Ideas for virgin golf travellers

Santander - golf and cruising

If you're looking to embark on your first overseas golf trip or if you merely fancy an alternative destination for a weekend away with the lads, Brittany Ferries holidays are offering some terrific bargains for as little as £118 £188 for a three-night self-drive break in France including two rounds of golf.

You can even cruise to Santander in Northern Spain - with its reputation for great value food, wine and golf and the spiritual home of Seve Ballesteros - and enjoy and three-night break from £246 per person.

There are 66 golf courses in France, available at specially negotiated green fees and if you want to include spa treatments - and many groups of women golfers do - or a wine tour, this can be fixed, too, by the experienced staff on Brittany Ferries' golf desk.

French Golf Holidays also launched its new 212-page brochure at the World Travel Market in London last week, which features new destinations including Canada, Strasbourg and Norway. For a free copy call 01277 824100.

Ribagolfe - new venue

Lisbon's popular golf festival will be staged from April 30 to May 7 and will this year include the superb new Ribagolfe I and II and Santo Estevao courses.

A Nations Cup, is to be introduced this year in which the leading scores from those representing each competing country will count towards an overall four-round award. Many social events have also been arranged as part of the package.

Packages for seven days are available from £695 and for three days from £285. Call 0870 850 3436 for more information or visit www.lisbongolfclassic.com

Prices range from £99 for those on a budget, to as little as £139 if you want to play and party. More classic resort courses can be reach from £239 for a stay and play package.

Prague and Riga are two popular destinations for bachelor city breaks and both have fine golf courses, too. Plzen and Konopiste are the championship courses you can play in the Czech Republic (from £365 including flights, accommodation and golf), while in Latvia (£335), Ozo Golf Club is a championship courses located on the outskirts of the city.

GGD also offer the opportunity to play and party in Jersey (from £229) including golf options at Les Mielles, La Moye and Royal Jersey.

Golf at sunny Belek

Since the likes of Tony Jacklin David Feherty and Dave Thomas created golf courses in Turkey, the region has become a popular attraction for golfers looking for good tests of golf with the sun on their backs.

Now World Sky Golf has introduced a brochure which includes the top seven courses in Belek - just 30 minutes from Antalya airport - describing itself as potentially the Mediterranean's premier golf resort.'

Featured in the brochure is the latest Gloria II course, opened in October, as well as the original Gloria 1 and Robinson Nobilis, east of the city. In the there west there's the 36-hole Antalya complex, the National golf club and the 27-hole Tat Golf Belek International.

Seven-night flight-inclusive prices start at £419 at the Varuna Belek or £429 at the at the Gloria Verde Resort. Green fees are from £29 at Tat golf with three round packages from £81. Contact 08708 50 40 40 or visit www.worldskygolf.co.uk.