Already rated third best golf course in the United Kingdom, Turnberry Ailsa (pictured above) is rebuilding its seventh and eighth holes this winter and will reopen next April. The redesign will bring the coast even more into play with one of the greens moving 80 yards towards the sea. With the excellent Robert The Bruce as it’s second course, Turnberry is a tick-list treat for golfers. Fly up to Glasgow and let us book a special stay in glorious Ayrshire for you; and why not add a few more historic courses to your holiday itinerary as Royal Troon and Prestwick are just up the road. Or, do what I did last summer, take the ferry off to Machrie and stay and play at the wonderful golf hotel there.
The much-admired but underused Medoc Golf Resort near Bordeaux with its European Top 40 Chateaux golf course and even prettier Vignes golf course is now known as Cabot Bordeaux. Cabot owns and manages top-quality resorts in North America, Scotland (Castle Stuart) and Lofoten in Norway. We expect Medoc to reach its potential and to deservedly attract more keen golfers looking for wine, comfort, sunshine and easy access. The city of Bordeaux is one of Europe’s most delightful cities, the people are friendly and the weather warm…All just about 75 minutes’ flight from London. The area is also ideal for a golfing “Tour de France”.
Green-fees in some parts of the Algarve are getting very pricey but you can still enjoy the unique attractions of this beautiful country by looking elsewhere: the Eastern and Western Algarve are quieter but each have several golf courses of which two or three are outstanding. And the Lisbon Coast (Oitavos/Estoril, north of Lisbon on the Silver Coast and south of Lisbon on the Vicentina Coast) all offer brilliant golf courses at exception rates. And for rugged and glorious sandy backdrops, the Silver and Vicentina coasts will amaze you – perfect for heathland links, the area is also ideal for surfing and getting away from it all. Take a look at my example two-centre holiday taking in both areas. You can even add in a couple of nights in Lisbon, arguably Europe’s most welcoming capital.