Costa Navarino Golf Resort is one of Europe’s most awarded and popular resorts, located on the stunning Greek coastline.
Category: Europe
Golf around Melbourne is more than just drives Down Under – it’s a whole new dimension of the game.
Between dramatic views and tactical tests: the Hills Course is preparing for its role on Europe’s golfing stage.
New Impetus through Details
In 2023, the Portuguese company Details Hospitality, Sports & Leisure Platform, which is backed by the Arrow Global Group, took over responsibility for the management of several top golf addresses in Portugal. In total, Details manages numerous hotels, real estate projects and nine golf courses, some of which I present in this and my following report.
It is well known that a fresh breeze is always blowing on the Atlantic. This is also the case in the golf destinations we visited. The first significant investments have already been made after decades of stagnation in some cases. The results are already making the golfing world sit up and take notice.
The vision here is to permanently increase the attractiveness of these locations and develop them from seasonal to year-round destinations. Details aims to develop the clubs into the leading ones in Portugal through the measures already implemented and those planned. Furthermore, the facilities are to be raised to an internationally competitive level in order to attract an upmarket clientele.
Endless Beach near Lisbon
As early as the mid-1970s, numerous residents of the Portuguese capital were drawn to the nearby Costa Azul across the wide Tagus estuary. The rugged west coast of Portugal begins just 20 kilometres south of the city on the Setúbal peninsula. The coast owes its name to the ultramarine colour of the Atlantic and the azure blue of the sky, which complement each other perfectly. The microclimate here is ideal for year-round visits.
This is the first stop on our round trip. It takes us half an hour by rental car from Lisbon’s international airport. The drive over the third longest suspension bridge in the world, the Ponte 25 de Abril (2,278 metres), which spans the Tagus, is enough to get us excited.
The Costa da Caparica is located on the northern stretch of the Costa Azul. Just a few minutes by car from the kilometre-long sandy beach, two iconic championship golf courses have been created on an area of 365 hectares. The Pines Classic of the Aroeira Golf Club, designed by the renowned golf course architect Frank Pennink, was opened in 1972. Eighteen fantastic avenues of golf wind their way across the sandy soil through the dense, tall pine forest. Each hole is different from the others and has its own charm. Its layout is one of the best in continental Europe.
It was nicknamed ‘Wentworth of Lisbon’ by the British press, as the parallels to the routing of the course in Surrey in England were unmistakable. It became internationally famous when it hosted the Portuguese Open as part of the European Tour in 1996 and 1997.
The layout of the second course, the current Pines Challenge, is thanks to Donald Steel. His 18-hole, par 72 gem was opened in 2000 and is longer than its twin brother. It measures 6,367 metres in white, 5,903 metres in yellow and 4,805 metres in red. It also leads through the dense pine forest through the slightly hilly terrain, which is criss-crossed by six large lakes.
PGA Aroeira No. 1
Thanks to Details and its recent partnership with the PGA, the club has been given a new identity and a huge upgrade. Its renaming to PGA Aroeira Lisboa goes hand-in-hand with a massive investment in the golf and leisure activities of the course, which sets new standards in Portugal. The aim is to attract golfers from all over the world. The only PGA resort in Portugal now joins the illustrious circle of former Ryder Cup hosts such as Gleneagles in Scotland and The Belfry in England.
The Pines Classic has become PGA Aroeira No.1. After just four months of remodeling, it was opened in October this year. All the fairways were turned upside down, the undergrowth and bushes under the pine trees were removed and the holes were reseeded with Bermuda grass.
This is closely in line with the club’s sustainability concept, which also includes the newly installed state-of-the-art irrigation system and drainage. Optimizing water usage is a key aspect of the club’s future direction.
Four new tee boxes on each fairway give the tees a new look. Some are arranged in a terraced pattern, others flat one behind the other. It has a length of 6,044 metres from the back white tees, 5,740 metres from the yellow tees and 5,186 metres from the red tees.
The green bunkers have been redesigned and filled with brilliant white sand. The greens are covered with Bent grass, they are fast and true.
The pine trees have been cut back without losing the character and charm of the originally designed course. The areas under and between the trees have been cleaned up, making it much easier to find balls in them. However, if you do get lost, in most cases you won’t have to accept losing your ball, just a recovery shot through the pine trees back onto the fairways.
Some holes are uphill, others downhill, others completely flat. Water also comes into play on some holes.
A special attraction is #17, a short par 4 that runs as a dogleg left. The tee shot must be played from the raised tee deep into the hollow, from where it continues uphill to the raised green.
