April 30, 2010
Hilton Head Island is one of the most envious treasures of South Carolina and despite its seemingly small size (the island measures some 12 miles long by 5 miles wide) it could be called the little island with the big heart! And to prove its popularity it has been listed among the coveted top ten family beaches in America. Whether you visit Hilton Head Island with as a family or an individual you can rest assured you will have a most memorable experience. There is no lack of high quality cuisine (there are over 250 restaurants), fine hotels or shopping opportunities at the islands more than 200 stores and outlets.
But of most interest to you guys will be the vast assortment of golf courses to choose from on this petite paradise. Hilton Head Golf is a term that anybody involved in the sport is sure to have heard, and justly so, due to the 24 exquisitely designed golf courses waiting to be explored and played in this friendliest of locations.
Among the most prestigious courses are Harbour Town Golf Links and Long Cove Club (which is private) and they are ranked 67th and 68th respectively within the best courses in the country. Harbour Town is the home of the annual Verizon Heritage PGA Tour which takes place on this wonderful course each April. Another advantage to golfing on Hilton Head Island is the constant year round sub tropical climate, sunny blue skies and perfect greens making them a true pleasure to play.
The fact that there are so many golf courses in such a small area also has another added bonus. These courses were designed by some of the most well known names in golf course architecture (including George and Tom Fazio, Arthur Hills, Rees and Robert Trent Jones, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, George Cobb, Gary Player, Fuzzy Zoeller and Willard Byrd) so playing more than one course while visiting Hilton Head Island is something one should simply take for granted. It would be a shame not to sample the complete menu. And although one could visit the region for a short golf break, in my opinion it is better to make your stay at least a fortnight long in order to sample as many of these great courses as possible.
Hilton Head Island has also gained the reputation as a kind of golfers Mecca due to the fact that so many golfers of all levels often come here to practice all every aspect of the game including putting, swing therapy and their short game. In fact, there are many opportunities to participate in private or group golf clinics, lessons from top class pros or hit a few buckets of balls on the driving range between games to sharpen your game. The possibilities are limitless, but one thing is fore sure, you will be in heaven on Hilton Head Island and you will without doubt improve both your game and your life through your stay!
For more information on hilton head tee times click this link.
April 21, 2010
When most folks think of booking a golfing holiday from Europe it is often the British Isles, Spain or recently even Turkey that seem to be the premier choices of destination. Few golfers immediately consider the astounding land of Portugal to be among the options offered, which is truly a great injustice to this beautiful haven and a great loss to those who haven’t yet experienced the marvelous treats that this country has to offer. Although it has been a very popular region to visit among British holiday makers for many years it hasn’t been due to the array of excellent golf courses that it flaunts. Having said that, Portugal is quickly gaining ground, coming to the forefront to claim its much deserved place among the favored golfing locations and thus paving the way to a much brighter future.
The most popular area for playing golf is The Algarve derived from the Arabic language which means “the west”. It has an area of 5,412 square kilometers with approximately 410,000 permanent inhabitants, and incorporates 16 municipalities. The Algarve is within easy reach from all European cities being no more than a 2 – 3 hour flight making it quite accessible. Like Turkey and Majorca, Portugal’s high season is during the winter and spring season making it a great place for short breaks in cold weather because of its moderate climate. There are sometimes light showers during the peak golf season which may contribute to the hesitance of golfers to experience this heaven on Earth. Wind is another factor that comes into play with the trade winds often reaching force seven but any really competitive golfer shouldn’t want to play without some form of climatic challenges. After all, any “middle of the road” golfer can play in static conditions but the great players are able to be victorious no matter what Mother Nature chooses to throw at them.
Ponte de Lima Golf Course, which is nestled among hills and vineyards, is a typical example of a golf course in this region. The first 9 holes are sprinkled with really old trees making it both a wonderful sight to behold and a tricky test for even the most seasoned players. The eighth hole is one of the longest holes in Europe stretching some 622 meters but being a par 5 makes it realistically achievable.
Aroeira Golf Course is a championship course located next to a river which offers breathtaking scenery and is a mere stones throw from Lisbon. On a clear day the Portuguese capital can be seen from the first tee. This course is actually within a nature park filled with rare birds, flowers and other marvelous wildlife. British newspaper journalists christened this course the “Wentworth of Lisbon” because of the similarities between Aroeira and the famous London club.
Parque da Floresta which is the final course from our Portuguese golf course selection is arguably, as the saying goes, saving the best for last. Situated above a fishing village, its awe inspiring panorama tends to disguise how tricky this course can actually be to conquer. Sporting an intricate network of obstacles including bunkers, lakes, twisted wild rough and knotted trees it really makes you work for your wages. Parque da Floresta was designed one of Spain’s most well known architects whose “non intrusive” approach to building golf courses meant changing the original landscape as little as possible. The olive, palm and pine trees give it somewhat of a Mediterranean feeling. This course is truly remarkable.
Portugal is a fantastic place to play golf and just because it isn’t among the trendiest destinations for golfers to visit doesn’t mean that it isn’t among the best to play. It would be well worth your while considering this land when next booking a getaway because the experience will be absolutely unforgettable.
Visit this site for more information about playing Golf in Portugal.
