Golfing Vacations In Scotland Are Superb

One of the very best reasons for visiting Europe can easily be the Golfing vacations in Scotland. Folks travel from worldwide to come and play on the luminous courses and experience the excellent nation. As Scotland is the home to the birthplace of golf, it holds a special place in the hearts of many.

Factor in for a moment if you’ll the sheer abundance of natural greenery and the incredible beautiful vistas. When you next go to your community country club or nearby golf course take a look around. Most all of what you’re seeing has been developed and sculptured to appear a particular way. The architects of that idea have drawn their substantial creativity from the birthplace of the game.

So majestic and wonderful is this land that men and women have grown to rhapsodize it in melody, music and in artwork. It is no small wonder that whenever folks get to Scotland they right away adore the land. Whilst the the game of golf is excellent, so is the culture.

This really is no getaway that will be a one stop thing. You’ll have the opportunity to discover the ruins and castles as well as tour the lovely Lochs and highlands for which the land is so famous. Everything which might possibly interest a lover of the game will be close at hand.

Following a game on one of the breathtaking courses you can relax at the hotel or in one of the many fantastic restaurants and sip on a local Scotch whiskeys, yet another thing for which the folks and their land are recognized world wide for. Wonderful courses and great refreshments await you when you land.

If you love the excellent and cherished game of golf it might be a smart thing to instantly book a vacation. The land is open and the individuals are friendly. No one who visits the Scottish land has ever felt that they have gone to a more hospitable place or met a more gracious people.

Discover why Thomson Holidays 2011 and First Choice Holidays 2011 offer great vacations in holiday destinations all over Europe and many other travel tips and offers with travel writer Craig Walker of www.travelbites.co.uk

Five Great Courses You Must Play During A Golf Holiday In Portugal

It is never going to be easy to single out five special golf courses in any one country. Compiling such a list for Portugal is made even more difficult due to the huge range and styles of courses on offer.

This list reflects five great courses that are enjoyable to play as much for their beautiful scenery as for their range of game play and quality of fairways and greens. Each one could provide a memorable highlight to any golf holiday in Portugal.

The Palheiro golf club has to have one of the most spectacular backdrops. The course meanders through the volcanic peaks and foothills around the coast of Madeira. Each hole provides a different challenge and good course management wins out over long drivers.

San Lorenzo is one of the gems of the Algarve region. It regularly features on European top 10 lists of courses and boasts finely manicured greens and fairways with a course design that offers a range of holes.

For fans of links golf for whom budget is not an issue, then the pricey Vale do Lobo Royal and Ocean golf club offers a championship golfing experience. The scenery of the neighboring 5 kilometer beach complements the well kept fairways and greens throughout the courses 18 holes.

If championship courses are your preference then the Oitavos Golf Club is one you must play. The course design and challenging greens have played host to the Portuguese Open in recent times and keen amateurs will find the course plays long due to the long par 4′s and par 5′s.

No trip to the Algarve would be complete without playing the Vale da Pinta. This is an interestingly designed course that is embedded within a natural valley. The fairways undulations make for some odd bounces which some would deem unfair but this does aid golfers playing short off the tee.

Any top 5 list of Portugal golf courses will always miss out some personal favorites. So while this list doesn’t limit itself to the Algarve (undoubtedly the perfect location to base yourself for a golf break) it hopefully provides some insights into the range of great courses that are available in Portugal.

Looking for European golfing breaks? For the perfect golf holiday, the Algarve, Estoril and the other Portuguese regions have it all. Visit the Golf Holidays Portugal website to learn more.

Golfing Holidays Portugal – Golfing In The Algarve, Estoril And Oeste Regions

Portugal may not have the depth of golfing heritage that the British Isles has, but it certainly has year round great weather, numerous golf resorts and championship courses that can entice a great many holidaying golfers.

The main regions for golf are the Estoril region on the west coast, the Algarve to the south, the island of Madeira and the Oeste region. Each provides a mix of course types, everything from challenging links style courses to immaculate championship parkland courses.

Around Lisbon and the Estoril coast there are a dozen golf resorts that won the region an award from the IAGTO (2007) as the best European golf destination. A combination of scenic drives, coastal locations and great courses such as the Penha Longa championship course, the tough links at Troia and the Praia d’El Rey make this an ideal base for 2 week stays.

