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By David Brice
Golf International, Inc.

The idea of staying at a luxurious, world-class resort and playing a few equally good golf courses, all under sunny blue skies, has the potential of being a perfect vacation for any golfer. If the resort happens to be located in a fascinating country, renowned for its fine food and wines, intriguing history and sightseeing, together with a wealth of other, non-golfing activities, the potential for a perfect vacation escape becomes a fully guaranteed, vacation of a lifetime. But do such places exist?

Ask any of the growing number of American golf travelers who have discovered Spain and Portugal and the answer will be a resounding, yes! Although these two neighboring countries share similarities, in many ways they are quite different, each with its own unique charm.

Common to both Spain and Portugal is the impressive collections of top rated golf courses they each contain and some of the best are located in rather elegant golf resorts.

La Cala Golf & Spa Resort offers the ultimate in luxury plus three championship courses

La Cala Golf & Spa Resort, located in the heart of the Costa del Sol, has established itself as Spain's largest and arguably, it's most complete golf resort. Boasting a trio of true championship layouts, plus a David Ledbetter golf academy with its own, 6-hole, par 3 Executive Course, this is 60-holes of pure golf bliss. Designer, Cabell Robinson, has managed to give each course its own unique character and personality, producing three entirely different challenges.

The resort enjoys a stunning setting on a 1,000-acre estate in the foothills of the Mijas Mountains, just east of Marbella. This is ruggedly beautiful terrain of spectacular mountain backdrops and unbelievable vistas to the Mediterranean Sea. All three courses are hilly with constant elevation changes, enough to test the stamina of a mountain goat - a buggie is a necessity for even the fittest.

La Cala's Europa Course

All of La Cala's layouts call out to be played but the wise player will tackle the newest layout, The Europa, first. None of the three are easy, but The Europa with larger greens, more generous fairways and the leveling influence of the River Ojen that runs through it, presents a less hilly challenge. Still filled with drama, The Europa is only slightly more forgiving than the other two courses, serving as an excellent introduction to the golfing wonder that is La Cala's terrific trio.

Choosing the better of the other two layouts, The Asia and The America, is a matter of personal preferences. Both are uncommonly tough and offer a serious golf examination of golf from A to Z. Each will test the single digit handicappers to the extreme from the back tees, but a choice of tee positions brings a more manageable challenge to the less accomplished players from the forward positions -- just be prepared for a bumpy ride.

La Cala's America Course

Formerly known as The South Course, The Asia was first opened in 1990. At a shade over 6,500 yards, it's 300 yards shorter than The America Course and perhaps a little more forgiving on mis-hits, but that's all of the good news.

The fairway contours are often deceiving, as are distances. The importance of staying on the fairways cannot be overstated, as the rough is ominously dense and the greens are well bunkered, more often than not, surrounded by steep slopes. Pay too much attention to your score and you could be headed for a disappointing day -- The Asia is a place where a sense of humor could be your most valuable asset.

Penha Longa -- Ritz Carlton perfection from start to finish

The America Course is certainly no walk in the park and being lengthier, perhaps fraught with more dangers. There are plenty of temptations to grab the driver and spread your shoulders, but with dangerous rough everywhere, the importance of accuracy off the tee makes a 3 club the clever choice. This is a course where strategy and ability means everything.

Optical illusions abound, making correct club selection a special test within the test, severely contoured greens are protected by large deep bunkers and just to add a little more spice to this hot dish, water comes into play on a couple of holes. There's no doubt that La Cala is an unusual combination of three excellent layouts, each worthy of being played for a second time.

Penha Longa - 5th Hole

When it comes to golf resorts, Portugal refuses to play second fiddle to anyone and the Penha Longa Golf & Resort Hotel is just one among the many this small country boasts. They extend from the golf rich regions of the Lisbon Coast and The Algarve, to the Atlantic islands of Madeira and The Azores.

Sitting just a 30-minute drive from the heart of the capital city of Lisbon and a few minutes from the historic town of Sintra, Penha Longa is a luxury golf resort in every way. Knowing the property is managed by Ritz Carlton is reassurance to any who may need it, that everything about the hotel and golf courses, the spa, restaurants and service, will be strictly top-drawer. At Penha Longa there simply are no disappointments.

Penha Longa # 8 - accuracy from the tee and good mid-iron skills are needed

The championship, Atlantico Course was inaugurated in 1994 and within two years it was not only hosting the Portuguese Open but had also been unanimously voted by the players as the best course on The European Tour. Now fully matured and firmly ensconced as one of Europe's top 50 layouts, the Atlantico has only become better.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., this is a very demanding track, measuring almost 7,000 yards from the tips and average to high handicap golfers should feel no shame it tackling it from the forward tees. There will be enough challenge without burdening yourself with the added length.

Filled with amazing variety, where no two holes seem even vaguely similar in their test, the layout starts and finishes in a valley while the mid-course holes (from 6 to 13) take you on a roller coaster ride, through the hills. Adding complexity to the examination is the wind, always a factor to be reckoned with at Penha Longa. As compensation, the views along the way are absolutely stunning.

This is a layout for the very good, all round golfer, with the talent to manage the course and the ability to use every club in the bag. A healthy dose of creativity will also be useful in getting yourself out of the maze of unusual situations that will inevitably occur. For most, it might be best to forget your scoring and concentrate on enjoying a course that can never be referred to as average. With its combination of defenses including water, thick, juicy rough and some cunningly placed bunkers with the occasional blind hole thrown in for good measure, this is a round you are likely to remember for years to come.

Don't overlook Penha Longa's second layout, the nine-hole Monastery Course. Only slightly kinder than the star attraction, it still manages to muster a challenge that will test most mere mortals.

But this part of the Lisbon Coast has a wealth of golf courses and most are located with a 10 to 30 minute drive away from Penha Longa. Staying in the lap of luxury, many of Portugal's best are very close by and don't miss exploring the fascinating town of Sintra while you are here.

For more information on the golf resorts of Spain and Portugal, contact Golf International, or click here.

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

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