Print this page  |  Close Window

By David Brice
Golf International, Inc.

The PGA European Tour started the 2007 Tour season in China last November. It wasn't until March that they actually arrived in Europe after events in Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, The Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

Oitavos Golf Club hosted the Portugal Open in 2005 and 2007.

The real European part of the season started on March 22 with the Madeira Islands Open, played at the Santo da Serra Golf Club on the Portuguese island of Madeira. The tour players then took the 90-minute flight to Lisbon and impressive Oitavos Golf Club, for the Estoril Open de Portugal. A few weeks later they were in Madrid for the Spanish Open.

The European Tour returns to the Iberian Peninsula in October and November to end the season with the last 4 events. The Madrid Open will be immediately followed by the Portugal Masters, to be played at the country's top ranked course, Vilamoura's Victoria Club, on the Algarve Coast. Then it's on to the Spanish Mediterranean island of Majorca for the Mallorca Classic. The grand finale each year is The Volvo Masters, played at the course ranked No. 1 in Europe for each of the past 16 years, Valderrama Golf Club, located on Spain's Costa del Sol.

Penha Longa's Atlantico Course

It's no coincidence that Spain and Portugal share a total of seven European Tour events between them -- they also share 30 percent of Europe's top-100 ranked courses. Nor is it the luck of the draw that the Iberian Peninsula hosts the first and last events of the real European season.

Every show needs a strong opening act to grab audience attention and the grand finale must be a show-stopper that leaves everyone with a lasting memory of what a good show it was. Spain and Portugal do this admirably and as a bonus, they also share a climate the rest of us can only dream about -- perfect golfing weather year round.

Praia d'El Rey - Portuguese golf along the Atlantic

Golf has been played in Spain and Portugal for well over a century, but it's been during the past 40 years that golf development accelerated, resulting in the wealth of excellent courses in both countries. Today, these two neighbors have become a dominant force in the world of golf and in Europe; they share the title of Top Golf Destination.

The pragmatic growth of a high quality golfing infrastructure has been underway for four decades now, motivated by the idea that golf development could favorably influence incoming tourism and the fact that better quality golf would attract more visitors. The world's leading golf architects eagerly participated with the private sector, ensuring the quality side of things and government involvement has been limited to zoning regulation compliance and the protection of the environment. Any visitor can only be impressed -- The Iberian Peninsula has become the ultimate golfers delight and it's still growing and only getting better.

Obidos - a chance to discover Portugal - and golf is close by.

With an almost special consideration for visitors, the majority of The Iberian Peninsula's best courses are concentrated into just four golf regions -- two are in Portugal and two in Spain.

The Lisbon Coast takes a 25-mile radius of the Portuguese capital and includes a total of 23 excellent courses, most within a 30-minute drive of the city center. South of the city the region extends to incorporate the colorful fishing villages of The Setubal Peninsula (also known as The Costa Azul) with its chain of uncrowded beaches, national parks, and a half dozen 18-hole courses. Included is the well-respected Robert Trent Jones layout at Troia and a pair of tracks at Aroeira, where the design efforts of Frank Pennink and Donald Steel may be experienced.

Discover even more golfing treasures northwest of Lisbon in the fashionable seaside resort towns of Estoril and Cascais, or the historic hillside, "Town of Palaces" at Sintra. Heading the list are Penha Longa, Oitavos and just a further 30 minutes north, the magnificent championship course at Praia d'El Rey, a leading contender as Portugal's very best. If you are playing Praia d'El Rey, don't miss the opportunity spend a few hours exploring the nearby medieval village of Obidos, it's one of the best preserved in the entire country.

Spain's Valderrama ranked Europe's top course for 16 consecutive years

The direct route from the Lisbon Coast to Portugal's second golf region, The Algarve, is a drive of only two hours. This southernmost coastline of picturesque small bays, coves and inlets, stretches for 90 miles from east to west and contains over 30 more layouts, all top quality and many with names that appear high on the rankings of European courses.

The Henry Cotton design at Penina pioneered golf development in this part of the country and remains a firm favorite with regular visitors. The plush resort at Quinta do Lago boasts a pair of championship courses and Vilamoura, Europe's most impressive golf resort of all, tops that with five superb layouts, including its latest addition in the Victoria Club. This much-lauded masterpiece from Arnold Palmer is scheduled to host the Portugal Masters later this fall. And this is still only the tip of the iceberg that is The Algarve's golfing selection.

Robert Trent Jones' stunning design at Sotogrande

Spain was the first country on Continental Europe to claim world-wide golfing fame when, in 1997, it became the first country outside of Britain to ever host the European leg of the Ryder Cup. This was the event that shot Spain and its premier golfing region of the Costa del Sol -- with Ryder Cup host course Valderrama -- to overnight stardom and the country has never looked back.

The Costa del Sol, a 120-mile piece of pure golf heaven, reaches from Gibraltar in the west, along the Mediterranean coast to Malaga in the east and is home to over 70 layouts, including Valderrama, ranked Europe's No. 1 course for each of the last 16 years. If Spain is in your travel plans, the Costa del Sol must be there as well.

The Costa Brava's Emporda Course is a Robert von Hagge design.

Position yourself in the Sotogrande area, at the quieter, western end of the Costa del Sol and the cream of the crop courses will all be close by -- Valderrama, Sotogrande, La Reserva, San Roque and Almenara. If you are looking to experience the vibrant nightlife and many other attractions of the Costa del Sol, a more convenient base might be the chic resort town of Marbella. Better yet, choose very lively, Puerto Banus, Marbella's impressive marina and nightlife headquarters, including the casino.

With the heaviest concentration of courses located around Marbella and even those furthest away, still within a short 40-minute drive, the challenge will be choosing which courses to play from a menu more than 70 courses long. Ask an experienced golf travel company, such as Golf International for assistance, especially if you want to include the often hard to get, Valderrama.

Costa Brava - a picturesque coastline, history and wonderful golf

FEATURED CONTENT

For more ideas on how best to include Spain and Portugal in your future travel plans,  click here. Or call Golf International at 800-328-9898.

Spain's second most important golf region is the Costa Brava, the Mediterranean coast running north east of Barcelona to the French border. The dozen or so courses located in this handsome region may not match the Costa del Sol in numbers, but the consistent quality is nothing less than top drawer. Among the courses not to be resisted are Pals, Emporda, Peralda and PGA de Catalunya, all of which are strictly world-class. But do take time to discover this fascinating corner of Spain. Explore the beautiful coast, the medieval villages of the inland and as a grand finale, save a few days for Barcelona, everyone's favorite city.

The Iberian Peninsula is the undisputed headquarters of European golf and with a history, culture and gastronomy to match the best in the world, the fast growing first choice of more American golf travelers than ever before -- the perfect year round climate is just a bonus.

For more ideas on how best to include Spain and Portugal in your future travel plans, click here.

© 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988.