Golfing destinations in Portugal or Spain

[Rosscow]

Hi All,

My golfing society is looking to go to Spain or Portugal next year.

Does anyone have any good tips for decent destinations?

Would probably be for 3 nights, 3 rounds of golf. Nothing too expensive!

Thanks in advance

Rossco

[snowy]

Does it have to be those destinations???

You may want to consider going to Belek in Turkey, we have just come back, 4 days in 5 Star Hotel (all inclusive), 4 rounds of Golf, and with flights it came to £750 (this was our fourth trip to Belek)

Have a look at some of the courses

http://www.golfparexcellence.com/dox/turkey/belek-...

We have always booked with these

http://www.bilyanagolf.com/


Jim

[GTO-3R]

For Portugal I would deffo recommend staying in Vilamoura. Loads if golf courses around and Quinta Do Lago and Vale Do Lobo about 15 mins away. Vilamoura has plenty of bars and restaraunts. A good friend owns a place called Unico, lovely place on the marina!

[Rosscow]

Cheers boys, will look into both options!

[28Valves]

GTO-3R said:

For Portugal I would deffo recommend staying in Vilamoura. Loads if golf courses around and Quinta Do Lago and Vale Do Lobo about 15 mins away. Vilamoura has plenty of bars and restaraunts. A good friend owns a place called Unico, lovely place on the marina!

I'll secont this. I much prefer the area to the Costa Del Sol.

[dxbtiger]

snowy said:

Does it have to be those destinations???

You may want to consider going to Belek in Turkey, we have just come back, 4 days in 5 Star Hotel (all inclusive), 4 rounds of Golf, and with flights it came to £750 (this was our fourth trip to Belek)

Have a look at some of the courses

http://www.golfparexcellence.com/dox/turkey/belek-...

We have always booked with these

http://www.bilyanagolf.com/


Jim

We are half hardheartedly planning a golf trip from Dubai for some point over the summer.

Spoiled here by the standard of the courses, but also pay through the nose for them, how good are these in Belek?

I play off 2, the other 3 most likely attendees are off 5,6 and 12.

Turkey is close enough to here to be viable destination, didn't event think to check it as a possibility.

edit - how is the after golf social side there?

edit 2 - seems there are some proper courses there, Turkish Airlines challenge course, the last stop off before the DWC on the European Tour, looks good at first glance.

Edited by dxbtiger on Monday 3rd June 13:16

[snowy]

dxbtiger said:

We are half hardheartedly planning a golf trip from Dubai for some point over the summer.

Spoiled here by the standard of the courses, but also pay through the nose for them, how good are these in Belek?

I play off 2, the other 3 most likely attendees are off 5,6 and 12.

Turkey is close enough to here to be viable destination, didn't event think to check it as a possibility.

edit - how is the after golf social side there?

edit 2 - seems there are some proper courses there, Turkish Airlines challenge course, the last stop off before the DWC on the European Tour, looks good at first glance.

Edited by dxbtiger on Monday 3rd June 13:16

It would be difficult for me to compare what you play on in Dubai with what is available in Belek, but people who go to Belek to play will seldom go back to Portugal/Spain

The best 2 courses that we have played on are the sultan and the Montgomery, the Sultan was used as the venue for an invitation for the top 8 players in the world last year, with the Montgomery being used this year for the first European tour event in Turkey later this year, both course are great.

This year we have played two new courses, the Faldo, which was far too difficult for us, one of our group is an ex professional, he is now playing off 4, he said it is the tightest course he has ever played on, unfortunately the course wasn’t in great shape, some tees were patchy and the greens had taken a bit of a battering, the other new course we played this time was the nobilis, great course, well looked after and to a large extent kept a secret.

Next year we are planning to play the two Gloria courses along with the Sultan and the nobilis,

If you do go to Belek, make sure you look at the overseeding/maintenance windows, all the info can be found here

http://www.bilyanagolf.com/overseeding.php

The downside with Belek is the lack of things to do outside of the Hotels, although the hotels are great for food/drink/shows, any more than 4 nights you would want a change of scenery

[hbzboy]

Have you given thought to the Murcia region of Spain?

