Latest news with #CostaNavarino
Bloomberg
03-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Greece's Painful Decade of Rehabilitation Rewards the Believers
In late September 2015, Canadian investor Prem Watsa gathered 75 or so employees and their spouses at Costa Navarino, a luxurious seaside resort in the Peloponnese, to mark his company's 30th anniversary. Greece was perhaps a peculiar choice to fly people in for a celebration. The country had just spent eight months in the global spotlight as a tense standoff with its creditors had pushed it to the brink of a potentially chaotic default and exit from Europe's currency union, the euro. But that year alone, Watsa's firm, Fairfax Financial Holdings, had increased its positions.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Olympic president Kirsty Coventry starts work with strong IOC and challenges for Los Angeles Games
FILE - IOC President Thomas Bach, right, greets Kirsty Coventry after she was announced as the new IOC President at the International Olympic Committee 144th session in Costa Navarino, western Greece, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File) FILE - President Donald Trump talks with California Gov. Gavin Newsom after arriving on Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE -Kirsty Coventry, of Zimbabwe, kisses her gold medal after winning the 200-meter backstroke at the Olympic Aquatic Centre during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Aug. 20, 2004. (AP Photo/Mark Baker), File) FILE -Kirsty Coventry reacts after she was announced as the new IOC President at the International Olympic Committee 144th session in Costa Navarino, western Greece, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis), File) FILE -Kirsty Coventry reacts after she was announced as the new IOC President at the International Olympic Committee 144th session in Costa Navarino, western Greece, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis), File) FILE - IOC President Thomas Bach, right, greets Kirsty Coventry after she was announced as the new IOC President at the International Olympic Committee 144th session in Costa Navarino, western Greece, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File) FILE - President Donald Trump talks with California Gov. Gavin Newsom after arriving on Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE -Kirsty Coventry, of Zimbabwe, kisses her gold medal after winning the 200-meter backstroke at the Olympic Aquatic Centre during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Aug. 20, 2004. (AP Photo/Mark Baker), File) FILE -Kirsty Coventry reacts after she was announced as the new IOC President at the International Olympic Committee 144th session in Costa Navarino, western Greece, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis), File) GENEVA (AP) — The world Kirsty Coventry walks into Monday as the International Olympic Committee's first female and first African president is already very different to the one she was elected in three months ago. Take Los Angeles, host of the next Summer Games that is the public face and financial foundation of most Olympic sports. Advertisement The city described last week as a 'trash heap' by U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to welcome teams from more than 200 nations in July 2028. Most of the 11,000 athletes and thousands more coaches and officials who will take part in the LA Olympics will have seen images of military being deployed against the wishes of city and state leaders. A growing number of those athletes' home countries face being on a Trump-directed travel ban list — including Coventry's home Zimbabwe — though Olympic participants are promised exemptions to come to the U.S. Several players from Senegal's women's basketball team were denied visas for a training trip to the U.S., the country's prime minister said. A first face-to-face meeting with Trump is a priority for the new IOC president, perhaps at a sports event. Advertisement Welcome to Olympic diplomacy, the outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach could reasonably comment to his political protégé Coventry. The six Olympic Games of Bach's 12 years were rocked by Russian doping scandals and military aggression, Korean nuclear tensions, a global health crisis and corruption-fueled Brazilian chaos. Still, Coventry inherits an IOC with a solid reputation and finances after a widely praised 2024 Paris Olympics, plus a slate of summer and winter hosts for the next decade. Risks and challenges ahead are clear to see. New leadership style For the two-time Olympic champion swimmer's first full day as president Tuesday she has invited the 109-strong IOC membership to closed-doors meetings about its future under the banner 'Pause and Reflect.' Advertisement 'The way in which I like to lead is with collaboration,' said Coventry, who was sports minister in Zimbabwe for the past seven years, told reporters Thursday. Many, if not most, members want more say in how the IOC makes decisions after nearly 12 years of Bach's tight executive control. It was a theme in manifestos by the other election candidates, and the runner-up in March, IOC vice president Juan Antonio Samaranch, will lead one of the sessions. 