Gold Coast Golf

Together with a variety of beaches, excursions and activities it really is little wonder the whole region is a well known holiday getaway destination and specifically a favourite designed for Gold Coast golf getaways.The region delivers huge stretches of golden beaches, World Heritage listed rainforest’s, theme parks, shopping malls, international casinos and impressive nightlife. In addition to all the normal fun that visitors would expect from the Gold Coast it also offers international standard gold courses. With its location and sub-tropical surrounds it is little wonder that the Gold Coast provides year round sunshine and outdoor opportunities to appeal to all enthusiastic golfers. It is worth observing that given its Southern Hemisphere position seasons in the Gold Coast are the opposite of those within the Northern Hemisphere. With golf players always looking for beautiful sunny weather the Gold Coast is a brilliant selection with more than three hundred days of shining sun per year.

It is little wonder that the Gold Coast has emerged as an incredibly idylic golf location since there is such a large number of golf courses to pick from. The Royal Pines is at present owned and run by the Victorian located RACV and is a popular site for the yearly Ladies ANZ Masters.The Golf Academy includes a tremendous selection of programs for both newbies to golf and knowledgeable players, including one-day workshops to full-time training.Lakelands is a Jack Nicklaus styled eighteen hole championship Gold Coast golf course and is the first golf course configured by the renowned player in Australia. Lakelands on the Gold Coast is perfectly equiped and provides a choice of additional facilities like a pro-shop, driving range and pitch and putt green.

Hope Island is placed on the north part of the Gold Coast and is the sole links style golf course of its kind at the Gold Coast. Hope Island golf course is operated by the internationally recognised Troon Golf and has its origins as a community resort course. The course now runs under the brand of “Links Hope Island’. Hope Island golf course is designed by five times British Open Champion Peter Thompson in collaboration with Mike Wolverridge, the sweeping layout is set amidst a 360 hectare residential resort community. This sweeping design is thought of as very difficult and covers 6500 Champion metres and boasts 128 bunkers.

Palm Meadows is the ultimate Gold Coast Golf Course. It has hosted a great many famous name golfers including the likes of Langer, Raffety, Ozaki and the iconic Australian Greg Norman. One time home to the richest golfing event within the southern hemisphere it is currently experienced by all levels of golf fans from all over the planet.Now with a challenging series of water obstructions, sandy bunkers and superb fairways, the 18 hole Palm Meadows was engineered by famous Australian golfer Graham Marsh.Palm Meadows is well recognised throughout the golfing world as an excellent course and ranks amongst the worlds top 500 golf holes. In particular the eighteenth hole at Palm Meadows is graded in the main five hundred holes in the world by the American Golf Digest.It has acquired this recognition courtesy of the impressive lake that traverses the full 523 metres alongside the hole. The hole is breathtaking and gratifying but can also be equally disastrous if players land in the water. If you want to discover the best that Gold Coast golfing has to give be sure to book in a game at Palm Meadows.

Certainly with the Gold Coast becoming so well celebrated for its golf courses it is almost always best to book ahead of time and to investigate your desired golf course as lots are exclussive to members or invitation only. The internet is an awesome source of information in planning and booking your games of golf on Gold Coast golf courses and also to organise and book all the various parts of your travel such as accommodation, organised tours and family activites.

The Australian Gold Coast is a wonderful golfing vacation destination. Everyone can read more on all the very best Gold Coast Golf courses and book your Gold Coast Accommodation over the internet at Bailey Jamieson’s internet site.

Queensland is Popular for Gold Coast Golf

The Australian Gold Coast is right here in south east Queensland and is legendary for its many Gold Coast Golf Holidays and opportunities together with being nearby to waterfront playgrounds, internationally famous theme parks.This particular part of Queensland boasts large stretches of golden shorelines, World Heritage listed rainforest’s, theme parks, shopping complexes, international casinos and awesome nightlife. The Queensland Gold Coast offers it all and is a world class golf holiday destination. With its position and sub-tropical environment it is small wonder that the Gold Coast features all year round sunshine and outdoor opportunities to entice all keen golf players. Australian seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere – the mean summer temperature is 25 degrees Celsius and through winter, it is around fifteen degrees Celsius. You can expect to have over three hundred days of shining sun per annum, making the Gold Coast one of the most reliable golf destinations on earth.

