Golf Travel Articles - March 2010 Golfbreaks.com Newsletter

Outstanding - Our top 10 golf breaks as reviewed by you

How do you decide where to go for your next golf break? How do you truly know that your chosen golf break destination will live up to all your expectations?

Golf is our passion, and with over 12 years’ experience, our expert sales team have a wealth of knowledge about golf courses worldwide. They've played nearly every course we sell, but it never hurts to get a second opinion. So to help you make the right decision, here are the top 5 British and European golf courses that our customers say really stand out from the crowd.

UK Recommended Golf Breaks

1. Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa 4*, Lancashire, from £89

You said...

‘Best golf resort we have been to over the last 15 years, excellent value, will probably return next year.’ - October 2009

‘Formby Hall Golf Resort was fabulous, the accommodation was luxurious, food was perfect, leisure facilities and spa were tremendous. The golf course was scenic, challenging and in immaculate condition. The best compliment I can give is that at the end of the trip every one of my party wanted to book Formby Hall for our 2010 trip that night!’ - August 2009

See all our Formby Hall offers

2. Manor House Hotel and Golf Club at Castle Combe, Wiltshire, from £119

You said...

‘Manor House at Castle Combe is undoubtedly the best golf resort I have ever had the good fortune to visit. The whole experience was brilliant. The hotel and golf course staff - everyone was trying to ensure our stay was enjoyable. I can't wait to return again.’ - August 2009

‘First class! The room was amazing, and the food was excellent. Better golfers will love the golf course. The 17th hole is very special and a lot of fun. I could have spent hours pitching on to that green.’ - May 2009

See all our Manor House Hotel offers

3. Celtic Manor Resort 5*, Gwent, from £79

You said...

‘Fantastic place to stay and play golf, everything is done in a very friendly and professional manner' – Oct 2009

‘The Celtic Manors' customer service is nothing short of excellent. A few more golf courses could learn from their lead.’ - July 2009

See all our Celtic Manor offers

4. Farthingstone Hotel & Golf Course, Northamptonshire, from £69

You said...

‘I thought that the course was challenging and fun to play. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful and I would recommend it to anyone whatever standard they are. I look forward to returning in the near future.' - January 2010

‘We had a superb break with 3 days of millionaires golf, we would definitely go back’ - September 2009

See all our Farthingstone Hotel offers

5. Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club 4*, Midlothian, from £105

You said...

‘Dalmahoy offered excellent value for money and unlike some other venues we were able to play on two different golf courses.’ - September 2009

'Being in the service industry myself, I found the whole package first class.’ - September 2009

See all our Marriott Dalmahoy offers

European Recommended Golf Breaks

6. Aa-Saint-Omer Golf Club, Nord/Pas-de-Calais, from £195

You said...

‘Arras and St Omer were two of the best golf courses we have played in our lives!’ - May 2009

‘Even though I gave excellent for the golf courses, that was primarily for St Omer which absolutely blew our minds. The scenery, greens and fairways were excellent.’ - April 2009

See all our Saint-Omer Golf Club offers

7. Quinta Do Lago Golf, Quinta Do Lago, from £249

You said...

‘Quinta Do Lago North and South among the best golf courses in the world.’ - November 2009

‘The Old Course and Quinta Do Lago were AWESOME both for service and condition of the golf course - amongst the best I have experienced and I have played all over the world.’ - October 2009

See all our Quinta do Lago Golf offers

8. Le Nouveau Caddy Hotel, Le-Touquet, from £215

You said...

‘Le Nouveau Caddy Hotel was incredibly friendly and helpful. Rooms were functional but perfect for this type of break. Definitely the best budget hotel I've stayed at in Le Touquet (plus very easy to park..)’ - June 2009

‘Le Nouveau Caddy Hotel is first rate for a golf tour. Accommodation good, and the owners are SO friendly and helpful.’ - May 2009

See all our Le Nouveau Caddy Hotel offers

9. Cornelia Golf Club – The Faldo Course, from £559

You said...