'I like people to say: 'Yes, I had a say and this was the direction that we went,'' Coventry said. ' In an in-house IOC interview, Coventry also described how she wanted to be perceived: 'She never changed. Always humble, always approachable.' Advertisement That could mean more member input, if not an open and contested vote, to decide the 2036 Olympics host. The 2036 decision Coventry's win was widely seen as positive for the ambitions of India, and its richest family, to host the Summer Games that will follow Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032. Nita Ambani, the philanthropist wife of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, has been an IOC member since 2016 and helped promote India's Olympic bid in Paris last year. She and Coventry are seen as being close, and the 2036 hosting award is among the biggest decisions pending. 'It is an open question,' Coventry told reporters Thursday. 'For me as a president I need to be able to remain neutral.' Advertisement Qatar is bidding for the Summer Games for a fourth time and Saudi Arabia also is interested. A regional Middle East bid could be a political and logistical solution. A Bach legacy is the policy of fast-tracking well-connected bidders into exclusive negotiations toward a rubber-stamp vote by IOC members. Russia's return At some point in Coventry's presidency, Russia could possibly return fully to the Olympic family. It is unclear exactly when less than eight months before the 2026 Winter Games opening ceremony in Milan. Russian athletes have faced a wider blanket ban in winter sports than summer ones during the military invasion of Ukraine. Even neutral status for individual Russians to compete looks elusive. Advertisement Vladimir Putin offered 'sincere congratulations' on Coventry's election win, with the Kremlin praising her 'high authority in the sporting world.' However, there seems little scope for the IOC to lift its formal suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee imposed in 2023 because of a territorial grab in sports administration. Four regional sports bodies in eastern Ukraine were taken under Russian control. Coventry said she will ask a task force to review IOC policy relating to athletes from countries involved in wars and conflicts. Gender equality The first Summer Games under a female presidency will be the first with a majority of athlete quota places for women. Advertisement Another task force is promised to look at gender eligibility issues, after the turmoil around women's boxing and two gold medalists in Paris. The new World Boxing governing body said last month it will introduce mandatory sex testing. Coventry often states the importance of 'Olympic Values,' which include gender parity, inclusion and inspiring young people through sports. "That is something that we can never, never, never compromise. And we have to be proud of that.' IOC housekeeping The top-tier Olympic sponsor program might have peaked in Paris with 15 partners earning the IOC more than $1.6 billion in cash and services over the past two years. Advertisement The sponsor slate is down to 11 after all three Japanese sponsors and US tech firm Intel did not renew, though a major new backer from India is all-but promised. Total revenue was $7.7 billion for 2021-24, including $3.25 billion of broadcasting revenue in 2024. It helps fund the Olympic Channel media operation in Madrid and about 700 staff in Lausanne. Salary and staff costs topped $250 million last year. Though the future broadcasting landscape is hard to predict, the IOC has said $7.4 billion already is secured through 2028, and $4 billion for the 2033-36 commercial cycle. That sum was topped up in March with a foundational $3 billion deal. NBC renewed for two more Olympics through the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Games and the 2036 Summer Games that look destined for Asia. Advertisement The IOC also has a 12-year deal with Saudi Arabia through 2036 to host a video gaming Esports Olympics, though the launch is delayed until at least 2027. ___ AP Olympics:
Khaleej Times
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Peter Baker delivers a master class in Greece to claim Costa Navarino legends title
Peter Baker secured his eighth Legends Tour title in style, closing with a best-of-the-day 66 to win the Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy by an emphatic six shots in south-west Greece. The former Ryder Cup player started the final day a shot behind overnight leader Paul Lawrie. But Baker overtook him by the 4th hole and never looked back, delivering a bogey-free round to finish at 16-under for the tournament. Baker made a steady start with pars on his first three holes, then a birdie on the 4th kick-started his move to the top of the leaderboard. Although 1999 Open Champion Lawrie opened with a birdie, a double bogey on the 3rd followed by a bogey on the 4th handed Baker a two-shot advantage, a lead he would not relinquish. The 2023 Order of Merit winner pressed on, adding birdies on the 6th and 7th to reach the turn in 33 and move four clear. His domination continued with another birdie at the par-5 11th and a further gain on the 15th, extending his lead to a comfortable five shots with just three holes to play. The 57-year-old finished strong by making a birdie on the penultimate hole and safely two-putted from long range at the last to complete a bogey-free week and a resounding triumph. 