COSTA NAVARINO, TOP GREECE RESORTS CONTINENTAL EUROPE Your indispensable guide to European golf Packed with detail to help you plan your next holiday WELCOME TO A FEAST OF GOLF RESORTS Golf du Médoc, Bordeaux, France. his might well seem a strange to the chance you might be visiting a new I also think it is the most helpful time to be releasing a Top 100 country. Just the travel there is exciting. ranking in terms of planning your next T that focuses on resorts overseas. If you are missing that right now, believe break. In addition to the list itself, with There was a case for postponing but, in me I am missing it at least as much. marks indicating each venue’s strengths, addition to having already completed a lot I hope reading this supplement gives you we also rank the resorts in 12 individual of work on it in preparation for an autumn as much hope for better times ahead as it categories. These include everything from release, this ranking also has a great deal did for me putting it together. Yes, on one accommodation and setting to the longer than a one-month shelf life. hand, I was lamenting the restrictions of best ones for couples, families and groups And in one respect it is the most timely this year and the lack of travel adventures, – so no matter what you really want from publication of this particular Top 100; we but on the other I was daydreaming about your resort and whoever you are might feel almost literally grounded as I so many of these resorts as I wrote the travelling with, we have tried to point write this and you read it, but who among entries and compiled the list. you towards somewhere that will fulfil us isn’t absolutely bursting for a golf break Clearly no-one will agree with every part your expectations like never before. abroad when it feels vaguely normal again? of the list, but I am in no doubt that it is the Join me by daydreaming about these Of course, Britain and Ireland has so most accurate representation of the finest wonderful resorts and please feed back much to o!er. In my opinion it is has the golf resorts in Continental Europe that we where you feel we’ve gone wrong – and greatest collection of courses in the world. have ever produced. If you’ll forgive the also if you think we’ve got things right, too... But a foreign break is special – from the confidence, I am also sure no-one else has di!erent weather, food and type of course come close to producing a better list either. Chris Bertram, Top 100 Editor TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ISSUE 406 3 TOP HOW WE CREATED THIS RESORTS TOP 100 Who decided which resorts same company or group, so they obviously People often ask whether advertising o!er a deal to stay and play with them. a!ecta positions? No! Never. The editorial made it in. What the criteria The accommodation has to be on site or and sales teams have scars to prove the THE CATEGORIES EVERY RESORT WAS MARKED IN OUR PANEL was. And what we think within a short transfer time – and on many battles… Course/s (marked out of 40) Setting (out of 20) CHRIS BERTRAM the occasions where not all the courses On a serious note, advertising does not We largely followed our Top 100 Courses We have increased the marks here because Our Top 100 editor has been a golf resort actually is… within one resort are spread out a little a!ect positions in any of our rankings. ranking as a guide. We awarded extra marks we feel a beachside, cli!-edge or lakeside to 91 of the 100 and many of (there are two examples in the top 10), Some resorts which are advertising move for resorts with more than one course, which location – to name three – do make a the contenders outside it. those resorts were marked down in the down in this list, for example. We might, gives the option of never having to leave the di!erence to the enjoyment of a resort. resort in search of variety. Even so, those with Peaceful countryside gets 15s and 16s in this KEVIN BROWN hat is a golf resort? Sounds ‘setting’ category slightly. however, give a resort or course which is Travel Editor at Today’s like a silly question, but it We mark each resort in four categories advertising a larger image for their entry, second (and third) courses do, if anything, may category, but those with the ‘wow’ factor gain not quite get the extra boost they warrant. traction with 17s, 18s and even 19s. Golfer for more than 25 years W really isn’t. Because it’s not (see right) and an average of their scores but never anything more than that. with a wealth of experience. as straightforward as you might think. used to calculate their Top 100 positions. Finally, a note about two resorts we Accommodation (out of 20) Non-golf amenities (out of 20) It is important we clarify