The Oeste region north of Lisbon is sparse in golfing terms as it attempts to catch up with the rest of the country. The scenery and countryside towns are fantastic but be prepared for some extended drives/day-trips to get to great courses such as Bom Sucesso and Campo Real.

For those seeking a range of resorts, restaurants, nightlife and courses on their golf holiday Algarve can deliver every time. The west coast is the more tranquil with challenging hillside courses (Parque Da Floresta & Boavista) along with championship courses (the Penina and the two Oceanico courses by Christy O’Connor and Nick Faldo).

The town of Vilamoura boasts several Oceanico resort course and a swathe of other great courses to play (Quinta do Lago Laranjal, Vale Do Lobo). And if your budget is not restricted then Monte Rei in the eastern Algarve boasts some great design (Nicklaus) and pristine fairways and greens.

While the tropical island of Madeira (500 km south-west of Portugal) provides something quite different in terms of golf holidays Portugal can offer. Visitors here enjoy the islands three courses, each embedded into the volcanic hills and valleys with awe inspiring vertical cliffs.

So there you have it. Golf holidays in Portugal offer a range of world class courses, parkland & true links styles, along with great weather, culinary delights and scenery to make for a great golfing break.

Discover golf holidays in Portugal. For the perfect golfing holiday Algarve, Estoril and the other Portuguese regions have it all.

Golf Holidays Portugal: 5 Golf Clubs That Are Well Worth A Visit

Any good golf holiday in Portugal needs to include a variety of course, preferably without too much driving. Thankfully the huge rise in the number of golf clubs in the country has resulted in some top-class courses to play.

The following five courses are picked for their course design, variety of holes and scenic context. It would be all too easy to select a list just from the Algarve so this list brings together some gems from around the country.

Praia D’El Rey: Just a short drive from Lisbon, this tough links course provides challenges on each hole. Some are wide open to the Atlantic Ocean breezes. Others are partly sheltered by forestation. The quality of the greens throughout is consistent and this makes for a great setting on a summers days.

Oitavos: This well designed course has been the venue on occasion for the Portuguese Open due to its professional design and good variety of holes. Amateurs may find it a little long from the back tees, especially on hot summer days.

Estoril Golf Club: Day trippers from Lisbon will enjoy this interestingly designed course. At only 6000 yards long, the course demands careful course management rather than long drive abilities.

Aroeira Old Course: While not one of Estorils most famous courses (Praia D’El Rey takes that award) the Aroeira is a hugely enjoyable course in Sesimbra. The maturity of the course fairways and greens would warrant higher green fees than the current rates.

Parque Da Floresta: This is partly notable as being the most westerly course in Portugal. But once played, it will be the memory of how the courses 18 holes run along a steep hillside with magnificent views that will remain with you.

As with any good golf holidays Portugal has plenty of courses which will stick in the memory as highlights of a trip. Just make sure to pack sun-block in summer and practice low ball-height shots prior to playing the links courses.

Discover golf holidays in Portugal. For the perfect golfing holiday Algarve, Estoril and the other Portuguese regions have it all.

A Town Guide To Ballybunion In County Kerry, Ireland

To the uninitiated, Ballybunion is a wonderful coastal village in County Kerry in Ireland that has been attracting visitors in droves over the years to its beaches and world class golf course.

This resort town is seeing a resurgence in popularity of late principally for the fact that it has held on to its old style charm and not given in to the waves of fast-food restaurants and caf bars. This factor has drawn in Irish & foreign visitors looking for a more traditional Irish experience.

The town has two main attractions of note. The first, which all the family will enjoy, are the beaches in Ballybunion. The second is the world renowned Ballybunion Golf Club.

The central focus of the town in summer is the main beach. It is a family friendly beach with plenty of space and good quality sand. The local surf school has become popular in recent years offering equipment rental and surfing lessons for all levels (the waves are not particularly high so it is an ideal spot for beginners).

The cliffs overlooking the beach offer good panoramic views of the sea and surrounding countryside and are well worth the walk. The ruins of Ballybunion Castle are situated on the cliff, but several sieges over the centuries have reduced the castle to being a shadow of what it must have once been. The scenic cliff walk winds its way to some of the other beaches in the area, notably, the ‘Nuns’ beach (named for its proximity to a local nunnery).

