Great Golfing Around the World

For affluent travelers, one of the most popular reasons to take a foreign

holiday is golf. There are renowned courses scattered across the globe. With

the right knowledge, golfers can maximize their enjoyment of the finest

courses in beautiful locales. There are courses located on six of the seven

continents, though you'll never be able to play them all. Of course, maybe

you're up to that challenge.

In Spain, you'll find several great courses located near La Manga. The La

Manga Golf Club has three eighteen-hole courses, the ideal climate year round

and great practice facilities. Located less than three hours from most major

European cities, the courses of La Manga Golf Club feature many challenging

greens. The putting and chipping practice areas are huge, and the driving

range features ninety practice bays. The club is the official winter training

course of the German PGA. The resort has also hosted its fair share of world

tournaments. There is a coaching staff for amateurs or for those looking for

tips on improving their game. La Manga is a great city for enthusiasts of the

sport.

Take a hop, skip and jump from La Manga and you'll find the home of golf, St.

Andrews Links in Scotland. Possibly the most famous set of courses in the

world, St. Andrews Links has a history over a half-millennium old. Starting

in around 1400 A.D., the sport has been played on these links for centuries,

except when it was banned for nearly fifty years. King James II of Scotland

banned the sport, feeling that it distracted men from archery practice. The

ban was finally lifted in 1502 when King James IV became a golfer. St.

Andrews Links once consisted of only the Old Course, a twenty-two hole

challenge that was reduced to eighteen holes, giving the game the number it

has today. There are six course on the links, with a seventh currently in

development, making St. Andrews the largest public complex in the world.

Far from Europe, Dubai has many courses to offer enthusiasts of the sport.

Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club features an eighteen-hole championship course,

 a nine-hole par three course and a gold academy for training. It also has

six restaurants and bars, a gymnasium, a tropically-themed pool and a 225

room hotel. Of course, if you don't feel like staying at the hotel on your

holiday, you can always rent one of the 92 executive villas. Besides the

fabulous course and excellent accommodations, this club has a huge marina,

where many travelers can dock and enjoy the view. The greens are world class

in Dubai.

For the perfect golf holiday, there are many options all over the globe. In

countries around the world, the sport plays an integral part of culture and

tourism, and it allows certain areas to thrive economically. The next time

you need a break, consider staying in one of these fabulous areas and hitting

the greens for a few days. You'll see some of the most gorgeous scenery on

earth while getting rid of that nasty slice in your drive.

Article submitted Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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