New Golf Course Opening in Cyprus

The Elea Golf Resort & Spa will be opening in July 2010 - a new signature course near Paphos, bringing a new level of quality to Cyprus, thanks to the genius of Nick Faldo and the dedication of golf operations manager, Ross Robertson. The course has been carved on a stunning hillside, with many holes offering stunning views of the Mediterranean, we look forward here at Elegant Golf Resorts in seeing just how excellent this new addition is and will be offering a new 5 star resort in collaboration with Elea by September 2010 in the centre of Paphos. Golfers will now have more than one choice in Cyprus alongside the very good Aphrodite Hills Intercontinental Resort.

Turkey Golf News from Elegant Golf Resorts February 2010

Sirene Golf Resort in Belek have just introduced some great new deals for late bookings from March to May and for September and October. They are experiencing stronger competition from their neighbouring golf resorts as returning golfers seek a new experience in Belek.
The Rixos Premium in Belek has introduced some super deals throughout 2010 based on 7 nights, with 2 rounds Montgomerie and 1 round each on National and Sueno Pines or Dunes, Elegant Golf Resorts believe that this is arguably one of the best three hotels in Belek in terms of service and quality and choice of facilities and restaurants.
Lykia World have just introduced their 2010-11 golf packages which start in November 2010 and go right through next winter with no single room supplements, a great chance to play this superb Perry Dye pure Links creation.
Cornelia De Luxe and Cornelia Diamond Resorts have also just introduced their golf package offers for the winter of 2010-11 which include up to 3 free days of golf on the 27 hole Faldo Resort of Cornelia Golf Club.
The Keminski The Dome Resort hotel on Antalya Golf Club have just released some cracking deals from March to May with 2 rounds each included on PGA Sultan and Pasha from just £799 pp, whilst you can stay between June to September and receive unlimited golf on the Antalya courses adjacent.
TAT Golf club in Belek is closing for a few months this summer for some major renovation works headed up by the inimitable Freddie Hansen, who joined them from Carya Golf Club. It is hoped that by the time TAT re-opens it will be back to its best under new management.
The PGA Sultan and Pasha courses will be closing (one at a time) for over-seeding from 13 October 2010, which is much later than in previous years, so travelling the first 2 weeks to Sirene Golf Resort is quite safe this Autumn.
If you book now for many Turkish Resorts for the winter time up to March 2011, if prices are not yet available, we will sell you packages at 2009-10 levels. November is already getting very busy for tee time space especially the first 2 weeks.

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Golf Holidays in Argentina with Elegant Golf Resorts

Before the end of February, Elegant Golf Resorts will be launching a new programme of resorts in Argentina - an exciting New World of destinations.
Argentina has some superb golfing venues which include Llao Llao and Chapelco, both of which are in the stunning region of Patagonia. In addition, we have 2 hotels in the exciting city of Buenos Aires, with a Four Seasons Resort and the elegant Alvear Palace, together with the beautiful Four Seasons Carmelo Resort in Uruguay.
Elegant Golf Resorts will specialise in multi centre holidays to South America, a typical stay would be 3 nights in Buenos Aires, 2 nights at the Four Seasons in Uruguay and then a flight down to Patagonia with a couple of nights in Chapelco and then 5 nights to end in Llao Llao, one of the worlds most stunning and remote resorts.

Easyjet Launch Gatwick to Antalya Flights

Great news from Easyjet and for golf holidays to Belek on the Turkish Riviera. From 21 May 2010 Easyjet launch a new service from London Gatwick into Antalya - the most popular golf holiday destination for the British Golfer over recent years.
Flights are available from 21 May to 30 September and hopefully this will be extended through the October 2010 - May 2011 period in the coming weeks when the winter schedules are launched. Elegant Golf Resorts will be selling golf holidays to Antalya using Easyjet alongside Thomascook, British Airways and some Monarch charter services. David Sledmere Product Director of Elegant Golf resorts states:-
"This is great news all round and offers the British golfer 3 flights a week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays allowing a whole new combination of durations like 3 or 4 nights and or 10 and 11 night packages with a very reliable and popular UK Airline. Easyjet are relatively golfer friendly and one can buy flights including extra baggage allowance and golf club carriage for about £220 all in, which is great value for a flight between 4-5 hours in duration. This is particularly good news for our group business who like short durations to 5 star golf venues like Sirene Golf Hotel and Sueno Golf Resort in Belek."

