La Cala Golf

New direct Golfing offer from La Cala.

SPECIAL OFFER

Treat yourself or a loved one by availing of this great hotel offer! Now 15% off!

Enjoy a Standard Queen Room with buffet breakfast and
1 Round of Golf or 1 Thermal Circuit Spa Experience.

La Cala are now discounting this offer for July, August, November and December by a whopping 15%, that's just €84! The offer is for a limited number of rooms, so book now and don't miss out! 

01-Jan-2009 to 31-Dec-2009

HARRINGTON AND ELS RETURN TO BARCLAYS SINGAPORE OPEN

HARRINGTON AND ELS RETURN TO BARCLAYS SINGAPORE OPEN

Major champions Padraig Harrington from Ireland and South African Ernie Els will return to play in this year’s Barclays Singapore Open, where they both finished runner-up last season.

The Barclays Singapore Open will be played on The Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club from October 29 to November 1 and will boast prize money of US$5million - once again making it the richest national Open in Asia.

Korea’s K.J Choi and Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland will add further star appeal to the tournament, which for the first time is being joint-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Harrington and Els are ranked ninth and 20th in the world, respectively, and finished tied for second place last weekend at The Barclays tournament in New York. They both missed makeable birdie putts on the final hole of the 2008 Barclays Singapore Open that would have forced a play-off with champion Jeev Milkha Singh from India.

The duo, who have both claimed three Majors Championships during their illustrious careers, will be looking to finish one place better this year.

Els also finished second in the 2006 Barclays Singapore Open when Australian Adam Scott beat him in a gripping three-hole play-off.

More marquee names will be announced in the coming weeks with players from all over the world eager to tee it up in the 46th edition of the event.

"The co-sanctioning of the Barclays Singapore Open will further enhance what has already become the flagship tournament in Asia. We look forward to an even more successful championship, both for the players and the spectators," said Robert Morrice, Chairman and Chief Executive of Barclays Asia.

As a full field event of 156 players, the Barclays Singapore Open will comprise 65 players from each Tour with a further 10 places available through a local qualifying event on the Sunday and Monday before the tournament starts. There will be nine invitations, four amateurs and three Singaporean professionals.

“The Barclays Singapore Open has not only put Singapore on the golfing map, it has announced Sentosa’s arrival on the world stage as a premier lifestyle destination and a playground for all leisure activities and sporting events.” said Low Teo Ping, Board Member, Sentosa Development Corporation and Vice Captain, Sentosa Golf Club.

Singapore’s national Open was not played between 2002 and 2004, but returned to the Asian Tour schedule in 2005 thanks to the support of Sentosa and efforts of the event promoter World Sport Group. Scott triumphed in 2005 and 2006 before Angel Cabrera of Argentina claimed the spoils in 2007.

This year’s Barclays Singapore Open will once again be broadcast live for all four days on the ESPN Star Sports network.

“The Barclays Singapore Open is the highlight of the year on the Asian golf calendar and World Sport Group are proud to promote the tournament for the fifth year in a row. We have over 10 years of experience in running golf tournaments in Asia and we have been able to use successfully use this knowledge to make the Barclays Singapore Open an event that is second to none in the region,” said Chris Jordan, Senior Vice President – Golf, World Sport Group.

Ribagolfe golf course, Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is becoming a real hotbed for golf and the "main stream" golfers head to either south of Lisbon or Westerly to the Cascais and Estoril coast. However if, after negotiating the life-threatening Lisbon airport roundabout, you find you way over the amazing Vasco De Gama bridge you cn close in on one of the best kept secrets in Portugal.

Ribagolfe is situated about 40 minutes from the centre of Lisbon, close the small provinical town of Santo Estevao. The area is, in truth, fairly non-descript. But that is changing.


The "resort" boasts two very good golf courses, and dont be put off by the current (2009) infrastructure. The clubhouse is a not very glorified restuarant, and you're transported a couple of miles to the first tee. Arriving on the first tee, you may be forgiven for feeling a little let down.

The "resort" was due to have low density property development alongside a state of the art Clubhouse and facilities. Legal wrangles, however, have put paid to that. Development on the "resort" has only just commenced. However, the golf courses are well established and may yet tank the legal wrangles that have allowed it to mature well and develop some of the best greens to be played upon in Europe.

The Ribagolfe I Course is from Peter Townsend and European Golf Design and is set amongst the beautiful corks. Its feature is its greens. Wide and undulating in places - true and fast all over.

The second hole is a tempting par 5, drive to the top of the hill and a narrowing fairway, and the dogleg opens up to the right with raised green and two bunkers welcoming the big hitters.  the 7th, a strong par 4 of 450 yards, brings you in sight of the first water - a natural lake running alongisde the fairway.

The 12th is a fabulous par 5, short enough to entice the big hitters and be playable for the average handicapper.  The two tiered green is well protected by a lake and huge bunker.