this because Almost more than in courses lists, didn’t consider this year; Lykia Links in Needs little explanation, but worth pointing We do not want this to be ‘Courses with JOERG BERINGER otherwise you will wonder why Resort X showing our marks in resorts rankings Turkey and Donnafugata in Italy. We out two things: range and quantity of Rooms’. We have a Continental Courses The German is widely made it in yet Resort Y didn’t. And why is even more important, because it really like both, but they are currently accommodation was looked on favourably, ranking and a lot of those courses have dormie travelled as a guide to golfing groups. what seem like some amazing resorts shows the emphasis in each of them. Of undergoing management changes and we rather than just 10 incredible rooms. houses, and we do not want to simply replicate Given there is a separate category for that list here. This list is for golf breaks and might not be nearly as high in the list as course our marks are subjective, but they couldn’t be sure how smooth that will be, non-golf amenities, we focused solely on holidays, with resorts that will appeal to golfers OLLE DAHLGREN you might expect. do unquestionably demonstrate relative so reluctantly left them out. We really hope Hailing from Sweden, Olle the accommodation rather than facilities. primarily but also non-golfers too. We define a resort like this: the course strengths and weaknesses of each resort – to have them back in the ranking next time was a key advisor on the and accommodation have to be part of the allowing you to decide if it’s for you or not. – and indeed in relevant rankings in 2021. Scandinavian resorts. PETER GAMMIE Based in France and especially strong on France and Spain. BÖRJE AND GUNNEL CAN I JOIN LAURINSSON This Swedish husband and THE PANEL? wife are remarkably closing in on having visited all 100 resorts. Yes! If you have knowledge of lots of resorts and courses, we’d love to hear from you. Email DIRK SCHAEFER A German with a voracious [email protected] – appetite for the lesser- male, female, low handicap, high travelled road. handicap... please get in touch if you’re well travelled. • We also consulted with notable figures in the industry including travel operators, resort management groups and travel writers to make sure no stone was left unturned, but their input played no part in the final positions because we want placings to be decided entirely objectively. West Cli!s, Praia D’el Rey, Portugal. 4 5 Jumeirah Golf Estates – home of the Race to Dubai finale. European Tour Destinations offers a host of tournament-worthy courses that let you follow in the footsteps of the game’s biggest names A NETWORK OF WORLD CLASS GOLF VENUES n integral part of the European Tour, European Tour Destinations is a network of Play. Stay. Live. Aworld-class golf venues located in key strategic golf markets globally. Austria Portugal Each Destination is part of a select number Diamond Country Club, Vienna Bom Sucesso, Óbidos of prestigious golf and real estate venues, with Georgia Quinta do Lago, Algarve their identity closely aligned to the European Tour, Bulgaria Tbilisi Hills, Tbilisi Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort, Cape Kaliakra Seychelles creating a unique partnership which ensures that Pirin Golf & Country Club, Bansko Germany Constance Lemuria, Praslin all members and guests can enjoy the outstanding Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, Heidelberg experience to be expected from venues that are China Spain part of the family of the game’s foremost Genzon Golf Club, Shenzhen Italy PGA Catalunya Resort, Barcelona organisation. Villaverde Hotel & Resort, Venice Finca Cortesin Hotel Golf & Spa, Marbella Czech Republic Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Rome Golf Son Muntaner, Mallorca Terre Blanche Hotel Spa & Golf Course is a world-class resort. Albatross Golf Resort, Prague Verdura Resort, Sicily Thailand Estonia Malaysia Black Mountain Golf Club & Resort, Hua Hin Estonian Golf & Country Club, Tallinn Saujana Golf & Country Club, Kuala Lumpur European Tour Destinations is accustomed United Kingdom to hosting events across the European Tour Finland Mauritius Rossington Hall, Yorkshire schedule, including Ryder Cups, plus Challenge Linna Golf, Hameenlinna Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius London Golf Club, London Tour and Legends Tour events. Our venues are France The Netherlands United Arab Emirates tournament worthy courses that are proud to be Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort, Provence The Dutch, Amsterdam Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Quinta do Lago offers luxury villa stays plus stellar courses.