Spain is a much loved holiday destination offering a variety of activities as well as its warm, sunny climate. In addition to sun, sea and sangria, some of the other popular pastimes enjoyed by holiday makers include a variety of sporting pursuits, such as walking, water sports and of course golf in Spain remains ever popular.

In excess of 50 million people visit Spain each year and it is still considered to be the prime destination for golfers. Spain is regarded as the inventor of the golfing package holiday. Golf in Spain will not be disappointing for the enthusiast. There are an abundance of golf courses to sample whilst basking in the glorious sunshine throughout the region. From the Costa de la Luz to the Costa Brava, the Spanish coast line is littered with golf courses to suit anyone from the golfing beginner right up to the budding Tiger Woods.

With over three hundred well manicured fairways to choose from within Spain and many more continually being built on the mainland and on the Canary and Balearic Islands, it is very difficult to give a definitive list of those considered to be the top courses. These golf courses cater for visitors to Spain as well as the 300,000 plus golf club members living here. We will look at five of the top courses to play golf in Spain based on popularity as rated by those visiting them year on year.

Valderrama Golf Club

In the heart of the Andalucian village of Sotogrande can be found Valderrama Golf Club. Valderrama is considered by many to be one of the best golf courses in the world and it is often ranked as number one in Europe. A prestigious place in which to play golf in Spain, it was originally designed in 1975 by Robert Trent Jones (and named Los Aves or ‘The Birds’).It was remodelled by billionaire Jaime Ortiz-Patino in 1985 under the watchful eye of the original designer. Golfers worldwide will be familiar with Valderrama as it has played host to many prominent championship events including the

1997 Ryder Cup, the Volvo Masters (which usually closes the European Tour

Season) and WGC Amex World Stroke Play championships. It is a difficult course; however there are tees to suit various levels of ability. The maximum permitted handicap is 24 for men and 32 for women; proof of handicap will be required. Booking is also compulsory.

San Roque Old Club

The San Roque Old Club is an interesting old course. With water hazards and undulating course, San Roque is situated at the foot of the Sierra Bermaja Mountains in Cadiz. The Club opened its doors in 1989 and not only caters for the golfer, but also integrates other sports facilities including tennis, swimming and horse riding plus a luxury hotel and spa. Designed by Dave Thomas and Tony Jacklin, each hole cost an alleged $1 million to build.

The San Roque Old Club is considered to be one of the best places to play golf in Spain. It’s suitable for most handicaps and is highly recommended to try if you can afford it. There are views overlooking the practice area from the clubhouse which is shared with the San Roque New Club.

San Roque New Club.

The New Club was designed by Perry Dye And opened in 2003. The new addition has a 36 hole course, incorporating a cork wood forest and is also highly regarded.

Real Club de Golf Sotogrande

Another highly regarded course designed by Robert Trent Jones is the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande. Opened in 1964, the course is still said to challenge the most accomplished who play golf in Spain. Most of the fairways are raised with subtle slopes in the greens, so choose your club carefully.

Sotogrande is a private members club with an air of reserved sophistication, but visitors are always welcomed. The Sotogrande has had royal status bestowed upon it and was used for the European Tour Qualifying Finals from

1998 to 2001 due to its prestigious reputation.

Abama Golf Course

A well maintained and rather dramatic course is Abama Golf Course which opened in 2005 on the Canary Island of Tenerife. Designed by architectural genius, Dave Thomas, the Abama boasts a five star hotel and heart stopping views across the Atlantic Ocean. It offers a superior golfing experience which is apparent in the green fee which is double that of any other golf course in Tenerife. It is a definite stop to make for the more discerning wishing to play Golf in Spain. There a huge changes in the terrain throughout, so a golfing buggy is a must.

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Playing golf in Scotland is often regarded as a ‘must’ for the keen golfer, given Scotland’s rich history in the sport. Although there is no firm proof that golf originated in Scotland it is believed that a variety of the present day version of golf was played in the country as far back as the 15th century. It has also been said that Mary Queen of Scots was the first woman to play golf in Scotland and that she caused a great scandal when she was seen playing at the famous St Andrews course within only a few days of her husband’s murder.

There are many famous golf courses in Scotland and the R&A, which is the world governing body for the game (excluding the United States and Mexico) is based at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Fife.

With golf courses considered to be some of the best in the world, a holiday devoted to playing golf in Scotland is a must for any enthusiast of the sport. Below we look at 5 of the top places to play golf in Scotland.

FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS

Fairmont at St. Andrews, Fife, is an award-winning course and resort situated in the very ‘home’ of golf. It has two world-class courses, The Torrance and The Kittocks. The Torrance was originally designed by Sam Torrance but re-opened in July 2009 after improvement work. It now features eight new holes and is a traditional Scottish links with sizeable greens and undulating fairways.

The Kittocks (previously called The Devlin after its’ designer) opened in

2002 and is considered to be the more challenging of the two courses. It has recently been improved after a being included in the five star resort’s £17m refurbishment. The Kittocks offers dramatic views of the coastline and the Grampian Mountains in the distant horizon providing perhaps the ultimate experience for playing golf in Scotland.

TURNBERRY RESORT 5*

Turnberry Golf Resort is situated along the rugged coastline of the outer Firth of Clyde in the south west of Scotland making it another dramatic location for playing golf in Scotland. It was designed by James Miller and features a hotel, a lodge, cottage accommodation and a golf academy alongside three, traditional links courses.

The Ailsa Course was named after the owner of the land where it was built the third Marquess of Ailsa. It was redesigned by Mackenzie Ross and completed in 1951. The Ailsa has hosted The Open Championship four times.

The par-72 Kintyre course opened in 2001 and hosted The Open Championship final qualifying round in 2004. The nine-hole Arran course is regarded as a good introduction for the novice player, it opened in 2002.

OLD COURSE HOTEL ST ANDREWS 5*

The 5-star Old Course Hotel in St Andrews is the perfect place to stay for the keen golfer with its uninterrupted views out to sea over the 17th hole.

The hotel is part of the prestigious Kosaido Golf and Resort Management and incorporates the Kohler Waters Spa.

The Duke’s golf course was carefully designed to fit in with the five links courses along the stunning coastline at St Andrews. It was designed by, five-times Open Champion, Peter Thomson but was renovated in 2006 by Tim Liddy and given five completely new holes. The stunning views over the historic town of St Andrews and the dramatic coastline make this an idyllic place to play golf in Scotland.

MACDONALD CARDRONA HOTEL, GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Just 23 miles from Edinburgh and set amongst the undulating hills of the Scottish Borders, the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf and Country Club in Peebles features an 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course alongside state-of-the-art spa facilities.

Considered to be challenging, the 18-hole championship golf course was designed by former Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas. It is set in a combination of woodland, river and mature parkland and has spectacular views of the Tweed Valley. Gaining a growing reputation as a world-class location it has hosted the 2004 and 2007 Euro Pro Tour in 2004 and 2007 and the European Challenge Tour in 2007 and 2008.

GLENEAGLES

The Gleneagles Hotel boasts three championship golf courses set amongst dramatic views of the Perthshire hills. 
The golf courses were designed by two world famous golfers, five times winner of the Open Championship, James Braid, who designed the King’s and Queen’s courses and the legendary Jack Nicklaus, designer of the PGA Centenary Course.

The luxury Gleneagles hotel is currently undergoing redevelopment in preparation for 2014 40th Ryder Cup Matches, which are to be played on the PGA Centenary Course.

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France is famed for many things, from a colourful history of revolutions and guillotines, to legendary emperor Napoleon and more recently, the not quite so robust but perhaps now equally legendary, Miss Carla Bruni, now Madame Sarkozy.

Countless visitors flock to France each year to sample the wealth of museums, art galleries, theatres, gastronomic delights and free flowing wines and champagnes. With assets in such abundance, you’d be forgiven for not realising that one of the other attractions is golf in France.

Blessed with over 700 golf courses, golf in France is as popular as its European neighbours Spain, Portugal and Ireland. With the advent of the Channel Tunnel and Eurostar, France is more accessible than ever and with courses in every region, it’s even feasible to pop over for the day for a quick round. Selecting the top five courses for golf in France is wholly subjective and depends upon what you’re expecting to find.

Les Bordes

If, like many golfers, you’re looking for a challenge, Les Bordes in the Loire Valley cannot fail to make an impression. A comfortable pair of golf shoes is a must here, as at over 7000 yards and covering an area of more than 1500 square kilometres, this course requires stamina. It also requires patience and skill to negotiate the water hazards posed by Sologne’s lakes, which come systematically into play on twelve of the eighteen holes.

Thankfully if you are truly exhausted after completing your walk through acres of lakes and woodland, Les Bordes offers luxurious accommodation to rest the weary head and feet for the night.

