After months of planning and many visits to the “Kingdom” Golf Experience is ready to launch a range of golf packages to Morocco. Over the years we have considered sending clients across the Straits of Gibraltar to Tangiers and beyond and feel that the time is now right. Morocco’s infrastructure has improved immensely in resent years with billions being spent improving the motor and rail network as well as a much improved air access with low cost carriers such as Easyjet and Ryanair who now serve Casablanca, Marrakesh, Tangiers and Agadier in the south.
The flying time to Malaga and Casablanca is practically the same. We are approaching the market from two different angles: Firstly as an add-on to a Costa del Sol trip. Clients from the UK can fly into Malaga and out of Casablanca with Easyjet for example. Having crossed the Straits of Gibraltar by fast ferry (50 minutes) the journey-time to Rabat is 2 hours and 20 minutes on an international standard motorway. By spending your last night in the capital Rabat you can play both courses at the magnificent Dar el Salam Club just outside Rabat. These Robert Trent Jones designed courses (45 holes) host the annual King-Hassan Trophy which will be a PGA European tour event this year.Previous winners include Payne Steward, Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomery. Secondly we have a selection of Morocco only packages based in Marrakech, combining Marrakech with El Jadida and Rabat. These will mean taking direct flights from the UK to Morocco without a stay in Spain. Caddies are an integral part of the Moroccan Experience. Morocco has for a long time been the reserve of a francophone golfer. However its golfing secret is fast escaping and we would love to show you this completely different and world class golfing experience.

Valle Romano postpones opening. Don’t you just love this photo? Valle Romano Golf Club in Estepona was due to open in November as we have come to expect with openings it has been delayed for a few months. We will keep you posted as this promises to be a top 10 contender on the Costa.

Hotels on the Costa del Sol are responding with great vigor to the economic crisis and we are now seeing great value in many hotels. Golf Experience is particularly pleased with our special “golfers” rates at the excellent H10 Andalucia Plaza & Casino in Puerto Banus and its sister hotel the H10Estepona Palace. We strongly recommend value and quality conscious clients to take the half-board options at either of these excellent properties. For clients venturing to Gran Canaria we are also offering the 5 star H10Playa Meloneras Palace – contact us for details. H10 Andalucia Plaza Hotel & Casino – Puerto Banus H10 Estepona Palace

And on Gran Canaria for some 5 star luxury in the winter heat Golf Experience is delighted to announce our partnership with the H10 Meloneras Palace where we have unbeatable rates at one of Gran Canaries finest 5 star hotels. H10 Playa Meloneras Palace Situated in Meloneras, in the south of Gran Canaria, the H10 Playa Meloneras Palace is located on a quiet area in front of the sea and next to the Golf Meloneras. The thoughtful landscaping, and its cosy interior design make it a particularly charming hotel. Allow yourself be pampered at the Meloneras Wellness health and beauty centre.

We have also taken on some new luxury Villas on the Costa del Sol for rental during 2010. So if you are interested in a family summer rental or a large villa for a group of golfers go to the self-catering section of Golf Experience or click here.

We reiterate our call for clients to book their car-rentals for peak periods early this year. The shortage of cars will remain a feature throughout the year so for summer, Easter and all school breaks contact us as soon as possible. We recommend as usual our preferred partner “Espacar” at Malaga and Gibraltar airports. For those who want the absolute cheapest car and especially at other main airports on the Iberian Peninsula and indeed anywhere in Europe, Golf Experience has teamed up with CarTrawler who will find you the cheapest deal around.

Great success for the VWMPC and magnificent comments about Finca Cortesin. We knew that this first year would not be easy, but thanks to the efforts of all the Finca Cortesín staff their resort has been unanimously praised by players, press and public. The weather was wonderful during the four-day tournament and the large number of fans that visited Finca Cortesín really enjoyed watching some of today’s golf stars. Of course, we are already working to improve the presentation and the organization for the 2010 tournament. Here are some of the comments made by players about Finca Cortesín during the week: Paul Casey: “This tournament is fantastic. Finca Cortesín is a wonderful place and it is one of the best hotels in which I have ever been in my life, it’s truly impressive. The golf course is in magnificent condition” Angel Cabrera: “the best of this course are the Greens, they are truly spectacular” Lee Westwood: “the Finca Cortesín golf course is fantastic, perfect for Match Play, a course for long hitters, I suppose in any course, you have an advantage if you hit it long but at Finca Cortesin you must also hit it very straight. The par 5’s are just reachable same as a couple of the Par 4’s. The course is in perfect condition, and the greens are immaculate. It’s a course that I really like” Sergio Garcia: “the Greens are impressive, they have nothing to envy Augusta” If you wish to view some tournament videos, please visit: www.youtube.com/volvoworldmatchplay

