Crossing the tees
Dragged on yet another golfing holiday? Leave your partner to tee off while you explore what else is on offer at the world’s best golfing destinations
CROSSING THE TEES
GOLFING HOLIDAYS DON’T HAVE TO BE ABOUT WATCHING HIM POLISH OFF HIS DRIVE WHILE YOU DIG UP THE GREEN. THESE DAYS THERE’S SO MUCH ON OFFER, EVERYONE FROM ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS TO NON-STARTERS CAN HAVE A GOOD TIME
words: alison tyler
GOLF AND… CULTURE (CORK)
Play at: This May saw the opening of the Sheraton Fota Island Golf Resort. Set in Ireland’s only wildlife park on Cork Harbour, the championship-standard Fota Island golf course is interwoven with woodland for an added challenge.
Having previously hosted the Irish Open, this month sees the 2006 AIB Irish Seniors Open Gold Championship being played out here.
Stray at: Last year Cork won the accolade European Capital of Culture and it’s not hard to see why. Don’t miss the glass Opera House on the bank of the River Lee; the nearby Crawford Municipal Art Gallery houses the largest collection of Irish art outside Dublin; while the interior of St Finn Barre’s Cathedral is a riot of stained glass and glittering mosaics, designed by the Victorian eccentric William Burges.
Stay at: The Sheraton Fota Island is idyllic and has a pool, parklands and the Island Spa, which opens this month. Plus you can enjoy the gourmet seafood restaurant and a great array of whiskies in the Amber Lounge. Double rooms from £115 (€169) with full Irish breakfast; opening rates valid until 31 Aug. +353 (0) 21 467 3000; www.sheraton. com/cork
GOLF AND… FOOD (MARLLORCA)
Play at: Mallorca has 18 golf courses, the best being Alcanada. The 72 par course slopes towards the Mediterranean. Golf de Andratx is also spectacular in an undeveloped bay. One of the best in Palma de Mallorca is Capdepera Golf with long, wide fairways and a gold school. Son Termens, near Palma is the most ecological on the island. Stray at: One of the best places to soak up Mallorca’s atmosphere is at the bar. Start at Cafe la Lonja by the harbour, then head into the old town for tapas at La Boveda, Bar Bosch or Aramis. Head to Mercat de l’Olivar, Palma’s biggest food market, or for something more substantial en’s Bens d’Avall in Deia village in the Tramuntuna mountains has a five-course menu and stunning views. Stay at: Palma’s Puro Hotel is the hippest on the island, with a rooftop pool and bar, buzzy restaurant and Zen-like rooms. It’s worth staying for the weekly beach parties and you might spot a famous guest such as Jade Jagger or David Schwimmer. B&B doubles from £145 (€210). +800 37 46 83 57; www.designhotels.com
GOLF AND… SHOPPING (GLASGOW)
Play at: Just outside the city there are some great courses. Try Glasgow Gailes Links in North Ayrshire owned by Glasgow Golf Club or Haggs Castle. With taxing dog-legs and cheeky par threes it’s not surprising that this course has hosted the Scottish Open. Just seven miles outside of Glasgow, the moorland course at Hilton Park has a rich array of wildlife. Stray at: Scotland’s second city oozes style and has the best shopping outside of London. Buchanan Street is Glasgow’s Oxford Street or for designer labels hit Princes Square. Newly hip Ingram Street houses cutting-edge brands such as All Saints. If you’re after local jewellery and individual shops visit the Argyll Arcade – one of Britain’s oldest covered parades. Stay at: The chicest address in town is One Devonshire Gardens – George Clooney, Justin Timberlake and Kylie are among the celebrities who have stayed at this divine boutique hotel in the West End. Doubles from £155 (€225). +44 (0)141 339 2001; www.onedevonshiregardens.com. For something more modern, try the new Abode Hotel in Bath Street. Doubles from £125 (€181). +44 (0)141 221 6789; www.abodehotels.com
GOLF AND… ACTION (ALICANTE)
