Spain & Portugal: Affordable dream golf escapes
By David Brice / Golf International Inc
For the uninitiated, thoughts of a golf trip Across the Pond may automatically bring visions of playing deviously tricky links courses in a howling wind, on the cold and damp (if not rain-drenched) courses of Northern Europe. Stories heard about British food and warm beer don't encourage more positive thinking as the idea gradually loses its appeal. It's often envisioned as a less than pleasant but very necessary test of our masculinity, stamina and undying loyalty to the game of golf -- something that must be done once, to prove we are real golfers and fully qualified members of "the club".
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While this may have been largely true a few decades ago, the world, including the world of golf, has changed a lot. True, Scotland and Ireland still hold a strong attraction to golfers from around the globe, though conditions were never quite as bad as many may have believed. There are other destinations where the golf is every bit as challenging, but other conditions are decidedly better, and by a very wide margin.
Leading the list of relatively "new", prime golfing destinations are the two joint tenants of The Iberian Peninsula, Spain and Portugal. Look to the southern halves of both countries and one of the many reasons for their rise to golfing fame becomes immediately apparent - climate.
They share perfect year round golfing weather, where clear blue skies and balmy temperatures are the order of the day, world-class courses are in plentiful supply and the golfing season has no end. Golf, especially excellent golf, is no longer exclusive to the British Isles -- in fact it may be surprising to learn that an uncommonly large percentage of Europe's top ranked golf courses are located in Spain and Portugal.
Look at the PGA European Tour's schedule of Tournaments for 2009. When these guys are not wandering around the globe, competing in The Middle East, Australasia, Asia, India, South Africa and heaven knows where else, only 30 official Tour events are actually held in the real Europe. Of these, eight important tournaments are held in Spain and Portugal -- that's a whopping 27% - more than the combined number of Tour events held in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, all lumped together.
As some small consolation for having your dreams shattered, neither Portugal nor Spain is a newcomer to golf. Both were introduced to the Royal & Ancient game well over a century ago and it was the British who made the introductions and built those very first courses. Golf on The Iberian Peninsula may be new to many Americans, but to the British, a nation of golf aficionados with an inborn appreciation for quality courses (they have plenty of their own) it's been a 100 year long love affair. Certainly the wonderful year round weather (which the Brits certainly do not have) is just icing on their golfing cake.
But excellent weather and top-drawer golf courses are only the beginning of a long list of advantages that Spain and Portugal hold over the more traditional golf destinations. Both countries boast a rich and colorful history, together with a cultural heritage that is nothing less. Opportunities to discover the glories of centuries past abound and are to be found in the ancient cities, towns and small villages that seem to pop up everywhere.
The Portuguese and Spanish are known for their love of the good life and an important part of anyone's good life is food and wine - not any food and wine, but only the best. Have you noticed the growing amount of shelf space your local wine store is providing to the wines of these two countries? It's been growing by leaps and bounds for almost a decade, as we all come to appreciate not only the extremely high quality of Spanish and Portuguese wines, but their values. And the very best never leaves the homeland - a golf trip to either Spain or Portugal or perhaps both, takes on an entirely new meaning for any connoisseur of grape juice.
Food has a similar importance in both countries and Spain has quietly worked its way to the very top of every listing of Europe's best cuisines, while those countries traditionally associated with fine dining, have been relegated to lower levels. There is no cuisine more sophisticated or more delectable than Spain's - and Portugal doesn't come too far behind. Especially noteworthy are the regional Portuguese dishes, particularly the imaginative use of the freshest of fish, pulled from the crystal clear Atlantic Ocean that washes Portugal's picture-postcard coastline.
Top quality golf, perfect weather, fine food and wines, fascinating history, rich cultures and intriguing sightseeing - no other country offers so much, making The Iberian Peninsula especially enticing for golfers and quite unique.
Spain's golfing banquet begins close to the French border, where the scenically stunning, Costa Brava is home to a dozen superb courses, but the ancient city of Girona and of course, irresistible Barcelona, both demand and deserve attention. Spain's entire Mediterranean Coastline is a never ending feast of golf and so many more diversions, away from the courses. There is more to discover around the fascinating cities of Valencia and Alicante as you head further west toward Spain's golfing epicenter. The region of Andalucia and The Costa del Sol have no equal when it comes to golf, offering a bewildering selection of more than 60 impressive courses, including world-renowned Valderrama, of Ryder Cup fame.
And so it continues, past the Straights of Gibraltar, to The Atlantic Ocean and across the Portuguese border to the golf-blessed Algarve Coast, boasting yet another stunning collection of 35 excellent courses. This is Portugal's golfing heartland and it's all concentrated into a brief 90 mile stretch of Europe's most enticing coastline - a never ending paradise of golf, perpetual sunshine, pristine beaches of golden sand and the good life is everywhere. Inexhaustible, the trail of golf continues northward, following the Atlantic shore, to Portugal's charming capital of Lisbon and 50 miles beyond. This is Lisbon's Golf Coast and another bevy of two dozen wonderful courses.
Unless experienced personally, it's difficult to comprehend the variety of riches contained within this glorious Iberian coast. It's totally unique and filled to overflowing with an unfathomable depth of every Spanish and Portuguese experience imaginable -- and the golf is nothing less.
Sound too good to be true? It's not, but there's only one way to find out, you must take a trip to this glorious corner of Europe and discover all of its wonders for yourself. If you need even more temptation, perhaps the crowning glory for all of the pretty words, Spain and Portugal have always offered the very best value for our travel dollars. Far superior to any other European country, this very good thing has only become even better during recent months.
Since last summer, our much beleaguered American Dollar has made a startling recovery in value. After reaching an all-time low in April when a Euro, the common European currency used in both Spain and Portugal, cost us $1.60, the good old greenback has strengthened remarkably. Today, the Euro will cost a mere $1.25 or so, meaning the Dollar is worth almost 22% more today than in April. That's the equivalent to receiving a 22% discount on everything you buy in either Spain or Portugal. Hotels, car rentals, green fees, restaurants, souvenirs, everything has been marked down -- it's all on sale and there are no coupons to clip!
Despite all of the gloom and doom we hear on radio and television, we all need a vacation and nobody should sacrifice that important time -- it's a chance to forget the bad news for a while, lay back, relax and simply refresh ourselves. There may be no better place to escape to - not just to unwind, but also taste the good life, enjoy some stimulating new experiences and be reminded what living is supposed to be all about. Make it Spain and Portugal and with these values, you're likely to find you couldn't afford not to go.
For a few more ideas on how to get the most out of a trip to Spain or Portugal, whether golf is to be a part of your vacation or not, click here.
©2008 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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