Five Hot New Golf Destinations

There are so many golfing destinations to choose from, but these five hot destinations are attracting lots of interest. Innovative new courses and excellent facilities in Turkey, Cyprus, Tunisia, Argentina, and British Colombia have created excitement in the golfing world. The attractions include a range of challenging courses, all year round golf, and surrounds that are more exotic than more traditional golfing destinations.

History, culture and golf on Cyprus One of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, with a warm climate year round, Cyprus has excellent golf courses with challenging greens and fantastic views. The new par 71 Aphrodite Hills course, perched above a beach, is surrounded by protected forest, and is divided in two by a deep ravine. The oldest course on the island, Tsada Golf Club, set 500 metres above sea level, has natural fairways running through old fruit orchards and vineyards.

Golfing in Turkey ? the perfect winter break A golf holiday in the region of Belek, in the south west of Turkey, gives you access to miles of golden-sand beaches and unspoilt natural attractions as well as an exotic national culture. Here are eight excellent courses, many five-star hotels and lots of water sports activities. And the excellent value of a golf holiday in Turkey is a bonus. The main resort of Antalaya, with its 300 days of sunshine a year, pretty parks and palm-lined streets, is perfect for a winter break.

Sand, sun and golf in Tunisia Although its hundreds of miles of sandy beaches, bustling markets, and stunning architecture, make it a popular tourist destination, Tunisia is also becoming one of the Mediterranean?s foremost golf holiday spots. Affordable accommodation, year-round sun, and a choice of 10 courses, with reasonable green fees, is a very tempting combination. The courses at Hammamet, designed around six lakes and 430 acres of olive trees, include Golf Citrus, with two 18-hole, par 72 championship courses, and the short and demanding par 72 Yasmine. A basic round can cost as little as ?25. On the island of Djerba, further south, the resort Tabarka has a 27-hole course surrounded by date palms and overlooking the Mediterranean.

Scenery and golf in Argentina Argentina is becoming increasingly popular as an exotic destination for golfers, and golfing facilities are available in most parts of the country. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, summer is from December to March and winter from June to October. The old par 72 Buenos Aires Golf Club, one of the world?s top 100 courses, has water features, bunkers and well-maintained greens. At the southeast tip of the country, in Patagonia, the Arelauquen Golf Club, near Bariloche, is surrounded by mountains, lakes of crystal-clear waters. Playing the 18-hole, par 72 course is an unforgettable experience, with views of the summits of Mount Catedral and Mount Otto and the backdrop of Lake Guti?rrez.

British Columbia ? golfing contrasts The province of British Columbia, on the West Coast of Canada, is a rugged frontier for golfers, from its desert courses in the interior to the breathtaking mountain courses in the east. Around Vancouver, the Furry Creek Golf Course has ocean and mountain views from every hole, and the Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club was proclaimed the top new course in Canada in 1994. The four championship courses at Whistler includes the Jack Nicklaus designed Nicklaus North Golf Course, and the Chateau Whistler Golf Club, a pre-eminent mountain course. For contrast, try The Dunes Golf Course at Kamloops Golf Club, where lush fairways have been carved through sand that was once a riverbed. With four different sets of tees, The Dunes is both fun and challenging.

Rod Ritchie, a travel writer and editor, writes for many publishers including AA Publishing and Fodors. Bill Goff Golf Breaks at http://www.billgoff.com and Longshot Golf Holidays at http://www.longshotgolf.co.uk offer great value golfing breaks to many European and worldwide destinations.