It is certainly no wonder that the Gold Coast has evolved as an amazingly idylic golf location since there are so many golf courses to choose from. The Royal Pines is these days owned and run by the RACV and is a renowned locality for the yearly Ladies ANZ Masters.At this time there is an onsite Golfing Academy that offers a wide range or courses to accommodate golf players at all levels. The programs vary from single day courses through to full time expert instruction.Lakelands is actually a Jack Nicklaus planned 18 hole championship Gold Coast golf course and is the very first golf course fashioned by the legendary player within Australia. It holds a certain originality to its structure and services contain a floodlit driving range, pitch and putt green and a pro-shop.

Hope Island is nestled on the north end of the Gold Coast and is the one links style golf course of its kind at the Gold Coast. Hope Island golf course is managed by the internationally recognised Troon Golf and has its beginnings as a open public resort course. With the new management has come a different operating name, now known as, “Links Hope Island”. Just like several of the regions feature courses ‘Links Hope Island’ has been fashioned by accomplished golfers, in this case British Open Champion Peter Thompson and Mike Wolverridge. The course spans three hundred and sixty hectares. The course alone measures 6,500 metres from the Championship tees and is combined with 128 pot style bunkers, making it a extremely hard challenge for the standard golfer.

Without a doubt one of the top golf courses on the Gold Coast is Palm Meadows. No other Gold Coast golf courses have had so many prominent golfers walk the fairways as Palm Meadows, Norman, Langer, Jumbo Ozaki, Strange, Raffety, the checklist goes on. Nowadays Palm Meadows is a chosen course for a good number of local and overseas players although in its earlier days it has been home to one of the worlds wealthiest competitions.The course was conceived by leading Australian golfer Graham Marsh, who incorporated water into play on 14 of the eighteen holes, placed eighty sand bunkers, three story high bamboo clumps and more than 1000 palm trees to sculpt a wonderful golfing experience.Palm Meadows is well recognised throughout the golfing world as an excellent course and ranks amongst the worlds top 500 golf holes. The celebrated eighteenth hole has confirmed its position in history as appearing in the greatest 500 golf holes on the planet, recognised by the American Golf Digest.It has received this fame courtesy of the striking lake that traverses the full 523 metres alongside the hole. If you play it efficiently you can literally reward yourself with a nice finish to your game, at the same time if a shot is miss struck, you can quite simply hit double figures. Palm Meadows is the best course to experience during your vacation to discover Gold Coast Golf.

Playing at some Gold Coast golf courses does require a reservation well in advance and at others it is purely regular members only and invitation only so to be absolutely certain to plan ahead. The internet is an excellent resource in planning and arranging your games of golf on Gold Coast golf courses and also to organise and book all the many parts of your vacation such as accommodation, tours and family activites.

The Australian Gold Coast is a superb golfing trip destination. One can learn more on all the very best Gold Coast Golf courses and reserve your Gold Coast Accommodation on the web at Bailey Jamieson’s internet site.

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

Do you want a golf holiday? See which has more to offer, Europe or America

If you’re thinking about a golfing holiday, chances are you’ll consider a trip to America, where some of the world’s most famous and testing courses are located. Whilst it’s true to say that many of America’s best known courses are located in Florida, it’s worth considering that even in Las Vegas golfis most definitely a well catered for pastime.

Perhaps two of the most popular areas for golfing holidays are Europe and America, whose wealth of courses include some of the world’s most challenging, many of which have been used to stage the Ryder Cup.

Alternatively, if you want to combine some traditional tourist sightseeing with your golfing break, Florida, known as the Sunshine State (and for good reason) is home to a wealth of courses including Palm Beach and Kissimmee. There are even a number of courses which combine to make up part of Walt Disney World, making Florida an ideal location for both golfing and family holidays.