'I'm absolutely delighted,' said the three-time DP World Tour winner afterwards. 'It was a tough day. The wind was a little bit different, a little bit stronger today. It was difficult out there, so we had to adapt, and I managed to do that early on. I played nicely and putted nicely today. I holed out well and holed a couple of longer ones, which you've got to do to win.' 'It was just one of those days when you try not to make any mistakes, and I didn't drop a shot all week, which is a massive thing, really. I was really grinding there at the last from about 40 feet because I didn't want to give that bogey-free record away.' Baker was a picture of consistency all week, posting two 67s in the first two rounds - at the Olympic and Hills courses - before adding Sunday's 66 to lift the trophy. Having finished 2nd in last season's Order of Merit after topping it in 2023, this win moves him from 7th to 2nd in the current standings. Earlier this season, Baker finished tied 2nd in the OFX Irish Legends and tied 4th at the Staysure Marbella Legends in 2025. 'I want to contend for the Order of Merit again,' said Baker. 'I want to try and play well throughout the year and win tournaments. That's always been my goal. "If you've got a chance in the Order of Merit, then great. There are a lot of good players out here, a lot of winners, so it'll be up and down through the year, but you just keep going and keep trying your best.' The Legends Tour now heads to a Major Championship, with the US Senior Open at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado next week. The next regular event is the Reignwood Legends Championship in China from 4-6 July. For further information, visit Final Standings:
Forbes
07-06-2025
- Forbes
Costa Navarino: What To Know Before Visiting This Luxury Resort Destination In Greece
An aerial view of the Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino When you think of going on a beachy vacation to Greece, some of the famous islands may come to mind. However, there's a picture-perfect spot with pristine beaches and stunning resorts on continental Greece that you might not yet know should. The beach near Methoni Villa. Costa Navarino is a beachside haven you'll never forget after a visit. It's in the southwest Peloponnese peninsula in the Messinia region of Greece. It's near Pylos, a seaside town with charming restaurants and shops. This region has been influenced by 4,500 years of history, and you can see ancient ruins on short drives from the resorts in Costa Navarino. The Castle of Methoni is a popular spot for visitors to admire. Here are some things that you should know before visiting this seaside sanctuary. There's a growing interest in eco-conscious traveling, and Costa Navarino has long been one of the prime sustainable spots to visit in the Mediterranean. It was developed with deep dedication to preserving Messinia's natural environment and heritage, with conscientious actions taken to preserve the biodiversity that's unique to the area and minimize using natural resources. The resorts in Costa Navarino all have a focus on social responsibility and sustainable tourism. The landscaping itself was designed to promote the natural beauty of the area as well as blend in with it. Messinia has centuries-old olive groves, and that was respected. When construction was being done, no olive trees were cut. Instead, they were moved and later replanted. The principles of bioclimatic architecture were at the forefront of the design for the Navarino Dunes and Navarino Bay areas. The buildings blend into the natural world with places to build and materials chosen carefully. It was very important for the developers to protect the local landscape, horizon and ridgeline. For example, the Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino blends into the land with its earth-sheltered villas. Biking is popular in this area of Greece. There is something for sports lovers at every resort in Costa Navarino. It is well-known for its world-class golfing opportunities. The Dunes Course is located by the sea and is the first signature-designed golf course in Greece. The Bay Course takes golfers through three different landscapes: grove, canyon, and season. Costa Navarino's Mouratoglou Tennis Center is the first one in Europe, and it offers 12 state-of-the-art tennis courts, padel and pickleball courts, and a health club with an indoor pool. Then there's popular yachting and sailing excursion and water sports. Visitors to the area often enjoy biking, hiking, rock climbing, and a wide variety of outdoor adventures. Costa Navarino and its resorts are also very dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that truly empowers them to welcome all guests. W Costa Navarino is the first internationally accredited hotel by the IGLTA for its inclusive practices. The area makes changes when they can to further enhance the comfort of guests. They have started to offer beach wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy the pristine beaches. They offer gender neutral restrooms, gender neutral amenities, noise-cancelling headphones, weighted blankets, prayer kits, and amenities for many hair and skin types. You can read more about its diversity and inclusion commitments on its site. One of the organizations that stands out for its excellent work is