Despite all the economic doom and gloom regarding the European economy and in particular that of Spain, the Andalucian Tourism sector is having a bumper year. Arrivals at Malaga Airport which has just opened its second runway and a new terminal are up 12% year on year to July.

As the saying goes “it’s an ill wind that blows no good”. The Arab Spring has given a great boost to tourist arrivals in Spain. The tourism sector in Egypt and Tunisia, two competitor destinations, have been all but wiped out for this year resulting in substantial gains for Spanish tourism.

This has resulted in a firming of prices for hotel rooms and other components of a golf holiday. It can come as something of a surprise to clients from the UK and Ireland who increasingly expect Spain to be slashing prices in the same way it is happening locally due to the recession.

There may well be a recession in Spain but Tourism is experiencing something of a micro boom.

The second runway will effectively double the capacity of the airport and ensure future growth. €550 million has been spent on the project, part of a ten year €1.6 billion investment in the airport as a whole.

The new runway is 2,750m long and has an additional 340m which can be used to help in take offs. It means it can be used by all the latest generation planes which are heavier and larger. The runway is 45 m wide with an extra 7 metre margin on each side.

The runway asphalt is 32 cms deep so it can support the weight of the planes. (Just as well!)

A new 4.1 km tunnel had to be built for the local train line to go under the new runway.

An additional capacity for 27 stationary planes is also part of the project.

The new runway completes the latest phase of development at Malaga Airport following on from the opening of the new Terminal building in 2011.

Malaga Airport’s new terminal building.

During the summer the affable Scot, Derek Brown has retired from his position as Director of Golf at Valderrama. Anyone who has ever played Valderrama will know Derek. He had an amazing ability to make visitors from around the globe feel welcome.

No matter where your home club was Derek knew someone from it. He would always put visitors at ease in what can be a daunting environment. Derek has been replaced by Javier Reviriego who previously held the same position at Finca Cortesin.

Derek Brown Javier Reviriego

We wish them both well and are delighted to be able to say that Derek will be staying on the Costa and his days in “golf” are long from over.

Watch this space.

Contry to recent rumor Valderama Golf Club has not been purchased by a company associated with Greg Norman.

Built in 1976 by Robert Trent Jones the very popular Mijas Los Lagos will close for the entire 2012 Season. During the 12 months, Los Lagos will be completely rebuilt with all new greens and fairways and will have a new irrigation system installed.

However there are no plans to redesign the course. So if you are planning to include Mijas in your 2012 trip it will have to be Los Olivos which will remain open throughout the year.

In order to clarify the procedure for returning cars rented through us with Espacar we would ask you to note the following instructions.

1. Passing the Sam Miguel brewery on the left you arrive at the main roundabout before the airport.
2. You will see the terminal building in front of you.
3. Follow sign for airport and “Salida” (salida / exit)
4. Stay on the right hand lane and do not follow Car-Rental returns signs.
5. This will take you to the new Terminal 3 and its drop off zone. It’s preferable to drop any passengers here along with all luggage.
6. Continue to follow “Salida” signs in the left hand lane which will take you away from the terminal.
7. With the old main Terminal on your right hand side the short-term car park (called Parking Express) entrance will be on your left at 50m from the Terminal 3. DO NOT ENTER HERE.
8. Continue to exit away from the airport and the main Public Parking (P-1) entrance is on the left hand side.
9. Enter here please and you will be on the 2nd floor. Inside 40m on the right is the ramp to level 3.
10. Drive up to the 3rd floor and park here.
11. Please double check that you have taken all personal belongings (apartment keys on key-ring, passport, mobiles, CD’s in player, sunglasses etc).
12. Leave the window open enough to throw in the key having locked the car beforehand.
13. Leave the parking ticket visible so that the Espacar representative can find it.Bon Voyage and safe onward journey and we hope you will use Espacar services again in the near future.

Espacar offer GPS Rental

For an additional 5€ a day you can have a sweet Spanish voice (in English) guide you through the intricacies of the Andalucian motorway system. In fact the Costa del Sol is a relatively easy place to navigate however some of the urban areas can be a labyrinth.

The powers to be have had great fun changing speed limits on the Costa recently.

First they reduced the toll road limit from 120 to 110KM and 4 months later reversed the decision back to 120KM. Each change cost 250,000€ which the region can ill afford.

