With mild temperatures all year round, it goes without saying that Mallorca in the Balearic Islands is one of the best spots in Europe to play golf. Mallorca is home to a number of stunning golf courses with an excellent range of accommodation and restaurants to match.
Cut into the gently undulating hills in the outskirts of Palma, Son Muntaner is a picturesque and thoroughly rewarding golf course.

As part of the Arabella Golf Resort, Son Muntaner is the ideal addition to a golfing itinerary in Mallorca.

Thanks to its convenient location and close proximity to the island’s capital, avid golfers can explore Palma’s awe-inspiring architecture, such as the vast gothic-style cathedral, La Seu, tree-lined shopping boulevards, enchanting cobbled streets and excellent cuisine, after finishing a round at Son Muntaner.

www.illesbalears.travel

Your Golf Travel offers a three-night stay at Castillo Hotel Son Vidain Mallorca, including two rounds at Son Vida, Son Muntaner or Son Quint golf courses, priced from £659pp (based on October 2021 departures). The offer is ABTA and ATOL protected.

PRESS RELEASE C/O LOTUS
IMAGES C/O IAGTO

-Sir Nick Faldo announces a new lake peninsula design in spectacular setting near Hanoi-

(Windsor, UK – 23rd March 2021)
Sir Nick Faldo has revealed his latest golf course design with a new peninsula layout near Hanoi, Vietnam – Thanh Lanh Golf Club – wowing golfers with lakeside views and mountain horizons.

The unique setting is celebrated from all angles of the design with the site’s returning nines routing reimagining the peninsula layout and inviting the landscape into the playing experience across every hole.

Away from the surrounding views, the design harnesses the natural context of the course and responds to it through the detailing of features, most notably using unique bunker shaping to mirror the overlooking mountain skyline.

Having recently adapted to remote working and virtual design direction in the latter stages of construction, the six-time Major Champion and World Golf Hall of Famer is set to complete work this summer on the new 18-hole course in Vinh Phuc Province near Hanoi.

Sir Nick Faldo commented: “This is a special site and presents us with an opportunity to create a memorable, world-class golf course. In addition to 9 lakeside holes, our design features spectacular mountain and lake views from all 18 holes. We are also very fortunate to be working with a client who shares the same vision as we do in terms of incorporating the existing natural landscape into a high-quality strategic golf course and development.”

The course will measure at over 7,000 yards and present a strategic challenge using preserved local features, such as natural streams and relief, to create interest and shot variation around all 18-holes. However, with five sets of tees, the design offers an inviting playing experience for all golfing abilities with generous tee shots and downhill run offs supporting shorter hitters.

Inspired by the local surroundings, Faldo Design Lead Architect, Andrew Haggar, said: “From the start of design to the completion of construction we have looked to be creative and innovative on this project. Establishing returning nines which both play out and back, and which share in the beauty of the lakeside, really set the foundation for maximising the site’s surrounding assets.”

“The closing stretch, I think quite fittingly, encompasses much of what we’ve tried to achieve by returning players along the shoreline of the lake to the new clubhouse with a magnificent mountain backdrop. This place certainly has memorability and once visited players will definitely want to return.”

Sustainable practices have also remained at the forefront of the design’s decision making, implementing a comprehensive planting programme to support an ongoing thriving environment in addition to the ‘cut and fill’ practice used during the course’s construction phases to eliminate any earthmoving waste at the site.

PRESS RELEASE C/O Performance54

Iceland has not required those with immunity to undergo border measures. From 18 March this exemption will apply to citizens outside the Schengen area, including the UK and USA.

The Icelandic government has announced that all those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to travel to Iceland without being subject to border measures,

such as testing and quarantine. Until now, this exemption has only applied to those presenting certificates from the EU/EEA Area but will now apply equally to everyone who can provide proof of a full vaccination with a vaccine that has been certified for use by the European Medical Agency as well as requirements defined by the Chief Epidemiologist of Iceland and Icelandic regulations. Certificates from the the World Health Organization (WHO) (the International Certificate of Vaccination or the Carte Jaune/Yellow Card) are also accepted for vaccines the WHO has validated.

The exemption also applies to those who can provide valid proof of prior infection. Documentation on prior infections must be in accordance with the requirements defined by the Chief Epidemiologist.

Iceland has announced that from 1 May it will use the ECDC risk assessment colour code at the border. From that time travellers from low-risk areas (green and yellow) will be exempt from quarantine measures if they present a negative PCR result at the border.

No one is at this time hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Iceland.

PRESS RELEASE C/O IAGTO

Following a recent government announcement, golf courses in Northern Ireland will reopen from 1st April for members only.

Courses have been closed since December and the initial opening will be available for members only and further details on when visitors can play are due to be issued in April.

