There can be little doubt that 2011 was one of the best golf seasons
in living memory for the European Tour and its members. We had
Schwartzel’s remarkable run at Augusta, Rory’s miraculous redemption at Congressional and the glorious sight of the old warhorse Darren Clarke showing players half his age how to tame the links of St George’s. And that’s saying nothing of an Englishman dominating the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic and claiming the coveted World No.1 slot. There were first-time winners, multiple winners and 40-something winners. And after a handful of events in 2012, that trend seems to be continuing again.

I love watching professional golf – especially in the flesh - but for all the heroic deeds of the players, I always think that the great courses are the real stars. 2011 was a great year for this, with the Tour taking in the stellar venues we’ve become accustomed to, as well as issuing timely reminders of places that hadn’t been visited for a while. From the pine forests of El Prat to the dunes of the Kent coastline – as well as a first look at a stunning new addition in the form of Castle Stuart – we were treated to some wonderful Tour stops last year. More...

It’s 3.30 am and my alarm is ringing. I’m thinking why the *?!$ is it going off that early! I then remember I have a plane to catch from London Gatwick at 6.20 am to Alicante as myself and my colleagues are off to Murcia on our long awaited FAM trip...

The purpose of this trip was to check out and experience the facilities at a range of venues and playing the courses on offer (hard life!) which proves to be real bonus when it comes to selling as you have some firsthand information to talk about with your clients.

When arriving we were greeted by our guide from the Murcia Tourist Board, Pedro, who was always on hand throughout. We knew we were in safe hands with Pedro because absolutely everyone knows who Pedro is , we called him the ‘Muscle of Murcia’ but I will let you paint your own image of the great man. More...

Having just joined the Golfbreaks.com team, I have been amazed at the quality of feedback coming from clients who have visited the States for their annual golf break.

Golfers from around the globe associate America with some of the world’s most inviting fairways and prestigious resorts and the state of Florida, with in excess of 1,400 golf courses, typifies this. The Marriott Doral Golf Resort and Spa, located just west of Miami, is a current favourite. With five championship golf courses on site, Doral represents a diverse challenge to suit golfers of all skill levels. Those brave enough to take on the TPC Blue Monster Golf Course, Doral’s flagship course and host to the Cadillac World Golf Championship, will walk in the footsteps of such players as Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Greg Norman.

Further up the coast towards Jacksonville is the resort of Sawgrass Golf Resort. Host to the Players Championship and boasting an unforgettable history on the PGA Tour, it has been a firm favourite with Golfbreaks.com clients since its inclusion in 2008.More...

If I had been asked to write about my favourite courses when I was a young PGA Professional I would have probably chosen the amazing Championship courses that at the time had little or no other amenities nearby. Since those ‘heady’ golf tournament days I have spent most of my working life advising amateur golfers where to play their ‘winter vacation’ golf in the sun. This means that I now see golf courses in a totally different light. For a start, each of the resorts I have chosen below have the great benefit of being able to fall out of bed and on to the first tee.

Situated in the famous Costa Brava Region of Spain famous for its stunning views and gastronomic restaurants – The PGA Catalunya lies just an hour’s drive from Barcelona or 10 minutes from Girona Airport. It has 2 magnificent golf courses and a practice facility second to none! I know of nowhere else where you have an enormous rolling putting surface surrounded by various different replica bunkers ‘from the world’s top golf courses’ such as Augusta and St Andrews, containing similar sand composition as well! There are also all the various types of grasses from around the world on the fringe of the practice putting green, to test your skills in every sort of lie – good or bad.

Ranked No. 3 in Europe, The Stadium Course is a tough challenge in anyone’s book and I strongly suggest that mid handicappers play from the forward tees to enjoy the course at its best. If you are good player then by all means play from the back – but be warned because you will need your best game in the bag for this course!More...

On a recent golf trip to Portugal I was fortunate enough to play a round at Palmares Golf Club. It’s not often that I’m moved to put finger to key board but this gem of course should be on everyone’s playlist when in the Algarve.

The course is situated in West Algarve, just 20 minutes drive from Portimao, but probably more relevantly 15 mins drive from Le Meidien Penina. It has recently undergone major reconstruction which has transformed the golf course from being a very pleasant round, into a really quite inspiring test of golf that throws some of the very best golf architecture at you.

One of the key features of the new Palmares is the variation of holes; the golf course really does boast it all.  From the mature, undulating front nine through to a finishing nine that runs along the coast to quench any Links lovers thirst.  The greens run fast and true rewarding an accurate putt but have a habit of hurting if you miss. More...

In this day and age we are ever more conscious of staying healthy and keeping fit. We are surrounded by health crazes that promise to keep us fit just by picking them up off the shelves. There are constant reminders of the health implications if we do not stay active and look after our selves.

I have always been health conscious, yet the prospect of spending hours in a sweaty gym has never particularly appealed to me. For me, it is so much easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle if you enjoy the exercise you do. Golf is such an enjoyable and social sport it is easy to forget the fantastic health benefits we can gain from it. An average round of golf can burn at least 300 calories. Past all the calorie counting, golf offers more than just a trimmer waist line; studies have shown that by exercising we sleep better and remain in a deep sleep for longer. Sleep is vital for our immune system, muscle repair and a range of other bodily processes that many of us don’t even stop to think about. It’s also worth mentioning that by carrying your clubs muscle tone is built up leading to a better cardiovascular workout. So instead of dragging yourself to the gym, have a round of golf and enjoy the many health benefits that come along with it! More...

On Saturday 6th August Nick carried out the third stage of The Ultimate Tuition Break. Here is his account of his experiences at St Omer...

Having spent the last month since The London Club trying to accurately retain the knowledge imparted and diligently follow the drills supplied by Simon Holmes and JJ Rivet, I felt quietly confident that my swing had started to take shape. The personalised exercise program had started to pay dividends in that my initial physical restrictions had began to be removed and I was able to get in the positions that Simon and JJ were trying to get me into.

We arrived at what must be the premier golfing venue in France, St Omer, and had the opportunity to test the course prior to the reassessments the next day.  Having recently staged a European Tour event we knew that we would have our games severely tested.

The golf course at St Omer is very challenging with numerous changes in elevation, though it is very fair from the tee. Club selection is tested throughout the round with every club in your bag in play. The greens were large, a nice pace and with lots of very tricky putts you will need to putt well to put a score together. More...