New destinations for golfers are opening up all the time as countries look to tap in to this potentially lucrative business.
However, despite increased competition from destinations such as North Africa and Dubai, the old favourites such as Portugal and Ireland are keeping their hold on UKgolfers, offering a combination of high quality, well-maintained courses and easy access.
Here, we bring you a round-up of the most popular golf destinations for UKplayers, what they each have to offer, which operators to book with and the best time to play….
The US
Key golf areas: Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arizona, California, Great Lakes.
Operators include: Destination Golf, BA Holidays, Longshot.
Sample package: a seven-night November package to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with Destination Golf, staying in a three-star hotel including bed and breakfast, leads in at £539 with flights and car hire. Golf from £15 a round.
Operator view: “Florida and South Carolina are the two big US golfing states – between them they take 85% of our business, with most of the remaining 15% going to North Carolina and Arizona and the rest to Palm Springs in California. Most golfers want to play in the US sun-belt and though there’s wonderful golf further north in New England and the Great Lakes, the season is shorter and demand is small.” – Mike Robinson, managing director, Destination Golf.
Best time to play: from September to May in Florida and spring and autumn (April, May and September-November) in the Carolinas. California attracts year-round golf, even though Palm Springs fairly sizzles in high summer.
Portugal
Key golf areas: Algarve, Lisbon Coast.
Operators include: Algarve Select, BA Golf Holidays, Cadogan, Caravela, Cresta, Longmere, Longshot, 3D Golf.
Sample package: three-night half-board break with Longshot, staying at the three-star Hotel Inglaterra in Estoril departing September 16-29, from £380 including flights and car hire. Golf from £11-£39 a round.
Operator view: “There are some great new courses north of Lisbon, such as Belas, the newest; Praia d’El Rey near Ovidos and Golden Eagle. The area belies its reputation for poor weather and is uncrowded. There are good direct flights and green fees are well priced – £20-£24 on average. Lisbon was 60% up for Longshot last year and I feel it will be the next major force.” – Sean Noble, product manager, Longshot Golf Holidays.
Best time to play: the Algarve is suitable for golf at any time of year; the Lisbon area is decidedly cooler in December and January, when it rains.
Spain
Key golf areas: Costa del Sol, Murcia, Catalonia, Valencia, Cadiz, Costa de la Luz, Majorca.
Operators include: BA Golf Holidays, Barwell Leisure, Cadogan, Cresta, Longmere, Longshot, Panorama, 3D Golf.
Sample package: three-night self-catering break with Longmere in Puerto Banus in June and September, from £369 including flights, car hire and three rounds of golf.
Operator view: “We get inquiries for Valencia and Murcia, but they’re nothing like as popular as the Costa del Sol. We’re consistently being asked for the top courses there – San Roque, Valderrama, Rio Real, La Cala, Mijas and Torrequebrada. The new Sotogrande Almenara course is extremely nice and Valderrama is planning another course. But if there’s much more development they’ll have to start building inland.” – Stuart Dale, product manager, Longmere Golf Holidays.
Best time to play: the Costa del Sol is ideal for golf year-round; further north clients will find it noticeably cooler throughout the winter months.
Ireland
Key golf areas: the east coast, from Dublin to Waterford, and west coast are popular throughout the UK market. Its top courses are found evenly around the country.
Operators include: CIE Tours, Cresta, Crystal Premier Golf, Irish Ferries, Longmere, 3D Golf.
Sample package: three-night break with 3D Golf, staying at the four-star Burlington in Dublin in August, bed and breakfast from £376 including flights and car hire. Includes one round on Luttrellstown, Portmarnock Links and also Powerscourt.
Operator view: “Last year was our first in Ireland and we decided to concentrate on the east coast, where access is better from the UK. We invested £40,000 in pre-purchased green fees there to get a better deal for clients. We’ve found it’s a male-dominated market – nearly all book flydrive and most stay in and around Dublin, where there are some excellent courses like Portmarnock Links, Powerscourt and Druids Glen.” – David Sledmere, sales and contracts manager, 3D Golf.
Best time to play: the summer months are drier and most popular; spring and autumn attract short-break business.