We enjoy the round and are pleased that we don’t end up in any fairway bunkers. No wonder, because a special feature of this course is that it doesn’t have a single one. This also contributes to the fact that the course can now be regarded as a typical resort course, to which one likes to return after a satisfactory score, just like us. Then the fairways, whose grass is currently still in the development phase, will certainly be cut shorter and allow more roll.
The quaint, traditional clubhouse has a special charm. On entering the restaurant, the bright turquoise colour of the stylish bar catches our eye, as do the magnificent floor tiles and some vintage furniture. From its inviting terrace, we have a great view of the rising 18th fairway and its huge green (see photo left at the beginning of the article).
PGA Aroeira Nr.2
We are also looking forward to the remodeling of the Aroeira Challenge, which has already begun. It will be closed for a few months from May next year and be renamed PGA Aroeira No. 2. It will receive the same upgrade as its older twin brother.
The challenges for the remodeling are not insignificant, as the course does not have the same sandy soil as No.1, but rather a ground that cannot absorb water as easily.
In sporting terms, it is the more challenging of the two courses, which is due to the narrower fairways as well as the numerous water hazards and fairway bunkers. The greens are already at a top level and are blazingly fast.
The current state of maintenance cannot quite keep up with that of No.1, as all available capacity has been invested in its redesign. But this will change next year at the latest. Nevertheless, a round on this challenging course is always worthwhile.
New villas and flats will be built on the premises as well as a new clubhouse, restaurant and café. It is pleasing to note that although the neighbouring buildings on both courses will be visually in play, they will not be disturbed at any time. Sufficient distance ensures this.
Pleasant Hotel
We are staying at the chic four-star Aroeira Lisbon Hotel, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the courses. It has 66 modern rooms and two suites. The spacious lobby with bar invites you to linger. From here, we look out through the large window front onto the pool in front of it.
The hotel’s shuttle offers a free transfer to the nearby courses and driving range. The two courses currently share one.
As part of the expansion, Details is planning to build a new hotel in this area. This is intended to meet the expected increase in demand.
Attractive play and stay & play packages can be found here: https://pgaaroeira.com/
We leave this new Portuguese golf jewel satisfied and head south to Vilamoura in the Algarve. Here, Details is already working intensively on other projects and we are very excited to see how they progress. I will report on this shortly in part two of my experience report.
Juergen Linnenbuerger
Cologne, November 2024
Love is in the air
The county of Cornwall in the far south-west of England is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the United Kingdom among the German-speaking population. More than 50 per cent of foreign visitors come from the D-A-CH region. The British bestselling author Rosamunde Pilcher, who has been captivating television audiences with her love stories for many years, plays a major part in this. German television Channel ZDF alone has filmed more than 170 episodes of her novels and short stories in the Herzkino series since 1993.
We want to see for ourselves what it’s like in the region surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel and the Celtic Sea, whether love really is in the air there and what makes its top golf course so special.
Keep your eyes open in left-hand traffic
We decide not to take the plane to Newquay, but instead make our way to the island in our own car. After a two-hour crossing on the ferry from Calais to Dover, we immediately have to be very careful, because from here onwards we have to drive on the left. We get used to this just as quickly as we do to the unusual roundabouts, which are no rocket science. In contrast to driving, however, walking is a real challenge, because at the beginning I always look in the wrong direction when crossing the road.
On the journey to England’s most westernmost tip, we first spend a night in Salisbury and then the next day in Torquay, which is further south in Devon on the English Riviera.
From there, we travel right across Cornwall to the northern coast of the county. A first highlight is the village of Tintagel, where we enjoy the marvellous view from the steep cliffs to the green-blue sea in beautiful weather. Here are the remains of Tintagel Castle, where King Arthur is said to have been conceived. We reach it after crossing an impressive bridge and come across a 2.40 metre high Gallos sculpture. Deep down in the rock we come across Merlin’s Cave, the cave in which the infant Arthur was brought to safety by the wizard Merlin.
70 m long Tintangel Bridge und Gallos sculpture. (Photos: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Getting out and running away is not an alternative
So far, the traffic has been relaxed. This changes abruptly when we leave the main road and have to take a small side road along the coast to our accommodation. We assume that we have overlooked the one-way street sign, as it is no more than three metres wide and is bordered by dense, tall bushes. But we are way off the mark.
When an SUV comes towards us and I see another one in my rear-view mirror, almost glued to my bumper, my adrenalin level rises dramatically. I back up slowly and manoeuvre until I find a small niche at the side of the road. This way of travelling will become the norm over the next few days. Fortunately, we are quickly recognised as guests with our German number plates and meet with a lot of understanding from the Cornish people. We come to terms and make progress even in the narrowest lanes.
Where golf meets the Atlantic
The next morning we are greeted by typical British weather. Looking out of the window, we consider postponing our round of golf, but we don’t want to be hot showers, so we put on our rain gear and drive to St Enodoc Golf Club in Rock.
