Golf breaks in Mexico offer sun and savings; Tee for two…romantic golfing breaks in Wales; Golfing in Sardinia; In the footsteps of the stars; Golf amongst cacti, pine trees & olive groves; Golf breaks in France from only £62
Golf breaks in Mexico offer sun and savings
Guests to Riu Hotels & Resorts in Mexico can soak up the sun and the savings with golf perks at select golf courses. From unlimited free golf for guests of Riu Palace Las Americas to 50% savings for all guests of Riu hotels in Cancun and Riviera Maya, the savings are significant and valid 1st November 2005 until 31st October 2006.
On the east coast of Mexico along the Caribbean coast of Cancun and the Riviera Maya, guests of any Riu resort in the area (there are eight Riu resorts to choose from) enjoy 50% savings off the rack rates at the Mayan Palace Golf Riviera Maya, designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Guests of Riu Palace Las Americas, a 368-room oceanfront resort in Cancun, enjoy unlimited free golf at Pok Ta Pok Golf Club. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr, the holes weave along a dramatic shoreline and ancient Mayan ruins creating an enjoyable and scenic experience for golfers of all abilities. Guests of Riu Palace Las Americas also receive a 25% discount on green fees at Hilton Golf Club and a 10% discount at Hilton Pro Golf Shop.
On Mexico’s west coast, guests of the newly opened 846-room beachfront Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas enjoy reduced rates at the Raven Golf Club, a stunning 18-hole course carved out of the natural Cabo San Lucas mountain and desert terrain.
Riu Hotels & Resorts, a family owned business, was founded in 1953 in Mallorca, Spain. The international chain expanded to stunning beachfront locations in Europe and in 1991, Riu Hotels & Resorts opened its first hotel in the Americas region. Riu now operates more than 110 hotels worldwide with 24 hotels in the Americas region including Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Florida, Jamaica, and Mexico. For more information about Riu Hotels & Resorts visit www.riu.com
Tee for two…romantic golfing breaks in Wales
Short breaks with appeal to both sexes have been introduced by Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire under the guise of WorthWhiledrives.com.
Couples get to play at Trefloyne Golf Club near Tenby, South Wales – with breakfast and post-game meal included – before heading back to their five-star cottage to enjoy chocolates and champagne. The four-night breaks – from £155 per person – also include a meal for two at one of Tenby’s finest romantic restaurants and a relaxing treatment in the town’s new Lifestyle Spa.
Other golf-linked breaks from Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire include:
Simply Golf – five-star cottage accommodation, two rounds of golf and a meal at the golf club from £89 per person.
Golf & Spa – five-star cottage accommodation, two rounds of golf and a meal at the golf club, plus two spa treatments at the Elemis & Thalgo Spa in Lydstep from £119 per person.
Adrenalin Golf – five-star cottage accommodation, two rounds of golf and a meal at the golf club, one session coasteering (jumping into the sea from rocks) and one session quad biking – from £145 per person.
Tailored golf breaks www.worthwhiledrives.com and www.coastalcottages.co.uk
Golfing in Sardinia
One of Sardinia’s finest golf courses, tucked away in the island’s smallest province of Oristano, is featured by Sardatur Holidays. The company is highlighting the new four-star Is Benas Country Lodge, located just a couple of miles from the 18-hole, par 72, 6,300m, Is Arenas Golf Club.
This pristine course, designed by American architect Robert van Hagge, is surrounded by stunning countryside and borders a huge sandy beach. Guests at the hotel enjoy reduced green fees which range between €50 and €70 euros per round.
As an example of prices at Is Benas Country Lodge – which is offered exclusively in the UK by Sardatur – a seven-night holiday departing on 23 July costs £647 per person (twin share) inclusive of return flights from Heathrow, car hire and half-board accommodation. The same holiday, but departing on 3 September, costs £615 per person. Flights are also available from Manchester for a supplement of £25 per person. www.sardinia-holidays.co.uk
In the footsteps of the stars
The organisers of the Carnoustie Country Classic tournament have announced that next year’s event will take place from Monday 15 May to Thursday 18 May 2006. Now in its fifth year, the event has rapidly grown into one of Scotland’s most popular amateur golf tournaments, attracting over 160 competitors to take up the challenge of playing some of the world’s best links courses.
The event is a four day Stableford competition open to men and women, for the Carnoustie Classic Trophy. One round will be played over each of the Montrose Medal, Panmure and Monifieth Medal links courses – all Open qualifiers – with a day’s play over the famous Carnoustie Championship course, venue for the 1999 and 2007 Open Championships. No other event enables amateurs to take part in a competition staged over one Open venue and three open Qualifiers – and few offer such fabulous value for money either.
An exciting programme is planned for 2006, which includes: one round at each of the four courses; 5 nights accommodation on a b&b basis; transport to/from courses; opening reception; daily prizes across all handicap sections, and overall prizes; a fun social programme including optional trips to local tourist attractions and a whisky tasting, daily trips and activities for non-golfing partners, and a prizegiving dinner.
The all-inclusive package price will be £430 per person, with a reduced rate of £230 for non-golfing partners.
To register interest in participating in the tournament, contact: The Secretary, Montrose Golf Links Ltd, Traill Drive, Montrose, Angus, DD10 8SW, Tel. 01674 672932, email: secretary@montroselinks.co.uk
Carnoustie www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk
Golf amongst cacti, pine trees & olive groves
From The Masseria Torre Coccaro, you can play a selection of the most challenging championship golf courses in Italy including the San Domenico Golf Club and The Acaya Golf Club, a beautiful 18 hole golf course near the town of Lecce. There are five golf courses in Puglia the newest of which, San Domenico is within kilometres of the hotel and has fabulous sea views.
The Masseria Torre Coccaro, a beautiful 16th century citadel is one of Puglia’s finest luxury hotels with wonderful views of the olive groves and vineyards stretching down to the Adriatic Sea. This family run manor house offers deluxe accommodation, gourmet dining and extensive leisure facilities – including yacht, spa, golf, cookery school and a gym. Five-night golf holidays are offered from just £452 per person in low season from 25 September – 28 December.
The golf break in high season between 28 August – 24 September costs from £533 per person. The price includes accommodation in a double classic room for 5 nights on a bed and breakfast basis and 3 dinners. The hotel can book tee times at any of the local courses www.masseriatorrecoccaro.com
Golf breaks in France from only £62
This autumn Brittany Ferries Holidays is offering golfers the chance to play some of the most beautiful, uncrowded courses in the whole of Europe at bargain prices. Awayday Breaks start from only £62 per person (the same price as last year) at 18 selected golf courses in Normandy and Brittany and include both green fees and return ferry travel with a car. Lunch with a glass of wine or beer is even included at most of the courses.
Those golfers wishing to stay longer can choose from breaks of between one and four nights, with prices starting at only £112 per person including ferry travel with a car and green fees. These breaks also include b&b accommodation in any one of 15 carefully selected, good quality hotels close to the chosen courses.
All courses are within easy access of the four French ports served by Brittany Ferries and range from the spectacular Golf de Omaha Beach to the Golf Club des Ormes set in the wooded grounds of an eighteenth century chateau near St. Malo.
Brittany Ferries operates five routes to Normandy and Brittany, all with frequent sailings: Portsmouth-Caen, Portsmouth-Cherbourg, Portsmouth-St. Malo, Poole-Cherbourg and Plymouth-Roscoff. For information and reservations call the Brittany Ferries Golf Desk on 0870 902 1818 or visit www.brittanyferries.co.uk