Golf de Chantilly

Considered one of Europe’s, let alone France’s, most prestigious clubs is Golf de Chantilly, around 30 miles north of Paris. A home to golf in France for more than 100 years, Chantilly has played host to several French Open championships. Recommended for the serious golfer, its Vineuil Course has a challenging layout designed to test even the most adept of championship golfers. At a little under 7000 yards, the layout reflects English style courses, with areas of woodland and open fairways. Chantilly is also home to a second course and whilst no less charming and challenging than its neighbour, the par 73 Longeres is a touch more forgiving for those seeking a more genteel test.

Le Golf National

Heading South West of Paris by around 20 miles will take you to Le Golf National, where a links-style aptly, if somewhat dauntingly, named Albatross course, was completed in 1990, a venue which has also played host to the French Open. With countless bunkers, an array of water hazards and rolling fairways, this course proves an uncompromising test of nerve and endurance to any golfer. Not for the faint hearted, Le Golf National also offers a further 18 holes on its Eagle course and a more sedate, though no less testing assessment of skills on the enchantingly named 9 hole Sparrow course.

Golf de Moliets

Though few serious players will admit to being fair-weather golfers, it’s hard to deny that the pleasure of chasing that little white ball around is enhanced not only by the beautifully manicured surroundings but the satisfying feel of the sun on your back. In the warmer climes of the south west coast, bordering the Bay of Biscay lies the Biarritz region of France, home to Golf de Moliets. With a pine forest backdrop across vast areas of the course, straying from the fairways on this 27-hole creation could lead to some time consuming searches, whilst part of the course hugs the coastline, bringing with it a host of distinctive challenges. That said, the atmosphere is refreshingly relaxed and part of the allure of Moliets, along with its year-round climate, is its accessibility to golfers of all standards.

Sperone

America has long been internationally renowned for its array of golf courses, combining absurd complexity with breathtaking beauty. Not surprising then that American architect Robert Trent Jones Senior should chose the island of Corsica on which to design one of the most spectacular settings for golf in France. Sperone is comparatively short at 6500 yards but commands almost unrivalled views of the Mediterranean. Set across cliff tops, the terrain is both as undulating as it is unforgiving, requiring some inspired club selections and sheer acts of bravery in equal measure.

Sperone’s mixture of splendour and intricacy combine to offer an unforgettable experience of golf in France, whatever the final numbers on your card.

Golf in France is accessible for golfers of all ages and abilities and should be acknowledged as a serious contender for a stimulating and enjoyable golfing break. And if, as Mark Twain once observed, golf really is just a good walk spoiled, at least you’ll never be short of somewhere to drown your sorrows - or just maybe, celebrate that elusive hole-in-one.

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An avid golf player will often go to great lengths to find a challenging and interesting course. In search of the ideal golf challenge, many consider travelling abroad. However, it is not always necessary to travel and when considering golf breaks UK courses have a great deal to offer. Clearly, there is considerable debate as to which golf course is the best in England, so here is a look at 5 of the contenders.

Royal West, Norfolk

Royal West in Norfolk is a coastal golf course, where players have to cross a beach just to get between the course and the club house. Although by no means the most challenging course in England, the Royal West is still worth considering for golf breaks UK wise. Here, golfers can have an experience quite unlike other global courses; the unique setting of this course and the feeling of seclusion and isolation when playing the Royal West is unparalleled. This is a prime example of a completely natural links course with tidal marshes and large bunkers, framed by wooden sleepers. Holes 8 and

9 carry over tidal water. Rapidly changing conditions and fast coastal winds add to the challenges at Royal West and make this a golf course UK players would do well to consider.

The Belfry

Hidden in the countryside in north Warwickshire, The Belfry has three golf courses, of varying levels of difficulty, but the Brabazon is the course of choice for keen golfers. The Belfry is the only PGA course in England and hosts the PGA National. Brabazon is considered the spiritual home of the Ryder Cup. Brabazon has a couple of notably challenging holes. It has been redesigned and is currently in superb condition. If you have played the Brabazon course before, the recent improvements are worth exploring. If PGA and Ryder Cup standard courses sound a little daunting, then there is always the Derby, an all round course that is engaging for players at every level of ability.

Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake is considered a classic links course with a good record for holding tournaments at the professional level. The Royal Liverpool is a challenging course, with the tricky conditions common to all links courses. The wind has a strong presence around Royal Liverpool, which makes for an interesting challenge. The wind-swept flat expanse in front of the club house, navigating between dunes and consistently superb views of the Dee estuary mean that there is a lot to like about Royal Liverpool. The Royal Liverpool is the second oldest links course in England and also hosts the largest collection of golf memorabilia outside of St Andrews. When planning golf breaks UK based players will find that the Royal Liverpool is more than just a course for players as fans of the sport will find the collection fascinating.