Yet wherever you choose to base yourself in America, you will never be more than a short journey from lush fairways and manicured greens. All inclusive packages are available from numerous tour operators and golfing holiday specialists, many of which include green fees and offer the chance to try a range of courses across different States.

Golf de Chantilly lies around 30 miles north of Paris and has been the home of golf in France for more than 100 years. Recommended for the serious golfer, its Vineuil Course, at a little under 7000 yards, has a challenging layout designed to test even the most adept of championship golfers. If you’re something of a fair weather golfer, then Golf de Moliets, bordering the Bay of Biscay in the Biarritz region of France has a year round climate and is accessible for golfers of all ability.

If you don’t want to travel quite so far afield for your golf France and indeed Europe in general, may well prove a more enticing option. A short haul flight or simply a quick drive through the Channel Tunnel will find you in France and the European gateway to a myriad of courses to suit all levels of ability.

Due to its immense popularity, from Miami to Las Vegas golf is a national pastime in America. The success of the US PGA Tour means many courses are now household names, including Augusta National, Pebble Beach and Sawgrass. Yet their reputation and appeal can often mean expensive green fees and limited tee times, so with a wealth of other beautifully manicured courses scattered from East to West coast, it is worth trying out some of the lesser known names.

Whatever destination you finally choose for that round of Golf Franceor Fort Lauderdale, at least if, as Mark Twain once observed, golf is just a good walk spoiled, then you can be sure of a host of other distractions on hand to make your trip a truly memorable one.

YourGolfTravel.com golf holidays range from a day away in the UK to a week away golfing in the Algarve so have a look at their website for more details.

Sarasota, Florida – Sunshine, Sand And Fun

Old man winter is coming. Now is the time to start planning for your winter getaway. Those of you who live in cold climates may want to escape to the pleasant weather of Sarasota, Florida. Instead of fighting snow, dreary weather and ice you can be walking along the beach, playing golf or dining at an outdoor cafe.

Sarasota is located on the west coast of Florida and about an hour south of Tampa. Access is easy as you can fly right into Sarasota International Airport or Tampa International Airport. It is nicely situated along the Gulf of Mexico where the waters are clear and calm. This gorgeous beach town is a popular destination for people all over the United States, Canada and Europe. They come here to untie their knots and enjoy all of the fun and amenities that Sarasota has to offer.

Gorgeous Beaches

Siesta Key beach is one of the nicest beaches in the world and it is found right off the coast of Sarasota, Florida. People from all over the world visit here because of the beaches. Dr. Beach ranked Siesta Key beach as one of the best in the world. Many other experts think this beach is one of the prettiest.

Longboat Key, Lido Key, Nokomis and Anna Maria Island beaches also provide beauty and tranquility. These are great places to take the family and catch some rays. Longboat Key beach is quieter and more secluded. Lido Key is a very nice as well. Take a walk north to New Pass and you will see some dramatic water views. Anna Maria Island is at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The sand is soft and the beaches are fabulous. If you run south a little bit you will see the Casey Key beach. This is a great place to walk and admire some of the most amazing Sarasota Florida real estate.

Culture

Many people from big cities in the north come to Sarasota because of the rich cultural scene. Sarasota has been called the “cultural capital of Florida” because of plethora of arts and cultural venues. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Arts, Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Opera, Florida West Coast Symphony, Asolo Theatre and the Sarasota Film Festival are a few of the exciting places to get your art needs.

Tasty Meals

Do you enjoy a good meal. Head downtown and you can enjoy something good at Two Senoritas, Hyde Park Steakhouse, and Mediterraneo. If you like steak you should try Flemings or Ruth Chris Steakhouse. If you like looking at the water while you eat then dine at the Old Salty Dog, Ophelias, The Dry Dock or The Chart House. One thing is for sure. The residents of Sarasota have plenty of great places to eat out.

