the original capital of the Algarve, dozens of small fishing villages offering fantastic food and wine at prices often half of those generally found in the Western Algarve, a beach, arguably one of the best in Europe stretching all the way to the Spanish Border, plus some fantastic golf courses – the lovely coastal courses of Benamor, Quinta da Ria and Quinta de Cima are complemented by the fantastic  Castro Marim and Costa Esuri Golf Club (technically across the bridge into Spain!), but the crowning glory has to be the superb Monte Rei Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus designed ‘signature’ course set in the hills behind Tavira.

Eastern Algarve, Western Algarve, offering a different feel, a different holiday but both areas reinforcing the Algarve`s reputation as the top choice destination for a European golf holiday or short golf break.

The Silver Coast

In contrast to the Algarve is the sophistication offered by the ‘Silver Coast’ (the coastal area around Lisbon, the Portuguese capital). With every year that passes this area grows in popularity as a golf holiday destination and it’s not too hard to figure out why.

The climate is slightly cooler than the Algarve during the winter months, but in autumn, spring and early-summer the weather is great for golfing and this area really comes into its own.

Off the golf course there is plenty to see and do to make the golf holiday complete. Cascais and Estoril are popular spots providing a large variety of shops, bars, restaurants, casinos and nightlife in sophisticated surroundings. Lisbon city centre can be easily reached and if you want a taste of the real Portugal head for Costa da Caparica or Sesimbra.

For golf courses you are simply spoilt for choice, the options include the fantastic Robert Trent designed Penha Longa Atlantic Course, ranked within the European Top 30 Golf Courses, the beautiful  Arthur Hills designed Oitavos Dunes, ranked 88th in Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses in the World, plus the visually stunning Praia D’El Rey, undoubtedly one of the best courses in Portugal with its dramatic coastal setting and deservedly ranked 13th Best Course in Europe and 80th in the World. And, to top it all, Praia D’El Rey was awarded European Golf Destination of the Year 2007 by IAGTO.

The big bonus for the holiday golfer, however, is that the golf courses along the Silver Coast are much quieter than those of the Algarve and offer great value for money.

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Golf Accommodation to Suit You

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Because we don’t just sell one particular kind of golf accommodation in one particular place – we’ve got golf villas in Portugal, golf course apartments in Spain, and more exotic options as far away as Thailand, Morocco, and Florida – this website is the ideal place to come for anyone planning a golf break. It doesn’t matter where you want to go or how many are in your group, whether it’s just you or you and 15 friends, there are good deals here.

We also cater to a range of budgets. Golf accommodation isn’t always high-end luxury villas fully decked out with everything you could possibly want. More modest family and group options are available. There are plenty of luxury options too, but many of our listings are surprisingly affordable. There are also some excellent bargains in the Special Offers section.

Because we don’t sell pure golfing package deals, many of our villas and apartments are also suitable for non-golfers or those who are less serious about the game and want to enjoy other pursuits on their holidays – shopping, cultural activities like theatre trips and browsing art galleries and museums, or just lying on a warm sunny beach for example.

Whatever your golf accommodation needs are, there will be something at Pack Your Clubs to suit you. It’s possible to search for accommodation by location, by number of people, or simply by checking what we have available between your planned arrival and departure date. You can also specify what other things you’re interested in – night life, beaches, or a rural setting, or which facilities you’d like.

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Book Your Flight And Play In The Sun

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

Golf holidays are a great way of exploring the world while playing on some of the best golf courses on the planet. Golf holidays have become hugely popular in the last twenty years with more and more countries promoting golfing holidays for foreign visitors. The low cost flights which are available from Britain make short break golf holidays an option all year round and have brought a boom in mid week and weekend golf holidays.

It’s possible to get tailor made golf holidays from specialist companies which can provide the amount of golf you want and recommend the appropriate venues for your handicap. Once you have booked your break, you’ll need to start looking for golf accommodation, and this is where the people at Pack Your Clubs can help. Whether you are looking for golf accommodation in Spain or golf accommodation in Portugal, you are sure to find the perfect golf villas for you and you friends. Once you’ve booked, you can start looking forward to playing your game in beautiful locations, surrounded by magnificent scenery.

While these holidays are attractive to keen golfers there is no reason why they shouldn’t include families and partners too. Many companies offering golf holidays are sensitive to the needs of non-golfers, and will be able to point you in the right direction of things to do. Depending where you decide to go for your break you will be able to combine general sightseeing and plenty of time on the beach with the game you love, which your family are sure to appreciate as well.

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Perfect Accommodation For Golfers

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Golf has never been more popular than it is today, and with the recent news that Britain’s Lee Westwood is now the World Number One the chances are it will become even more popular. If you are thinking of taking golf holidays in Spain or golf holidays in Portugal there is plenty of choice when it comes to golf accommodation.

