The new golf season is in sight and these are the favorites - chosen at the world's largest golf trade fair
Are you already in the middle of planning your 2014 golf vacation?
And perhaps need some help deciding? Then the following story about the winners at the world's largest golf trade fair, the IGTM (International Golf Travel Market), may well be of help.
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Organized every year in November by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), the IGTM is a "must" for organizers, buyers, golf resorts, golf destinations and journalists. The highlight of the event after four days is always the "Award Giving" for special golf destinations, golf courses, golf resorts and undiscovered golf countries. There is also a special award for a world-class player, such as this time for Ernie Els, who has now also found his place in the "Hall of Fame". The venue was the Costa Daurada (Gold Coast) - about an hour south of Barcelona - itself one of the best in Spain.
The best of the best
So who are the chosen ones for 2014? They were chosen on the last evening of the IGTM at the "Award Giving Show", where this time the airline Etihad Airways went all out as a sponsor and transformed the historic Piaca de Toros in Tarragona into a mystical event location.
The destinations of the year included: the Garden Route in South Africa (with 14 spectacular and completely different golf courses), Hua Hin with 11 of the most beautiful golf courses in Thailand and once again the Algarve with 40 courses, six of which alone are listed among the top 100 European courses - which is not really surprising. Florida's Paradise Coast as America's hotspot with 90 courses around Naples and Marco Island alone is also well known among connoisseurs. In contrast, the small country of Costa Rica, with its 12 golf courses compared to 30 national parks, was received with some astonishment.
The Bulgarian Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort, which gives you goose bumps just looking at it, scored again in the Golf Resort of the Year category, alongside the Californian Ritz Carlton, the Jamaican Half Moon Bay and "Kidnapper's" from New Zealand. The Costa Daurada also received an award for the special use of its resources, which came as no surprise to anyone. But to call Sweden the "undiscovered golf destination of the year" made my hair stand on end. With 480 golf courses and over 470,000 players, the Solheim Cup and the great season of showpiece player Henrik Stenson, you can no longer speak of a "golf's best kept secret". I wonder if the 1200 professional golf travelers from 60 countries who came together for this event were a little off the mark? Anyway - it's time for me to crack this "secret". Stay tuned - the Sweden story is sure to come.
The location as the best spring tip: The Costa Daurada - perfect for family & golf
The golf fair took place in the most visited theme park in Spain, PortAventura, with over four million visitors a year. The small town of Salou also makes a good living from this - only during the summer months, of course. And despite 240 kilometers of sandy beaches, dreamy villages and luxurious golf resorts, the Costa Daurada, also known as the Gold Coast, is still considered a bit of an insider tip in Spain. In November, despite the warm temperatures, it is already quiet and the theme park with its 1000 attractions is closed. It's a shame really, because you'd love to be a kid again here. But at least the four hotels - including the 4* Gold River - are open for visitors to the fair. Although it is ideal for the majority of the international public with its Western Saloon and themed houses for overnight stays, we find it hard to get used to the 4 stars - it's getting on in years. But it's perfect for families who want to spend the whole day here and golfers can reach the 45 holes of the Lumine Golf Club, which is part of the LUMINE Mediterránea Beach&Golf Community, in no time at all.
Golf icon Greg Norman has immortalized himself here with the 18-hole Lake Course, another "The Hills" course and the 9-hole Ruins Course. All different, as the name suggests, and set in a magnificent landscape. The best way to get from the modern-styled clubhouse, with its inventive cuisine, is by buggy over the hilly layout of the courses. Club manager Calle Carlsson is proud of its new tournament status. This is because the "PGAs of Europe Fourball Championship" will be held on the Lake Course at the beginning of March this year. And anyone who has ever played the Lake Course with its lots of water and bunkers knows what the elite European golfers can expect.
www.lumine.com
By Elsa-Maria Honecker