Play at: Alicante has more golf courses than you can shake a seven-iron at. From the Seve Ballesteros-designed Alicante Golf, handy for the holiday resorts and beach, to the tricksy little nine-hole Don Cayo course, designed by Gregorio Sanz and Pedro Barber, most courses are excellent for holiday golf, as they’re not too long or snobbish. If you want a course that’s suitable for the whole family, head to El Plantio, just three miles from Alicante. This is the only course in the region to have two courses – an excellent 18-hole and a pretty nine-hole. Don’t be fooled by the seventh hole though, it may be short but it’s one of the most difficult. Stray at: Alicante has it all – sparkling sea, golden beaches, rustic villages and rugged mountains – making it ideal for families and adrenaline junkies alike. You’ll find plenty to entertain you when you get to the beach, but heading into the hills requires planning. In the Sierra Aitana you can have a go at mountain-biking, sea-kayaking, abseiling and caving, with no previous experience required – each day brings a new activity. Guerba (+44 (0)1373 826611; www.guerba.co.uk) offer action-packed activity breaks in Alicante from £575 (€836) a week – £295 (€429) for under 11s – excluding flights. Stay at: The new InterContinental Mar Menor
Golf Resort and Spa Murcia is just 40 minutes from Alicante airport and has something for everyone, from its challenging golf courses, ESPA spa, Kids Club and pools. It is also very handy for La Manga if you exhaust all of the facilities and the 18 Jack Nicklaus holes. Doubles from £124 (€180). +44 (0)870 400 9650; www.ichotelsgroup.com
GOLF AND… ART (NICE)
Play at: Domaine de Terre Blanche, part of the recently opened swish Four Seasons Provence resort, boasts two 18-hole courses. Both Le Riou and the longer Le Château were designed by Dave Thomas, whose track record includes the Belfry, the old course at San Roque and the Roxburghe. The setting is magnificent, in a lush valley flanked by high mountains, while the courses feature mature trees, beautiful though tricky-to-navigate lakes, fabulous views and challenging holes. The main draw is that the courses are blissfully quiet compared to Spain and the scenery is luxurious.
Stray at: Follow the artistic Van Gogh trail in nearby Arles. Yellow floor plaques mark out the locations used by Vincent himself with reproductions of each work. The trail also winds its way through this quaint, cobbled hilltop village to Place Lamartine, where he lived. It then goes along the Rhone where the artist painted Starry Night and Trinquetaille Bridge, before ending up at the sanatorium where he recouped after cutting off his ear. Finally, order an absinthe in Le Café la Nuit, where the master once drank. You can pick up a tour booklet at the tourist office in Nice (+33 (0)8 92 70 74 07).
Stay at: Perched above the Cote d’Azur, the Four Seasons Provence is surrounded by fields of lavender and wild thyme, offering romantic views.
Sip cassis on the terrace, loll about in the deliciously languid pool, or nosh on fabulous locally sourced food in the swish restaurant.
Doubles from £309 (€450). +33 (0)4 94 39 90 00;
www.fourseasons.com/provence
GOLF AND… GAMBLING (LAS VEGAS)
Play at: It may seem incongruous but there are now 64 Vegas fairways. It was recently named the top emerging golf destination in the world by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators. The 72-par Tom Weiskopf-designed Falls Golf Club is unparalleled in luxury and dramatic scenery. The Reflection Bay Golf Club is an award-winning Jack Nicklaus signature design course with replicas of his 18 finest holes. On the Strip, play at swanky new Wynn Las Vegas hotel and the kitsch Bali Hai Golf Club.
Stray at: Head along the Strip to take in the lights, sights and casino slots. The Venetian contains a life-size replica of Venice, complete with canals and gondolas. The Rio has the best views while the Stratosphere has some awe-inspired rooftop rides. The Bellagio is still the sleekest – stand at the fountains that featured in Ocean’s Eleven – but the new Wynn Las Vegas is the most bling to date, with a Ferrari showroom in the lobby. You can see everything from Cirque du Soleil performances to Celine Dion in Vegas. Stay at: Wynn Las Vegas for its incredible golf course. Doubles from $239 (£127, €185). +1 (702) 567 4700; www.wynnlasvegas.com. Or, escape the insanity at the Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas, 15 minutes from downtown. This Tuscan-inspired resort and spa has a magnificent location at the water’s edge and is closer to the golf. Doubles from $179 (£95, €138). +1 (702) 567 4700; www.ritzcarlton.com
