Golf Travel Articles - March 2009 Golfbreaks.com Newsletter

This month:

Where are you watching the Masters?

Hardelot Inside Track

Ireland Article

In focus: South Carolina review

Our 6 nations

Golf d'Hardelot: the Inside Track

Nick Liddle, Product Manager France

I’ll bet that if you’re one of the many golfers who visit the Pas-de-Calais region in Northern France every year, Golf d’Hardelot is undoubtedly one of your highlights. The superb year round condition, two fantastically diverse courses and the exceptionally friendly reception you will receive make this a quality and extremely popular venue. In fact, what with it being our top selling French course in 2008, we thought it would only be fair for everyone to recognise this fact and have a chat with the enigmatic and well-respected General Manager of the course, Ken Strachan.

Ken has been playing golf since the age of 4, and was playing off scratch at the age of 16 in his native Dundee. That same year, Ken won the Daily Express Scottish Boys Championship in 1981 and turned pro in 1984. He was head pro at Golf de L’Odet in Brittany from 1987 to 1992 and at Golf de Nantes in Western Loire for the next 4 years. In 1996, he joined Golf d’Hardelot as their General Manager.

Golfbreaks.com: Morning Ken, how are you? It would be great if you could start off by telling us why you think golf in France is so popular?

Ken: Golf in France over the last few years has been increasing rapidly in popularity with the British market for the following reasons: Business people and families have much less time for long haul holidays and the tendency is towards shorter more compact trips that last two to three nights; Easy access with stress free travelling is also a very important point; With the overall quality of the sites, un-crowded golf courses, easy access and most importantly great food and wine, France is a great short break destination.

Golfbreaks.com: For people who don’t know Hardelot Golf Club, how would you describe it to them?

Ken: Hardelot Golf Club is a hidden gem in the perfect location, nestled between the sea, dunes and forest and close to the lively town of Le Touquet. ‘Les Pins’ dates back to 1906 and its younger sister ‘Les Dunes' was built in 1990. The two courses are built on sand based links land lined by firs which makes them great all year round venues.

Golfbreaks.com: In your opinion, what makes Hardelot such a popular Golf Club?

Ken: To me Hardelot Golf Club has all the ingredients for success. It has two sites a mile apart, each with their own quality and distinctive course, both of which are arguably the best groomed courses in France over the duration of the golfing season. Both have very comfortable clubhouses which serve food & drinks to a very high standard while still maintaining attractive prices for our golfers. On top of all this, our professional and friendly staff are always on hand to help out. Every year we are re-investing and improving the quality of the site, so our clients can enjoy seeing the changes each time they visit.

Golfbreaks.com: And which golf course is your favourite, ‘Les Pins’ or ‘Les Dunes’?

Ken: My favourite golf course for the moment is certainly ‘Les Pins’, but with time and with a lot of hard work, I am very confident ‘Les Dunes’ could possibly become one of the finest courses in France. It has the potential with its character, undulating slopes and its newly designed tree lined holes to resemble a small Augusta National.

Golfbreaks.com: I understand there has been significant investment in the club over the winter period. What can clients look forward to in 2009?

Ken: There has been some major redevelopment work redesigning ‘Les Dunes’, taking out the unpopular holes and bringing in some very well thought-through gems which will bring it up to the high standards we are striving towards. Add to this a number of new buggy paths, a new fleet of electrical buggies and the new terrace at ‘Les Pins’, making the ‘après-golf’ even more enjoyable.

Golfbreaks.com: What’s the best golfing advice someone has ever given you?

Ken: Gary Player told me at an exhibition match in 1988 at Haggs Castle, “To play good golf, you must dress well, look good and feel good.”

Golfbreaks.com: And finally, from someone who knows the golf courses at Hardelot like the back of their hand, what advice can you give golfers visiting this year?

Ken: To be patient! Play for position and forget about length. On ‘Les Pins’ we have 6 par 5s and 5 par 3s. Lots of birdie opportunities will arrive by being calm and patient.