‘A great golf resort for a group to visit, who wish to play golf. Plenty to do before or after golf so you don't feel you have to just go to the bar.’ – March 2009

‘Excellent hotel with super food and friendly staff. The Faldo golf course was outstanding.’ - February 2009

See all our Cornelia Golf Club offers

10. La Manga Club (Las Lomas), Murcia, from £259

You said...

‘The courses were in excellent condition and a joy to play.’ - October 2009

‘The golf courses were brilliant ...a FANTASTIC golfing holiday.’ - May 2009

See all our La Manga Club offers

March Madness - Don't Miss our Spring Sale

Spring is here, the clocks are going forward and the golf season is swinging into action, so be the first on the fairways with Golfbreaks.com. In our fantastic Spring Sale you can escape on a golf break to superb golf destinations like The Belfry from as little as £125.

So what are you waiting for? Do you have plans over the Easter weekend or the May bank holidays? Get that spring golf break booked now to get your choice of tee times at our top 5 UK and European destinations

Here are our Top 5 UK Spring breaks and our Top 5 to Europe and Worldwide.

UK Spring Offers

Venue	Location	Price	Offer Description
Marriott Forest of Arden 4*	West Midlands	from £123	1 in 16 Stay & Play FREE 2 nights from £230
De Vere Carden Park 4*	North	from £99	SAVE £11 2 nights from £190
Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort 4*	North	from £109	SAVE £20 2 nights from £215
Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel 4*	West Midlands	from £85	SAVE £40 2 nights from £195
Five Lakes Hotel 4*	East	from £99	SAVE £20 2 nights from £180

See all Spring UK Golf Breaks

Top European Spring Breaks

Venue	Location	Price	Offer Description
Le Manoir Hotel 3*	Le Touquet, France	from £165	2 nights, bed and breakfast and 3 rounds of golf Includes Eurotunnel Crossing
Montecastillo Resort 5*	Costa de la Luz, Spain	from £179	3 nights, bed and breakfast and unlimited golf. SAVE £80
Praia D'El Rey 5*	Lisbon Coast, Portugal	from £255	4 nights, self catering and a 3 rounds of golf 3 beers per person per stay
InterContinental La Torre 5*	Murcia, Spain	from £235	3 nights, bed and breakfast 3 rounds of golf 1 in 8 Stay and Play FREE SAVE £250 Exclusive to Golfbreaks.com
InterContinental Aphrodite Hills 5*	Paphos, Cyprus	from £499	7 nights, half board and 4 rounds of golf 1 in 8 Stay and Play FREE SAVE £250

See all our European Golf Break Offers

Scotland - golf is coming home in 2010

Golf was born on the links land of eastern Scotland, and this year it is returning home with the 150th anniversary of the Open at The Old Course, St Andrews. With that in mind, and a few precious long bank holiday weekends around the corner, we thought we’d go back to basics and remind you what golf in Scotland is all about.

The Highlands

Perfect if you enjoy playing natural and uncrowded golf courses - and it’s not as far as you think. With 50 golf courses and a host of 4 and 5 star venues, it’s an ideal destination for tour golf. Castle Stuart Golf Links is the epitome of contemporary links course architecture, with wide fairways, huge undulations, and extraordinary greens. Against the backdrop of the Cairngorm Mountains, the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort provides challenging heathland, woodland, links and inland terrain. Ranked 16th in the world, Royal Dornoch Golf Club is an hour from Inverness and will really test your golf game.

Aberdeenshire

Boasting some of the best links golf in the world, Aberdeenshire is hard to ignore. The classic links courses of Cruden Bay Golf Club, Murcar Golf Course and Royal Aberdeen Golf Club will make you fall in love with Scottish golf. Undulating fairways, cavernous bunkers and quirky greens – this is what old fashioned links golf is all about.

Ayrshire & Glasgow

Home of the first ever Open Championship at Prestwick in 1860, there are dozens of wondrous links golf courses on Scotland’s West coast intertwined amongst the great Open venues of Turnberry and Troon. Designed by Doug Carrick on the banks of Loch Lomond, De Vere Cameron House has 9 holes in the lowlands and the other 9 in the highlands. Then there are the Gailes golf courses, Glasgow and Western, the scene of many great events in their own right, as well as Kilmarnock Barassie with 27 classic holes and Irvine Bogside. All four are Open Championship qualifying golf courses.

