Buzzin Golf

The golfing calendar is now brimming with professional golf tournaments every weekend of the year, it seems.  Though the four tournaments that matter above all else in men’s golf are the Majors; and it is every pro golfers dream to win one of the four most prestigious championships in the world.

The first of the Major Championships in 2012 was a classic, settled by a two-hole play-off when Bubba Watson beat South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen after an amazing approach shot found the green after a disastrous tee shot left him deep in the trees.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were the favourites going into the US Masters though I had a sneaky feeling the long fairways were going to be perfect for Lee Westwood to win his first Major Championship. Neither Tiger or Rory were contenders, and Lee Westwood left himself short with some poor putting throughout the whole tournament.

The next of the four Majors will be the 112th US Open Championship in June, followed by The British Open (known simply as ‘The Open’) in July and lastly, the PGA Championship in the United States.

While Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer continue to jostle to be ranked number 1 in the world, all eyes will be focussing on the US Open which this year will be held at The Olympic Club, Lake Course on 14-17 June.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger woods are once again favourites ahead of the US Open, with McIlroy looking to defend his title and Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008) looking for a fourth victory to equal the current record held by Scotsman Willie Anderson (1901, 1903, 1904, 1905) and American legends Bobby Jones (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930), Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953) and Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980).

Current golf betting has Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods at 8/1 followed by Phil Mickelson 12/1, Lee Westwood 14/1 and Luke Donald 16/1 with Hunter Mahan, Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen and Bubba Watson at 33/1.

I can’t help thinking, if only Lee Westwood could be step up with his short game, it would only be a matter of time before he wins his first Major.  But equally, you never know when the Tiger is going to return; and I am confident it is when and not if.

Rory McIlroy became the world no.1 golfer last night by winning the Honda Classic in Florida.

He replaces Luke Donald and in doing so, becomes the second youngest golfer ever to be ranked world #1 begind Tiger Woods; and it was Woods who Rory McIlroy had to beat on the final day’s play after he had finished on a fantastic 62, putting the pressure on the young Irishman.

But McIlroy pulled through finishing on 69 after parring the first seven holes and hitting a birdie on the eighth.

Rory McIlroy won the Honda Classic finishing on -12, two shots clear of Tom Gillis and Tiger Woods.  Englishman Lee Westwood acored an excellent 63 to finish fourth overall.

The expectation for the young Irishman to deliver now appears to be bearing fruit.  But this year will prove to be a tough test for Rory McIlroy as Tiger Woods begins to put in some good performances and Englishmen Lee Westwwod and Luke Donald will be looking to oust the young Irishman.

Estonian Golf & Country Club

National tourism boom and Tallinn’s status as a European Capital of Culture drives new visitors to one of the continent’s Top 100 Golf Courses

Estonian Golf & Country Club experienced a 10% increase in overseas visitors throughout 2011 on the back of a tourism boom in the Baltic State.

Tourism across the country was up 16% compared to 2010, with visitors drawn from across the continent by the capital Tallinn’s status as European Capital of Culture and the fact that low cost airlines increased the number of routes into the country.

Hanno Kross, Estonian Golf & Country Club Chief Executive, said:

“We are seeing more and more visitors from overseas,particularly from the UK. With Tallinn a mere 25 minutes away people are combining a visit to the stunning city with a round of golf at our first class European Tour Course.

“Our total number of rounds increased by 7% in 2011 compared to 2010 – the appetite for golf in Estonia is growing and it is testament to the quality of our facilities that people are choosing to visit.”

Estonian Golf & Country Club – featured in Golf World’s Top 100 Golf Courses in Europe – has two outstanding courses, both hewn from an ancient archaeological site: the championship 18-hole Sea Course – a challenging layout that winds its way through forests before opening out alongside the Gulf of Finland and the Jägala River – and the links style 9-hole Stone Course.

A single Sea Course green fee in 2012 will cost 70EUR (£62), while those wishing to stay on-site can enjoy one of the venue’s luxury Golf Villas, which can accommodate up to 12 people, with prices starting from 167EUR (£138) per person, including two rounds on the Sea Course.

Visitors to Estonia from the UK doubled over the course of 2011 according to statistics published in a report by Visit Estonia, which also showed a vast increase in the number of visitors from Russia, Germany, Finland, Sweden and Denmark as well as substantial growth in tourists from Spain, France and the Netherlands.