Dates for hospitality reopening is pending and Tourism NI will provide updates when more information becomes available.

PRESS RELEASE C/O IAGTO

GreenClub has called upon a renewable energy expert to drive its Australian ambitions.
Sydney-based Trevor Eisler is formerly national technical service manager at Solarwatt and has enjoyed a long and successful career in energy and aviation before working as a renewable energy consultant for the past year.

But as the new Australia business manager, he has become the latest impressive acquisition to the GreenClub ranks – the company which builds partnerships with golf and leisure venues to generate their own energy from on-site solar installations. The added attraction is that there is no capital outlay for the installation process.

Launched late last year, GreenClub is already in talks with more than 100 golf clubs and venues eager to reduce energy costs and generate vital new revenue streams in progressing towards carbon neutrality. As a principal partner of the PGA, Open Championship and Ryder Cup venues have already expressed a keen interest with many more potential projects due to come on stream this year.

But with 1500 golf clubs and resorts Down Under, there is also a wealth of opportunities and a real prospect of transforming their energy usage.

Eisler said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me and I felt there was a real credibility and strength about this proposition when I first heard about it. Solar and renewable energy is a sector where I have spent most of my career and GreenClub presents the chance to demonstrate its adaptability to golf and leisure venues.

“As we know, there is no capital outlay for the installation and there is the opportunity to make extra revenue with the sale of surplus energy. I believe this could transform the way golf and leisure venues look at renewable energy.
“It’s not about chasing the dollars for me. If I wanted to do that, I would be staying as a consultant. It’s more about getting up every day and being excited about what you do and feeling like you are involved with something which can make a real difference.”

Chief executive, Liam Greasley, believes

Eisler’s specific expertise in solar power and renewable energy will be a vital addition to the business.

Greasley said: “We were introduced to Trevor and we are delighted he has agreed to represent our interest in Australia to kick things off over there. His background is specifically in solar and renewable energy and is incredibly well-respected. That sort of expertise will be a major asset for us.
“We have already been introduced to a number of properties which are keen to explore our proposition.”

As well as the addition of a new element of Australian focus, the GreenClub message continues to spread in the UK, Europe and beyond with Greasley fronting a presentation at the recent European Tour Destinations conference on practical resort sustainability.
Greasley said: “We’ve already fielded plenty of interest on the back of the conference. It was really worthwhile to be able to explain a little more about our ambitions and hopefully it’s a first step towards some beneficial partnerships.”

For more information, please visit www.greenclub.energy, email info@greenclub.energy or call 0800 999 1904.

Stay in touch on social media:
Facebook: @GreenClubenergy
Twitter: @GreenClubenergy

PRESS RELEASE C/O The Azalea Group

Sitting majestically on the Co. Kerry coastline, Ballybunion offers 36 holes of intrigue and brilliance. The Old course is revered but it wasn’t until Tom Watson’s rapturous endorsement rang around the world that the links became a bucket-list destination. Ballybunion has been basking in that glory ever since. And with good reason. Every shot on these hallowed fairways and sublime, new greens (2016) is links golf in its purest form. This is as natural a course as you could hope to find. Greens sit on high plateaus and in dells, fairways cascade between heaving shoulders and dunes squeeze greens like over-zealous bodyguards.

www.ballybuniongolfclub.com

Favourite Hole: The par four 11th gets the global plaudits but the 17th hits from the high dunes down towards the sea. It’s majestic.

What’s in the Bag? Links golf abilities are vital but it’s overcoming the five par threes that will define
your round.

For more on Ireland’s TOP150 golf courses, see;

Destination Golf Ireland 2021

As swashbuckling parklands go, few can match PGA National Slieve Russell as it flashes over a Co. Cavan countryside of rolling hills and lakes.

This is one of Ireland’s top championship parklands and it has the languid pace and acres of space which make inland golf so very embracing.

As part of a resort, with a well known four star hotel, visitors will enjoy superb facilities and a warm welcome.

The prize, though, is the par 72, 6,500 yard course (middle tees). The 1st hole eases you in, but that’s as generous as it gets… the par four 2nd is Index 1. It drives over a lake, over a river and doglegs up to a high green. Thereafter the pace rarely eases off.

Paddy Merrigan designed the course in 1992, employing the hypnotic rolling drumlins and 50 acres of lakes and streams to full and glorious effect.

There are countless strong holes but the stretch from 11 to 13 is sensational, with the allure and danger of Lough Rud fully employed. Perhaps the greatest testament to Merrigan’s work is that this plush course feels so very natural.

www.slieverussell.ie

Favourite Hole: The par three 11th hits down to a green fronted by water and surrounded by bunkers. It’s a beauty.

What’s in the Bag? Accuracy off the tee is crucial.