Aan de randen van de woestijn en de Rode Zee liggen enkele prachtige golfresorts. Wij hebben daar een week van mogen genieten.

Thanks to major investments in golf courses, hotels and other facilities such as restaurants and the marina, Vilamoura has been re-established as a premium golf destination.

This Greek/Turkish island has a lot to offer for the golf traveler, especially on the Greek side: excellent golf courses, a wonderful climate, gastronomy and culture.

Empordá is a region in Catalonia, in the far northeast of Spain. The entire area is part of the Costa Brava, which extends all the way to Barcelona. Wine is widely produced there, and the Costa Brava boasts some 25 golf courses.

Of course, we know the center of Barcelona for Gaudi's architecture. However, the city also boasts several beautiful golf courses, wine estates, and other attractive locations.

Inverness is the capital and gateway to the Highlands. Like everywhere in Scotland, there are numerous golf courses and, of course, whisky distilleries.

Until recently, it wasn't easy for non-Madrilians to play a round of golf in the Spanish capital. The previously rather private courses (19!) in and around Madrid are increasingly opening up to green fee players, thanks in part to the Madrid Golf Federation. The goal is quality tourism. Madrid has a lot to offer: Spain's largest city and its surroundings are teeming with sights and excellent restaurants.

Dubai is undoubtedly a top golf destination in winter. Avoid it in summer, as it's far too hot. But in January/February, with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius, it's perfectly bearable. There are only good golf courses, and some are even excellent. It's not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Curaçao is a year-round sunny destination, where the beaches are perfect for relaxing. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy two beautiful courses, and if you have time left, there's plenty to see on and around the island.

Just south of the Basque Country in northern Spain lies the Rioja region, known for its wine, which thrives thanks to its mild microclimate. The region also boasts several excellent golf courses, and in the capital, Logroño, you can indulge in delicious tapas.

Just off the Stuttgart-Bern highway lies this fully renovated golf resort. A paradise for the discerning golfer, with two excellent and diverse courses. The hotel features a fully equipped spa and top-notch dining.

Gran Canaria is one of the largest of the Canary Islands. Along its coastline, a number of good to excellent golf courses have been built, all within 45 minutes of each other from the south—the most convenient location for accommodation.

At first glance, Bulgaria might not seem like the number one golf destination. Yet, there are several good courses, most of which are located on the Black Sea. We visited two near Sofia, which are also not far from the airport. These are surprisingly beautiful resorts offering excellent value for money.

Greece isn't the first country that comes to mind when you think of golf. However, over the past 10 years, a golf resort has been built in the Peloponnese that ranks among the absolute top in Europe. There are two excellent hotels and two fantastic golf courses, and much more is on the way.

Germany boasts a wealth of golf courses. Nowhere else will you find so many close together as in Europe's largest golf resort. Originally a spa town, it now boasts five fully-fledged golf courses and practice facilities unparalleled in Europe. And the wellness options haven't been left behind...

Poland isn't an obvious golfing destination for the Dutch. We took the plunge and spent a week near Gdansk. We visited two golf resorts there that easily stood up to comparison with resorts in "real" golfing countries. Besides the excellent quality of the resorts, they also offer attractive prices.

It's one of the ancient royal cities and is also known as the Red City. From our riad (city hotel) nestled in the maze of streets of the old town, you can easily walk through the souk (streets lined with shops) to the large Djemaa El Fna square, which is always bustling and offers a good, yet simple meal in the evening at one of the many stalls or restaurants lining the square.

There are approximately ten golf courses around the city, five of which we visited on the south side.

Lanzarote is one of the lesser-known islands of the Canary Islands. Yet, it has more to offer than you might expect. And we're not just talking about the two excellent golf courses. Nature lovers can also enjoy exploring the effects of the enormous volcanic activity that occurred in the past.

For culture lovers, a veritable relay race has been set up, taking in the sights, many of which are linked to the island's most famous son: Cesar Manrique.

Slovakia isn't the most obvious destination for a Western European to play golf. For us, this was a journey of discovery to this former communist country. Yet, we didn't experience much of the latter.

The country, at least the part suitable for golfers, has been fairly adapted to Western standards. We were unlucky with the weather, but we saw that there are some excellent courses, and that the hotels and food are also well-organized.

Golf in Flanders

Top destination: delicious and close by

Flanders is close by and has much to offer for golfers, culture lovers, and foodies. We already knew this, of course, even without this visit, but we Dutch are still quick to speed through this country for our holidays or simply fly over it on our way to sunny destinations.