Flights to Tallinn from the UK are available through Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) and EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) from Luton, Stansted, Liverpool, East Midlands, Edinburgh and a new route opening in April from Manchester.

For further details and a full list of stay and play deals visit www.egcc.ee.

For amateur golfers there are now everlasting possibilities when it comes to short breaks or holidays abroad to play golf until the sun goes down.  As golf holidays & travel has become more widespread, so tourism has become more and more important to the economy of every country in the world.

Golfing holidays Europe is the most popular destination. Excellent facilities and pristine golf courses now litter Europe.  From France to Turkey, Bulgaria to the Spanish Islands. The choice has never been greater.

A quick day trip across the English Channel and you can be playing golf in France, enjoying some fantastic golf courses with beautiful views, enjoy some French cuisine and back home for supper.

France is large country that offers the golfer different options. A quick journey by train or ferry and you can drive to golf courses in Northern France in next to no time.  Or maybe you fancy a couple of days in or around the capital city of Paris.  The Alps offers probably the most beautiful backdrop of any golf course in France.  While southern France offers warmer climates and more time to relax.

If you are looking to getaway then you can be enjoying the Mediterranean Sea views within two-and-a-half hours.  Portugal, Spain and the Spanish Islands are cheap and easy to get to, especially this time of year.

Spain has always been the most popular resort for golf holidays in Europe; and with offers right now as little as £139 for three nights and three rounds, that’s not surprising.

Outstanding prices like these are currently available for Roda Golf and Beach Resort which is located in the Costa Calida’s Mar Menor.  It is on Spain’s south east Mediterranean coast and enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year it is the perfect location for a winter golf break.

Or maybe you fancy a golf holiday at the Hotel Almenara with its 27 holes of championship golf. The Almenara also offers no less than three 9 hole courses; Los Pinos, Alcornaques, and Los Lagos – each with their own unique challenges.

There are 1000s of great offers right now.  The best deal I could find was three nights and one round of golf at the Aroeira Resort.  The resort has two courses to choose from and is located 40 minutes east of Lisbon in a quite rural part of the Costa Azul. The Aroeira Resort apartments include wonderful views of the golf courses. Most apartments feature their own private garden with porch or balcony.

Golf holidays in Europe have never been so popular, and never been such good value.  Take a look and see just how cheap it really is.

After the last two long, cold winters it has been relatively mild with just the odd few days being too bitter or wet for golf in the south of England.  But it takes more than mild weather to get me playing in December & January throughout the winter months. Friends tell me golf is an all-year-round game; and for them it is, but not for me.

I love a round of golf, but as much as I enjoy the game itself, I equally enjoy the relaxation, the fresh air, exercise, walk amongst countryside as an alternative to work and stress, the quiet over the madden crowd… and the sunshine and warmth on my skin. Equally, I prefer to play in a polo shirt, sunglasses and a cap rather than jumper, Gore-Tex waterproofs and a woollen hat.

Everyone agrees the perfect round of golf includes sunshine and a warm day.  But for me it’s more than an optional ingredient.  It’s as obligatory as several birdies, spectacular drives, and nothing more than 18 two-putts.  That’s a perfect round of golf as far as I’m concerned.

So relatively speaking, yes it is mild for this time of year, and this morning the sun was bright.  But the Mediterranean is where I want to be playing golf in Janaury, February and March.

Average temperature in The Algarve for this time of year is 15°C, increasing to 16°C in February, 18°C in March and steadily rising until a peak of 28°C in July and August. And though 15°C may not be overly appealing right now to some, it comes with more of a guarantee than the English weather.

The Algarve has been one of the most popular resorts for UK golfers for some time now; and due to the law of supply and demand, there are now more golf courses in this beautiful region of Portugal than ever before.  As well as choice, this also results in some great Algarve golf deals with offers for as little as £95 per person for a three nights, two rounds and bed & breakfast break.

Plenty of golf courses with a backdrop overlooking The Mediterranean, how can anyone not prefer to experience the sun, sea and relaxation on offer.

With flights only taking approximately two-and-a-half hours from London to The Algarve, gorgeous food, great accommodation, and top golf courses such as Parque Da Floresta, Tivoli Lagos, Penina, Tivoli Marina Portimao, Tivoli Carvoeiro, Pestana Carvoeiro and Val do Lobo, some with adjoining hotels.  What are you waiting for?