The championship plinks course is situated on high dunes, directly above the huge bay of the Camel Estuary with breathtaking panoramic views of the Atlantic.
Its Church Course (a second is the shorter, less challenging Holywell Course) is considered one of the most beautiful in England. It was officially founded in the mighty dunes of the village of Rock in 1890, whilst famours golf architect James Braid designed the first full 18 holes that excist today in 1907. Adaptations have been made time and again to this day, although the original layout has essentially been retained. In 1987, the club acquired additional land from the Duchy of Cornwall.
It is situated in one of the driest parishes in Cornwall whilst its location on sand guarantees excellent golfing conditions all year round. Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream climate, frost is a rarity.
‚A warm summer breeze‘
That’s how the marshal describes the current weather conditions. Well, it feel like 18 degrees and luckily there is little wind at the start. We are lucky because the humidity means that the greens, which are otherwise as fast as an arrow and as hard as concrete, are supposed to be ‘playable’.
As our weather app predicts heavy rain for later in the afternoon, we are happy to be able to start well before our booked tee time. There is a light drizzle and the wind is limited.
There are four different tee boxes, but on the marshal’s recommendation, I tee off from the yellow ones. From here, the par 69 course has a length of 6,108 yards. As usual, women start from red and have 5,657 yards to cover. The course only has two par 5s, but five par 3s, the longest of which measures 200 yards for me.
The undulating, wide fairway of the hole #1, one of the two par 5s, stretches out in front of us. There is a pole on it that serves as a direction for the drive as the tee shot is completely blind. In the background we can see the sea, which has receded considerably at the start of our round due to the low tide.
The course is much hillier than expected; it is constantly up and downhill, on occasions with considerable differences in altitude. We lose our bearings as a result of some blind tees and don’t really know which way to hit the drive at first. The main thing is to get over the rough of the dune in front of us though we don’t always succeed.
Numerous walkers often cross the fairways on paths that are located at the edge, but also in the midst of the course. They have priority over golfers and must be allowed to pass until they are no longer in danger.
In quite a few cases, they are accompanied by their four-legged friends. One of the dogs really helps me, at least on one hole, by picking up my poorly placed tee shot and putting it down in the middle of the fairway. Well trained indeed! But golfers can also take their pets onto the course as . is common practice in England even on a top course like this one in England. At special bins labelled ‘Dog Waste’, masters and mistresses can then dispose of their droppings.
Cave-like bunker
On the 6th fairway, we come across a huge bunker called The Himalaya. It is said to be the highest of its kind in England, and perhaps in Europe. Fortunately, I don’t go in it, but I do hit the dune on the left in front of it. After an unusual recovery shot, I continue on.
Background to the course name
The most difficult and at the same time most impressive hole is the 10th, which competes with the 6th for the course’s signature hole. From the elevated tee, we play the ball over a frontal wall and a path into the not very generous landing zone. From there, you need to keep the ball to the right, as there is a risk of water on the left. Next to the green on the right-hand side, it becomes clear where the course gets its name from.
Where else would you find a church and a cemetery between individual holes on a golf course? We pay a brief visit to the exposed 12th century Normannic church and once again pass it again from the elevated tee of the 14th behind. Sir John Betjeman, a renowned poet and poetess, has been buried here since 1984.
The following 15th is directly facing the Atlantic. As the marshal tells us, the choice of club on the sloping 152-yard par 3 varies greatly depending on the wind direction. It can vary between an eight iron and a driver. I take my seven iron and luckily hit the green.
When we arrive here, we are already completely soaked. We have long since stowed our dripping gloves in the bag. Unfortunately, the weather forecast has come true and it is pouring cats and dogs and the wind is now blowing strongly. We give it our all on the 16th, the second par 5, as well as on the following par 3 and on the final par 4.
We won’t forget a single moment of our round on this great golf course, which was ranked 74th in the world, 10th in England and 1st in Cornwall by top100GolfCourses.com in 2022.
Padstow has a lot to offer
On the other side of the bay is the harbour of the small town of Padstow, which has all the clichés of a Cornish fishing village. Although the great fishing days are over, fresh lobsters and crabs are still delivered to the port every day.
The cheeky, giant seagulls seem to be afraid of nothing and characterise the acoustic image of this charming village. Pubs with flags, beautifully decorated little shops and a number of seafood restaurants line the streets here.
The price level in Cornwall corresponds to that of a popular tourist destination. Both the costs for the selected overnight stays and for food and drink in restaurants are in the higher segment.