Then, and more importantly they reduced the limit on the coast road (N340 / A7) from 100 to 80km. The cynical would say the thinking was to create a wider gap with the toll road hence making it more beneficial to use the toll and more revenue for the authorities.

More troubling is that more and more clients are beginning to receive an unpleasant holiday snap shot of themselves behind the wheel of their rented car with a demand for payment of a fine (Multa) from the Guardia Civil. Whereas previously few if any fines were sent on to holiday makers they certainly now are. Whether or not there is any follow up over and above posting the fine we can’t actually say. We do know of a few clients who have coughed up the money – mostly in fear of being pulled aside at the airport on a future trip. While this is highly unlikely we have no inner knowledge of these matters.

Our only advice is to slow down. In fact in Spain all fixed speed cameras are signalled 500m in advance so really only the careless get caught!!

Good story if true!!!!

Lee Trevino – a true story. One day, shortly after joining the PGA tour in 1965, Lee Trevino, a professional golfer and married man, was at his home in Dallas, Texas mowing his front lawn, as he always did.

A lady driving by in a big, shiny Cadillac stopped in front of his house, lowered the window and asked, “Excuse me, do you speak English?”

Lee responded, “Yes ma’am, I do”.

The lady then asked, “What do you charge to do yard work ?”

Lee said, “Well, the lady in this house lets me sleep with her”.

The lady hurriedly put the car into gear and sped off.

We have put our neck on the line once too often in relation to predicting a date for the opening of this much awaited relief tunnel. The word now is “sometime in 2012”. It would seem to be about 95% finished but nobody (neither locally or the central Government in Madrid)  has the money to finance the remaining 5%. We can now say with certainty that it will open when it opens and not a day before.

San Pedro Tunnel Works a basket “mañana” case!

San Roque Suites have recently reopened their refurbished accommodation at the San Roque Resort. The tastefully decorated Suites (one and 2 bedrooms) were originally built to house the Ryder Cup Teams in 1997. Indeed today the suites carry the names of the team members who occupied them during the Ryder Cup.

In addition to a magnificent pool facility,  the resort boasts 3 restaurants – the Golf Club Clubhouse, Tango’s (Spanish Cuisine) and the world class Japanese Kamakura restaurant.

For golfers looking for comfortable accommodation in the midst of what is probably Europe’s finest cluster of quality golf courses (Valderrama, Sotogrande, San Roque, La Reserva & Finca Cortesin are all only a short drive) this is the place for you.

Please consult us for excellent rates.

Congratulations to the European Ladies Team who won the Solheim Cup in Dramatic fashion and in dramatic weather at Kileen Castle in Co. Meath, Ireland.

Much to the disappointment of Spain, France has been chosen to host the 2018 Ryder Cup. A yet to be built course at The French Federation’s Golf National at Les Yvlines on the outskirts of Paris will be the venue.

Many of you will be familiar with one of our favourite hotels the H10Andalucia Plaza Hotel and Casino in Puerto Banus. This year the property has become an “Adult Only” hotel.

Foyer – H10 Andalucia Plaza Hotel

For golfers looking for something more than Golf, Sun and Sangria we have designed a range of golf packages based on the various Cultural Capitals of Andalucia.

Arriving and Departing from Malaga, Seville or Gibraltar airports the standard itinerary is as follows.

Day 1

Arrive Malaga Airport and continue to Antequera. Overnight at the 5 star Hotel Convent La Magdalena

Day 2

Play Antequera Golf and continue to Granada.

Day 3

Visit the Alhambra – overnight at the Parador Hotel within the walls of the Alhambra.

Day 4

Play Granada Club de Golf and continue to Cordoba – overnight at the Vincci Hotel Cordoba.

Cordoba’s Mosque

Day 5

Morning visit the magnificent Cordoba Mosque and afternoon continue to Seville. Overnight at Hotel Vincci (5 star)

Day 6

Play Real Club de Golf, Seville. Afternoon visit Seville’s Cathedral and city centre. Overnight and Seville

Real Club de Golf,  Seville

Day 7

Drive to San Roque playing Montecastillo or Arcos Gardens en route or San Roque on arrival. Overnight at San Roque Suites.

Day 8

Return to Malaga or Gibraltar Airport for return flight

For prices and availability contact Golf Experience.

