Planning a golf holiday can be exciting, whether you are a solo traveller, a group of friends looking to go away for a few days fun or a couple searching for relaxation and golf in a t-shirt. It's the one question that I'm always asked, 'Where is the best place to go for a golf holiday? Do you book a stay-cation, or do you splash out and book an overseas adventure? Naturally, a lot will depend on your budget and time constraints, along with the number of golfers in the booking, as groups often get discounts.
I have a few favourites to share from my personal experiences. Things to consider when planning a long-haul golfing trip include the flight price and time. I would put Fancourt at the top of my list for the sheer variety and quality of its courses. My personal favorite along the Garden Route is the Darren Clarke-designed Pinnacle Point Estate , but there are plenty of other less testing courses tucked in the wine-lands, with the mountains as your backdrop and the grapes on tap!
If money is no object then I would jump on a flight to the Dominican Republic every winter. The Punta Cana Golf Resort is a little piece of paradise with its selection of courses carved out of the rugged coastline. Several dramatic tee shots are played over turquoise blue waters along the shorelines of white sandy beaches. Take the short straight drive across the border to the neighbouring Yas Links in Abu Dhabi to discover desert golf with a twist, or should I say twister, as the rollercoaster from the Ferrari world theme park is your backdrop.
Just over the road is the Warner Bros Studios. In my opinion, the USA offers the greatest choice of golf courses in the world. The hotel is nothing short of palatial. You can turn your golf break into a road trip and drive up the highway Route , with its spectacular scenery from San Diego to San Francisco, making pit-stops all the way, including at the Monterey peninsula, home to the famous Pebble Beach links.
In the Orange County, Florida is bathed in sunshine all-year round and has more courses than I care to count! What that does mean is you can find a nice condo to share on a course with reasonably-priced green fees.