Mecca for Rosamunde Pilcher fans
One of the town’s flagship attractions is Prideaux Place Castle with its impressive 18-hectare deer park and 81 rooms. It is the only one of its kind that is both privately owned and inhabited but nevertheless, it is open to the public. The Prideaux family is an ancient Cornish family with roots dating back to 1066 and have lived here for 14 generations. The current owners moved here in 1988 and have extensively renovated the manor house.
The magnificent building is known for its Elizabethan and Gothic architecture and its well-preserved interior, which have attracted various film producers. German television channel ZDF, for example, filmed the Pilcher episodes ‘The End of a Summer’, ‘Homecoming’ and ‘Woman on the Cliff’ here.
The extremely informative and humorous tour by German Hilde Mansfield, who naturally moved here for love and has lived in the region for 32 years, could not have been better. She is living proof that love is in the air here. A visit to this impressive estate is not only recommended for Pilcher fans but anyone who loves history.
We leave the region around Tintagel and Padstow and explore other highlights of beautiful Cornwall. These include among others the enchanting village of St Ives and St Mawes Castle in Falmouth, which towers high above the sea. Dew Genes Kernow (good bye Cornwall).
Juergen Linnenbuerger, July 2024
Some of the biggest names in sport and entertainment came together against ALS and multiple sclerosis in the latest edition of the ‘Battle of the Stars’ last week.
‘Battle of Stars’ in Mallorca’s Pula Golf Resort
The three-day event, which was once again staged at Mallorca’s Pula Golf Resort and Son Servera Golf Club, was won by former FC Barcelona football director and RCD Mallorca president Matheu Alemany – but victory was secondary to the money raised for both causes.
Football icons including Gabriel Batistuta, John Arne Riise, Marcos Alonso, Alain Boghossain, Uli Stielike and more teed off across two days of spirited competition, with many contestants returning from years past.
Fittingly for a Spanish event, a strong contingent of LaLiga EA Sports legends was in attendance, including Miguel Ángel Nadal, Bernd Schuster, Albert Riera, Manu Trigueros and former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, while prolific ex-striker Julio Salinas came in second place. Former AC Milan stars Mauro Tassotti, Roberto Donadoni and Stefano Nava flew the flag for Italy.
Away from the sporting world, stars including defending champion and musician David Otero, bullfighter Pepín Liria and actress Verónica Mengod stepped up to the tee – as did Danish businessman Flemming
Østergaard, former chairman of the company that owns FC Copenhagen.
While the golf provided endless entertainment, the Battle of Stars’ true purpose was never far from the spotlight. This year, the event was in support of the fight against two conditions that affect millions of
people worldwide: ALS – which stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – and multiple sclerosis.
One special guest was former footballer and manager – and FC Sevilla legend – Juan Carlos Unzué, who announced in June 2020 that he had been diagnosed with ALS. Speaking at the event, Carlos Unzué
highlighted the power of sport and its stars as a voice to raise awareness in the battle against both diseases.
“All public demonstrations can help if they make you think,” said Carlos Unzué. “When we look in the mirror, we cannot deceive ourselves. If we have a clear conscience, we will be happy with ourselves.”
“I have always believed in people, but now I am experiencing it on a very high level. It’s a great capacity that people have to adapt and overcome very complicated situations.”
Raising money and awareness in the fight against ALS and multiple sclerosis
It wasn’t just famous faces enjoying the two championship courses, with a visit from the users of the Sa Riera Occupational Centre, a mental health centre in Palma, on Thursday. The users took part in a clinic by Pula Golf Academy and took photos with the participating stars, also showing their support by delivering products they had built in the centre’s workshops for people with ALS and multiple sclerosis.
On Friday, a number of people with ALS visited Son Servera to watch the action unfold.
Arnau Sala, general manager at Pula Golf Resort, said: “Developing the Battle of Stars is something we are extremely proud of at Pula and hosting the event alongside Son Servera is always one of the
highlights of our year.
“Of course, thanks must go to the stars, but also to the teams at both venues and everyone who supported the event and made it such a success.
“It’s important not to forget that we are doing this to raise money and awareness in the fight against ALS and multiple sclerosis, in the hope that we can help make a difference that will one day change
millions of lives.”
Sponsorship was provided by tournament Mallorca’s Cap Vermell Grand Hotel, Banco Santander, the Fundació Mallorca Turisme and estate agent Inmobiliaria Sa Coma.
Before the Battle of Stars brought global celebrities to Pula Golf Resort, it was a happy hunting ground for some of the world’s finest golfers. The José María Olazábal-designed course is a seven-time host on the DP World Tour and has been graced by the likes of Henrik Stenson, Sergio García and Paul McGinley. The resort also boasts 31 rooms and suites for guests, extensive practice facilities and the rustic S’Era de Pula restaurant.
