The island of
Gran Canaria is set to become the centre of the golf travel world from December 5-8 when it hosts the International Association of Golf Travel Operators' (IAGTO) eighth Travel Market at the Maspalomas Convention Centre.
It's the world's largest golf trade fair with over 1,000 exhibitors attending from over 47 countries promoting new and exciting destinations, which can attract over three million golfers each year.
Juan Jose Cardona, president of tourism in Gran Canaria says: "Golf travellers have so much more choice today with the advent of the internet and specialist holiday companies and we aim to show Gran Canaria as not only as one of the rising golf destinations but to highlight our culture, gastronomy, sun, sea and year round warm climate for golfers."
The island will be hoping the trade winds blow in more than just weather this year as it boasts six top quality courses, headed by the Real Club de Las Palmas dating back to 1891 as Spain's oldest golf club.
Over the past 10 years, golf tourism worldwide has grown more than twice as fast as general leisure tourism. No wonder 250 golf tour operators will be attending, representing an industry that is worth more than twice that of golf equipment and clothing.
Faldo surveys his clifftop course at Roko Ki
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Six times major champion Nick Faldo has created a golfing jewel in The Dominican Republic at the spectacular
Roco Ki resort.
The 18-hole course is on a 540-acre stretch of the eastern shoreoverlooking the Caribbean as part of a Westin Hotels development.
"It's a stunning piece of land and the cliff top holes offer some breathtaking views, said Faldo.
The 16th century
Masseria Torre Coccaro Hotel is offering a five-night golf holiday in Puglia, Italy in low season from 25 September 25 - December 28 from £452 per person.
Golfers can play a selection of five of the most challenging championship courses among cacti, pine trees and olive groves, including the San Domenico with its fabulous sea views across the Ionian coast to the Acaya Golf Club, a beautiful 18-hole layout near the town of Lecce.
Palmeraie Palace golf club
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Palmeraie Golf Palace, north of Marrakech, in Morocco, is
offering three nights B&B in a deluxe room with two rounds of golf for £559 per person until October 19.
The package also include return flights from London and transfers. The immaculate par-72 Robert Trent Jones
course has spectacular views across the palm grove to the often snow-capped High Atlas mountains.
The Mare Nostrum Resort, situated close to five of Tenerife' s best courses, is offering a seven-night package, including accommodation, breakfast and four reserved green fees for £369 until the end of September. GB Airways offer flights to Tenerife South from £99 return and flights with Monarch Scheduled are available from £114 return.
GB Airways has announced new flights to Ajaccio (£129 return) and Bastia (£99) in Corsica from London Gatwick. Next summer the airline will add a Sunday service to Ajaccio and a third weekly flight on a Tuesday to Bastia, making four weekly flights from London to the island.
Corsica has two courses - a nine hole and an 18-hole on the southern tip of the island at the appropriately named Golfissimo at Sperona, created by Robert Trent Jones.
The newly-refurbished South Course at La Manga Club at Murcia in Spain is proving a great attraction with 15 of its 18 holes, featuring water or baranacas.
Golfissimo in Corsica
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Coupled with tree-planting and the re-positioning of a number of tees including a sympathetic design to the ladies tees, improvements have made the course making more interesting and challenging.
Packages start from £373 per person based on four sharing a two-bedroom townhouse at Las Lomas village for three nights including return flights to Murcia, transfers and three rounds of golf.
La Manga Club also features the Academy of Golf with superb practice facilities, high-tech swing analysis and most importantly and an experienced team of PGA qualified pros.
A five-day course cost from £350 with junior courses from £150 (5-8 years old) to £210 (9-12). Call 020 8786 3000 or visit
www.barwell.co.uk
If your interested in golf abroad then take a look at our Travel Partners who specialise in golfing breaks to European and Worldwide destinations.
