It might surprise some to know that France (350+) and Germany (220+) has more golf clubs than Spain (130+) and Portugal (40+). Another surprise is Sweden with 230+ golf clubs where the game is both popular and accessible.
Originally a sport for the elite, golf has become more democratized and attracts more and more players, including the young.
In England, golf lovers are inevitably familiar with the most renowned golf courses. The Royal Birkdale Golf Club lies close to Southport, a charming seaside resort in the northwest of England; the Royal Liverpool and The Belfry golf clubs are in the West Midlands.
Scotland, home of golf, has 579 courses, each in a magnificent natural setting. Six itineraries take you to some of the most beautiful among Scotland’s golf links as you visit the work of James Brain, one of the most well-know golf course designers in the world. Scotland is the site of famous St. Andrews, the very cradle of golf.
In Northern Ireland you’ll be permanently charmed by the Royal Portrush Golf Club, not far from Larne’s spectacular coast and the Glens region, or by the Royal Country Down Golf Club at Newcastle, just south of Belfast.
In Ireland you’ll have a royal choice of places to test your swing: 30% of the world’s links are in this beautiful country! Like Tiger Woods, come and refresh yourself at the Waterville Golf Links, or follow Tom Watson and choose Ballybunnion Golf Club!
France, Germany, and Sweden also have a number of impressive golf courses. Germany prides itself on offering you the pleasure of practicing your swing amidst lovely scenery on some of the most attractive golf courses in Europe. From the North Sea to the Alps, you’ll find beautiful golf courses in extraordinary lakeside and spa settings throughout the country.
Sweden is where you can play non-stop, 24 hours a day, thanks to the midnight sun! A golfer’s dream. . . . Is this why one out of twenty Swedes plays the game? Björklidens golf course is reputed to be one of the loveliest courses in existence.
Portugal features courses designed by great architects, in beautifully scenic settings. These courses give golfers an advance taste of paradise, as the greens are a delight for the eye as well as your game! In the Algarve, the 16th hole of the Royal circuit (Vale do Lobo) is the most photographed of Europe, thanks to the panoramic view of the white beach and blue sea, the town of Vilamoura in the background.
Spain is a must for golf aficionados, with its sun and warm temperatures all year round, striking landscapes and difficulties for players of all levels.
Italy also offers hundreds of courses throughout the country. Golf has been rapidly developing in Greece for several years: you can play at courses in places such as Athens (Glyfada), Corfu, Rhodes, and Crete. Cyprus has recently developed golf courses and offers a choice of nine different links. One of the advantages of this destination is that you can practice your favourite sport all year long!
If you want to play golf all year, go to Denmark; this country doesn’t know a bad season. In Finland, enjoy a summer visit in this magnificent country and sample the ambiance of one of its courses. And why not cross the border into Norway to play one of its 154 links? Not bad!
Iceland, already irresistibly equipped with attractions for tourists thanks to its unusual and abundant natural resources and fiery nature, also offers golfers the additional persuasive element of the midnight sun. That’s why the Akureyri club, in the north of the island, runs a 36-hole international open tournament at the end of June. The first ball is played just before midnight and the tournament lasts until early morning.
Latvia’s softly undulating, green terrain is perfectly adapted to golf. The course at Ozo, just fifteen minutes from Riga alongside beautiful Ķīsezers lake, was designed by hockey star Sandis Ozolins.
Lithuanians ‘discovered’ golf just a few years ago but have already learned how to enjoy it, and the sport is rapidly growing in popularity among the residents of the country.
Austria has a vast network of courses to suit players of every level and handicap. Practically all the courses willingly welcome beginners with prior approval (AP).
The first eighteen holes in Slovakia are in the dazzling region of the Low Tatras. The Grey Bear Golf course is beautifully integrated into the countryside.