As it prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2024, Camiral Golf & Wellness has continued its reign as Spain’s No.1 Golf Resort in the new World Top 100 Golf Resorts, published by Golf World. Part of the European Tour Destinations network, the resort formerly known as PGA Catalunya, has risen in the new listing, placing 17th, reinforcing its position as a must-visit destination for discerning international golf travellers.
The Camiral Golf & Wellness at the gates of Girona
Golf World’s Top 100 Resorts editor, Chris Bertram, said: “Camiral Golf & Wellness has been one of Europe’s leading golf destinations for over two decades, but it is now so much more than ‘just’ one of the best places on the continent to play the game. Its two world-class golf courses and the two onsite hotels – the uber-stylish and luxurious Hotel Camiral and the beautiful LAVIDA – and the amenities they boast, have turned it into a first-class contemporary leisure and wellness resort that is attracting an ever-increasing number of international customers.”
A recent investment in sustainability, which will help reduce water consumption on both the Stadium and Tour courses by 35%, includes the implementation of a more drought-and heat-resistant turf variety, a reduction in irrigated areas, and a study to update the resort’s irrigation system with the latest water-saving technology.
It is the latest action that has helped Camiral Golf & Wellness also earn a place in the inaugural ‘Green 100’ listing by Today’s Golfer magazine, in association with GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, recognising the most sustainable golf venues in Europe.
Commenting on this latest global accolade, David Plana, Camiral Golf & Wellness CEO, said: “For more than two decades, we have sought to offer guests and residents the finest resort experience in Spain, and this has been duly confirmed by the new World Top 100 Golf Resorts listing. As we welcome our landmark 25-year milestone, we continue to invest to elevate the visitor, resident and member experience. During 2024, projects will include the renovation of our Clubhouse at the beginning of the year, the implementation of a Trackman range in our Golf Hub, as well as continued work around the resort to ensure that we are operating sustainably – all demonstrating our long-term commitment to being a leading international golf and wellness destination.”
Beyond the fairways, Camiral Golf & Wellness offers many sport and leisure facilities, a wide range of dining experiences and luxurious wellbeing treatments at the state-of-the-art Wellness Centre, where guests indulge in treatments from whole-body cryotherapy to holistic massages.
Located just outside the gastronomic city of Girona and just one hour from Barcelona, Camiral Golf & Wellness is a world-class retreat for golfers, sports enthusiasts, wellness retreat seekers and their families.
Text: Camiral Golf & Wellness
The Dunas Course at Terras da Comporta has announced its place on the global stage in style after being crowned as the ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’ and ‘Europe’s Best New Golf Course’ at the World Golf Awards 2023.
The par-71 layout near Lisbon claimed the prestigious accolades less than five months after its soft opening, with Terras da Comporta director of golf Rodrigo Ulrich on hand to receive the awards when the winners were unveiled at the prize-giving ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening. (October 23)
With the event rewarding excellence in the golf tourism market, Terras da Comporta’s success is significant recognition for Europe’s most talked-about new design projects. The ceremony brought together industry leaders from more than 65 nations across Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Latin America, North America and Oceania.
UIrich said: “We’ve been very excited about this project for many years. It’s incredibly satisfying to be finally open for play, and to see so many golfers enjoying what is a spectacular course, both in terms of its location and its design”.
“It’s a great thrill and honour to receive two such respected awards, which are hopefully the first of many, because the course is going to get even better as it settles and matures. We’re looking forward to welcoming golfers from all over the world.”
Situated one hour south of Lisbon, the layout has been created over 84 hectares of natural, sandy terrain on the coast in a secluded setting on the edge of the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve. The first course to have been created in mainland Europe by acclaimed architect David McLay-Kidd, the course opened to the public for play for the first time at the start of June.
McLay-Kidd, whose other famous designs include Bandon Dunes, Queenwood, Beaverbrook, Machrihanish Dunes and the Castle Course at St. Andrews, first visited the site in 2008, but the project experienced a series of delays, including a global pandemic and a worldwide recession. However, Vanguard Properties, the owners of Terras da Comporta, are optimistic about what the future holds and Portugal’s largest real estate developer has exciting plans for the site.
“The project may have a long history, but this is just the beginning”, said José Cardoso Botelho, CEO of Vanguard Properties. “Golfers will travel from far and wide to come and play here. It has put Terras da Comporta firmly on the map as a new golf destination, but there’s more to come – much more”.
Vanguard Properties took ownership of the development in 2019 and the site features two large developments: Torre, comprising 365 hectares of land and where a second course designed by Sergio Garcia and José María Olazábal is being built (set to follow in 2025), and Dunas, which occupies around 1,011 hectares.
