11 TERRE BLANCHE NICE, FRANCE
Courses 30 Accommodation 20 Amenities 20 Setting 18 Total 88
Terre Blanche has one of the most wellbalanced offerings in the entire list, with a Continental Europe Top 100 course, a Top 200 course, classy and spacious accommodation, a wide spectrum of amenities including a dreamy infinity pool, and a peaceful, fragrant Provençal setting.
12 CASA DE CAMPO PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC NO CHANGE
Courses 34 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 88
Three courses led by World Top 100 entry Teeth of the Dog and backed up by Dye Fore and The Links – all by Pete Dye – added to a Caribbean setting plus an array of rooms, suites and luxury villas. A spa, pools and wide range of sports add to its appeal.
13 FANCOURT GEORGE, SOUTH AFRICA NO CHANGE
Courses 34 Accommodation 18 Amenities 18 Setting 18 Total 88
Three Gary Player-designed courses set in lush countryside in the shadow of the Outeniqua Mountains – headed by a World Top 100 entry, The Links – and 115 high-end rooms and suites in The Fancourt Hotel. Amenities include a spa, leisure centre, kids’ club, cinema and indoor and outdoor pools.
14 ADARE MANOR LIMERICK, IRELAND NO CHANGE
Course 30 Accommodation 20 Amenities 20 Setting 17 Total 87
The world’s No.1 single-course golf resort. To get this high, among these multi-course offerings, illustrates how good it is. The Tom Fazio renovation on the course has made it bucket list stuff and it will soon have Ryder Cup allure. No other resort on this list betters its accommodation – and that’s a serious feat.
15 SUN CITY JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA NO CHANGE
Courses 32 Accommodation 19 Amenities 20 Setting 16 Total 87
Two 18-hole Gary Player courses headline this famous resort and are supported by staggering five-star accommodation options that range from the glitzy Palace to the chic Cabanas. There is a large water park on site and a Big Five safari. Something for everyone.
16 VERDURA SICILY, ITALY
Courses 33 Accommodation 19 Amenities 16 Setting 19 Total 87
The Kyle Phillips-designed courses have settled in after being restored following a freak storm. The East is in the Continental European Top 100, the West in the Next 100. The setting of the resort – mixing cliff-edge and beachside – is spectacular. The Rocco Forte hotel is predictably alluring.
17 CAMIRAL GIRONA, SPAIN
Courses 32 Accommodation 19 Amenities 19 Setting 17 Total 87
Camiral’s list of attractions is extensive… A Continental Europe top-25 course – the Stadium – plus a solid No.2 in the Tour provide superb options that are in magnificent condition. Comprehensive practice facilities include a state-of-the-art golf school with motion sensor technology that has to be experienced to be believed – it offers instructors and pupils incredible swing feedback. The beautiful Hotel Camiral, whose interior design is not bettered by anything in this Top 100, boasts an immense spa that not only has high-end pampering but also world-leading cryo chambers and infrared therapy. The exquisite public areas at Camiral are matched by the bedrooms, while the pool area is a delight to laze around. The main restaurant morphs splendidly throughout the day: you’ll have a wonderful al fresco breakfast on the terrace, a delicious lunch of tapas after golf, then a real sense of occasion in the evening, whether choosing from the a la carte menu or savouring every mouthful of the epic tasting option, complete with bespoke wines. The Lavida is a terrific hotel too, including an Italian restaurant of real substance.