Best of 2020
Looking back on this year of the pandemic, we are ultimately surprised that, despite having to stay at home, we still have a few good memories of a handful of wonderful trips. Mostly "only" in Europe but no less interesting, such as to Gotland, Apulia and the Costa Navarino.
Ready for the island?
Then you are not only in the right place on Sweden's largest island, Gotland, but also very welcome. The crime island, as it is known from the series "The Inspector and the Sea" or "Maria Wern", not only has an exciting backdrop but also a history dating back to the Stone Age. However, the first impression is rather calming: a gentle landscape in all shades of green, interspersed with glowing red Swedish cottages and, as a counterpart, steep cliffs and miles of beaches on the sometimes stormy ocean. The excellent climate, with warm hours of sunshine even in late fall, and a gastronomy that will make your mouth water are just some of the reasons to make the leap from Stockholm to the island - especially as it takes less than an hour. Because golf also plays an adequate role here! It's hard to believe, but there are seven very different "Golfbanan" for beginners and pros alike: one day you can play a seaside course with a sea view or a parkland course, the next day you can enjoy the diverse nature on a forest and heathland course - a real golfing pleasure between 9 and 18 holes. At the top of my program was Sweden's No. 1 - the Visby Golfklubb with the Kronholmen Course . As a characteristic links course by the sea, it offers 27 holes (18 holes/par-72 and 9 holes/par-36) for all levels of play. The Baltic Sea can be seen from all holes and the sea breeze can be clearly felt. In contrast, the clubhouse with its small restaurant and open fireplace, where the golfing cracks warm up after a stormy round, is very cozy. On the other hand, the 18 holes of the Gumbalde GK are set in a typical Gotland landscape with hidden biotopes, sprawling trees and extensive fairways. A course for everyone, especially as Gotland's only golf resort with a hotel, villas and countless leisure activities is being built here. The NÄR GK is completely different, with its extensive 18 holes nestled in a unique heathland landscape, only bordered by colorful forests. It was a good thing that Jan, the club's senior golfer, accompanied me here - with a few good tips on the game, as the relatively short course (par 70) also has its pitfalls, such as a 90° dogleg between trees on the 15th. The most authentic course for me, however, was the Slite GK , whose 18 holes run through the middle of a beautifully colored forest area. Tommy, the golf manager, shows me the hidden biotopes, bunkers and watercourses that divide the fairways. Pure nature without stress and crowds is the order of the day here, as we were the only ones in the woods and meadows.
Visby - the World Heritage Site and capital of the island is easily and quickly accessible from all corners and is the best choice for accommodation. The choice is huge - from small, fine boutique hotels to the Clarion Hotel with restaurant and bar - not only a trendy meeting place but also a culinary highlight that is only topped by the "Bakfickan" restaurant. Gotland is still relatively undiscovered as a culinary island paradise, although around 20 restaurants are already listed in the "White Guide". The picturesque Visby offers a magical backdrop with ruins of old churches - hidden behind a city wall that is one of the best-preserved city fortifications in Europe at over three kilometers long. This is also where the annual truffle festival takes place in November. Although the island's own yield of truffles cannot be compared with Italy or France, the truffle hunt with dog Berry was one of the most fun experiences for me there. If you want to take part, the truffle season on Gotland starts at the beginning of October and ends at the end of November. www.destinationgotland.se/de/inspiration/outdoor/golfen-auf-gotland
Bella Puglia
My story for Connoisseur Circle took me to the best masserie on the Italian boot heel, which are a typical architectural feature of the Apulian landscape,
just like the reddish-brown soil on which the magnificent ancient olive trees thrive. During my visit, I found really luxurious hideaways that are definitely worth a longer stay. It's chic to rent them out as an event location: With all the trimmings for weddings with fireworks, parties, golf tournaments and birthdays. For example, the "Alchimia Collection" by Swiss-born Caroline Groszer. But my favorite was the "Borgo Egnazia" resort - a luxury hotel with the charm of a picturesque village. As a golfer, the first thing you see is the hotel's own golf course, which stretches between the sea and olive groves and makes you want to play a round on the gently undulating course. But I didn't expect the "San Domenico Golf Course" to turn out to be a picture-book links course. But that's exactly what the designers at "European Golf Design" have created on the rocky Adriatic coast between historic Egnazia and the small fishing village of Savelletri. Here you can play 18 tight golf holes on a championship-sized course measuring over 6,200 meters. The designers have turned what was once rather flat and featureless land into a challenging golf course that meets the highest standards.