Complementing The Dunas Course will be a new clubhouse and golf academy. Away from the fairways, an array of lifestyle activities will be available including horse-riding, wellness, tennis, padel, pickleball and many other sports, with a wide range of plots for hotels, tourist and residential condominiums also on offer.
Press release written and distributed for Terras da Comporta by Azalea
Five-star resort directly by the sea
From the capital Palermo, we set out to take a closer look at three very different golf resorts. First, we head to the southwest of the island. Here we find the luxurious five-star Verdura Golf Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel, which extends over an area of 230 hectares. The view of the surrounding hills and the directly adjacent Mediterranean Sea are impressive.
If you travel by car, you park your vehicle in the car park after passing through the entrance area and then use golf carts or bicycles to cover the sometimes large distances between the facilities. The architecture of the buildings is characterised by straight lines. Stone, wood and sugar cane lend them a naturalness.
The resort has 203 rooms and suites and 20 new private villas. My modern and tastefully furnished Deluxe Room offers plenty of space and has a great view over the terrace to the sea.
Internationally recognised and a leader in the golf business for over three decades, Donato di Ponziano has recently taken over as the resort’s Golf Development Manager. He gives us a comprehensive overview of the resort and its goals. With his equally experienced Golf Manager Allessandro Mario Cardini, who takes up his position on the day of our visit, he wants to establish the current number one resort in Italy among the leading international ones.
Golf at its best on 45 holes
Originally created about 10 years ago, the championship golf courses were redesigned by US golf course architect Kyle Phillips after the course was flooded in 2019. In 2021, the East Course was reopened. Today, it shines in new splendour as a par 73 with a length of 6,763 metres. Its left character has also convinced the golf media. In 2022, it was rated Italy’s number 1 by Golf World Top 100.
In particular, its holes 5, 6 and 7, 12 and 13, with direct access to the sea, have taken my fancy.
If you stay on the fairways, the course is to manage despite its length. If you stray off the fairways and land in the current deep rough, your score is ruined, because searching in the rough makes no sense. The snow-white bunkers are just as convincing as the fast but fair greens.
The West Course is a par 70 course with a length of 6,547 metres. Its holes are much hillier and narrower. They first lead inland, past olive trees and lemon groves. It is more like a parkland course on this part, but this changes from the 14th hole onwards. From here on, the remaining holes meander along the bright blue sea until the end and offer spectacular views.
A 9-hole par 3 executive course and a well-equipped academy perfectly round off the golfing offer. The resort is an official partner of the PGA of Germany.
The elegant 4,000-square-metre Irene Forte Spa has several outdoor thalasso pools, an indoor pool, a hammam and a Finnish sauna. Sports activities include tennis courts, football pitches and various water sports.
Guests are treated to Mediterranean dishes, fresh fish and seafood as well as high-quality wines in four different restaurants and five bars. The linguine pasta with lobster served in the main Zagara restaurant is just as exceptional as the spaghetti in garlic oil with tuna eggs.
Valley of the Temples
From the resort, we head east across the island to Syracuse. After about 40 km we stop in Agrigento, which is famous for its well-preserved Greek and Roman temples. We visit the archaeological sites of the Valle dei Templi (Valley of the Temples) with the Roman Temple of Hera (Juno) and the Temple of Concordia, one of the best-preserved Greek temples of antiquity. These represent only a small part of the vast array of former architecture spread across the island.
Sightseeing Syracuse
After another 2.5 hour drive, we reach Syracuse in the southeast of the island. The port city is the birthplace of Archimedes and is known for its numerous historical and cultural sights. Our guided tour takes us to the Temple of Apollo, the Fountain of Diana and the imposing, gleaming white Cathedral of Santa Maria delle Colonne in the Piazza del Duomo. It impresses with its baroque façade and open staircase.
In the narrow, atmospheric alleys of the old town, we come across a multitude of pubs, restaurants and shops, which also sell the colourful mosaic figures famous for the region.
Former Benedictine monastery in an idyllic setting
We also encounter these figures at our next accommodation, the stylish five-star Borgo di Luce Luxury Resort, to which the I Monasteri Golf Club is attached. It is located not far from Syracuse in complete tranquillity and is surrounded by palm, citrus and olive trees.
Various Sicilian noble families were among the owners. Even today, you can feel the special charm of the glamorous past. I am particularly impressed by the lobby, the bar and restaurants with their round arches, high ceilings and the artistic ceramic figures that always catch my eye.
The 102 rooms and suites are spread over three buildings and are all on ground level. My superior double room with veranda and views of the golf course is at the back of the resort and is decorated in a contemporary style.
The resort has a large spa, an outdoor pool and a jacuzzi.