• Daren Clarke for getting away with speeding in his Mercedes between Belfast and Killarney to take part in the Irish Open. Luckily he had the Claret Jug on the passenger seat and the “Garda” let him off with a caution and a photo!

• European ladies for winning the Solheim Cup
• Great Britain & Ireland for winning the Seve Ballesteros Trophy in France
• The Dubs for getting the monkey off their back
• Wicklow for winning the All-Ireland Football final. Gender & category irrelevant. We won and that’s all the matters!
• Northern Irish golfers for winning everything worth winning
• Welsh rugby team for beating Ireland in the RWC
• Ireland for beating Australia in the RWC
• Malaga FC for finding a wealthy buyer and soaring up La Liga – why not take in a match when next on the Costa!

In doing so Poulter became the first golfer in history to have won both the Volvo and Accenture match play titles and enhanced his already strong reputation as a formidable opponent in the sport’s head-to-head format.

Many of the golfers also remarked on the Finca Cortesin Hotel where they all stayed.Apparently it is head and shoulders above any other resort hotel on the circuit.

We could have told you that !

Always of course trying to rank them from the top – St Andrews, Augusta National, Valderrama, Pinehurst etc. etc. – take your pick. Professional golf journalists pass their days ranking courses. Great work if you can get it. A little like being a reviewer for the Michelin Restaurant Guide.

We’d like to turn your attention to the world’s worst golf course for a while. A lot less is known about the world’s worst golf clubs.

Well, I’d like you to focus for a few minutes on this question and a related subject. There is of course no definitive winner in this category and nor is there much interest in their ranking but we have identified one course which would stand a fair chance of winning this dubious accolade. This would be the Freetown Golf Club in beautiful Sierra Leone.

Séamus Whooley (Golf Experience) at Freetown GC.

The course is at the limits in terms of what passes as a golf course. However its patrons, Government Ministers, Diplomats, NGO are all agree that it’s the finest club in Sierra Leone, and indeed it is. Of course it is the only club in the country.

The greens are not greens but “browns” – sand from the beach is covered with oil to give a surface on which you can actually putt.

18th Brown  Freetown GC.

The school “Regent School” is in dire need of refurbishment and we need your help. If you have the slightest of interest please read on.  If not, at least you now know a little about Freetown Golf Club!

Sierra Leone is a heart-breaking country. Often ranked the poorest in the world but as you will have learned from the afore-mentioned movie, rich in diamonds and other minerals and has the most beautiful tropical forests and beaches.

River Number 2                                 Unrivaled Beaches

Apart from the horrendous physical consequences of this war of which the use of child soldiers was the most disturbing aspect, there is an invisible consequence of a lost generation for whom education was non-existing.

Its people suffered immense strife and horror during the war. To his eternal credit Tony Blair finally sent a small armed force to snuff out the insurgence and put an end to the countries strife, or at least to the violence. Tony Blair’s father lectured Law at Freetown’s Fourah Bay University during the 60’s.

On returning recently to Sierra Leone I was surprise by the resilience of the people, their dignity and good nature and their ever radiant smiling faces. They seem to have put the war behind them and with the help of a Peace and Reconciliation Commission social harmony has been restored.

A Small project to make a small improvement but a huge difference to some.

Regent Elementary School Main Building

A Sierra Leonean Welcome

Regent School was first built in 1828 when Sierra Leone, under British Control and a Governor General – General McCarthy who hailed from Cork (where else!).  It was built by the Christian Missionary Service and was one of a cluster of schools in Freetown which actually helped to develop the city as the major learning centre for English speaking West Africa.

Today Regent School is in a dilapidated and unsafe state.  It houses 450 students between 4 and 16 years. It is a poor school in a very poor region. Many kids walk barefoot for miles to get there.  Regent school is fortunate to have a dynamic headmaster Mr. Sylvester Leigh whose enthusiasm in the face of much adversity is astonishingly admirable.

Existing Latrine which must be replaced

New Roof  – phase 1.                                                   Existing Toilets

Hard times, donor fatigue etc. etc. – we realise there are plenty of reasons for inertia. But if we could spirit you to Freetown for just an hour to meet these wonderful people and to see their plight you wouldn’t hesitate a minute to help.

And still they smile!

