The 9th edition of the Peugeot Golf Guide to Europe’s Top 1,000 Golf Courses, a reference work for all European golfers, is fresh off the press. The book is a meticulously amassed store of information supplied by inspectors, who for the past 12 years have ‘ghosted’ their way down the fairways of all the golf courses in Europe.
“Our team is one of around sixty inspectors made up of professional golfers, amateur champions, journalists specializing in golf course architecture or enlightened enthusiasts hooked on this wonderful game,” say publishers, Editions Mourgue d’Algue.
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“They all work with a proven questionnaire which includes several dozen headings for each course and which ends up providing three scores (course, club-house & annexes, neighbouring hotel facilities). Figures are reviewed and validated by an editorial committee, which digests all reported information. They are then completed with a brief introduction to the course in English and the local language.”
Some 47 new courses make a first appearance in this 2008/2009 edition, now open to courses in what used to be known as East European countries. Numbers of players, particularly in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, have risen considerably and a few excellent courses such as “Pannonia” (Hungary) and “Rosa” (Poland) are included this year. Given the sheer number of new courses now being built in these countries, we can expect to see even greater expansion of the game in years to come.
A new chapter entitled “Magic Getaways” should appeal to couples who are looking to escape for a weekend and enjoy a pleasant stay in a romantic and golfing environment. The aim here is to showcase hotels of character mostly situated on or around golf courses. Many of these are to be found in France, England and Scotland.
“The aim of this book remains first and foremost to introduce as many people as possible to the cream of European golf courses. With 7 million golfers and over 6,000 courses, golf is still Europe’s number one individual sport where the economic stakes are often high,” conclude the publishers.
“This is why, thanks to some original and very thorough research work, we feel rather proud to see the Peugeot Golf Guide take a leaf out of the Michelin Guide and become the reference for golfers of all levels, players who love the thrill and excitement of discovering new courses.”
Michelin distributes the Peugeot Golf Guide to “Europe’s Top 1,000 Golf Courses” in bookshops across Europe, but the book is also on sale at leading golf stores and selected pro-shops, price €34.
Peugeot Golf Guide www.peugeotgolfguide.com