The par 71 course has a length of 6,520 metres. It opened in 2012 and is set in 86 hectares of lemon trees and prickly pears. Its 18 holes with parkland character run around the former monastery through the flat terrain. Several water hazards add to the charm of the course, as on holes 9 -12 and on 18, which are among its highlights.
The fairways, bunkers and greens are in good condition. It would be desirable if the driving range and tee boxes could follow suit.
Golf, relaxation and enjoyment on the northern slopes of Mount Etna
We finish our golf tour at the four-star Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa, located in the midst of complete peace and nature. It is located 650 metres above sea level in the east of the island at the foot of Europe’s largest active volcano in the Parco dell’Etna regional park, halfway between Syracuse and Catania.
Because of the altitude, the temperatures here are lower than on the coast and can be easily endured even on hot summer days. It is beautifully nestled between vines and orchards.
The owners, two sympathetic Sicilian brothers with Swiss roots, explain to us that they first acquired the driving range in 2021. Later, the golf course and the hotel right next to it followed. The goal is to develop this into a 4.5-5 star top golf and holiday destination in the next four years. The first steps have already been taken. At the moment, the technology is being brought up to date and, among other things, a solar system is being installed. The next step will be to modernise the rooms.
My spacious Etna Room offers great views over the vines to the volcano towering in the distance.
The 900-square-metre wellness centre with spa, fitness room, sauna and indoor pool invite you to relax, as does the outdoor pool with large sun terrace.
In the hotel’s main restaurant and the clubhouse, our palates are spoiled with traditional Sicilian cuisine and fine wines from the region.
The huge clubhouse, which houses a few rooms, has also undergone renovation. Large parts, such as the pro shop with the bar, already impress with their modern ambience.
Well-kept parkland course with spectacular views
The modernisation also affects the golf course. The fairways and partly huge greens are in top condition. At the moment, the bunkers are being reworked. Some of them already have gleaming white sand. The rest will follow shortly.
The 18-hole parkland course is the oldest on the island. It was built in the eighties of the last century. Between 1995 and 2011, it hosted several renowned tournaments.
It winds its way through the extremely hilly terrain, constantly uphill and downhill, past dense tree population. Again and again, Mount Etna towers in the background. If the weather or the rising smoke allow it, you can enjoy the magnificent view all the way to the top of the 3,357 m high volcano. If you want to admire it up close, you can also book a helicopter flight through the resort.
The layout is very appealing and the courses vary. A special feature is that the par 72 course has five par 5s and par 3s in addition to eight par 4s. Its length is 5,870 m. The use of the driver should be well considered because the holes require a tactical game. Precision is required here. The course is extremely well maintained and is a great pleasure to play.
The club has an academy with the latest technical equipment and experienced PGA professionals who, among other things, successfully dedicate themselves to youth work and see this as a focal point of their activities.
You can tell that the entire golf and hotel team enjoys their work. Everyone is enthusiastic and always smiling, and they transfer this good mood to the guests. First and foremost the Golf Marketing Manager Guy Roberts, who speaks excellent German and is thus able to converse perfectly with the currently largest group of foreign golf guests of the resort in their mother tongue.
Introduction to Sicilian wines
A visit to the resort cannot be complete without a tasting of the many wines grown in the area, as Sicilian ones are now among the leading in Italy. The informative tour and subsequent tasting at the I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna Winery round off an enjoyable trip across a culturally and golfing inspiring island, superbly organised by the English AZALEA Group. Grazie mille per i giorni perfetti.
Juergen Linnenbuerger
Cologne, June 2023
Ambitious for the future
The US Millenium Hospitality Group has big goals. With La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links Golf Resort, it wants to become one of the leading and most luxurious golf resorts in Spain. It has entrusted this task to the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Group, which is one of the most renowned luxury hotel brands worldwide.
The first steps have already been taken. The golf course, previously known as ‘Alcaidesa’, was rebuilt at a multi-million dollar cost and shines in a complete new splendour. The new, stylish clubhouse with its cool restaurant and the extraordinary beach club are already in place. The same goes for the huge driving range with new grass tees and the large putting, pitching and chipping area. Added to this is the already existing 18-hole Heathland Golf Course, so that the resort has two completely different golf courses.
By Easter 2024, a five-star hotel complex comprising 153 exclusive rooms and 51 villas is to be built on an area of 400 hectares. Several more villas, all with private pools, will be available for purchase. Various restaurants and bars will be part of the complex as well as swimming pools, a spa and fitness centre and event facilities. A halfway house is under construction on the newly designed links course.
Millenium’s plan to become the flagship in Southern Europe with the resort seems to be working, because they have already been accepted as a member of the European Tour Destinations and are happy about this seal of quality.