Fife, Angus and Perthshire

With over 45 high quality golf courses to choose from, including the world famous Old Course, Fife truly is the 'Home of Golf'. The Gleneagles Resort is proud to offer three championship golf courses not to mention a wealth of leisure facilities and outdoor activities. With two magnificent golf courses that weave their way over the rolling landscape, Fairmont St Andrews is an unforgettable experience for both the seasoned professional and the beginner alike. Only a few miles across the Tay estuary is another world famous course; Carnoustie Championship golf course, which is complemented by a further two great links courses and an onsite 4* hotel.

East Lothian

With over 40 miles of magnificent coastline, rolling countryside, award-winning tourist attractions and the world’s finest selection of links golf courses, East Lothian combines the best of Scotland in miniature. It may feel like a million miles away, but it’s only minutes from Edinburgh by car, train or bus. With the longest golf course in Scotland, Marriott Dalmahoy provides a taxing round coupled with luxury accommodation, while Gullane treats golfers to outstanding views across the Firth of Forth and beyond.

The Borders

Not short on scenery and less than two hours drive from Northern England, the Borders is the UK’s activity capital. With walking, mountain biking, fishing, and high quality golf at hidden gems such as Cardrona and The Roxburghe - everything is on your doorstep.

Getting There

In less time than it takes to play 9 holes, you can fly from London to Edinburgh (1 hour) or Inverness (1 hour 40). Alternatively why not take the time to travel by rail which is only 4.5 hours from Kings Cross to Edinburgh. There are a wealth of stunning links courses, rugged inspiring countryside and traditional hospitality just a short drive from the airport.

See all our Scottish golf breaks

Brave enough to take the Tiger line? Try our top testing tracks

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the game of golf is the challenges you get from one course to the next – whether they test your short game, links skills or distance off the tee. If you fancy challenging your accuracy, give any of these courses a try. Just make sure you’ve got your game head on as your strategy will be key.

1. Kings Course - The Warwickshire, Warwickshire, 18 Holes, Par 72, Yardage 6,851

Try not to be too greedy off the tee, as an accurate drive will allow you to attack the sloping greens. The strategically placed bunkers that surround the majority of the greens will swallow up any stray shots so good iron play is essential. This exciting and varied course requires you to use your brain more than your brawn.

Take a 2 night golf break and play here this April from £189.

2. Priory Course - Marriott Breadsall Priory, Derbyshire, 18 Holes, Par 70, Yardage 6,120

The Priory is the more challenging of the two courses at Breadsall Priory (the other being The Moorland). It stretches 6,120 yards through parkland and requires a high degree of accuracy through the many tree lined fairways which lead to small greens. A thoughtful game plan is a must.

Take a 2 night golf break and play here this April from £239

3. Wychwood Park - De Vere Wychwood Park, Cheshire, 18 Holes, Par 72, Yardage 6,722

This tricky PGA-tour standard golf course will challenge golfers of all standards, but perhaps is one to avoid for those new to the game. With numerous lakes, streams and bunkers accuracy is key to every shot – hit straight to avoid losing numerous balls. This picturesque course is highly recommended by all who play it.

Take a 2 night golf break and play here this April from £169

4. Hellidon Lakes - Qhotels Hellidon Lakes, Northamptonshire, 27 Holes, Par 72, Yardage 6,082

There are a total of 17 lakes on this course, which are strategically placed to encourage golfers to think their way round the golf course. In addition to the lakes, you can look forward to dog-leg fairways, strategically placed bunkers, sloping greens and plenty of elevation changes. This is one round where you need to trust your yardages or this testing course will catch you out.

Take a 2 night golf break and play here this April from £175.

5. Nicklaus Course - St Mellion, Cornwall, 18 Holes, Par 72, Yardage 7,019

Officially opened in 1988, this top layout was the first golf course in Europe to be designed by the Golden Bear. The classic Nicklaus traits of elevated tees and numerous water hazards feature right through the course, and every single hole will test your golf game. Good golf course strategy is essential throughout the 7,019 yard layout if you hope to make a decent score.

