| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 12/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 46 |
| Copyright: Other |
Golf abroad
Teeing off around the world is just champion
Courses offer challenging opportunities
Holiday golfers seeking ever stiffer challenges can take their pick from an expanding choice of top-quality courses across the world.Many of the world’s best courses can be found in Europe, the Middle East, North America and beyond.
They are packaged by golf operators and regional specialists and provide agents with a highly commissionable product which has considerable add-on potential.
With an estimated £800 being spent on the average golfing holiday, it is worth knowing your birdies from your bogies.
Travel Weekly highlights a selection of the best courses available.
Dubai Creek, Dubai
The sail-shaped roof of the Dubai Creek clubhouse is identified by golfers worldwide.
The course has attracted top players to the Dubai Desert Classic over the past two years.
This year’s field included star names Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, Lee Westwood and Seve Ballesteros.
Near to the airport and downtown Dubai, the course is immaculately prepared and many holes bring into play a testing range of water hazards.
At 6,956 yards, the par-72 course demands both precision and distance from the off.
Along with its neighbours – the Emirates club and Dubai Golf and Racing Club – the Creek is best played in winter when the temperature is more amenable than the 35C average of high summer. Operators featuring Dubai Creek include British Airways Golf Holidays, Exclusive Golf Tours and Longshot. The green fee is £56 Sunday to Wednesday, £64 Thursday to Saturday.
Sample package:Longshot offers six-night bed-and-breakfast packages in late September at the four-star Oasis Beach from £649, which includes flights but not golf.
Dubai Creek: the course attracts all the world’s top golfers
La Manga, Spain
With Murcia Airport virtually on its doorstep, La Manga is among the best of Spain’s quality golfing venues.
It sits on the Costa Calida and has its own five-star Hyatt hotel and a variety of self-catering accommodation.
La Manga has three courses – the West, North and South. Toughest among them is the 6,956-yard, par-72 South course. This is the only La Manga course for which the holiday golfer needs a handicap certificate – 21 for men, 27 for women.
With its larger greens the North course suits the average club golfer. Yet the par-71, 6,321-yard championship circuit is still an excellent test of ability. Newest of the three is the West course. The par-73, 6,530-yard course opened in 1993. With its undulating terrain and menacing bunkers, it places a premium on accuracy. Operators featuring La Manga include Barwell Leisure, Cadogan, Longmere, Longshot and 3D Golf. The complex charges about £31 a round.
Sample package: Barwell Leisure offers a week in October for four people sharing a two-bedroom Hyatt Las Lomas apartment from £607 per person, including flights, plus golf.
Doral Golf Resort and Spa, Miami
Five courses make up this long-established resort seven miles west of Miami.
The Doral Ryder Open is played over the par-72, 7,125-yard Blue Monster course.
Almost as difficult as that course is the par-71, 6,197-yard Silver Course, renovated by Jerry Pate and characterised by its narrow fairways, elevated tees and water content. It even boasts an island green. The other 18-hole courses are the Great White, the Red and the Gold. Operators featuring the Doral include Destination Golf, Exclusive Golf Tours, Longmere and 3D Golf. Various green fee packages cover the five courses.
Sample package: Destination Golf offers seven nights at the Doral Resort in November from £835, including flights and car hire, plus golf package from £71 a day.