All in white
As soon as you enter the white clubhouse of La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links Golf Resort, shining in the sun, you sense something special. The arc of tension is slowly built up, starting on the steps to the entrance. It continues as you cross the huge entrance hall and ends in front of an infinity pool with a view of the Mediterranean.
The modern pro shop offers everything you need on a round. The rental clubs are of the best quality. The first tees of the two courses are in opposite directions. We first play the Heathland Course, which leads into the hinterland.
The Heathland Course
The 18-hole Heathland Course was designed by former Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas. The par-72 layout has a length of 6,373 m from the back tees and features different landscapes. While holes 1 to 5 and 17 and 18 are located on a plateau and resemble a heath landscape, the other courses wind their way down into the valley with magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea, where several water hazards await.
This is also the case at the 13th, a par-5, where the tee shot has to be hit well in order not to land in the water hazard crossing the course head-on.
Due to the sometimes considerable distances between the individual holes and the considerable differences in altitude, a buggy is highly recommended. Some of these are brand new and of course equipped with GPS.
Unique Links Golf Course
The next day we played the only links course in southern Spain. The origin of the course dates back to 1992 and was designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark. Its current redesign is due to the US-American Kurtis Bowman, who redesigned all greens and added several bunkers. The course was only opened this summer but is already in great condition.
The par-72 course has a sensational layout and is suitable for all handicappers. The course is teed off from four tees. Players with a handicap of less than nine are recommended to use the white tees. The course then has a length of 5,841 m. At the moment, there is no table of playing conditions. I play off the yellows and am looking forward to the 5.5 km journey ahead of me. I know of no other course in Spain that offers such sensational views. The Rock of Gibraltar, which is clearly visible on a clear day, keeps attracting attention on various courses and distracts from the game. We are lucky with the weather and after a short initial rainfall, we enjoy the sunshine on the rest of the round.
The varied courses, the constant ups and downs and the great views over the course make the round of golf an unforgettable experience. Everything is extremely well-maintained and also perfectly matched visually.
The water hazards are impressively designed and interrupt the different shades of green of tees, fairways and greens with their brilliant blue. The course is not only great to play, but also meets the highest aesthetic standards. Some holes run directly along the sea.
Development is already encroaching on some of the holes. This will increase further with the Fairmont Hotel La Hacienda, which is being built in terraces level with the back end of the beach with the best views across the course to the sea.
The palate will also be pampered
What could be better than finishing off a successful round of golf with a great meal and special drinks? The fact that this is possible at the resort is thanks to the Azotea Group. Behind it are the journalist Cristina Lasvignes and her husband José Manuel García. Among other things, they have founded various restaurants and bars in Spain under the Sal Verde brand that meet the highest standards.
These include the Clubhouse Restaurant as well as the Arena Bar in the Beach Club, which is located directly below the golf course. Both combine a great ambience, the highest quality and outstanding creativity.
Exceptional dishes and creative cocktails are created by the Michelin-starred Executive Chef Manuel Berganza and the renowned mixologist Luca Anastasio. The latter plays a special role in Sal Verde’s concept, because high-quality cocktails play an essential role in Sal Verde’s gastronomy concept.
Those who have a choice are spoilt for choice. Either you choose the Spicy Moscow Mule, the Senorita Margarita, the Amalfi Ten Tonic, the Galan or Paloma, or you try them all. With one exception, they were all new to me and impressed me as much as the menus of the latest Spanish star chef. The tuna tartare, popular in Andalusia, served here with truffles and spring onion dressing, melted in my mouth just as much as the mussels au gratin with spicy tomato sauce, to name just two of the various delicacies tasted.
As the Fairmont accommodation is still under construction, we are staying at the Aldiana Club near the golf courses while we get to know the new resort.
Adiós Aldiana Andalusia
The sun still rises every morning over the Aldiana Club Costa del Sol in Alcaidesa. But this will come to an end on 21 November 2022, because the resort will soon change hands. After the planned renovation, it will be called Sun Club Costa del Sol from next year and will continue as a four-star hotel under a new flag.
The current all-inclusive concept will then be replaced by an offer that includes a choice of breakfast, half board or full board. It remains to be seen whether the great barbecue in the beach restaurant, which is still part of the club, will be offered.
I enjoyed the freshly prepared Andalusian specialities and especially the extremely spicy chorizo sausages. These remain in my positive memory as well as the varied and high-quality offer in the entire club. The well-maintained facilities and the friendliness and attentiveness of all the staff contributed in equal measure to my feeling of well-being during my stay. Not to forget the bright and clean room with the extremely comfortable bed.
I am convinced that the Millenium/Fairmont concept will work out and that their guests will be delighted with the high-quality offer. I already am and look forward to another round on one of the most impressive golf courses in southern Europe. Hasta luego.