Finca Cortesin is the course of the month at www.pgatour.com The travel section of www.pgatour.com has selected Finca Cortesín Golf Club as October Course of the Month and has published an extensive article and review of the layouts main features. We highly recommend reading it because it highlights several technical aspects of our course and compares it to some of the best creations of Robert Trent Jones. It also refers to the hotel, it states it should really be “6 stars” and ranks it as the “best of the Costa del Sol” You can see the full article if you click on the link below www.pgatour.com

We are an Irish owned, Spanish based Holiday Company specialising in sports holidays to the Costa del Sol. Our roots are in the G.A.A. and we know a thing or two about the club scene in Ireland. The season can be long and demanding so why not kick-start it with an invaluable bonding trip to train in Spain’s sunshine coast.

Or perhaps reward a successful season with a post-season trip when everyone can relax and enjoy a few days in the sun before the long winter sets in. Apart from training you can play golf on one of the 50 courses on this sun-drenched part of Europe or enjoy any of the many other sporting activities on the Costa del Sol. We provide accommodation, transport, world-class training facilities and can even organise a challenge match with the local GAA Club “Costa Gaels” who are the current Spanish Champions. Since our inception in 1989 we have catered for GAA, Rugby, Hockey, Soccer and Golf teams to the Costa del Sol. So whether you are a men’s, ladies, mixed or even a veterans team we would love to have the opportunity to put in place a memorable trip for your club.

Contact Golf Experience on:

Tel: 00 34 952 88 74 92

e-mail : info@golfexperience.net

Web: http://www.golfexperience.net

Skype us at golf-experience
To facilitate cheaper communication with our customers Golf Experience is now contactable on Skype. Our Skype address is “Golf-Experience”

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Top Golfers for the Volvo World Match Play

We are only days away from the closing of the Volvo World Match Play Qualification process (this will happen after PGA Championship) and there are already some players that have”virtually” qualified and confirmed their attendance.

The highlights are undoubtedly: Sergio García, Camilo Villegas, Steve Stricker, Retief Goosen and Sean O ‘ Hair. We will certainly have a great roster of players that will enjoy our golf course, hotel and hopefully the good weather. For more info regarding the tournament visit:

www.volvoworldmatchplay.com

From last May, the second golf course at the Flamingos Resort, Gran Flamingo Golf,  begun a process of radical changes involving the name, management, image and, above all else, improvements to the amenities and services.

From now on, the course, located in one of the most luxurious resorts on the Costa del Sol, will be known as Alferini Golf Club.

Alferini Golf is a true challenge for any golfer. Situated next to the other course of Flamingos Golf Resort, it is a long layout of 6,600 metres, and one of the few par-73s on the Coast, with some of the fairways requiring pinpoint accuracy and large, generous greens. With four large lakes, water comes into play on several holes, and there is a minimum of five levels on each tee – enabling the course to be adapted to different playing levels and degrees of difficulty. Out on the course there is a feeling of peace and quiet, a welcome lack of noise, because Alferini Golf is truly in the midst of nature, a lush valley within the mountains of Benahavís.

Our only wish is that they had listened to us, the tour operator over the last few years when we encouraged them to stop hiking prices.

Los Naranjos now has a €65 green-fee and is giving a €10 voucher for spending in the Bar / Restaurant which means the round of golf is really costing €55. A year ago the same round was €85.

This is a typical example of the great value now available on the Costa del Sol.

For the summer they have introduced a special offer of €115 for 2 players and a buggy.

You heard it First From Golf Experience – No Cars for Rent at Malaga Airport this Summer!

This summer will see a major shortage of cars for rent at Malaga Airport. This is an ironic result of the credit crunch. All the major car-hire companies relied in the past, on renewing their fleets on a buy and sell back arrangement with the car manufactures. After six months the manufactures bought the cars back and sold them on.

However, this is no longer happening and the car-rental companies consequently will have much reduced fleets this summer as they can not finance outright the purchase of new fleets. Already at Easter there was a huge shortage so, be warned.

If you are planning a visit during the summer let us book your car now with Espacar who offer the best Value / Service on the Costa. No hidden extras, no waiting at Malaga Airport, no rip-off charges for fuel etc. Just the smiling face of Antonio to greet you and rush you to your awaiting car.

San Pedro de Alcantara Tunnel

San Pedro de Alcantara, as many of you will know it, is about to disappear for 18 months.

