Around 1,000 French golfers will battle it out for the chance to win an unforgettable golf trip to the Costa Brava.
As part of the popular Fairways Cup, the amateur competition organised by French magazine Culture Golf Fairways, nine tournaments will take place throughout the country with more than 200 prizes up for grabs.
Now in its 13th year, the competition is an individual event with prizes for both gross and nett with categories for men, women and junior golfers.
Mérignies kicked off the series early in May as Guillaume Lefevre claimed the top prize with a voucher to be spent on golf courses and accommodation in the Costa Brava, while Dieppe Pourville held the next round in June.
Champ de Bataille gets in on the act in July before Lacanau Ocean steps up in August, followed by Domont and Isabella in September. Saint-Omer and Saint Donat bring the curtain down in style in October.
It’s an ideal opportunity for competitors at each of the venues to learn about a destination which is just beyond France’s southern border. Located 100km north of Barcelona and surrounding the historic city of Girona, the region boasts seven golf clubs and nine varied 18-hole layouts to suit all levels of abilities and experience.
The unmistakable jewel in the crown is the outstanding PGA Catalunya, which is a regular haunt for European Tour professionals and has previously hosted the annual battle for European Tour cards at the final stage of Qualifying School.
The famous Stadium course is consistently ranked in the top-10 of Europe and seen by many as the number one course in Spain, while the Tour course is only marginally less challenging, but no less enjoyable with a similar standard of maintenance and quality.
But there is a fabulous selection of courses to choose from: Club Golf d’Aro Mas Nou, Club de Golf Costa Brava, Empordà Golf (Forest and Links courses), Club de Golf Peralada, Golf de Pals and Torremirona Golf Club.
Antoine Davot, editor of Culture Golf Fairways, said: “It’s fantastic to have Costa Brava support our Fairways Cup and provide some amazing prizes for our participants. It’s a superb golf destination and is within easy reach for French golfers to enjoy.”
A spokesperson for Golf Costa Brava said: “It’s a pleasure be involved with the Fairways Cup and to showcase our region to so many golfers. We look forward to welcoming the winners.”
Follow the Costa Brava on Instagram at @costabravagolf or to learn more about playing golf in the Costa Brava, visit golf.costabrava.org
COSTA BRAVA TOURIST BOARD – GOLF CLUBS
The Costa Brava Tourist Board offers golfers the opportunity to enjoy outstanding golf all year-round in one of the most beautiful and unspoilt natural environments in Spain and Southern Europe.
Situated 100 kilometres north of Barcelona in a region nestling between the foothills of the Pyrenees and the waters of the Mediterranean, the Costa Brava boasts an array of first-class golf experiences, and the association features seven golf clubs and nine varied 18-hole layouts from some of the game’s most well-known and accomplished designers, as well as a highly-rated par-three course.
The golf clubs in the Costa Brava-Empordà Golf Course Association are:
– Club Golf d’Aro Mas Nou (www.golfdaro.com)
– Club de Golf Costa Brava (www.golfcostabrava.com)
– Empordà Golf (Forest and Links courses) (www.empordagolf.com)
– Club de Golf Peralada Golf (www.golfperalada.com)
– PGA Catalunya (Stadium and Tour courses) (www.pgacatalunya.com)
– Golf de Pals (http://golfdepals.com)
– Torremirona Golf Club (www.golftorremirona.com)
– Gualta Par Three (www.gualta.com)
THE COSTA BRAVA
The coastal region of the province of Girona, the Costa Brava (which translates as “wild coast” in English) features of 214 km of spectacular and captivating coastline running between Blanes in the south and the French border in the north.
One of Catalonia’s principal tourist centres, the area enjoys average annual temperatures of 16.5C has everything needed for an unforgettable stay; from outstanding nature, beaches and forests to unforgettable culture, history, gastronomy and art, many of which enjoy international recognition.
The most well-known towns and cities in the Costa Brava and the province of Girona include the historical city of Girona, Figueres – the home town of famous Catalan artist Salvador Dalí – Olot, Banyoles, Blanes, Platja d’Aro, Pals, Peralada, Lloret de Mar, Cadaqués, Tossa de Mar and Peratallada. www.costabrava.org
GETTING THERE
The Costa Brava and its golf courses are easily accessible from the UK and Europe with regular flights operating from across the continent into the three main airports serving the region – Girona (in the centre), Barcelona (one hour’s drive to the south) and Perpignan (to the north).
Gleneagles Launches Special 2022 Package To Celebrate #1 Status
Gleneagles, the iconic Scottish hotel and global luxury destination, has unveiled a special celebratory 2022 stay-and-play package, to mark its announcement as the UK & Ireland’s #1 Golf Resort, an award it has now held for the past four years.
To celebrate the achievement, golfers are being given the opportunity to enjoy an overnight stay and play experience at ‘The Glorious Playground’ during March and April 2022, from £400 per room*, based on two people sharing. To take advantage, bookings must be made before July 31 this year.
The package, offering guests significant value, gives two golfers the choice of playing one of the three iconic 18-hole championship courses on the 850-acre Perthshire estate. It also includes luxurious accommodation in a Country Room and breakfast in The Strathearn Restaurant, at the world-famous five-star Gleneagles Hotel.
The King’s and The Queen’s courses, regarded as James Braid classics and a regular feature of Top 100 rankings, have benefitted from significant renovation projects that have seen them restored to their original ‘inland links’ and heathland designs.
The PGA Centenary Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is a pristine modern design, and welcomed both The Ryder Cup (2014) and Solheim Cup (2019). Gleneagles remains the only venue in Europe to have staged both events, and will also host the Senior Open Presented by Rolex next year (July 21-24) on The King’s Course.
Beyond the fairways, Gleneagles boasts over 50 pursuits, including fly-fishing, falconry, cycling, off-roading, equestrian experiences and archery. Guests will also have use of a range of leisure facilities, including the pitch-and-putt course, lawn games and outdoor tennis courts.
Before or after golf, guests can unwind and relax at the hotel, where a wealth of food and drink options await, including The Strathearn, the theatrical Franco-Scottish dining experience, the Birnam Brasserie, a relaxed Mediterranean style restaurant serving the best Italian and French-style cuisine, or toast the day’s play in Auchterarder 70,