Ballybunion Golf Club, which consists of the Old Course and The Cashen course, is renowned as one of the most prestigious golf courses in Ireland, regularly making the top 25 courses in the world according to most golf magazines (and certainly in the top 5 of the world links-style courses). This links-style course was founded in 1893 and has panoramic views on all holes out across the Atlantic Ocean. Prices can fluctuate depending on the time of year and booking ahead is certainly recommended during summer. As is bringing good protective waterproof clothing!

Possibly the most famous visitor to Ballybunion has been former president, and golf enthusiast, Bill Clinton who played a round of golf here in 1998. The town was so proud of this fact that a statue now appears in the town main street of Mr. Clinton teeing off.

The number of Ballybunion hotels and accommodation options is limited. While this has helped retain the charm of the town, it does mean that visitors often need to base themselves outside the village itself. This should however be seen positively as the surrounding County Kerry countryside is a wonderful backdrop to some fine hotels, bed & breakfast guesthouses and even some castle hotels.

Visitors to Ballybunion should drop by the small tourist office on the main street for information regarding any of the summer festivals & fares, local amenities and bus timetables.

Visit the Ballybunion Hotels HQ website for independent advice about hotels, amenities, day trips and Ballybunion Golf Club

A Guide To Golf Holidays In Portugal

A golf holiday to Portugal may be something that a great many foreign visitors won’t initially consider. In terms of European golf, the country is competing against the golfing super-powers of the British Isles, with its golfing heritage, and neighboring Spain, with its range of courses.

The array of top quality golf courses combined with the Mediterranean climate has been a huge draw for golfing breaks. The Portuguese government and the tourism board have also seen the tourism potential of holiday golfers so a great many golf resorts have begun to spring up in several regions.

The principal regions for golf holidays in Portugal are the Algarve, the environs of Lisbon (the capital city of Portugal) and the island of Madeira. Each offers a different golfing experience and courses to suit all budgets.

For those wishing to combine their golf holidays in Portugal with sight-seeing and culture, then a stay in Portugal’s capital Lisbon and the Estoril Coast could make the ideal solution. Given that the IAGTO organization voted the region as the Best European Golf Destination in 2007 you can be sure that the services, facilities and range of clubs are going to be enough for the most demanding tastes. The Estoril coast has over 10 quality golf resorts. To the west there are some challenging and windswept (by Atlantic breezes) clubs – most notably, Praia d’El Rey, which would have to be the most famous in the region and really is one to savor.

The Algarve region, on the south coast of Portugal, offers the broadest range of courses to play and for many is the ideal base for a golf vacation. The western part faces onto the Atlantic Ocean so provides some great links courses to challenge any golfer (such as the Boavista golf club and the scenic hillside Parque Da Floresta course).

The central area hosts Vilamoura, a range of top-class courses, plush hotels and holiday resorts. The Oceanico golf clubs are highlights of the area especially the Old Course which is a ‘must-play’ course to this area. To the east, the climate becomes a little cooler and the courses become a little more elite and pricey with the Jack Nicklaus designed Monte Rei being the jewel of the area.

Getting to the island of Madeiramay discourage some visitors due to the need to get connecting flights from mainland Europe (a five hundred kilometer flight off the south west coast of Portugal). However, this picturesque paradise island can provide a golfing holiday with a difference.

The islands 3 clubs are all located in stunning hillside locations with steep cliffs marking out-of-bounds on a number of holes and it is this rugged scenery that shapes the architectural design of each course. If you want to play a broad range of golf then Madeira may not be the place for you. However, if you only intend playing a little golf in unique surroundings then this island could suit you.

The Oeste region is the final region in Portuguese golf to note. Unfortunately, it is playing catch up with the other more commercialized areas in Portugal. Some golfers will welcome the tranquility of the region and the relative exclusivity it therefore has to offer.

The cost of green fees is quite variable. For good quality golf green fees at 50 minimum for a round of golf. The average cost for 18 holes though would be closer to 75 to 90 a round.

The majority of courses can be booked online and it is highly recommended to book in advance. Dress codes are usually informal but it is worth checking club websites online.

Looking for European golfing breaks? For the perfect golf holiday Algarve, Estoril and the other Portuguese regions have it all. Visit the Golf Holidays Portugal Guide to learn more.