| The golf enthusiast's biggest
problem in Spain or Portugal is choice - almost an excess
of it. Whereas once the Costa del Sol and the Algarve formed
a kind of double axis around which the rest of the Iberian
golfing world revolved, there are now major golf facilities
everywhere. Nowadays, many golfers actually prefer other regions,
ironically because of the very reason which first made the
two southern golf giants popular - climate. "In July
and August," goes the argument, "it's just too damn
hot to play in the middle of the day," and there is a
lot of truth in that, which is why southern Spanish golfers
prefer the early morning and the evening in summer.
However, the Costa del Sol is still the place with most golf
facilities per square kilometre and per person, so, if a spring
or autumn golf break is what you have in mind, there or the
Algarve is probably ideal. And although water-hungry golf
courses have an undeniable ecological impact, the alternative
is often more acres of concrete, as though the Costa del Sol
were not already high-rise enough. Plus, in some places they
act as buffer zones to nature reserves - intrusive buffer
zones, perhaps, less than perfect, undoubtedly, but I cannot
recall a single case of, say, a lynx being killed while trying
to get to the other side of a fairway, unlike their all-too-common
fate when attempting to cross roads around Doñana.
The Costa del Sol has over 40 courses to choose from, with
more on their way, and its closest rival in Spain as the golf
capital is not another beach area like the Costa Blanca, currently
involved in a kind of golf explosion, or the Costa Brava,
though this is almost as well supplied with courses as the
Costa del Sol. The second Spanish superpower of golf is Madrid,
with 28 courses, found most densely around the city of Madrid
itself. The reason is not hard to see - domestic demand, combined
with the same babyboomer demographics that are driving northern
Europeans southwards and fuelling the property /golf boom
in Spain. In addition, Madrid has always been something of
a Mecca for golf, the RACE course being particularly noteworthy
for its venerability and the landscaping with native flora
(though La Moraleja is where to go if elbow-rubbing with Spanish
high society is your priority).
The Balearics are not as important in terms of golf as you
might expect, for different reasons. Ibiza and biosphere-reserve
Minorca, in particular, boast only a solitary course each,
and Majorca only has 18, hardly a great number considering
the millions of visitors it receives every summer. They are,
however, well situated for most visitors, with the greatest
concentration around the south-west of the island, and there
is another mass of courses around Son Severa in the north-east
of Majorca.
SPV
Web Directory - Golf
Selected Links
Algarve
Golf
The Algarve is Portugal's Costa del Golf. All the information
you need is here: courses, green fees, golf packages...
Costa
del Golf
The Costa del Sol is called by some the "Costa del Golf" for
its proliferation of courses. This is a good guide to them.
Costa
del Golf - Interactive Map
Clicking a course on the map gives you a choice between informations
(sic), courses or pictures.
Golf
in Balearic Islands
Golf courses in the Balearic Islands. Basic information only,
including green fees.
Golf
In Spain
Use the interactive map, full list or search engine to find
any course in Spain. On-line booking, as well.
Golfspain.com
Golf is controversial in Spain for ecological reasons. It
has some splendid courses, however, and this site allows you
to book online, as well as giving you lots of information.
Montecastillo
A luxury hotel with a splendid course designed by Jack Nicklaus.
The Shockwave Quick Tour is recommended, and not especially
CPU-intensive.
Valderrama
Generally considered the best course in Europe and certainly
one of the most exclusive, so it is not surprising that this
site is exemplary.
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