the Navarino Pet Community. Its volunteers seek to solve the problem of excessive stray animals and help find them loving homes. It is led by volunteers among the Costa Navarino associates, and so far over 250 dogs and cats have now found great homes. Tourists can visit the shelter, and sometimes cats or dogs in need of homes are brought out for tourists to visit. Some travelers decide to come home with a new companion animal. Also, Costa Navarino has worked with the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation and other NGOs, and they worked together to launch the initiative "Messinia Without Strays". This will support the goal of ending the suffering of stray animals. It will help protect them and find them homes. They strive to find homes while working on basic training, socialization and walking on the leash. The cats and dogs are also neutered or spayed, and they receive stellar vet care. With options for almost everyone, there are some spectacular resorts in Costa Navarino. There are family-friendly spots and those that are just right for couples seeking a romantic getaway. The Westin Resort is popular with families. Known for being the most family-friendly resort in the area, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino welcomes guests of all ages with open arms. It is beautifully surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, and its guestrooms and suites were newly renovated for the 2025 season. The resort's aqua park is beloved among young people with its three water slides and pool games. Toddlers and children have entertainment options like SandCastle, a special youth hub with recreational and educational programs. Many of the children's activities are specific to the Mediterranean, and they help kids build great memories while parents enjoy some quiet time. There's even a variety of day care options for infants. Guests can enjoy such activities as an olive-oil tasting session at Enoteca where they can learn about the many types of olive oil, local olive groves, their history, and how to tell olive oils apart. The exploration of the local olive traditions can continue at the renowned ANAZOE Spa where you can get an olive nourishing facial that utilizes local olives. Visitors may also book such things as a traditional Messinian cooking class with local teachers. The W Costa Navarino at Navarino Bay is a luxurious place to stay. The W Costa Navarino has been welcoming visitors since it opened in 2022, and it is the first of the W hotels to open in Greece. It's situated on the Ionian Sea, and it seamlessly fits into the environment with its stone, wood, and weed materials. The resort offers villas and suites with perks like one's own pool available, and guests can enjoy the hotel's Whenever/Whatever service that aims to ensure visitors have whatever they want whenever they need it. The W Costa Navarino also has six dining venues. The most popular is Parelia, an all-day Beach Club. The onsite AWAY Spa provides locally inspired treatments. Sports lovers can enjoy the water sports hub, four signature golf courses, and the nearby Mouratoglou Tennis Center in Navarino Dunes. The W Costa Navarino is great for an adults-only getaway; visitors should be at least 12 years old. The Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino is beautiful in all directions. Extreme luxury abounds at Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino. It's enough to leave you breathless, really, from the moment you see how it cascades down the hillside and looks over the sea. The resort invites guests to experience its unique blend of Greek hospitality along with the resort's Asian heritage. Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino is hosting a Masters In Motion series of events in which wellness experts lead holistic experiences for guests which are designed to nurture one's mind, body, and spirit. That's in addition to its constant focus on wellness at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, which offers a holistic experience for each guest. The resort provides stunning villas and suites for guests that were designed to capture the beauty and warmth of the region. It also is a golf lover's dream with four signature golf courses, and it hosts prestigious golf tournaments throughout the year. The Romanos lobby is an iconic entranceway in Costa Navarino. Located by the Ionian Sea in the Navarino Dunes area, The Romanos, A Luxury Collection Resort is, like other area resorts, dedicated to sustainability and luxury in equal measures. Guests often remark on being wowed from the moment they arrive at The Romanos and see the stunning outdoors check-in area. This resort has a mile-long beach for guests to enjoy. It offers beautifully designed rooms, suites, and villas that have views of golf courses and the sea. Many suites also feature their own pool. All guests are treated to 24-hour butler services. Golfers also love this resort with its four 18-hole signature golf courses – The Bay Course, The Dunes Course, The Hills Course, and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course. That's in addition to its own golf academy. It also has the onsite Anazoe Spa, an award-winning spa that offers Thalassotherapy and a complete menu of other therapies and treatment that reflect ancient Greek health and beauty practices.