We guarantee that every penny collected will go straight to the project in question. We are working with AKIN (Association for Kids in Need) which is a Gibraltar based registered charity (www.akincharity.org) who in turn is working with the Spanish Red Cross in Freetown. The Spanish Red Cross directly project manages the renovation on a private basis with funding from AKIN. This is, a “seepage” free charity structure. We are small and flexible and whatever costs there may be are covered by volunteers.

How can you help?

We want to make this as easy as possible and give you as many options as possible.

1. Visit the AKIN website http://www.akincharity.org/supportakin.html and complete the donation form specifying the Sierra Leone option.

1. Post us a cheque (any currency) payable to AKIN – Sierra Leone to us :

Golf Experience / AKIN Appeal

Urb. Guadalcantara Golf

Bloque 2 – 3d

29670 San Pédro de Alcantara

Malaga

Spain

1. Corporate Affiliate Programme.

Become a Corporate Affiliate of AKIN (Association of Kids in Need).  This will allow your company to have a reciprocal link. We will list your company as an affiliate and supporter / donor of AKIN on the AKIN website.  You can use the AKIN logo on your company’s site with a link through to the very worthwhile charity. The charge for this philanthropic act is €100 per annum.

Finally

Education is the key to progress.  The better the quality of education the greater the progress.

So please, while the thought is fresh in your mind, write that cheque or fill in the donation form on the website. We will provide receipts for all donations.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Seamus Whooley

Golf Experience / AKIN (Association for Kids in Need)

Thank you for your time.

For more information on Sierra Leone visit:

http://www.yoursierraleone.com

In recent years Valderrama was the only club which could guarantee caddies but today most of the Sotogrande cluster of courses (San Roque, La Reserva, Sotogrande, Almenara) can supply caddies if given a few days notice. The average cost of a caddie is €50 – €60. A caddie can also work as a fore-caddy and assist a four-ball navigate a new course.

It was a very hot summer on the Costa del Sol and the tourism sector was given a significant boost with the arrival of some very high profile tourists including the American First Lady Michele Obama.

Villa Padierna Hotel – Flamingos Golf

The first Lady and her entourage stayed at the 5 star Villa Padierna Hotel (Flamingos Golf) in Estepona. The family stayed for 4 nights before joining the Spanish Royal family in Majorca

Michelle Obama enjoys a stroll through the Marbella Old-town

U.S First Lady Michelle Obama smiles while she visits Marbella, southern Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010. The White House says that the first lady Michelle Obama is in Spain for a private trip with long-time family friends. (AP Photo/Sergio Torres)

Flamingos also held the Spanish Ladies Open in September which was won by Britain’s Lauro Davies.

Laura Davies on the 18th at Flamingos Golf

Valle Romano

For the last 6 months now we have exposed many of our regular clients to the new Cabel Robinson designed Valle Romano just outside Estepona. The consensus is largely very positive and that the course fits comfortably into the top 12 on the Costa.

On service and friendliness the club would probably rank in the top 3. The course lay out is very popular and while the land is hilly the design has managed to negate the impact of the hilly terrain. Some hideous real estate is the only real negative.

We recommend you try it at our preferential high season price of €75 including buggy (high season price).

Irish residents Ireland can apply for an EHIC directly from the HSE

In the UK the quickest and easiest way is to apply online. Your card will normally arrive within seven days. Some people can only apply for an EHIC by post but this method will take longer.

• To apply by phone, call 0845 606 2030.

• To apply by post, get a form from your local post office. Send the completed form to EHIC Applications, PO Box 1114, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 2TL.

Valderrama Golf Club which has just been taken over by a Greg Norman owned company will host the Andalucía Masters starting on Oct 29th.

Looking for the Ultimate Christmas Gift for the discerning golfer in your life?

Golf Experience is offering a limited number of 10 vouchers for 2 to play at Europe’s number one golf course Valderrama. This is the ultimate golfer’s present and is at the unbeatable price of €390 for the 2 green-fees. The offer is valid for play anytime in 2011 and subject to availability at time of booking.

Golf Experience has now added Tenerife to its range of destinations.

Golf Club Adeje

After some extensive research Golf Experience in collaboration with the H10 Hotel chain is now offering golf packages to the Island of Tenerife throughout the year.

Tenerife which has the same latitude as Western Sahara is the perfect winter golf destination.

With easy access from most UK & Irish airports the guarantee of warm winter weather is a huge selling point for this spectacular volcanic island in the Canary Islands.

