With Tiger Woods set to tee off for the first time since the serial adultery allegations, at the US Masters which is the first major competition of the year, has it give any of us the golf bug and the urge to travel or take a holiday and include some golf?
Do we really need to travel far to experience the amazing stunning fairways of the official top golf courses in the world? Can we not tempt ourselves with what we and Europe have?
Arguably, in some people's opinions, the best courses are closer to home and have some of the best reviews by amateur and professional players.
Tee off this summer to some of the most stunning golf courses that are closer to home with fabulous surroundings, history and forestry.
For instance, the best golf course in the whole of Europe is quite possibly Valderrama Golf Club located in the Costa del Sol in the south of Spain. As cheap Costa del Sol holidays are readily available from the major UK tour operators as well as the low cost airlines flying into Malaga, so it would seem a total shame if we missed out on this one.
It is often compared to Augusta in Georgia in the USA and is said by many to be the Augusta of Europe. With the course hosting the Ryder Cup in 1997 and some of the World Championships in recent years, it is rated number one in all of Europe.
This course is definitely one to try if you are an enthusiastic golfer. It has an eighteen hole course with many memorable and challenging holes to experience and conquer, as Tiger Woods memorably was challenged here in 1999 and 2000. It is a difficult course to play and strategic play is essential.
The one to watch on this course is definitely hole four, 'La Cascada'. This hole presents a water hazard between two bunkers and has a par five. It often challenges many professional golfers but demands and receives the respect it deserves.
The course has been renovated and titivated for more than twenty years and now presents a very high standard of golf course offering perfect and gentle rolling terrain, cork tree forests and stunning Mediterranean views.
The climate in this area of the world is perfect all through the year so it is a perfect all year round golf course and many top players including Tiger Woods have said this to be a thrilling and breath-taking course to play.
Valderrama Golf Club is a private club, however, visitors are welcomed to play here and they have nine slots daily to tee off between midday and 2pm. This can, expectedly, get full really quickly so booking at least three months in advance is certainly advisable and also checking the course fees are also recommended prior to booking.
So whether you are staying in the UK this year for your holiday, trying to find cheap Costa del Sol holidays to visit this magnificent course or even travelling somewhere else in Europe to visit one of the many golf courses available to us then just remember you don't have to go too far away to experience a top class course.
About the Author:
Yvonne Dawson also writes for TravelNewz, check out the site for interesting and fun news stories.