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
The best golf holidays in Europe and the UK
A great golf holiday is the defining event of any golfer's year. Whether you're embarking on an intrepid jaunt through the wild, rolling contours of the UK's finest seaside links courses or strolling your way round a classic, pristine European resort, it's what we live for. Accommodation can vary from a modest B&B to the luxury of a five-star resort. But, for most, it doesn't really matter where you stay. The only thing that truly matters is that there is a high-quality – and if you're lucky – world-class golf course waiting for you each morning. This list of golfing gems encapsulates all of the above. Get ready to drool, golfers. 1. Dundonald Links, Scotland Located in the heart of this coastal golfing mecca, Dundonald Links is a spectacular venue, host to both the Women's Scottish Open and Final Qualifying for the Open Championship. The layout is known for its imaginative greens and challenging bunkers, earning a place among the star names of western Scotland. Under the owners Darwin Escapes, heavy investment has seen Dundonald Links evolve into a fully-fledged resort. Guests can stay in either the premium rooms or a collection of luxurious, self-catering lodges with putting greens out front. Dundonald Links (01294 314000) offers packages from £175 per person per night, including two rounds of golf and breakfast. Fly to Glasgow with easyJet from £60 one way. 2. Costa Navarino, Greece Offering an outstanding combination of world-class golf, five-star accommodation and numerous leisure and lifestyle facilities, Costa Navarino is regarded as one of the world's premier luxury golfing venues. Situated in Greece's south-west Peloponnese, the destination features four signature 18-hole courses and was named as the World's Best Golf Venue at last year's World Golf Awards. Away from the fairways, guests have a choice of four five-star hotels – including Greece's first Mandarin Oriental – as well as more than 40 dining and entertainment venues, state-of-the-art sports facilities, world-class spa centres and a wealth of experiences engaging with the region's culture, history and nature. Costa Navarino (0030 272 309 7000) offers five nights at the Westin Resort from £955 per person, including breakfast and three rounds on any course. Fly to Kalamata with British Airways from £221 return. 3. The Dunas Course, Terras da Comporta, Portugal Occupying a secluded setting on the edge of the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, the par-71 layout has been created over 84 hectares of natural, sandy terrain and has the look and feel of a course much, much older. The venue will open its second 18-hole championship course, The Torre Course, in summer 2025. Designed by Sergio Garcia and inspired by the 2017 Masters champion's favourite track, Valderrama, the course will be the first major layout that the Spaniard has held overall design responsibility for and is already being tipped to become a future star of European golf. Terras da Comporta (00351 269 096 583) offers green fees on The Dunas Course from £200 per person. Quinta Da Comporta (00351 265 112 390) has junior suites from €395 (£332) per night, for two people. Fly to Lisbon with TAP from £200 return. 4. Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland If it's good enough for Tiger Woods, it's good enough for us. When the 15-time major winner first walked onto the 12 th tee at Old Head his reaction was priceless: 'Holy crap!' he gasped. He was faced with a monstrous vision – 564-yards on a tightrope adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. You play this hole by aiming, not at the fairway, but out to sea at a 90-degree angle. If you hit a good one, the ball will dutifully sail back from the middle of the ocean and onto the fairway. No wonder Old Head has been called 'Pebble Beach on steroids' – a breathtaking, must-visit golf destination. (0800 043 6644) offers a night's stay at Kinsale Hotel and Spa from £383 per person, including breakfast, one round at Old Head Golf Links and one round at Castlemartyr Resort. Fly to Cork with Aer Lingus from £83 one way 5. Les Bordes, France Featuring 46 holes of world-class golf, as well as a collection of luxury private and contemporary accommodation and extensive lifestyle facilities, Les Bordes is regarded among the game's most prestigious golf venues. The site provided the ideal setting for world number one Scottie Scheffler to put the finishing touches to his game on his way to gold medal glory at last summer's Olympics. Serious golf aficionados can follow in Scheffler's footsteps this summer with the recent launch of Les Bordes' Once in a Lifetime experiences, which provide a limited one-time chance to immerse themselves in daily life on the 1,400-acre private estate. Les Bordes (0033 219 390 033) offers a Once In A Lifetime experience from £1,510 per room per night, including full board and daily golf on the Old Course or spa activities for two people. Fly to Paris Orly with British Airways from £140 return. 6. Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, Portugal If you talk to a golfer who has played at Monte Rei, you will notice they all have a quiet, confident assertion that the Jack Nicklaus-designed Signature Course – the North Course – is the best golf course they have ever played. Situated among the picturesque foothills of the Eastern Algarve, Monte Rei has become one of Portugal's most famous names – many people regard it as the number one golf venue in the Algarve, such is the quality of its facilities. Monte Rei has also begun construction on a second 18-hole layout, with the South Course also being designed by 18-time Major winner, Nicklaus. Monte Rei (00351 281 950 950) offers three nights from £580 per person, in a three-bedroom Miradouro Linked Villa based on six guests sharing, including breakfast, two rounds of golf and access to leisure facilities. Fly to Faro with easyJet from £110 return. 7. Camiral Golf & Wellness, Spain There is a beguiling calm about Camiral. Set among the rolling contours and pine forests of Catalonia, Camiral Golf & Wellness is synonymous with tournament-quality golf courses and luxury accommodation, including a range of beautifully designed villas, townhouses and apartments. With two acclaimed golf courses, including the Stadium Course ranked among the best in Europe, first-class sports facilities and wellness offerings, Camiral provides everything you'd need for an active (or relaxing) break. Located 10 minutes from the historic city of Girona and an hour from bustling Barcelona, Camiral offers something to suit all tastes in a truly exceptional setting. Camiral Golf & Wellness (0034 972 472 249) offers three nights from £1,000, including breakfast, one round at the Stadium Golf Course and two rounds at Tour Golf Course for two people. Fly to Barcelona or Girona with Ryanair from £85 return. 8. Portmarnock Resort and Jameson Golf Links, Ireland If you're thinking about heading to Dublin for a stay-and-play golf trip, Portmarnock Resort and Jameson Golf Links is the place to go. Various modifications have been made to Bernhard Langer's original 1995 design, including the elevation of tee boxes and greens to bring the sea closer to the course and create stunning panoramic views of north Dublin's Velvet Strand, and the famous island known locally as Ireland's Eye. This is the perfect base for golfers looking to explore the array of world-class links courses along the north Dublin coast – including Portmarnock Golf Club, The Island and Royal Dublin. Portmarnock Resort (00353 1846 0611) offers packages from £325 per person for one night between April and October and £160 from November to March, including breakfast and one round of golf. Fly to Dublin with Ryanair from £34 one way. 9. Praia D'El Rey Golf & Beach Resort, Portugal Situated on Portugal's majestic Silver Coast and just 50 minutes from Lisbon, Praia D'El Rey Golf & Beach Resort is home to miles of golden beaches, a five-star hotel, villas, leisure facilities and a pair of acclaimed 18-hole golf courses. The two layouts can arguably claim to offer the best 36-hole combination on offer anywhere in the country. Praia D'El Rey provides a remarkable mix of parkland and links-style golf, offering a unique experience and spectacular views over the Atlantic and the Berlengas Islands beyond. Praia D'El Rey (00351 262 905 100) offers two-night packages from £210 per person with breakfast, including two rounds on Praia D'El Rey and West Cliffs golf courses. Fly to Lisbon with easyJet from £78 one way. 10. Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Ireland, Doonbeg, Ireland When you arrive at Doonbeg, you are immediately gripped with a delightful sense of isolation. In the middle of nowhere, you can feel the weight of life sliding off your shoulders and into the Atlantic. That serenity may be challenged somewhat when you're standing on the famous 111-yard, par-3 14 th hole, where you'll be playing anything from a wedge to a driver depending on the wind. Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg is a coastal haven, hidden on a sheltered corner of the Wild Atlantic Way where world-class golf meets an intimate spa, amazing food and access to the best activities, culture and heritage on offer in West Clare. (00353 6590 55600) offers a one-night stay from £850 per room, including breakfast and one round of Championship Links Golf. Fly to Shannon Airport with Aer Lingus from £40 return. 11. Sotogrande, Spain Three elite golf courses within one destination – that's hard to beat. Known for its quiet luxury, Sotogrande, situated on the spectacular Andalusian coast, offers an idyllic mix of world-class golf, Mediterranean beaches, fine dining, and wellness. And the golf courses? How does Real Club Valderrama, La Reserva Club and Real Club Sotogrande sound? To access them all stay at the Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort a chic, five-star resort known for its holistic wellness offering and panoramic views of the Mediterranean. Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort offers three nights from €604 (£508) per person, including one round at Almenara Golf Club and one round at La Reserva Golf Club. Fly to either Malaga (from £100 return) or Gibraltar (from £160) with easyJet. 12. Royal Porthcawl, Wales Widely regarded as the finest golf course in Wales (Masters champion Freddy Couples is a huge fan), Royal Porthcawl is a dramatic test of your links golfing prowess. The opening few holes are breathtaking – running fairways, deep bunkers and raised greens that are hard to hit and difficult to hold. Most importantly, there are sea views aplenty. Not every links course gives you a good look at the sea and the beach, which are often shielded by large dunes. One of Royal Porthcawl's claims to fame is that you can see the sea from every hole on the course. Royal Porthcawl Golf Club (01656 782251) offers rooms in the on-site dorm-style accommodation from £145 per night for two in a twin room, including breakfast. Golf passes cost £225 in off season (October to April) and £250 during peak season. Trains from Cardiff to Bridgend run regularly. 13. Lofoten Links, Norway There can be no more mesmerising or magical place for a golf holiday than Lofoten Links. Located above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway and set against dramatic backdrops of ocean, fjords, mountains, and beaches, experience the midnight sun in summer and even potential views of the Northern Lights in early or late season. Lofoten Links is a spectacular 18-hole seaside course combining wild, rugged scenery with pure links play. This pristine golf course is a true bucket-list experience for golfers around the world, offering 24-hour daylight golf during summer. Lofoten Links (0047 7607 2002) offers three nights from £640 per person, including accommodation in on-site lodges and three rounds. Fly to Bodø via Oslo with SAS from £191. 14. Princes, England Ah, Princes. What a gem. Nestled along the stunning Kent coastline, Prince's Golf Club offers an authentic links golf experience steeped in history and challenge. Once host to The Open Championship in 1932 (won by Gene Sarazen), this 27-hole championship venue combines the character of traditional links with modern refinement, including on-site top-class accommodation, restaurant and bar. It has recently been announced that Princes will host the 2030 Walker Cup for the first time. Popular with both seasoned golfers and links enthusiasts, the course offers year-round playability with its sandy soil and sea breeze. Princes Golf Club (01304 611118) offers a night's stay in The Lodge from £325 per person, including half board and two rounds. Trains from Charing Cross to Sandwich run every hour. 15. Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort, Italy Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort, Autograph Collection is nestled in a verdant valley on Monte Argentario, one of the most exclusive locations in Tuscany's wild territory of Maremma. The resort is surrounded by cork-oak woods and centuries-old olive trees, home to hares, deer, squirrels, wild boars, and various bird species. The private estate extends across 77 hectares, protected by environmental certification. It's a pristine paradise with no cars, just electric golf carts. The resort's PGA National golf course is one of the finest in Europe, and will host this year's Italian Open on June 26.