Royal Birkdale

The Royal Birkdale golf course used to be known simply as Birkdale until 1951, when the Royal Charter was granted to the club. Royal Birkdale is certainly one of the top English Golf courses. Ideal for golf breaks UK players will find that the exhilarating coastal setting adds extra excitement as well as coastal winds to address. One of the distinguishing features of the Royal Birkdale course is the art deco clubhouse. Engulfed by the surrounding sand dunes, the Royal Birkdale golf course demands skilful reading of the greens. There are numerous high tees with clear views and well framed holes that allow players to appreciate the challenges of each.

Hotchkin

The Hotchkin golf course at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire is widely considered to be the top golf course in England. There are many distinguishing features that make the Hotchkin course tricky but also extremely rewarding to play. The infamous deep, intimidating bunkers of Hotchkin are only part of the challenge that faces players. Gorse and heather define the course; and the pine and birch trees that surround the Hotchkin enclose golfers in an attractive setting. When considering golf breaks UK parties with players and non-players alike will appreciate the presence of a spa here.

Before spending vast sums on travelling abroad in search of interesting and challenging golf experiences, it is worth remembering that the sport of golf is alive and well in England. Whatever it says on your handicap card, there should be a suitable course within easy reach. When choosing golf breaks UK players and other members of the party should find much to entertain, with so many courses located in fascinating historical locations and others within easy reach of spas, leisure facilities and the coast.

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Johannesburg, the largest city of South Africa, the largest economy of Sub Saharan Africa and the most popular South African city, yes several more titles are given to this beautiful city of South Africa. Let’s talk about in reference to most popular South African city. Stunning beaches, lots of museums and art galleries, awesome landscapes, bustling nightlife and beautiful parks have been the major reason of increased demand for flights to Johannesburg for the last few years. Johannesburg offers a lot of sights to be explored and hiring a car is the perfect way to explorer each and every site of the city. Though Johannesburg has a sound local transport system that can be utilized to get around the city but having a private car multiplies your pleasure in Johannesburg. Self drive gives you the soundest chance to explore the city with more flexibility as compared to organized tours.

Well! Several rental car companies are offering their quality services In Johannesburg but searching the best company would be the time consuming. To save your time and money, car hiring from the Johannesburg airport is most suitable option for you. Once you get landed on O.R. Tambo International Airport you can hire a car right away. Obviously, you would be with your luggage so it is good to rent a car to avoid any difficulty. Don’t you worry; the car can be organized by your travel agent via a reputable car hire company. Car hiring guarantees us the perfect Johannesburg trip.

If you have a plan to visit the urban areas, you can hire any model of a car as the paved road network will give you very comfortable and smooth journey. You can easily move to Johannesburg Art Gallery, Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg Zoo, South African National Museum of Military History and Ferreira’s Mine etc. The best advantage of having a private car is; you can go to anywhere with your own desire and even you can stay at any shop to buy something. Most of the tourists hope to get the best way to get around the city after having cheap flights to Johannesburg and rental car is the answer of their question.

If you are planning to visit the rural areas of the cities including villages around Johannesburg then 4×4 is highly recommended. However, to perfectly use the 4×4 in Johannesburg you must take advantage of following tips.

• Choose a 4 wheeler that has a GPS device. GPS becomes essential when you are driving in an unfamiliar city. Johannesburg encompasses lots of shrubs and bush areas where you can easily take a wrong turn so you need to have the GPS device that can guide you to the right path.

• Before going out you should plan your routes and destinations precisely. This is very important in order to avoid any risky areas.

• Choose the best considered routes which are safe and are filled with shops and petrol pumps or CNG stations.

In short, whether you want to visit any urban area or any rural area in Johannesburg, rental car is the best option to get around. Book your Johannesburg flights and get around the city in most desirable way.

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London is a great place to visit no matter what the reason, but if you are a theatre buff then it is even better! There are probably more theatres in London per square mile than anywhere else in the United Kingdom, and you will be absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to booking a show. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can just turn up and expect to see a great show. The theatres in London are notorious for selling out of shows as quickly as they announce a run of performances, and unless you want to end up watching some second rate performance at one of London’s lesser venues, you need to make sure you buy your ticket well in advance.

There are lots of websites online which can keep you up to speed with the latest productions and you should be able to find places to book pretty easily too. There is of course the facility to be able to book tickets at the actual venue itself, but if you leave it to chance, you run the risk of being disappointed.