[Pixel Pusher]

La Cala.

30 mins from Malaga.

3 full courses and a lovely hotel.

http://www.lacala.com/golf-costa-del-sol/

I have friends who play / stay and not heard anything bad about it.

[dxbtiger]

snowy said:

It would be difficult for me to compare what you play on in Dubai with what is available in Belek, but people who go to Belek to play will seldom go back to Portugal/Spain

The best 2 courses that we have played on are the sultan and the Montgomery, the Sultan was used as the venue for an invitation for the top 8 players in the world last year, with the Montgomery being used this year for the first European tour event in Turkey later this year, both course are great.

This year we have played two new courses, the Faldo, which was far too difficult for us, one of our group is an ex professional, he is now playing off 4, he said it is the tightest course he has ever played on, unfortunately the course wasn’t in great shape, some tees were patchy and the greens had taken a bit of a battering, the other new course we played this time was the nobilis, great course, well looked after and to a large extent kept a secret.

Next year we are planning to play the two Gloria courses along with the Sultan and the nobilis,

If you do go to Belek, make sure you look at the overseeding/maintenance windows, all the info can be found here

http://www.bilyanagolf.com/overseeding.php

The downside with Belek is the lack of things to do outside of the Hotels, although the hotels are great for food/drink/shows, any more than 4 nights you would want a change of scenery

Thanks, appreciate the feedback.

[exocet ape]

I'd put the two best courses in Turkey as being 1 Carya and 2 The National

As said, the Faldo tracks are tight but some nice testing holes, especially the Par 5's
Gloria old is a good track.
The Montgomerie is a really good track, in my opinion..
Kaya Eagles is a a good layout.

The place they held the invitional is probably more open than Carya and the National, I think that's why it was picked to host the event. The Ladies European Tour use the National. It is VERY tight in places but it's a top notch course.

[FUBAR]

Problem with Vilamoura/Quinta etc is whilst nice, they're bloody expensive (as is the accommodation). The further west you go the cheaper it gets (and in all honesty, Palmares in Lagos, which I've done many a round on in the past, is only an hour from the airport). Look at Penina Championship course, Palmares and the newer Boa Vista (admittedly I haven't played that one but new the club secretary when it was first set up, long retired now). You could even try Parque de Floresta if you want hilly and challenging (I've turned 2 buggies over on that course )

Options for you

[laminad123]

I found La Cala to be a tough undulating course and didn't really enjoy it. Views are spectacular but you're there to enjoy yourself at the end of the day. They do however keep emailing through some great packages. Vale de Lobo (oceanic I) was good fun for us, a mixed 4 ball (10-20 hcaps)
Marbella/Malaga have a lot more to offer than the algarve when not on the course. I can recommend Flamingos and La Quinta. I played all the courses at La Manga (Murcia) and felt that despite the landmass they felt a little bit constricted and not that memorable. If you are travelling with family though it ticks a lot of boxes.

( none of the above is based on my standard of golf at the time!)

[bridgdav]

Without doubt, forget Murcia, villamoura or Malaga...

Portugal = Cascais...west of Lisbon. Stay on the beach in Cascais - golf at Estoril, Penha Longa, Praia del ray, Belas, Quinta del Peru...
I promise you, you will not be disappointed... Casino in Cascais, ,Estoril race circuit right next to Penha Longa (My favourite course ever) Even venture over the Lisbon bridge to play Troia.... They hold the European qualifying events in his area for a reason...

Spain = Estartit. Costa Brava. Stay in the Estartit resort, golf at Girona, Emporda, Pals, PGA De Catalunya, Peralada. Again, you will not regret this area... Another area for qualifying school, so can't be all bad.

Have been to both locations on several occasions, some of the best courses Europe has to offer, all courses within 30 mins to an hour from resort.