The N 340 / A7 from the Ronda roundabout to Guadalmina Golf Club or the above arch will be close to traffic by the time you read this. The sea-side alternative route will take the traffic in both directions.

New 5 Star Deluxe Hotel Opens in Finca Cortesin

Situated between Estepona and La Duquesa the magnificent “Cloisters” style hotel is perched on a hilltop with commanding views of the Costa del Sol’s coastline and the Sierra de Ronda mountains and of course Finca Cortesin Golf Club.

This property brings new standards of luxury to the Costa del Sol with a variety of sumptuous rooms and suites.

The development is situated just 2 kilometres from the sandy beaches of South of Spain, between Marbella and Sotogrande.

It features an amazing Golf and Spa Hotel Resort, as well as luxury apartments, penthouses and detached villas.

Opened in October 2008, the 5-star deluxe hotel will offer one and two bedroom suites, with Juniors Suites all lavishly appointed and elegantly furnished, with high ceilings and the finest materials.

The hotel’s luxurious spa is a haven of relaxation, complementing the property’s sports facilities, exclusive boutique shops and restaurants.

The eagle eyed among you will have noticed that the soon to be opened “Valle Romano Course” has been sponsoring the Andalucia Open for the last couple of years.

However this latest gem on the coast has had a few set-backs in recent times but is now due to open on November 2nd (The day after the Volvo Masters at neighbouring Finca Cortesin ends). I suppose they hope to get a few golfing hacks over to play it and pen favourable articles.

Both courses were designed by Cabel Robinson who also designed Sotogrande La Reserva. So if they are anything to go by we can expect the Costa del Sol to have yet another world class course.

Club de Golf la Zagaletta

We have it on good authority that the very reclusive and exclusive Club de Golf la Zagaletta might just be about to open its doors to the great unwashed.

Until now the situation was as follows:

“Never could so few enjoy so much”, a statement that describes exactly La Zagaleta golf private course. The Californian architect harmonised exclusive and exquisite golfing with the nature of La Zagaleta. On this golf course he combined excellent holes with the breathtaking views, making each hole an unforgettable experience for the lucky golfer enjoying La Zagaleta.”

This may just be about to change as a major international Golf Management company may be about to take over the management at La Zagaletta (On the road to Benahavis) which would lead one to believe that green-fees may soon be available on both these courses.

Exclusively for the private use of residents and members of La Zagaleta, this beautiful 18-hole golf course, designed by Bradford Benz, offers a longitude of 6.000 m with fantastic and breathtaking views.

Finally we can confirm new dates for the Volvo World March-Play Championship are October 29th to November 1st.

At Golf Experience we believe that Michael is taking golfers for a ride charging €60 to transport your golf clubs.

Why not allow us provide you with state of the art new clubs which will be delivered to your first course and collected from you on your last day. No need to haul your clubs all over Europe  contributing to O’Leary’s pension plan in the process.

For as little as €20 a day we can supply you with state of the art Callaway and Taylor-Made Clubs anywhere on the Costa del Sol.

While there may be no end to Michael’s imagination in terms of generating revenue, you too can do the sums and take the better option of renting here is Spain.

The Costa del Sol and in particular its many great courses have reacted with a myriad of special offers designed to attract the hard strapped Northern European Golfer.

While we, the Golf Tour Operators have been pleading with the courses to show restraint over the last few years they have until recently largely ignore us.

However now they seem to be racing to out-do each other with special offers and promotions.

SPECIAL OFFER ON GRAN FLAMINGOS

50% OFF

Offers now available include 50% reductions in the form of 2 for 1 offers at Gran Flamingos or 36 holes for the price of 18 at Mijas (play same day).

RIO REAL GOLF CLUB 25% REDUCTIONS

Many other course have succumbed to including buggies in their green-fees which in many cases represent as much as a 25% reduction.

Rio Real, Los Naranjos and Almenara, Los Arqueros, El Paraiso and Atalaya new are among the plethora of courses offering free buggies most of the year.

REAL CLUB DE GOLF LAS BRISAS €40 off!

The wonderful  Robert Trent Jones designed Real Club de Golf Las Brisas has appointed Golf Experience as one of a handful of operator to sell green-fees during 8 month of the year. In 2008 the rates was €160 while we will be happy to book you a round for €120 during 2009.

COST SAVING IDEAS TO HELP WITH THE CRUNCH

Eating In..

Most of our groups who stay at the many popular hotels tend to do so on a Bed &  Breakfast basis and go to restaurants for their evening meal.

