The Official Golf Thread

Started by laoislad, December 28, 2006, 07:07:48 PM

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Bogball XV

Quote from: magickingdom on June 27, 2010, 10:15:49 PM
Quote from: Orior on June 27, 2010, 10:11:39 PM
Where is Simon Thornton from?

born in england to irish parents, lives in co down and has an irish passport.
see he's going well this week again - will be seeing a 'where to watch all ireland in Vienna' thread coming up shortly

The Real Laoislad

Looking into booking a golfing break to Portugal next March or April,has anyone done anything like this recently and can you recommend a good travel agent?
Or would it be cheaper to book everything separate on my own?
You'll Never Walk Alone.

Orior

Quote from: The Real Laoislad on October 25, 2010, 11:15:21 PM
Looking into booking a golfing break to Portugal next March or April,has anyone done anything like this recently and can you recommend a good travel agent?
Or would it be cheaper to book everything separate on my own?

I was away with 15 others a month ago in Portugal. The guy organising it, told us all to book our flights on Easijet. He organised a pickup bus to the hotel resort.

We stayed here http://www.donafilipahotel.com/

Nice beach nearby, and surrounded by golf courses. Bicycle hire close by too.

There was about 10-12 golf courses in the area, but we played the same one for 4 days which was very good.

http://www.sanlorenzogolfcourse.com/
Cover me in chocolate and feed me to the lesbians

JimStynes

You would need some money for that place!!

Geoff Tipps

Quote from: The Real Laoislad on October 25, 2010, 11:15:21 PM
Looking into booking a golfing break to Portugal next March or April,has anyone done anything like this recently and can you recommend a good travel agent?
Or would it be cheaper to book everything separate on my own?

Been golfing 3 times in Portugal. Twice to the Algarve and Lisbon. Go with a group of about 8, all golfers. The first time we did it we went though a travel agents. It was a few years ago but I'm pretty sure it was Cassidy Travel. They organised everything - flights, hotel, transfers and golf.
The other 2 times we took on the organisation ourselves. Book your flights, rental van, green fees and villa or hotel. It takes a bit more time but its worth it. There are loads of golf companies who do green fees at reduced rates. Quick google and you'll find one.
The Lisbon area is probably cheaper than the Algarve. It's also a great city to go out in. Some stunning courses up the coast too like Prai D'el Rey.

In saying that the Costa Del Sol is probably a cheaper option than Portugal.  We would have used a site similar to this if not this to book the green fees:
www.solgolf.com

The courses are fantastic on the whole. Torrequebrada is probably the best we've played on. If you're flush try Valderrama!

thewobbler

Vilamoura is a great destination as you don't need hire cars. All the Oceanico golf clubs run complimentary buses back and forward between the hotels, plus it's only a 20 minute transfer from the airport. The actual resort is quite good; a handful of busy bars, some decent restaurants, a casino and a marina. It's more of a yummy mummy resort than a young and lively – but that suits me. Albufeira's only 15 minutes away if you want madness.

It is more expensive than the Western Algarve resorts, but when you take convenience into equation and taxis out of it, I don't think there's much in it at all. 

There's dozens of tour operators in the area organising the same thing – transfers, hotels, golf – and the price will be much of a muchness. We stayed in the Vile Gale which was dead on. Not quite a four star as it suggests, but very central and the breakfast was good.

One thing to watch out for. The cheaper courses – Pinhal, Millennium – aren't nearly as good as the better courses – the Old, Victoria, and the new O'Connor/Faldo. And there's a bit of trickery on the prices. The green fees for better courses come inclusive of buggies, whereas the cheaper courses don't, and you're looking at least €20 a man for buggies. Unless you're a right cheap bastard you'll be taking a buggy. Which means it's only another €20 or so to play a good course.


I've also played a bit in the Costa Del Sol off my own bat. I prefer the golf courses there - but they are more spread out, and tend to be inland from the resorts. If you've got willing drivers, this is no issue, but if you're all fond of a quick half-dozen on the balcony afterwards, it becomes an issue. I wouldn't consider playing golf in Spain without a buggy (the Algarve normally has a breeze), so always factor that into your prices.

Geoff Tipps

QuoteOne thing to watch out for. The cheaper courses – Pinhal, Millennium – aren't nearly as good as the better courses – the Old, Victoria, and the new O'Connor/Faldo. And there's a bit of trickery on the prices. The green fees for better courses come inclusive of buggies, whereas the cheaper courses don't, and you're looking at least €20 a man for buggies.

The good courses mentioned there are far superior to the cheaper ones. The facilities at the O'Connor/Faldo are first class. After we finished our round they took our clubs and shoes, cleaned them and had them in our van when we finished a few pints.


QuoteI've also played a bit in the Costa Del Sol off my own bat. I prefer the golf courses there - but they are more spread out, and tend to be inland from the resorts. If you've got willing drivers, this is no issue, but if you're all fond of a quick half-dozen on the balcony afterwards, it becomes an issue. I wouldn't consider playing golf in Spain without a buggy (the Algarve normally has a breeze), so always factor that into your prices.

