EUROPEAN ESCAPES
From every corner of Continental Europe (and a little detour into Africa), here are some incredible destinations reachable in four hours at the most
Poland
Yes, Poland. Trust us, the former Eastern Bloc country will surprise you. The courses will, the weather will, and so will the accommodation. It also offers incredible value for money. And while plenty of other destinations can offer cheap golf breaks, not many, if any, can match Poland on quality-to-cost ratio.
Sand Valley is a Continental Europe Top 100 course, a fast-running heathland style course with funky greens. It is close to Gdansk and so is Sierra, a lush parkland. Both options feature chic on-site accommodation to extend your stay.
Then there is Modry Las near Szczecin, another Continental Top 100 course and resort, this a Gary Player design laid out around a lake, plus cabins set in woodland.
Gran Canaria
OK, some of you might well have been here. But let us finish our point… Gran Canaria has long lived in the shadow of Majorca and Tenerife in a golf sense among Spain’s islands – but it really ought to be right up there. In fact, we think it’s the best of them, and it’s not even close.
Salobre has two varied, Arizona-esque courses, one of which, the New, is a proper, mind-blowing test. There’s also Anfi Tauro, which is a Golf World Continental Top 100 entry, and mixes challenge with awesome views. The hits keep coming with clifftop Meloneras, Tour venue El Cortijo, and Real Las Palmas on the edge of a volcano, while Maspalomas is playable and fun.
Factor in the year-round weather and the island’s many holidaymaker attractions and you have a very compelling case.
Bulgaria
The image on the cover of this supplement and at the start of this feature is all you need to know, to be honest. That’s Thracian Cliffs – and it’s every bit as jawdropping as it looks. Bucket-list material, and then some.
It’s worth the trip to the edge of the Black Sea on its own, but the good news is that there are two others to play while you are there: Blacksearama and Lighthouse. They’re nowhere near as good as Thracian, but they are still really good.
We are also excited to check out the new Okol Resort… it promises much.
Munich
There is so much golf here! We spent four days playing and visiting Munich’s courses and didn’t even get round them all. And it wasn’t because we had slow starts owing to spending too much time at night with a tall glass of amber liquid in hand.
There is really good variety to the city’s courses, they’re in great nick and it is all so welcoming. Throw in the epic food, a game at Bayern and, yes, maybe a drop of beer, and this is a brilliant golf trip.
Switzerland
How could Switzerland NOT be an amazing destination for golf? Have you seen it? Crans-sur-sierre gets the exposure every year and understandably so, but there is more than just that Seve favourite.
The common theme is uncommon beauty. Setting down memorable golf courses among this mountainous splendour was not too hard.
It’s not the cheapest golf break in this selection, but worth every euro.
Azerbaijan
No, seriously. Baku is as good as a city break gets and in Dreamland it has a firstrate golf course (and a fine hotel now too). Quba offers a second, stunning option two hours away. Go – you will not regret it.
Sweden
To be exact, the extreme south-west of Sweden, where a spit of land is lapped by the Baltic and is home to three courses.
Falsterbo is the superstar – as close to a GB&I links as you’ll find on Continental Europe, with an all-world back nine.
Next, there are 27 holes at Ljunghusen – a seaside heathland that oozes quality. Then there’s Flommens, set on flat wetlands. Playable and fun.
As your base, choose PGA National (Sweden), 20 minutes away. It has two Kyle Phillips courses (the Links is a Top 100 entry), plus neat accommodation.
Slovakia
We’ve been banging the Penati drum for a few years to be fair – but you need to know about it, because in terms of value it is unbeatable. Two fine courses, with one by Jon Davison in our Top 100, and neat accommodation. What’s not to like?!
Sicily
Fun fact for you: Sicily has four courses that have been ranked by Golf World among Continental Europe’s Top 200.
It has Verdura, which is a European Tour venue and a fairly famous resort, but we are including Sicily because as a destination it is vastly under-exposed.
Yes, Verdura is the star, with its East and West courses plus a seriously luxurious hotel, but there is much more.
We love Donnafugata and hope it gets back to full service after a troubled period – it has wonderful accommodation and two fine courses – as well as Il Picciolo, the island’s original course in 1989, Siracusa, which is part of the four-star I Monasteri Golf Resort, and Le Saie Golf, south of Catania.
Plus the non-golf allure of peerless food including spectacular ice cream, wine, beaches, culture including UNESCO sites and exploring the cities of Palermo and Catania. Oh, and brilliant weather.
Iceland
Iceland’s golf is all about breathtaking beauty. Golf Escapes hasn’t visited yet but it is on the wishlist for 2021 and all those (OK, three golfers whose judgement we trust) who have been absolutely rave about it.
It feels unlikely it will be a letdown and very likely to be a sensational experience. Check back in Golf Escapes
2022 for the full picture.
Czech Republic
True, it has more pedigree in the game than most of our other selections in this article – but it still feels acceptable to place it in the ‘emerging’ category.
The Czech Republic has recently added a Kyle Phillips design, The Oaks, that we’re excited to play, to augment its existing courses. There are plenty of good ones already, including Albatross, Panorama, Casa Serena, Royal Marianske, Karlstejn and Karlovy Vary. Then you can add in terrific value for money, fabulous food and, of course, the celebrated local brew.
Bordeaux
Just vineyards here, right? Wrong. Bordeaux is a serious golf destination now after the addition of Tom Doak’s Saint Emillionais. It is predictably good – and just 10 minutes from Chateau des Vigiers, which has three varied loops of nine and a delightful castle hotel. Then, on the coast to the west of Bordeaux is Golf du Medoc, home to two courses in the Continental Top 100 – as well as a terrific small hotel. Plus, yes, there is the wine.
Oh, and further down are a handful of other Top 100 entrants: Seignosse, Moliets and Hossegor.
Estonia
OK, so this is really only based around two courses… but one of them is world class. Parnu Bay lies on the edge of the Baltic Sea and is breathtaking, invigorating and pure. Expect firm, tightly-cropped, sandy fescue fairways that are a delight to hit irons off and a terrific design by Lassi Pekka Tilander that provides strategy to better players and playability to higher handicappers. And the greens are great fun!
Parnu itself is a cool seaside destination and there is a second Top 100-calibre round at Estonian GCC near Tallinn. The adventurous can even take the ferry to Finland and play Kytaja and Linna too!
Russia
Do you know that you can be in St Petersburg in under four hours?
Believe us, it’s a spellbinding city off the course. One of our favourites in Europe. Whatever you want, St Petersburg can cater for you and the Hermitage Museum alone is worth the trip – truly mesmerising.
For golf, there are several options, but Gorki is the essential experience; Tilander – of Parnu Bay fame – has created another super course here, and with a lovely on-site hotel and vodka like you’ve never tasted before (de rigeur at the halfway house), it is one of our favourite ever trips. In fact, we’re going back for more at the earliest opportunity!