This can add considerably to the cost of a Golf trip. By taking the half-board option at a good 4 star you can have your dinner for as little as an additional €5 a night.

Club Rental..

If coming for a short trip and just playing 2 or 3 rounds, why not leave your clubs behind and rent here. We can rent you the latest material for as little as €20 a day which will be less that what your airline will charge for transporting them.

OTHER NEWS

Finca Cortesin seem to be unsure of the hosting of the 2009 World Cup Championship Match Play – first scheduled for 24th – 27th Sept and now being penciled in for later in October as somebody discovered that the original dates clashed with some other major tournament.

To prepare for the event they have had to close the course for 2 months this winter and again it is scheduled to be closed from Oct 2nd – 20th with considerable loss of revenue.

One must really question the benefit of hosting golf tournaments!

People remember where the Ryder Cup is held but few other golf Tournaments.

While speaking of tournaments the European Senior Tour is set to visit Benahavis in Spain for the first time when the Benahavis Senior Masters takes place at La Quinta Golf and Country Club from October 2-4, 2009.

NEW AIR ROUTES INTO MALAGA

Aer lingus have just announced the welcome addittion of a Gatwick to Malaga service which will help peg back fares on this popular route into the Costa del Sol. Service starts March 2009.

A NEW ACCOMODATION ALTERNATIVE IN PUERTO BANUS

Lorcrimar Hotel Puerto Banus

We are delighted to include this new 3 star Puerto Banus property in our 2009 packages.

It offers great rates, a great location and golfer friendly atmosphere.

Our guarantee is that we will not be beaten on price at these top courses!

• Valderrama
• Real Club de Golf Sotogrande
• Real Club de Golf Las Brisas
• Sotogrande La Reserva

Volvo World Match-Play at Finca Cortesin

Finca Cortesin are about to announce revised dates for the hosting of the Volvo World Match-Play Championship. These are now October 29th – Sunday 1st November.

The course will close on October 18th in preparation for the tournament.

Crunch green-fees on the Costa del Sol

With few exceptions Golf Experience has negotiated reduced green-fees at all the Costa del Sol’s 40 courses. We estimate that prices have dropped in real terms on the Costa del Sol by 25% – 30% on average. So even for British golfers suffering the devaluation of sterling, year-on year prices are still lower than 2008. For Euro-zone, clients can benefit from these huge reductions and in many cases with buggies included.

The Algarve’s Golf-clubs seem not to have heard about the recession and continue to charge some exorbitant rates including up to €60 for a buggy! The pendulum has indeed swung right back to the Costa del Sol for value golf.

“Full Day Green-Fee”

Dear Collaborator,

We are writing you to inform you that from February 2009 onwards the Green-Fee at Mijas Golf Club will be for the whole day.

Please read below the conditions:

The Green-fee price will be daily, not just for 18 holes.

(Please consult the daylight calendar on each occasion)

The 2nd round will be subject to availability and must be reserved on arrival.

Available for both courses: Los Lagos & Los Olivos

(Please consult our maintenances plan on the date of play).

Special offers not included.

The rest of the prices are for 18 holes.

Should you need any more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience.

Well 2009 would seem as if it might present some choppy waters. A perfect storm as more than one guru has described it.

However we remain optimistic particularly when we see the huge amount of “value” emanating from the Spanish golf courses and many hotels. This value is being injected into our Golf packages every time we make a proposal. The reaction by the Spanish courses can best be described as Better late than never!. In contrast the Algarve continues to increase its prices – the mind boggles.

Some more great news

Las Brisas

Real club de Golf Las Brisas, one of Spain’s most iconic courses had decided to throw open its wonderful course in Marbella for 8 months of the year. Up to now it was virtually a no-go area for visiting golfers and if available the price was exorbitant.  Now this top class Robert Trent Jones designed course has invited a select number of Tour Operators to market their visitor tee-times, including Golf Experience / GolfinSpainnow.

We will have a heavily discounted rate of €120 throughout 2009.

Santana Golf Club is even better value in 2009.

Santana, having already frozen its 2008 prices have now juggled around with the seasons in a way that reduces their green-fees during a considerable number of extra weeks of the year.

Gran Flamingos see even more light!

Following their hugely successful two for one offer in the low season the powers to be at Flamingos Golf have decided that they will continue to drive traffic with this great price offer.

Golf Experience is offering a round on this great new course for €65 in high season. Twelve months ago it was priced at €130.

Lorcrimar Hotel Puerto Banus

We are delighted to include this new 3 star Puerto Banus property in our 2009 packages.

It offers great rates, a great location and golfer friendly atmosphere.