In a week, we visited the larger Flemish cities and several easily accessible golf courses in the surrounding area. A week like the one we had isn't enough to see everything properly; so limit yourself and enjoy!

Golfpark Metzenhof

Small-scale resort near Linz

Golfpark Metzenhof is a small-scale family-run business built in and around a former farmhouse. The farmhouse, which has the typical square shape of the farmhouses in the Linz region, offers several rooms for overnight stays and its own excellent restaurant. The golf course is laid out around the building and is of excellent quality; this partly explains why the on-site golf academy is also the "Home of the PGA Austria."

We found this resort a wonderful place to spend a midweek or long weekend.

Combine a visit to this beautiful resort with a long weekend in Copenhagen. The resort is located approximately 20 km north of the Danish capital, so you can stay there or in the stunning guesthouse—with three separate apartments—located on the course.

Have you ever played golf in Hungary? To our great surprise, the country boasts approximately 15 golf courses, and we visited the best of them: Zala Springs Golf Resort. This course and its accompanying resort, designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., is certainly one of Europe's gems.

We found Hungary to be an excellent destination, where you can not only play golf but also enjoy Lake Balaton, the cultural treasures of Budapest, and excellent food and drink.

We Dutch people sometimes think it rains even more in the United Kingdom than in The Netherlands. Perhaps that's true, but we still visited Northern Ireland in April to play golf and enjoy the hospitality and culinary delights of the Northern Irish in the Fermanagh Lakelands district in the southwest.

There are some beautiful golf resorts there, where it's wonderful to spend time. The Lough Erne resort is truly equipped with every convenience, and the Faldo course is fantastic to play. But there's also plenty to see in the surrounding area, and we were very pleased with the weather.

Porto and its surroundings offer a fantastic alternative to the bustling Algarve region. While you might have to drive a bit further, you'll find several golf courses offering plenty of variety, tranquility, and challenge. The hotels we visited are also highly recommended, ranging from ultra-luxurious to more upscale golf accommodations. Delicious food and drink are available everywhere, and there's plenty to see and do in terms of culture and natural beauty.

We spent almost a week at Borgo Egnazio between Bari and Brindisi: in our opinion, the epitome of enjoyment. The resort looks like a medieval fortress from the inside, but once inside, you can immerse yourself in an oasis of peace and luxury. We extended our stay by a few days with a visit to the beautiful city of Lecce and its surroundings. It's a region on the rise; many northern Italians have second homes there, and (organic) agriculture and viticulture are flourishing.

You can play excellent golf anywhere in Spain, including the region between Calpe and Valencia. Valencia is the birthplace of authentic paella, but you can also enjoy excellent fish and fine wines in this area. Golf-wise, there are several beautiful courses.

At the invitation of Makasa Golf and Wildlife, Mirella traveled to Tanzania. In the video, photo album, and her travelogue, you can see how impressive it made her.

One of our golf clubmates organized a unique private trip to China. We traveled from Beijing in the north to Guangzhou in the south, visiting the new megacities of Shenzhen and Guandong. Along the way, we played several beautiful golf courses, including Mission Hills and the Long Island Golf Club. One of our golf clubmates organized a unique private trip to China. We traveled from Beijing in the north to Guangzhou in the south, visiting the new megacities of Shenzhen and Guandong. Along the way, we played several beautiful golf courses, including Mission Hills and the Long Island Golf Club.

Italy isn't known as a major golfing country, although it has produced several top players. We've found a few gems around Lake Como, including Menaggio & Cadenabbia Golf Club (1906!) and Golf Bergamo. Of course, the lakeside towns of Bellagio and Como are also great places to visit.

The Costa del Sol near Marbella is dotted with golf courses, but there are other excellent places in Spain to enjoy a round of golf. We spent a week in and around Alicante, visiting various courses and hotels. Even for non-golfers, there's plenty to see in the old city of Alicante. The area claims to have the best weather in all of Spain thanks to a unique microclimate. Regardless, the courses are all in excellent condition, and you can also enjoy Spanish cuisine and wines.

During our search for the most beautiful pampering spots for golfers, we ended up in the east of the country and enjoyed a relaxing midweek break in Lochem and the surrounding area.

We spent a midweek break in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen/Zeeland. We stayed overnight in the charming fishing village of Breskens and from there took day trips to the historic towns of Vlissingen and Middelburg. We also played two golf courses nearby and visited a beautiful wellness hotel in Domburg.