Sarasota Florida Real Estate

Real estate is very diverse in Sarasota. You can find anything from a great starter home in Gulf Gate all of the way to a palatial waterfront estate. Many of the home are vacation residences or winter getaways. People typically vacation in Sarasota and then ultimately buy a winter or retirement home. Many vacation here and then relocate here. It is that nice.

Golf

Do you enjoy chasing the golf ball? There are some great tracts in Sarasota. One of the newest courses include The Concession and the Founders Club. The Concession was recently ranked as the best new private course in the country. Some of the other great clubs include Lakewood Ranch, Laurel Oaks, The Oaks, Longboat Key Club, Ritz Carlton and the River Club. Golfers don’t have a hard time finding a great course.

Fishing

Do you enjoy hooking into a fish? There are plenty of great spots to hook into a fish. Hire a local captain and have him show you some great fishing holes. You can fish in the Sarasota bay or head out to the Gulf of Mexico. There are plenty of fish to catch.

Again, if you need to escape the snow and cold weather then plan your vacation to sunny Sarasota, Florida. This is a great escape to recharge your batteries and enjoy the superior quality of life.

Brandon Boyd – Lido Key real estate expert

The Best Golfing Courses To Be Found Throughout The Algarve Or Maybe Anywhere

Colina Verde Golf is set in a very privileged region in the East of Algarve. It is located in between of the Cubist City of Olhao and the historical place of of Tavira. It is really a beautiful scenery of the countryside of Ria Formosa in Algarve.

The 9-hole Executive Par 3 Colina Verde calmly embraces the encompassing environment. Straightforward enough to be pleasant for newbies but additionally testing enough for experienced players who wish to sharpen their iron play and short game. With its undulating shape, Colina Verde is good for the short game rehearsal and to test even the best player’s ability. The signature hole, the 5th, would grace any of the World’s Top Golf Courses.

Together with its 8 Par 3′s and one Par-4 (the second), range nets, putting green and chipping area, this Executive Colina Verde is suitable for golf enthusiasts of all levels: straightforward enough to be pleasurable for newbies and also testing enough for experienced players wishing to sharpen their iron play and short game.

Either way, it’s a calming and very good experience and a perfect location for golf pro who wishes to train groups or individuals. With the very popular long uphill 4th, the 5th is nevertheless the signature hole that has a long Par 3 before landing on a semi-island green.

The entirely magnificent course along with its quality greens, spreads out upfront of the luxurious Apart-hotel across undulating fairways with extraordinary sceneries both inland and to the sea, encompassed by the Algarvean countryside with its orange groves, almond, carob and olive trees, most of which spot the course here and everywhere, preparing the task and creating a wonderful setting for the game long to become remembered. In either case, it is a relaxing and pleasant experience, which is augmented by a putting green and a chipping area.

Learn more info on these Golfing Courses in the Algarve or, if you wish an even more long term golfing solution then consider quite a few Algarve Golf Villas.

Pines Resort Gold Coast For An Unforgetable Experience

If there is a paradise on earth surely it is the world-famous Gold Coast Australia. This subtropical area boasting almost non-stop sunshine year round, offers some of the best beaches and surfing on the planet. This region of Queensland has just about everything anyone could desire. Whether you want to get fit and suntanned with an active holiday or just relax this is the place for you, especially at the Pines Resort Gold Coast.

Located between Brisbane in the North and Sydney in the South this is number six on Australia’s list of largest cities. Indeed, the population exceeds half a million sun drenched residents and many more visitors. Having said that, there is so much space you wouldn’t consider it crowded.

There are lots of amenities and attractions not least of which is the renowned Surfers Paradise. It truly is a paradise because it boasts great surf most of the time. Not surprising that surfing fans congregate here from all around the globe. Leaving the beaches behind and entering into the interior one will find several national parks like Lamington and Tamborine, which are world Heritage protected.

Visitors can hike along the nature trails that snake through mile after mile of the rain forest’s exotic flora and fauna. Every mile or so there are look outs with jaw dropping vistas over the hinterland and city, the spectacular views even reaching to as far as the distant Pacific.

