Ailsa’s 11th at Turnberry.
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If you’re looking to get away during the UK’s winter months there are two choices for the golfer – head for the seaside or go chasing the sun.
Many hotels attached to golf courses offer British breaks during the off-season but apart from a handful built on moorland and heathland those inland can prove to be a disappointing experience.
The food and the leisure facilities may be up to standard but the golf is likely to be caked with mud.
While millions are spent every year on drainage, many resort courses suffer on low-lying land where fairways can be flooded, frost greens are brought into play when jack frost pays a visit and the use of tee mats completes a dismal picture.
Our advice, if you’re planning to take a break in the UK, is to pick a place with links courses close by. These are long established, on quick-draining sandy soil and the last time they used temporary greens and tees, plus fours were as common as baseball caps are today.
In England, the Norfolk and Lincolnshire coasts boast some cracking linksland layouts. Hunstanton, Cromer, Sheringham and Brancaster are gems built behind East Anglian dunes offering protection from the North Sea, while further north, the Seacroft and North Shore courses at Skegness provide bracing tests.
In Suffolk, Thorpeness claims never to use temporary greens or mats instead of tees and through Golf and Leisure Breaks is currently offering three rounds of golf and two nights half board accommodation for just £110 per person.
Seacroft's fifth green.
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The
northwest of England features some terrific links courses around Blackpool, Southport and Merseyside while
South Wales hosts venues like Tenby, Porthcawl and The Celtic Manor.
The mild climate of Devon and Cornwall always proves and attractive destination with England’s south-east resorts featuring such gems as Deal and Princes at Sandwich and Hythe Imperial, a mature 9-hole course which runs beside the English Channel.
An added advantage in if you’re heading for Scotland is the longer daylight hours – worth an extra nine holes in golfing terms. While the East Coast has North Berwick, Gullane and St Andrews as its world famous destinations.
The West Coast is equally spoiled for choice. You can play almost inthe centre of town at Prestwick and Troon, get some great views at Western Gailes or at the famous Westin Turnberry Hotel, currently offering its January Sales promotion.
As well as giving a 20% reduction in its room rate (to £120 a night including breakfast and leisure facilities), green fees are reduced by £10 on both the Ailsa (£45) and new Kintyre (£35) courses. There’s also access to the state of the art Colin Montgomerie practice academy and 10% off the midweek experience (£325 per room), which includes two nights half board and use of the leisure facilities.
So, while it’s tempting to head inland for the protection of trees and hills when considering winter breaks in the UK, our advice is to get yourself some warm clothing and head for the coast for uninterrupted golfing pleasure.