One of the most eagerly anticipated productions of recent times is the remake of the classic film The Wizard of Oz. This promises to be a wonderful performance with a number of high profile actors forming part of the ensemble. Be aware though that popularity for this show is likely to go through the roof. If you want the chance to see this production, be sure to book your Wizard of Oz tickets in good time.

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You really can’t beat Paris as a location for a honeymoon. Everything about Paris screams romance, from the laid back atmosphere of the cafe’s to the sound of a million French voices as you walk through the streets of the Left Bank, there is nowhere quite like it on earth. Sure, some people like to go further afield for their honeymoon, but most people would agree that Paris is the romance capital of the world, and what better place to be during the first few weeks of your marriage!

Paris is actually quite cheap too! There are a lot of cheap hotels in Paris and you can find some really delightful little places to stay for a lot less than a decent hotel would cost you in the British Isles. On top of that getting to Paris has become a doddle since the inception of the channel tunnel, and once you are in the city things just don’t cost as much as they do in Britain!

Imagine yourself walking down the side of the Seine, with your wife, hand in hand, enjoying the warmth of the Parisien summer sun, with delightful patisseries just a few steps away, and the awe inspiring Notre Dame Cathedral just round the corner. Imagine being able to wander across town, through the tiny backstreets with all of their little surprises, only to find yourself face to face with the Eiffel Tower. Paris is truly the most romantic place on earth and there can be no better place to celebrate with your loved one.

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If you have young boys you may sometimes wonder what on earth to get them for their birthday this year. As any of us know who live in remote parts of the country, it is not easy getting the latest and greatest thing from your towns’ local toy store.

For those that have the time and resources available to them, it is a great idea to travel to London to do your shopping for your kids. Why? Because you can get everything you need from under one roof. Twice a year I head out to Hamleys in London to find exactly what I need for my two boys’ birthdays. The shop has a full four floors of all the latest toys and this includes whatever product is being aired on daytime TV adverts throughout the day! Hamleys seems to be the only place that doesn’t sell out of all the must have toys every year.

To be honest with you, I have a very selfish reason for relocating myself to another city to do my shopping. Lets just say that being in London for a couple of days has it’s advantages! I normally look for cheap hotels in London before I head down so that I can save money for the boys shopping, and a few treats for myself of course! Hamleys is right in the main shopping area of London, and as you can imagine there are some fabulous women’s clothes shops. After all, if I am shopping for my boys, it’s surely only fair that I spoil myself too!

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Selecting the right web hosting company is one of the most important processes in online world. One should never take this decision in a hurry because it is the only way to get visibility for your online business. If you are planning to buy web hosting service, then keep few things in mind such as the service provider should be fast, easy to use and offers great support. Also, make sure that the company guarantees that your site will never be down. Understanding and going through different areas of web hosting is a good idea before buying web hosting service.

If you want to get latest web hosting industry news, latest trends or reviews on web hosting companies, then simply browse through Webhostingfan.com. The website offers updated information on web hosting service and other related sources. You can also get popular web hosting reviews on their website along with web space information, and other packages that you get with your hosting service. You can get UltraHosting review, Inmotion Hosting review, iPage review, and Fatcow review etc. You can also browse through review page for searching websites in an alphabetic order. So, if you are looking to learn about web hosting and the best companies in this field, Webhostingfan.com is the right place to visit. The best thing about going through web hosting reviews is that you can compare the services and choose best for your website. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and make your choice.

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Gambling is not about winning but the amount of chances increase overwhelmingly. Online casino gambling is a favorite activity or sports of many. The platform is easy to start with and secure environment further provides guarantee factor to the participant. It is also worth mentioning over here that as compared to regular casinos, online casinos provide immense number of opportunities for its audience to know the rules first before playing. It is an easy way out to sharpen your skills. Please also try to check certain things like type of bonuses, reputation aspect and the number of games available on the respective website. A thorough search could prove vital to the success factor.

Poker Online is a step further in the same direction. Another advantage of these online games is that one can easily learn the tricks by being in the company of tenured players. Different poker groups are available and they try to help each other in this respect. There is no need for registration while one is thinking about playing poker online games. This business sector provides massive amount of choices to the players. Either they can start playing against computer players or various players from different parts of the world. Poker tournaments also keep on happening at regular intervals. Poker online is gaining popularity around different sections of the society. There is no denying the fact that poker online has brought tens and thousands of customers to the business. So just get your efforts together if you have got fascination level attached to it.

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