The many bunkers are strategically placed, the fairways have been made to move with many small hills, all greens are fast, undulating and a truly good test for all levels of play. Huge waste areas on the fairways and around the greens have been avoided, as have the many natural rocks that line the coast here as local character pieces. All of this is accompanied by native flora, which can be found here in lush colors. The clubhouse is also a sight to behold: Built in the style of an opulent manor house, it offers enough space for relaxing, dining and all kinds of celebrations. Directly opposite, you pass a mighty city wall with a large gate - the entrance to the 5* Hotel Borgo Egnazia, which is one of the most exclusive resorts on the Adriatic coast. The sandstone architecture is reminiscent of a southern Italian village and reflects the history of the region in a special way. Lovingly decorated Mediterranean details and a sophisticated interior also create an elegant ambience and a wonderful blend of Italian flair and modern luxury. The extensive complex comprises a main building with 63 rooms and suites. There is also the so-called Borgo (Italian village) with its own suites in various houses grouped around a central piazza. The range of accommodation is completed by 28 villas with bedrooms spread over three floors and ideal for 6 people. Spacious and bright rooms conjure up an unforgettable feel-good atmosphere in all buildings.
www.sandomenicogolf.com/golf/golf-holidays-puglia
"Kalimera" from the Costa Navarino!
It had been a while since I was last here at the most south-western tip of the Peloponnese in Messinia. So I was all the more pleased to find everything as before: the two 5* hotels Westin Grand and The Romanos, the two extraordinary 18-hole golf courses "The Dunes Course" and the signature golf course "The Bay Course", plus the clubhouses with excellent food and smooth tee times despite the rush of guests. Yes, in these times, people flocked to the "savvy" golf regions and Greece was one of them. The Dunes Course, designed by Bernhard Langer, runs directly alongside the Westin Grand Hotel and appears to be the easier of the two. But this is deceptive when you consider the deep bunkers, the undulating fairways and the absolutely fast and undulating greens - a challenge for all players. The Bay Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, is around 15 minutes away. It is shorter but much more difficult due to the uphill and downhill play. On the other hand, there are sensational views of the sea, the lagoon and the new hotels with their villas, which are currently under construction.
The clubhouse is stylishly modern and having lunch there with a wonderful view is pure pleasure. The Westin Grand Hotel with its 15 restaurants and bars, some of which are spread around the marketplace-like Square, on the beach or in the main building, also offers the same. Some of the 445 rooms and suites are also located there, while the rest are spread across villas with their own pool. What they all have in common is the fabulous view of the Aegean Sea. And when you consider that
that it only takes around 45 minutes to get here from Kalamata International Airport, then it is definitely worth immersing yourself in a still unknown but no less picturesque area with a history dating back around 4,500 years. Since the creation of these resorts, the aim of Costa Navarino has been to promote the region of Messinia through a variety of attractive offers and to protect and preserve its scenic beauty and cultural heritage. The foundation stone for this was laid by the Greek shipowner Vassilis Konstantakopoulos, who amassed an immense fortune with his ships and invested a large part of it in the tourism development of his native Messinia. He wanted his project to be authentic and sustainable, and thankfully he was able to experience this with the opening of the Dunes Course designed by Bernhard Langer in 2010. Thanks to "Captain Vassilis", the tourism development still adheres to strict environmental protection guidelines, even though the third area, Navarino Hills, is currently under construction with two new 18-hole golf courses and additional hotels - one of which is a boutique hotel. It will be interesting to see! www.costanavarino.com/de/golf-resort
