Golf Experience – Newsletter – Costa Del Sol – Spring 2022

Well, let me try to bring some joy to you with news of Golf in Iberia!

Firstly, we would like to say a big thank you to all our clients & suppliers who have supported us through the Covid epidemic. After just a long period of un-productiveness it is reasonable to wonder if things will ever return to any kind of normality. But return they have, and it is wonderful to see all our regular customers returning to enjoy golf on our shores.

Recent events in Ukraine and the re-emergence of post covid travel and tensions between Spain & Morocco coming hot on the heels of adapting to Brexit has been nothing short of traumatic for the travel industry in Spain.

The floodgates have finally opened, and demand is now extremely high. In many respects the industry is struggling to cope and is a tad rusty as it emerges from a period of semi hibernation.

Supply of many components is tight, the car-hire sector for example is finding it difficult to get fleet levels back to where they need to be. Even golf courses are having trouble buying golf buggies, which in some cases means they cannot operate at full capacity.

Fortunately, airlines were quick to gear up and increase capacity to match demand and flights have been good value in recent months.

Energy prices and other restrictions will mean above average inflation in the travel sector in the near future. And the best way to combat this and avoid disappointment is to PLAN. Plan ahead and book ahead. Take a longer-term view of your planning and benefit from the best conditions. There is nothing new with this advice, but it is now truer than ever.

Golf Experience new website.

During COVID we availed of the down time to invest in a new website and proposal making software which allows us to turn out proposals in a very speedy and efficient way. Please have a look around the new site www.golfexperience.net

Drought narrowly averted.

Not having had any substantive rain in almost a year the Costa del Sol and Andalucia in general was getting precariously close to drought conditions with the risk of tight restrictions on water usage. Golf Courses would have been first in line for rationing. However, a prolonged period of rain since mid-March has done wonders and the reservoirs are edging towards being half full as opposed to 2/3 empty.

 

 

Golf News:

Almenara reopens its 27 holes.

Almenara has seen considerable change since many of you have played there. The spectacular new SO Sotogrande hotel (5 star) has replaced the old Almenara Hotel and the 27 holes have been reopened.

Alcaidesa Links reopens in early summer as a 5 star resort –La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links Resort

Rio Real reverts to a par 72 course having reduced to a par 68 to allow for some major maintenance work over the winter months.

Guadalmina courses close to visitors. Real Club Guadalmina has decided to no longer accept pre-bookings on either of its courses except those made withing 24 hours. This effectively rules it out as a possibility for groups.

Santa Clara GC.

Santa Clara GC has invested in a lovely new restaurant and terrace area on the ground floor level overlooking the 18^th Green.

 

 

Hotels.

The Former H10 Andalucia Plaza hotel in puerto Banus will shortly reopen its doors as an All-inclusive Hard-Rock Hotel. It remains to be seen if this will be a suitable lodging for golfers.

The ever-popular Fuerte Marbella is currently closed for a complete refurb and will reopen in September 2022 as a 5 star.

The Golf Hotel Guadalmina & Spa

The very popular Golf Hotel Guadalmina and Spa just outside San Pedro will close its doors in October for a year for a complete refurbishment and will reopen in 2023 as a five-star property.

 

Solheim Cup September 2023.

Golf Experience is an official “Supporter” of the event and has pre-paid tournament entrances available for inclusive packages or for direct sale. With the impressive performance of Leona Maguire and hopefully her presence at Finca Cortesin we are expecting a lot of Irish interest. Advance bookings are strong from the USA and Ireland so if you are interested now is the time to let us know.

 

Car-Hire.

 

 

Regular clients will by now have noticed that there has been considerable price inflation in this sector. Cars are in short supply so our advice, as ever, is book early. We continue to offer the same wonderful and fast service at Malaga Airport & Train station in addition to Gibraltar and Estepona.

For arrivals at other Iberian destinations, we use SIXT Rent-a-Car where we have favourable rates and conditions

 

Golf Experience – Costa del Sol Golf Map.

Our very popular Costa del Sol Golf Map has just been re-published (5000 copies) and is available free of charge at our offices, from Espacar and all Golf Courses.

Golf Club Rental.

Keep in mind that there is a good alternative to paying excessive prices to your airline for transporting your clubs. Golf Experience is continually updating its stock of 70 sets (ladies and gents, right and left, steel & graphite). We have Taylor Made MacGregor and Spalding sets.