Golfbreaks.com: Ken, it’s been great talking to you and many thanks for your time.

With both ‘Les Pins’ and ‘Les Dunes’ in the Top 100 French courses, and a number of prime tee times still available for the upcoming season, now is definitely the time to get your 2009 French golf break in the diary!

Click here to see all our fantastic French golf breaks.

St Patrick's Day Irish Giveaway

Cameron Ritchie, Product Manager Ireland

St Patrick is a patron saint that everyone seems to take to heart – whether it’s because of the silly hats, the many pints of Guinness, or the general party atmosphere. Consequently St Patrick’s Day, on 17th March, is a great excuse for a celebration!

At Golfbreaks.com we have a soft spot for Ireland – not least because it has some of the best golf resorts and courses in the world, so to mark St Patrick’s Day this year we are celebrating all things Irish – with a St Patrick’s Day giveaway bonanza.

Pick any one of these recommended golf destinations and we guarantee you the highest quality accommodation, fantastic golf courses and a gift thrown in for free:

Let’s begin with a Golfbreaks.com favourite, The K Club Golf & Spa Resort 5*, host to the memorable 2006 Ryder Cup. Travel in April for 1 or 2 nights and get a shared buggy and club hire thrown in for free.

Citywest Hotel 4* and Portmarnock Hotel & Links 4* have always been popular choices with groups because of fantastic golf courses and easy access to Dublin. Have a gift on us – book a group of 8 or more and the organiser stays & plays for free!

The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort 5* is one of Ireland’s lesser known golf resorts located just 1 hour from Dublin. Treat yourself to a two night break here and enjoy unlimited golf throughout the year on one of Vijay Singh’s favourite courses.

Moving down the east coast, Marriott Druids Glen 5* is the perfect complement to the two stunning onsite courses, Druids Glen & Druids Heath. It’s never been such great value for money as in 2009, but the cherry on the cake is that if you book a group of 8 or more, the organiser goes free!

Further round the coast in Cork, Sheraton Fota Island 5* is one of the must plays of the area. Take a golf break in April or May and we’ll throw in a shared buggy for free

To finish off we have two iconic courses, Ballybunion Old, the host to the Irish Seniors in June, and Killeen, flagship course of Killarney Golf & Fishing Club both of which are giving away a free round of golf if you play either of these golfing heavy weights of the Emerald Isle.

So what are you waiting for! Make the most of these offers and enjoy a fantastic golf break to Ireland.

Click here to see all our Irish offers

In focus: Golf South Carolina

Keith Mitchell, Director of Product and Marketing

With the USA coming into focus with the start of the US Masters, this month we have a review from our Director of Product and Marketing Keith Mitchell, who recently went on a golf break to South Carolina, USA.

“A trip to play the famous courses in the USA must be on the wish list of practically every golfer in the world. I'm no exception, so I jumped at the chance to experience the famous golfing Mecca of South Carolina.

Having flown from the UK via Washington and with golf clubs at the ready, I started out in the vibrant golf courses of Myrtle Beach. To say this place is purpose built for golfers is an understatement – there is everything a golfer could wish for! 100s of golf courses are within an hour’s drive, including the mighty Grande Dunes Golf Club, as are a huge variety of restaurants and great nightlife. There are even supermarkets dedicated purely to all things golf. I stayed at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes and played the 2 onsite courses, and I just can’t wait to go back with some mates as it’s the perfect golf break for groups, as well as being great value for money.

The next step of my journey was to travel down the coast to take in historic Charleston and to play the legendary Ocean Course at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, which I can honestly say was one of the best golfing experiences of my life. Site of the 1991 Ryder Cup and set to host the 2012 PGA Championship, this spectacular course has the most incredible views over the Atlantic. Caddies are provided as standard and mine proved indispensible when negotiating the course hazards of water, bunkers, a stiff breeze – and even crocodiles (local rule is that if your shot lands within 10 yards of a croc you’re allowed a drop)! Highlights of the trip even included using the driving the range - hitting Titleist Pro V1’s into the distance in quite a remarkable setting with the back drop of an iconic 18th hole, the clubhouse and nothing but the coast in front of you!