The 14th is a great little par 4 with a stream running through it, tempting for the long drivers, but with enough hazards for errant irons off the tee.  This hole is backed up with the terrific par 3 15th, aqua surrounded and a massive green.

Ribagolfe II

Ribagolfe II lies alonside the formidable first course, and presents a shorter and slightly lesser test. The fairways are more forgiving, and at 6,846 yards, the course is considerably shorter than its neighbour, but the array of lakes and pot bunkers makes it extremely interesting.

Designed by Michael King, it is another European Golf Design production 

Carved through beautiful groves of cork oak trees, Ribagolfe's second course is a real pleasure to play during a golf holiday in the Lisbon area of Portugal.

Hotel in Cascais Vivamarinha

Winding back from the picturesque fishing port of Cascais you can run into the suburb of Quinta Da Marinha. An affluent, small and charming place for any traveller.



There are two main hotels in the suburb. Quinta Da Marinha, with its own pretty good golf course, and VivaMarinha a new 5 star resort.

Viva Marinha lies in between Oitavos Dunes and a flourishing equestrian centre. A five star resort, it is the perfect place for golfers and families alike. The resort has a range of apartments and suites, all have fantastic space and well-equipped kitchen.

Vivamarinha provides high quality service at an affordable price and refershingly the cafe bar does not attempt to cash in too heavily on food and beverage.

A great pool for the children and pefect sun terrace for the adults with towel and bar services.



Sintra, Cabo do Rocha and Cascais are all within a short drive and are highly recommended for a visit.

Cascais Golf Courses

There aren't too many golf holiday destinations that allow you to sample the delights of a richly historical capital city as well as a diversity of golf second to none. Lisbon is one of them.......

Often rated behind its sibling, the Algarve, Lisbon offers so much to the golfer. Like so many European capital cities, Lisbon has its roots touched by the Roman Empire, but much of its traditions and architecture is influenced by the later arrival of the Moors.



From a golfing perspective the region can be loosely split in two. Noth Lisbon & the Estoril Coast and south Lisbon.

My first port of call was to the stunning course at Oitavos Dunes in Quinta Da Marinha, a small and affluent area of Cacais

Arthur Hills designed the course, which has risen to one of the most popular tracks on the European Tour rosta, and his name should tell you most of what you need to know about Oitavos Dunes. Hills' design awards are legendary in the US, and the fact that he was tempted to over the Atlantic for the project suggests he fell in love with this corner of Western Europe.

The course feels linksy and with wind a daily factor, its a challenging test. All the Par 3's are stunning, the third being a typical links par 3. The stroke index 1 Par 4 6th is a brute in to the prevailing wind. The flyover course guide does not demonstrate how tough the 14th is in to the wind, with the Pro's often hitting 1 Iron's in to the green - one of the best 3's in the world.



The clubhouse is beautiful and is brilliantly designed to ensure shelter out side from whichever way the wind is blowing.

All in all, Oitavos Dunes is one of the finest golf courses in Europe, let alone in Portugal and with around 16,000 green fees played per annum its not crammed with players, allowing you to enjoy the stunning views, fast greens and challenge that is Oitavos.

Awesome Arden

Update on a few courses,

In October, I enjoyed a few round in Spain..

Monte Mayor (the marmite course) you either love it or hate it..... I'm of the latter......

Almenara - fantastic 3 loops of nine we played the Alcornoques and Los Lagos. Great track and one of the best value courses on the Costa Del Sol, its right next door to Valderrama.

Rio Real I like the course, if you ignore the pipework showing along the old river bed! had agood run round the back nine, 2 birdies and 4 pars......

La Cala Europa Played like a dog!!! - still a good track though!!!!

Torrequebrada really good track and clubhouse, but the greens really let it down when we played it...

I then travelled to Golf Holiday Turkey and played a couple of courses, The NAtional at Belek - very good track and the best in the area - and the Gloria Old Course, pretty good and in good condition very much a resort course though.

Following my trips away, I have had the pleasure of playing two UK courses since the turn of the year.


Firstly the 2010 Ryder Cup Course at Celtic Manor

Overall the course was not in great condition, and the greens need some serious work before next year. The Pros have complained of them being way to soft. The front nine was (in truth) pretty forgettable, but the back nine is stunning.... and 18th is an awesome Ryder Cup hole.

Took the money off the ginger prince, which is always good.

More recently, I had the absolute pleasure of playing the Forest of Arden (the Arden Championship course). Which I rate as in the top 5 of inland courses in the UK, the back 9 is quite simply brilliant, Fantastic use of the land, and definiton on the course is second to none. It is a much better course than the Brabazon and very under valued.....

Luton Who?

Had the pleasure of visiting Luton Hoo with Mrs GolfTraveBlog.... excellent hotel, taken an old fashioned building, renovated it and kept its traditional values (very good afternoon tea!!!!)

I played the golf course......mmmmmm not sure.....

Apparently English Heritage interferred significantly. No Bunkers as it "would detract from the natural habitat" - I ask you.....

Still a good venue for corporate golf days