A Silver Lining

Foul weather in the UK and most north european countries is proving a blessing in disguise for the Costa del Golf. Signs that the global recession may be coming to an end are combining with gloomy weather forecasts to persuade frustrated golfers to start booking their winter golf breaks here in the south of Spain. The [...]

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Filed under:Costa del Sol, Spain

Hurry Up, Padraig!!

I have often championed any move to get rid of the curse of slow play, especially in the case of resort golf, where the majority suffer at the hands of the selfish few. Tour pros are often criticised for setting a poor example, but what occurred at Firestone on Sunday 9th, beggared belief. As Woods and Harrington prepared to [...]

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Filed under:Spain

AGE BEFORE BEAUTY

Courtesy prevailed at Turn­berry on Sunday, as all the young pre­tend­ers politely opened the door for the old gentleman; all except the not-so-young Stewart Cink and fate it­self. Tom Watson hard­ly put a foot wrong, even playing a near-perfect approach to the 72nd hole, only to see his ball roll gently off the back of [...]

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TAKE CARE OF OUR GOLF COURSES…PLEASE?

Three clubs host Golf Leisure Breaks’ regular stableford com­pe­ti­tions; Sta. Maria (Mondays), El Chapar­ral (Wednes­days)  and Ca­lano­va (Fri­days). All three, and no doubt many oth­er of our local clubs, have gone to great lengths to present their cours­es in im­mac­culate con­di­tion. So im­agine how dis­ap­point­ing it must be to them, and to re­spon­sible golf­ers, to [...]

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EL CHAPARRAL REBIRTH

One of my favourite golf courses in the early nineties was El Chaparral and no-one was more disappointed than I when the course literally disappeared, reverting to its original wilderness. So when I visited the course in 2005 when it re-opened, it was as if there had been a time-warp, and the 12 years between closing and [...]

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Valderrama Golf Club on Spain’s Costa Del Sol is the parkland jewel of Europe

Head just off the coast into the foothills of Spain’s Costa Del Sol, and you’ll encounter Valderrama Golf Club.
Navigating subtle doglegs on gently undulating parkland terrain through a cork forest, the Robert Trent Jones Sr. design in so many places seems so simple and effortless, one wonders why every golf course can’t be this good.
Of [...]

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Habits That Will Help Lower Your Handicap

1. Move Up
Having trouble achieving a mental breakthrough? Try playing from the forward tees, in order to alter your comfort zone and lower your scores. Playing a shorter course will instill a “go-for-par” or birdie mindset that will stick with you when you return to your accustomed tees. If you can’t score any better from [...]

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GOLF SOCIETY WITH A DIFFERENCE

What do you look for when choosing a golf society to join?  Probably you just want a regular weekly game with a competitive edge, on a decent golf course in good company and with affordable green fees.
Most pub societies can offer just this, but why limit yourself when you could enjoy so many more benefits?
The Golf Leisure [...]

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Filed under:Golf Society, Spain

Sun and Beach in the Costa del Sol

It takes a battering from some elite quarters, it may not be to the taste of everybody that comes to the Costa del Sol, but sun and beach tourism is the motor that first drove the southern Spanish tourism industry into the fast lane, and this aspect of tourism is still alive and well and [...]

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Filed under:Costa del Sol, Spain

Calanova Golf Club in the Costa del Sol

The course is an 18-hole, par 72 and 5.866 metres long and has been built according to United States Golf Association (USGA) rules and regulations with regard to the tees, bunkers, drainage and greens.
Extraordinary landscape views, including sea and La cala de Mijas Mountains, in nearly every hole.
We can assure you that your players [...]

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