Over the past few decades, Spain has established itself as the most popular destination for European golf tourists. The advent of low cost air travel has opened the door to an eclectic and abundant mix of golf courses, and every year, more and more golfers are taking advantage of a country that boasts more top quality resorts than anywhere else in Europe. Spain’s convenience, diversity and relative value for money is complemented by an idyllic year-round climate and wide array of destinations, stretching from the Costa de La Luzin the south west to Bilbao and Barcelonain the north east.More...

Many of the Masters champions that have been fortunate enough to win the coveted Green Jacket have put their Augusta experiences into course design – and for most of us, playing these courses is about as close as we’ll ever get to the famed Georgia course. Here’s a selection of their best works.

Jack Nicklaus - Champion '63, '65, '66, '72, '75, '86

The Nicklaus Course at De Vere Carden Park (England)

With two excellent courses – including one Jack Nicklaus ‘Signature’ design – the golf at this luxurious Cheshire resort presents all the challenges you’d expect from the man with a record six Green Jackets to his name. The closing stretch is particularly tough.More...

Top 10 Matchplay Moments

Tony Jacklin and Jack Nicklaus - 1969 Ryder Cup

In the 1969 Ryder Cup, the last singles match between Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin was going down to the wire. The Englishman - who holed a 50-foot eagle putt at the 17^th to level the match - faced a four-footer to ensure the Ryder Cup ended in a tie for the first time. In one of the greatest and most heartwarming gestures of sportsmanship, Nicklaus picked up Jacklin’s marker and said: “I know you wouldn’t have missed that, but, given the circumstances, I didn’t want to give you the chance.” That moment was exactly what Samuel Ryder envisaged all those years ago: fierce competition underpinned by sportsmanship and respect.More...

It’s the topic of many a post-round conversation in the 19th hole, so with the bad weather still hampering domestic golf we’ve put together a dream 18 holes from some of our favourite courses across Europe. It’s not necessarily the 18 ‘best’ holes, but in terms of fun and enjoyment, we reckon this lot would take some beating.  

The Dream 18

Par 4 – La Manga West - 18th

You will struggle to find a more aesthetically pleasing closing hole in Spain. The beautiful par-4 18th at La Manga’s West Course starts from an elevated tee, which offers panoramic views of the Mar Menor, the La Manga strip, the Mediterranean and the arid hills that frame the resort. The elevation drop from tee to fairway is at least 100 yards, and drives must carry 200 yards to avoid shrubland and a ditch that dissects the fairway. Olive trees line the right side of the short grass, and if you do find the fairway, a long second awaits to a small green protected by thick rough and bunkers.More...

There is nothing quite like spending time away from home and embarking on a golf trip with a selection of your closest friends. It doesn’t matter if it’s at home or abroad; a golf break ticks every box when it comes down to enjoyment criteria for a holiday you will look back on fondly for years to come. On a golf trip, every aspect of your regular four-ball is magnified, resulting in an experience that will leave you desperate to book another.

When many people look at booking a holiday, they consider what they hope to achieve in doing so. Desires obviously vary, but, generally, it comes down to spending time with people important to you, spending time outside and being able to completely forget home life and focus on the moment.More...

The dialogue and debate surrounding the legality and legitimacy of the anchored putter has been plaguing the game for the past 18 months. Keegan Bradley’s victory at the PGA Championship – the first major win achieved with an anchored putter - was the real catalyst, but the issue had been simmering under the surface for some time before that. Subsequent major wins from Ernie Els and Webb Simpson, both with the belly putter, added further weight to the debate, and with no sign of it subsiding, golf’s governing bodies have now stepped in.

Last week, the R&A and the USGA called a joint press conference to propose a new rule banning the anchored stroke. After extensive review, the two organisations revealed the prospective rule 14-1b, which would prohibit strokes made with the club – or hand gripping the club – held directly against a player’s body, or with a forearm touching the body to create an anchor point.More...

 As the dust settles on another enthralling season of golf, we have compiled a list of awards, recognising some of the stand-out moments of a year that had absolutely everything. 

Player of the Year  

It is impossible to look past Rory McIlroy, a man that has shown utter domination on both sides of the Atlantic. He showed his unrivalled talent with a record-breaking eight-shot victory at the PGA Championship, becoming the youngest player since Seve Ballesteros to win two majors. Back-to-back victories in the FedEx Cup play-offs, events comprised of the world’s best golfers, were enough to secure the PGA Tour Money List title. A third-place finish at the Barclays Singapore Open gave him an unassailable lead atop the Race to Dubai standings, and he rounded his campaign off in style by birdieing the last five holes en route to victory at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.More...