Let’s start by looking at Portugal, an increasingly popular location for golfers from the UK. The Algarve is a region with beautiful mountains, valleys and unspoilt beaches on Portugal’s most Southern coast. Even if you are not into golf, there is just so much to do here, which is handy if your partner does not share your love of the game. But for those who love to get out on the green, it boasts more than thirty Golf courses stretching across one hundred miles of beautiful coastline. All of these courses offer an excellent standard of play, combined with the stunning views which make this region a popular destination for thousands of holidaymakers. The sunny climate and minimal chances of rain makes it one of the most popular golf destinations in Europe.

Across the border in Spain, the Costa Del Sol often referred to as the Costa Del Golf with good reason. There are now more than sixty Golf courses in this region of Spain, four of which are ranked in Europe’s top ten courses. So whatever you are looking for when it comes to golf accommodation, you are sure to find it right here on the Pack Your Clubs website.

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Golf Holidays in Murcia: Golfing Capital of the Costa Blanca

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

The sun-blessed Spanish region of Murcia is dominated by its capital of the same name, a Baroque masterpiece founded by the Moors in 825 AD. However, this is of less consequence to us than the superb and numerous golf resorts. Superb apartments, hotels and golf villas are located near courses that range from could-do-this-blindfold to you-have-to-be-joking standard – in other words, something for everyone. With emerald greens strung like jewels along the Mediterranean coast, and year-round sunshine making it the perfect winter retreat, what more could you wish for?

Murcia benefits from hot dry summers and mild winters, courtesy of its position on the Iberian Peninsula. The capital has a long tradition of growing and exporting fruit, flowers and vegetables. As well as providing plenty of cheap fresh produce for Murcia’s self-catering golf apartments, it gives you an idea of why the greens, for once, really do stand up to the name.

Wherever you book golf accommodation in Murcia, you will be assured of fast and easy transfers from the airport. British travellers, in fact, have a choice of two: Alicante, or Murcia airport itself. Located at San Javier, 17 miles south of the capital, it is frequented by budget airlines who offer low-cost flights direct from major airports in the UK and Ireland. Car hire is available from both airports as well as the city.

We at Pack Your Clubs have golf holidays at Murcia’s top resorts – including a selection of golf apartments at La Torre, a Jack Nicklaus-designed course and the first fully operational Polaris World Resort.

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Golf Holidays on Portugal’s Silver Coast

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Although golf holidays in Portugal are often thought of in terms of the Algarve, the less developed Silver Coast is rapidly finding favour, with exciting new golf resorts and courses springing up all the time. The courses at the Praia del Rey Golf Resort, for example, have a unique location among the rolling sand dunes and pine forests of the beautiful unspoilt coast. With golf accommodation just a few minutes from the silvery beaches that give the region its name, it is one of the top resorts we at Pack Your Clubs feature on our site.

Golfing holidays on the Silver Coast allow you to visit the “real” Portugal, with a landscape of lush vineyards, mediaeval towns, island fortresses and traditional villages. If you want to keep active away from the links, the unspoilt beaches offer a myriad of water sports, while dry land pursuits range from pony trekking to hiking in the hills. The majority of golf villas have pools, while the resorts feature fitness clubs, tennis courts, spas, restaurants, shops and evening entertainment.

Golfing holidays on the Silver Coast used to mean a long drive from the airport. However, with the new A8 motorway, it’s typically around an hour’s transfer from Lisbon International airport to the golfing resorts of regions like Estoril and Cascais. Being the Portuguese capital, car hire is easily available.

Two of the closest golf resorts to the airport are also the most scenic. Oitavos Dunes Golf Club, a 30 minute transfer, features stunning natural links overlooking the ocean. Penha Longa, in the ancient city of Sintra, offers luxury golf accommodation in historic surroundings.

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Golf Holidays in Vilamoura, the Algarve

Friday, October 8th, 2010

Portugal’s Silver Coast and Algarve region have long been popular with holidaymakers. The country is also one of Europe’s top spots for golfing holidays, the leading destination being Vilamoura.

Vilamoura is a purpose-built golf resort covering around 20 sq km, in the Loule principality of Central Algarve. Golf accommodation in Portugal varies from private luxury villas to golf apartments within the clubs. Vilamoura was begun in 1974, and is still expanding. However, the complex has a strong commitment to environmental protection, which its 6 international golf courses, which are of varying levels of difficulty, demonstrate perfectly.

The largest is Victoria, which incorporates a number of challenging mounds, emulating the contours of the Portuguese hills. With a series of scenic waterfalls and lakes to add ambience, it’s the longest golf course in Europe. Equally picturesque is Pinhal, which runs through Vilamoura’s pine forests and is set back from the beach. The Old Course, the second oldest in the Algarve, is also set out in pine woodland, and should feel familiar to most British golfers – it’s from the “English” school of golf course design.

Vilamoura is just 14 miles from Faro, where the airport offers fast and easy transfers to your golf accommodation. Car hire is widely available, though it’s doubtful you’ll do much travelling. As one of Europe’s largest beach resorts, there’s plenty to do besides hop between the golf courses, with tennis, shooting and fitness clubs. There’s also a large marina, riding stables, casino, shops and restaurants. If you can tear yourself away from the links, we at Pack Your Clubs also recommend you visit the Roman remains and museum, in the town centre.

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