H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel

How about a short romantic break at what is surely the most luxurious hotel in Spain – Hotel Finca Cortesin?

Fairplay Golf Hotel and Resort

It’s not often that a truly unique golfing holiday resort presents itself.  But having just visited the 5 star Fairplay Golf Hotel (A member of the Leading Small Hotels of the World) we can say that we have indeed found one.

This unique resort is set in the heart of the Alcornocales National Park and commands a splendid view over Spain’s only remaining rice paddy field. Sounds remote?  Well at only an hour’s drive from Gibraltar Airport or 30 minutes from Jerez it is remarkably accessible.

The hotel is located at the white village of Benalup and indeed its layout is supposed to resemble that of a Spanish white village clustering around the main hotel and Spa.

What makes Fairplay unique as a 5 star golf resort is that it is all inclusive. Your price includes full-board accommodation and unlimited golf on their excellent 18 hole par 73 course.

The hotel boasts 3 world class restaurants where everything except some vintage wines are included.

Golf Experience have negotiated excellent rates for our clients and prices start at €150 per person sharing per night which when you consider the price includes everything really is great value.

And while the French football team may not have covered themselves in glory in South Africa congratulations must go to Frenchman Gregory Havret for his second place at Pebble Beach. I spoke with 2 golfing clients in France on the Monday after Pebble Beach and they were totally unaware of Havret’s achievement such is the level of media coverage given to golf in France.

And while not taking from Louis Oosthuizen’s great win at Saint Andrews we salute the performance of another Irishman who will surely go on to win major titles. Rory McIlroy’s determination in fighting back up the leader board after shooting an 80 on the Friday shows tremendous tenacity and will. Well done to both players!

Gregory Havret – Pebble Beach

In the Meantime Valderrama will host the Andalucia Masters during the last week of October 2010.

Monte studies his 2nd shot to the 17th at Valderrama.

Every month we like to bring you some good news. While all the talk is about budget deficits and belt tightening, clients in the UK may not have noticed but Sterling has appreciated by about 20% against the Euro since our last newsletter. So while our British clients who were just about getting used to the idea of the pound being worth no more than a Euro can now exchange their pounds for €1.20. Happy days are here again!!!

This of course means that your next golfing holiday will cost you 20% less than it would have a year earlier. This not insignificant appreciation puts Golf in Spain in a very competitive position versus other destinations.

The hogan Stand Bar

John Hogan has made the brave investment during these tough times and the almost total isolation of San Pedro to open a very impressive restaurant adjoining the very popular Hogan Stand Bar. The new restaurant serves international/Mediterranean cuisine with an Irish flavour at very reasonable prices. That bar is a great focal point for golfers who want to catch all sporting events in a very relaxed atmosphere.

Terminal 3 – Now Open

The new terminal (3) which is not really a new terminal but an extension of the existing terminal 2 had opened to much acclaim at Malaga Airport. While passengers from non- Schengan countries (UK & Ireland) have to do an extra bit of walking as they will arrive at the old terminal 2 everybody will benefit from the extra capacity and facilities.

“Seamus,

Everybody loved the trip.  One great golf course after another.  Thanks a lot for making it happen.

A few random notes:

We all loved Monte Mayor – you have to admire whoever looked at that valley and decided he could build a golf course there.  Spectacular holes.

Valle Romano is already a first rate course, and it will become great with a little aging.

It was nice of you to drop by to watch us tee off at Flamingos, even if I did dump my opening tee shot into the weeds.  By the way, after taking a Mulligan, I had my best round of the trip there with an 80.  Although I liked the two layouts, Flamingos has some issues such as signage, two blind lakes in the middle of fairways, incredibly tight driving holes on the #1 holes of each course, and some very slippery steps.

Finca Cortesin was a delight and they obviously studied at the American school of Customer Service.

Everybody was pleased with my choice of the H10 Estepona Palace Hotel with its generous sized bedrooms and great food. The Port of Estepona was a real plus with its relaxed atmosphere and great choice of restaurants – just right for our group.

On Saturday, Hilary and I went hiking at El Torcal, which is very close to Antequera.  Wonderful scenery!  Best two hour hike I’ve ever had – and I’ve done a lot of hiking.

I chose wisely when I picked you to organize our trip, and I hope you help many more groups to discover what a great golfing experience can be found at Costa del Sol.