Take a 2 night golf break and play here this April from £208

6. Golf de Barbaroux - Golf de Barbaroux, South of France, 18 Holes, Par 72, Yardage 6,965

Rated the 20th best golf course in France, this is a fantastic and challenging course. Water is a key feature and is in play on twelve holes – look out for the elevated 2nd that is played down a waterfall (and hopefully not into the pond on the front green). This tricky but fair course is one that should be included in any golf itinerary.

Take a 3 night golf break and play here from £285

7. Championship Course - Penina Golf Club, West Algarve, 18 Holes, Par 73, Yardage 6,869

This Sir Henry Cotton Championship Golf Course is a true test of a golfer's skill, and has a reputation as being one of the toughest golf courses in the region. Featuring a range of streams, ditches and water hazards throughout its length, and beautiful woodland areas surrounding holes, you need to be accurate – especially from the tee. Watch out for the elevated 13th hole.

Take a 3 night golf break and play here from £239

8. Stadium (Green) Course - PGA Golf de Catalunya, Costa Brava, 18 Holes, Par 72, Yardage 7,205

The Stadium Course has been regarded as a “technicians” course due to the numerous obstacles that require negotiation. There are old oak trees, evergreens and heather encroaching the sides of the fairways. Furthermore there is a fair bit of water on this course, along with many hills, making this a great physical and mental workout.

Take a 3 night golf break and play here from £299

Bella Italia - Undiscovered golf gems in Italy

By Nick Liddle, Product Manager

“La Dolce Vita” means ‘the sweet life’, and it’s easy to see why this is true in Italy. A warm, sunny climate; one of the most fascinating cultures in Europe; a wonderfully varied cuisine; stunning scenery ranging from mountains to idyllic coastlines and most importantly, there are some fantastic golf courses catering for all abilities and group sizes.

The North

There are an abundance of spectacular courses just an hour’s drive from Milan. If on a budget, I would recommend the 3* Le Robinie Golf Resort which combines great value accommodation with superb Jack Nicklaus designed golf. For those with a bit more to spend, choose from the 5* refurbished mansion of Palazzo Arzaga with its Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player golf, or the luxury Grand Hotel Tremezzo located on the beautiful Lake Como.

Emilia Romagna

This region stretches down from Parma, through Bologna to Rimini on the coast and includes some ideal city centre locations and countryside golf resorts. My favourites being either the 3* Hotel Corte Degli Estensi just 30 minutes outside Bologna or the coastal Hotel Le Palme 4*, right in the centre of Cervia and 2 minutes drive from the fabulous Adriatic Golf Club.

Tuscany

A consistent best-seller is the UNA Poggio dei Medici 3*, 30 minutes drive north of Florence. An onsite championship 18-hole course and overlooking the Tuscan hills, you can understand why it is so popular especially with prices from £195 per person for 4 nights bed & breakfast including 4 rounds of golf.

Sardinia & Sicily

Sardinia & Sicily also provide a great choice of golf venues for clients looking to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the big towns. My recommendation is the 4* Is Molas Golf Resort, hidden away in the Sardinian countryside and overlooking the Mediterranean. The golf is superb, having hosted the Italian Open on four occasions and voted in the Italian Top 10. 4 nights with 2 rounds of golf starts from £295 per person.

Climate

Italian summers are hot with only occasional rainfall, however the best times to travel are spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) when skies are blue and the weather warm.

Getting There

Access really isn’t a problem as most of the country’s main cities have major airlines providing a regular service for very reasonable prices from all over the U.K.

Italian Golf Breaks

Golf in Italy isn’t yet a big player compared to other European countries like France, Spain and Portugal, but it is only a matter of time before a country blessed with such a pleasant climate, diverse cultural identity and spectacular scenery becomes more popular. Add to this the great value prices and it is easy to recommend Italy as your next golfing destination.

See all our 'Bella' Italian golf breaks