Reading through the latest edition of Golf World’s Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe, I became cynical about why some of the resorts were included. All the 100 resorts featured are decent to brilliant but do we need to have a Top 100 when there are less than 200 golf resorts in Europe in total. That means that you stand a better than 50% chance of being rated among the best just by opening your doors.
The Background Statistics
I agree with the concept of the Top 100 Golf Courses as there are so many of them – nearly 9000 in mainland Europe (and 3000 in the United Kingdom and Ireland); so that means The European Top 100 is pretty much the best 1%…That shows you mean business. After all, who starts anything wanting to be average? Anything good comes out of setting out to be the very best.
Comparisons
The Times wrote an article a couple of years ago detailing, in the journalist’s opinion, the best 12 golf resorts in Europe, UK and Ireland. 11 the 12 were justifiably included, the 12th wasn’t even a golf resort so I guess that was included as a “favour”. That said, I’ve been to all 12 and understand that most of them are among the very best. And there are probably another 10 or so that I would happily recommend to clients and expect them to be impressed and highly satisfied with the resort. So, that makes about 20 top-quality golf resorts in Europe. That’s a healthy and likely number. However, to find another 75+ just to make up the round 100…No thank you. What make’s the latest Golf World more irrelevant is that some of the contributors had not been to many resorts. In fact, one panellist admitted that they hadn’t been anywhere else apart from Verdura in Sicily for their last seven golfing holidays. How can you rank when you can’t legitimately compare?
Why Me?
I’m lucky enough to have played a lot of golf courses and visited and stayed in a lot of hotels and golf resorts. Plus, I’ve been proprietorially involved in the hotel and golf industries and I listen to client feedback and talk among the trade. You also learn who the stars are in the management of hotels and golf courses. So I think I have a good instinct and experience in sussing out the great from the good. Out of the Golf World Top 100, I would rate the following in my top 20 – taking into account client feedback, my personal experiences, the golf courses, the accommodation and facilities, accessibility (geographic and if you can actually play the course(s), the scenery and the apres golf.
The Real Top 20
Costa Navarino, Greece. Impressive in every respect
Terre Blanche, Provence. Quality led in beautiful surroundings.
Verdura, Sicily. Maturing into a class act with Sicilian style
Camiral, Catalunya. A privileged golf setting with a choice of dining and accommodation
Sotogrande, Costa del Sol. A central hotel for arguably Europe’s strongest selection of golf courses.
Quinta do Lago, Algarve. A legendary hotel with preferred access to three of Europe’s finest designs.
Finca Cortesin, Costa del Sol. A faultless boutique hotel and immaculate golf course
Praia d’El Rey, Lisbon Coast. Two superb golf courses (and a few more besides) and lots of accommodation styles at wonderful value.
Gloria Resorts, Belek. Three golf courses, 45 golf holes and All Inclusive. It’s an easy holiday to love.
Cabot Bordeaux. Two fine golf courses and I’m assuming that the hotel will get even better under the new Cabot ownership.
Le Manoir, Northern France. Easy to get to, cosy and three European Top 100 golf courses.
Evian, France. When the hotels and facilities are this good, the golf course needn’t be fantastic – but it’s host to the Ladies Evian Masters and a gem to play.
Arabella, Mallorca. Two five-star hotels, 54 holes and the beauty of Mallorca.
Abama, Tenerife. 500 bedrooms, 9 restaurants, a private beach and a renovated golf course that’s always been great fun to play.
Royal Bled, Slovenia. Boutique, incredible scenery, 27 holes of golf. A class act.
Castelconturbia, Lake Maggiore. Relatively simple but family owned and with 27 Robert Trent Jones golf holes with the 36 holes of Bogogno nearby
La Cala, Costa del Sol. Incredibly popular and with a surprisingly cosy feel. 54 holes of on-site golf and buggies included. Easy-peasy!
Penha Longa/Oitavos, Lisbon Coast. Stay at either hotel and play Oitavos and Penha Longa. Luxury retreats with lots of things to see and do nearby.
Chateau de Taulane, Provence. I love Gary Player-designed golf courses and the food and charm of this remote golf resort make for many happy memories.
Troia, Lisbon Coast. A charming seaside destination now with two fabulous golf courses (pictured above)
I’m struggling to believe in more. Of course there are plenty of other highly-enjoyable, very good golf resorts that I would happy to play, stay and recommend. But they are not among Europe’s very best. And they are not designed to be. Sometimes we want charm, simplicity and a golf course where we might get 36 points. So let’s enjoy resorts for what they are, instead of trying to make them appear to be something they are not.