There are four main theme parks close to nearby Southport; Sea World, Movie World, Wet and Wild and Dream World. There are also many superb places to eat the very finest cuisine, lots of sporting facilities and exotic nightlife to entertain you.

Standing apart from the conglomeration of hotels along the coast is the glorious Pines resort complex. This boasts the world-famous championship golf course that is always linked to celebrities such as Jack Nicholas. The architecture of this fine hotel is sleekly beautiful glistening against a backdrop of beach and sky. The hotel is housed on 500 acres of verdant and beautifully groomed grounds. There are 300 luxury units for guests making the Pines one of the largest facilities of its kind in the whole of Queensland. Business people, couples and wedding parties will find this establishment ideal for their purposes.

The amazing facilities offered include; large convention centre, state-of-the-art health club two swimming pools one indoor and one outdoor, lifts, excellent day spa and front desk concierge. The foods on offer are breathtaking. For example; your gastronomic choice can range from Mexican, Irish, Italian, German Greek or Chinese and more!

The list goes on. Of course, if you simply feel like the gastronomically delights of the pizza hut, bakery, pie shop, buffet bar etc. It is all available right on your doorstep!

If you are looking for a holiday that is totally unique the Gold Coast Australia based at the Pines Resort Gold Coast or somewhere else is certainly an excellent choice. You can choose from a relaxing holiday lazing on the beach topping up your suntan or a more active sporting vacation. The choice is yours, and if there is one problem you will have it is the happy one of deciding just which delightful slice of the Gold Coast pie you want!

When you plan a holiday at the Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast, you are going to be in the middle of all the action! A quick shuttle ride to Surfers Paradise or to the great shopping will make your stay at the Pines Resort Gold Coast the perfect trip!

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.

Ballybunion Hotels: Three Wonderful Hotels In And Around Ballybunion

Visitors to the coastal town of Ballybunion in County Kerry, Ireland, will quickly realise that the majority of Ballybunion hotels are situated in the countryside surrounding the village. The three hotels selected here epitomize the quality of service, fantastic views and mouth-watering food that the region has become famous for.

One of the more exclusive hotels in the region is the 15th century Ballyseede Castle. The castle’s twelve guest rooms are each uniquely furnished and all have panoramic views of the castle estate and gardens.

It is possible to see the period features of its past (intricate plasterwork, large marble fire places) throughout the hotel and the guest rooms are all as tastefully furnished as the common areas. Dinner at the castle is a real treat for gastronomes as the personable service means that each dish of modern Irish cuisine is of the highest standard.

Closer to Ballybunion, the Glin Castle Hotel is on a much larger scale to Ballyseede with dozens of guest rooms and a variety of public areas. The castle grounds prove particularly popular with day-trippers for walks on the lawns and the walled gardens.

The Glin restaurant has a variety of menu choices to suit all palates and group sizes and a great selection of traditional Irish dishes all using produce sourced within Kerry. All rooms are modern and spacious with contemporary en-suites and wonderful views of the surrounding estate and countryside.

Last, but not least, the Ballygarry House Hotel and Spa is a more traditional destination to stay in. The house is a former country manor with all guest rooms being large, comfortable and traditionally decorated.

The real draw for many guests to Ballygarry is their restaurant and Nadur spa. The restaurant has a great hearty menu of Irish dishes that make great use of locally sourced produce. The spa is a new addition to the hotel that has added to its popularity thanks to the relaxing treatments that are available (mud-baths, seaweed soaks, thermal suites).

The village of Ballybunion has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the past decade thanks to the fact that it has held on to its old style charm and not given in to the vagaries of over commercialization. This factor has drawn in many visitors looking for a traditional Irish experience and the hotels in Ballybunion have been playing their part by providing great service and a warm welcome.

If you enjoyed reading this post about Ballybunion hotels then check out our website for articles about Ballybunion, Ireland and other destinations

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.

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