Also, FOOD... You would be in typical northern Portugal, Sardines and fresh seafood to die for. Catalunya in Spain for fresh Paella and Catalan stew... Only 1.5 hrs north of Barcelona, so you could also have a look at the circuit on your way past...

I have been a European golf traveler for many many years... Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Italy, turkey, Austria.... Just to name a few.. BUT the 2 trips above have been the best courses, and social. You are NOT in Villamoura with the 5 and half hour rounds, or the intense heat that dries up the courses...

I only ask you take a look at these destinations.. And NO, I don't work for the EU tourist board. I now live in USA...
How I miss the European golf trips.......

[GTO-3R]

Got to say I've lived in Portugal and never once had a 5 hour round at any course. I agree on the courses you mention around Lisbon, and what a great City too

[nw28840]

I was in Portugal 4 weeks ago wih a group of 16 golfers, we go to the same hotel every year, play the two courses connected to the hotel and then choose two other courses to ale up the 4 days of golf.

Book accommodation and golf before you come, much cheaper.

We played pinheiros altos and San Lorenzo ( connected to hotel) and then Quinta de Lago and Ocean Millenium.
Hotel including breakfast and nice pool, within 20 minutes of Vilamoura , total cost for the 6 days ( 2 days by the pool ) was about £600 incl flights via yourgolftravel.com

Currently sitting by my mates pool in Belek , he's a member at Gloria, was previously a member at National. I actually caddied at the LET tournament at the National in 2012 for a young British amateur now turned pro called Charles Hull - she's rather good ! Couldn't caddy this year as I was in Portugal for our yearly golf trip.

Off out in 30 minutes to play at Lykia (Links course) about 20 minutes from Belek....fantastic course, but very difficult.

National is lovely , played there 3 days ago, know the English Pro here well (Ed) , Gloria old course is currently closed and front nine of the new course is closed also !

Come to Belek.....courses are lovely, food is great, nightlife is rather quiet but lots on at the hotels and there's an expat wine bar in town and on Kadriye beach.

Try Matrix travel (mates daughter works for them) or Bilyana.....

Ok , off too hack my way round Lykia links ( recently taken over by Club Med ) and only 40 euros a round !!!

[laminad123]

nw28840 said:

I was in Portugal 4 weeks ago wih a group of 16 golfers, we go to the same hotel every year, play the two courses connected to the hotel and then choose two other courses to ale up the 4 days of golf.

Book accommodation and golf before you come, much cheaper.

We played pinheiros altos and San Lorenzo ( connected to hotel) and then Quinta de Lago and Ocean Millenium.
Hotel including breakfast and nice pool, within 20 minutes of Vilamoura , total cost for the 6 days ( 2 days by the pool ) was about £600 incl flights via yourgolftravel.com

Currently sitting by my mates pool in Belek , he's a member at Gloria, was previously a member at National. I actually caddied at the LET tournament at the National in 2012 for a young British amateur now turned pro called Charles Hull - she's rather good ! Couldn't caddy this year as I was in Portugal for our yearly golf trip.

Off out in 30 minutes to play at Lykia (Links course) about 20 minutes from Belek....fantastic course, but very difficult.

National is lovely , played there 3 days ago, know the English Pro here well (Ed) , Gloria old course is currently closed and front nine of the new course is closed also !

Come to Belek.....courses are lovely, food is great, nightlife is rather quiet but lots on at the hotels and there's an expat wine bar in town and on Kadriye beach.

Try Matrix travel (mates daughter works for them) or Bilyana.....

Ok , off too hack my way round Lykia links ( recently taken over by Club Med ) and only 40 euros a round !!!

I played golf in Belek a few years back at the national/Gloria - thought the layouts were good but the conditions were pretty variable. Have the conditions improved?

[nw28840]

National was in great knick last week , the LET tournament was only a couple of weeks ago.

Lykia in great condition also.

Gloria not so great, but major work taking place on both courses in the next couple of months.

[laminad123]

Thanks! I've been meaning to return, enjoyed all other aspects of visitng and playing there