Agree with that. Some of the newer courses can have 300-400 metres between green and the next tee off. You would be exhausted after a round.

mackers

Quote from: thewobbler on October 26, 2010, 02:43:50 PM
Vilamoura is a great destination as you don’t need hire cars. All the Oceanico golf clubs run complimentary buses back and forward between the hotels, plus it’s only a 20 minute transfer from the airport. The actual resort is quite good; a handful of busy bars, some decent restaurants, a casino and a marina. It’s more of a yummy mummy resort than a young and lively – but that suits me. Albufeira’s only 15 minutes away if you want madness.

It is more expensive than the Western Algarve resorts, but when you take convenience into equation and taxis out of it, I don’t think there’s much in it at all. 

There’s dozens of tour operators in the area organising the same thing – transfers, hotels, golf – and the price will be much of a muchness. We stayed in the Vile Gale which was dead on. Not quite a four star as it suggests, but very central and the breakfast was good.

One thing to watch out for. The cheaper courses – Pinhal, Millennium – aren’t nearly as good as the better courses – the Old, Victoria, and the new O’Connor/Faldo. And there’s a bit of trickery on the prices. The green fees for better courses come inclusive of buggies, whereas the cheaper courses don’t, and you’re looking at least €20 a man for buggies. Unless you’re a right cheap b**tard you’ll be taking a buggy. Which means it’s only another €20 or so to play a good course.


I’ve also played a bit in the Costa Del Sol off my own bat. I prefer the golf courses there - but they are more spread out, and tend to be inland from the resorts. If you’ve got willing drivers, this is no issue, but if you’re all fond of a quick half-dozen on the balcony afterwards, it becomes an issue. I wouldn’t consider playing golf in Spain without a buggy (the Algarve normally has a breeze), so always factor that into your prices.

Agree with all of the above. You can get deals to play four rounds which will roll in the Old and Victoria along with say Laguna and Millenium/Pinhal and leave it a little less expensive. The best value of the lot is Vila Sol and I would highly recommend it. It has 27 holes of a standard similar to the Old Course for a significantly lower green fee.

Vilamoura is a perfect resort for a golfing trip, everything is geared to the golfer, as wobbler says, it's not full of night clubs, but then again some of the pubs are lively enough. We found the Cabin to be the best.

Keep your pecker hard and your powder dry and the world will turn.

The Real Laoislad

Thanks lads I will have a look at those places.

I will have my auld lad coming with me who is 65,so would be looking for a quite enough sort of place where we can get good grub and enjoy a good few pints after the golf.

Can't really be taking him to niteclubs and whore houses.
You'll Never Walk Alone.

The Real Laoislad

Got a email back today from a golf travel agent

3 nights B&B in March or April at the Hotel Apartamento do Golfe in Vilamoura with 2 sharing a Studio Apartment.
2 Rounds of golf at Millennium and Laguna .
Private roundtrip airport transfers .
Courtesy roundtrip golf transfers .
Price per person 295 euro .

Or

3 nights B&B in March or April at the 4 Star Luna Olympus Aparthotel in Vilamoura with 2 sharing a 1 bedroom apartment.
2 rounds of golf at Millennium and Laguna .
Private roundtrip airport transfers .
Courtesy roundtrip golf transfers .
Price per person 315 euro.

Have to book my own flights,but as we are gonna go midweek they should only cost about €100 each.

What ye think?
You'll Never Walk Alone.

thewobbler

I think don't play Millennium and Laguna if you're making the effort to get to Portugal!

Maybe one of them, but not both. Play Victoria.

The Real Laoislad

#851
Got another email with the Millennium and Pinhal courses,do you know anything about the Pinhal?

EDIT Its actually the Laguna and the Pinhal
You'll Never Walk Alone.

Geoff Tipps

Quote from: The Real Laoislad on October 26, 2010, 07:02:44 PM
Got another email with the Millennium and Pinhal courses,do you know anything about the Pinhal?

EDIT Its actually the Laguna and the Pinhal

Played both about 5 or 6 years ago. Of the 5 we played that week Laguna was the worst. Can't really remember Pinhal.
The Old Course is much better, one of the best in that area of the Algarve. 

thewobbler

Laois lad, none of Pinhal, Millenium or Laguna is a bad course. But they're the division 2 of that area;  not a bad standard, but nothing memorable.

What I'm trying to say is that if you're going to take the effort to travel to Portugal and lug your clubs with you, then you should really just pay a few more quid and play the memorable courses. Victoria is across the road from Pinhal but it is the premier course, hosts the Portuguese open, and has the 5 star experience. The Old is less than a mile away, but is a classic course steeped in history (if a tad overrated imho).

We played Millennium in May in between Old and O Connor, and it really paled in comparison.

thewobbler

Laois, was just thinking if it's you and the oul fella just, have a look at La Cala in Costa Del Sol. Miles from a town, but three good courses and a very nice hotel.

I've not been, but I hear Quinta da Ria in East Algarve is pretty good too, and would be fairly cheaper than Vilampura.