Whilst I was there I was lucky enough to have a snoop around the incredible Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island – the most expensive hotel ever built in South Carolina – so if you’re looking for real luxury you must stay here. However, if you’re looking to play Kiawah Island on a slightly lower budget, look to stay in Charleston as I did, where you can find quality hotels close to the courses, like the Mills House Hotel 4*.

So there you have it – a brilliant golf break where I got to play a once in a lifetime course. I’ve featured some choice photos from the break below.

Make sure you visit our USA pages here to create your own USA experience

Our 6 nations

At Golfbreaks.com, it goes without saying that golf is our # 1 sport. However, with the 6 nations in progress we thought we’d give a nod to the ever popular game of rugby.

Not only are the nations involved (England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy) entertaining us with their rugby, they’re also great destinations for a fantastic round of golf.

Here are our recommended golf breaks in these 6 nations:

England:

England is a consistent performer, with some of the best golf courses in the world. Our recommendation is The Belfry 4*

A Golfbreaks.com favourite, this famous resort puts the ball straight through the uprights with three cracking golf courses for varying standards and nightclub for all standards!

The Belfry 4*

1 night dinner, bed and breakfast and 2 rounds of golf (PGA/Derby) from £118

View all our English golf breaks

Wales:

Wales is currently celebrating after an exceptional run of sporting achievements. And what is the common denominator with golf? It's their training base at the Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort, nr Cardiff.

Enjoy a break here in 2009 and experience the exceptional facilities.

The Vale Resort

1 night dinner, bed and breakfast and 2 rounds of golf

from £99 - Save £69

Exclusive to Golfbreaks.com

1 in 12 FREE

Includes FREE buggy and range balls

View all our Welsh golf breaks

Scotland:

Dalmahoy is located six miles from the Scottish home of rugby, Murrayfield. Dalmahoy and Murrayfield are both located in the western area of Edinburgh, both are easily accessible from the airport and are synonymous with golf and rugby, arguably the most important sports in Scotland’s identity.

With Dalmahoy consistently being a Golfbreaks.com best seller in Scotland, we would highly recommend booking a break to avoid disappointment!

Marriott Dalmahoy 4*

1 night dinner, bed and breakfast and 2 rounds of golf

1 in 16 FREE

Complimentary upgrade

View all our Scottish golf breaks

Ireland:

The Emerald Isle is a golfer’s gem as the whole country is bursting with high quality courses.

Carton House 4* is a stunning hotel, with two excellent and contrasting golf courses just a stone’s throw from your room.

Carton House Hotel & Golf Club 4*

2 nights bed and breakfast and unlimited golf from £175

Exclusive to Golfbreaks.com

Must be booked by the 31st March 2009

View all our Irish golf breaks

France:

One of Europe’s golfing heavyweights, experience the top golf, culture and food that France has to offer.

This elegant hotel is the perfect base for groups and couples alike, and the onsite Golf Barrière de Deauville is a wonderful championship course. A choice of other courses is also included.

Hôtel du Golf Barrière

3 nights bed and breakfast and 3 rounds of golf (St Julien, Deauville & Omaha Beach)

1 in 8 FREE - Exclusive to Golfbreaks.com

3 nights for the price of 2 - valid all year

View all our French golf breaks

Italy:

Italy has some beautiful golf courses and is a really special destination for a golf break.

This offer is a great value Italian golf break and is located just 30 minutes to the west of Bologna. Perfect for groups, this comfortable 3 star hotel is right next to the Modena Golf & Country Club and 20 minutes from the fabulous Bologna Golf Club.

Hotel Corte Degli Estensi

3 nights bed and breakfast and 2 rounds of golf (Modena Golf & Country Club)

1 in 8 stay & play FREE

View all our Italian golf breaks