Group Trips Abroad

thewobbler

I know we’ve a few of these threads about, but most of them are many moons old now.

So I’m wondering who’s been where recently? And what recommendations they might have?

We did Palma again this year. Still a great city and with a different and better vibe to it than a “more golf focused” destination. T Golf Calvia was good, if a little overrated. T Golf Palma was brilliant and completely underrated. Real Bendinat has the dubious honour of being the worst course I’ve stood on in europe.

Next year it’s Alicante, which I know very little about… a hastily rearranged trip after Ryanair changed their schedules for Girona and basically poleaxed our itinerary.

swededmonkey

We went to Marrakech in September. They are really starting to tap into the golf market. Played 3 courses that would comfortably stand up to anything i've played in spain or the algarve. Its very good value especially compared to portugal prices.

Concerned2

I was over in Alicante for a couple of nights last weekend. It was only booked a few weeks back so tee times were very limited. I played Alenda and Alicante golf course. Neither were my first choice but the top courses in the area were all booked up. Maybe it would have been quieter midweek. Anyway , both courses were nice. Alenda is only about a 25 min drive outside Aliante and Alicante golf course is right in the middle of the city.

Alenda is on long side , one of the par 3's was 240 yards to the back and I was not playing off the championship tees ! I believe it was used for Q school qualifying for the European tour a few years ago.

Alicante golf course is shorter, but very tight and on most of the holes you have houses left and right of the hole you are playing on. They charge an extra €2 for insurance to cover windows broken and plenty windows do get broken.

Green fees for the above were both around the €100 mark. Probably a small bit cheaper than Portugal but there are certainly no cheap courses around here. Still , lovely to be playing in sunshine on dry fairways !

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124025262#Comment_124025262

How did you find the heat? Had heard from some people that Morocco was just too hot.

swededmonkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124026296#Comment_124026296

It was managable with buggies. Wouldn't have contemplated it without. But when you go to Morocco you know what you are signing up for.

All_in_Flynn

Hope it's ok to piggyback on this thread instead of creating a new one but just looking for thought's or advice.

Heading to Algarve and based in the Marina end of April with some friends. We only booked this recently and as a result, our choice of courses has been limited given it's a busy time of the year.

We are playing 2 rounds and I'm happy with one of the courses we secured but I've been reading mixed reviews about the second. Has anyone played or heard about the conditions on Pinheiros Altos? From what I've gathered the setting was lovely but lack of investment over last couple of years has seen a drop in the condition of the course.

If it's that bad I think I'd rather just cancel the round and chance if we can get a late cancellation on another course once over there.

Appreciate any feedback.

jcb1986

Where did you settle on near Alicante. Booked there ourselves for this year, playing Las Colinas and Villamartin. Small bit dubious on the latter but so close to where we are staying. Also worry where we are staying is a bit too Irish lol

thewobbler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268154#Comment_124268154

Pinheiros Altos was the pleasant surprise of a trip we took about 8 years ago.

it was a fun track with decent conditioning, and had a great clubhouse. We’d played San Lorenzo the day prior and it fell short of expectations (at the time it was being bugged up as the best course on the Algarve), whereas Pinheiros was the opposite.

I can’t comment on recent conditioning.