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NEWS FROM ELEGANT GOLF RESORTS

On 1 February Elegant Golf Resorts launch a new golf resort holiday programme to Egypt with resorts featured in El Gouna, Sharm El Sheikh, Soma Bay, Taba Heights and Hurghada.
Kempinski the Dome Hotel in Belek launches unlimited golf package 1 June to 30 September, which allows all clients temporary membership of Antalya Golf Club giving free daily golf on the Sultan and Pasha Courses.
La Manga Club Resort in Murcia Spain, launch a new offer for bookings made between now and the end of February 2010, all clients will receive a credit to spend in resort worth 100 euros per room booked on arrival at the Resort. This is valid for stays in April, May, June, September and October 2010.
Penha Longa Golf Resort near Lisbon launch a 15% discount on hotel and green fee rates for all bookings made between now and the end of February 2010, for stays between 5 April - 31 December 2010.
Thomas Cook launch their winter flights to Antalya this week including superb day flights from London Gatwick and Manchester on Tuesdays starting 2 November 2010. Book now to get the best flight prices and tee times in Belek.

New Egyptian Golf Programme for Elegant Golf

Elegant Golf Resorts will be launching a new programme into Egypt in early 2010, with some exciting golf resort venues being introduced at Taba Heights, Sharm El Sheikh, Soma Bay and Hurghada. As some of these venues are serviced by British Airways there will be charter and scheduled options, Elegant have partnered up with the local DMC Easytrav who will meet all our clients, provide safe and efficient transfers and book the pick of the best golf courses in advance for all our clients. Egypt offers amazing value for money, top quality installations and the guarantee of great weather even in December and January, in similar vein to Dubai but at about one third of the price. David Sledmere Elegant Golf's Sales Director is confident that this will sell well and our new Sales Team headed by John Paton has knowledge of the resorts following a visit this last Autumn.

Penha Longa Captures Portuguese Open

The huge investment in the Penha Longa course over the last 2 years with new greens and a new irrigation system being installed has been rewarded by it being appointed venue of the 2010 Portuguse Open from 27 March - 11 April period, when the course will be closed for visitors. Elegant Golf Resorts feature the amazing Ritz Carlton Resort - the best in Portugal high up in the Sintra Hills above the Estoril coastline.

Elegant Golf Resorts open second office in Scotland

Elegant Golf Resorts have opened a new office in Scotland on 4th of January 2010, with the recent addition of two long standing golf travel specialists with more than 25 years of experience in our specialised field. Many of you will know John Paton who booked thousands of golfers around the globe, during his time at 3D Golf from 1995 to 2009. The office is within the Prestwick airport terminal with stunning views of the Firth of Clyde, Ailsa Craig, Arran and the Old Links at Prestwick.

Elegant Golf Resorts Festive Opening Hours

We are closed from 25 December until Monday 4 January, we welcome new email enquiries over this period and they will be dealt with during the first week of January.
On the 4th of January our new Scottish Office opens with 2 new staff joining the operation:-
John Paton who worked for 13 years as senior sales and golf sales manager at 3DGolf and Allison Neil, who was Operations Manager for 10 years at 3D Golf and the Inta Group.
The new office is just 1 minute from the main terminal at Prestwick in Liberator House, with views acros the Firth of Clyde, Ailsa Craig and the Old Links at Prestwick.
David Sledmere who established Elegantgolfresorts.com in late 2008 is very optimistic for 2010, after a successful first year of trading.

New flights start to Lisbon from Scotland

Easyjet announce a new route from Edinburgh to Lisbon from March 2010. This is great news for Scottish golfers who can enjoy direct flights 3 times weekly from Scotland's capital to one of Europe's finest cities. Lisbon is close to the famous Estoril coast and the unspoilt Costa Azul where there can be found at least 16 of Portugal's finest golf courses, including Aroeira, Troia and Quinta do Peru. Elegant Golf Resorts feature the resorts of Penha Longa, Quinta da Marinha, Praia del Rey and Campo Real.

Stay at Dona Filipa over Easter Holidays

In the Easter holidays we have amazing offers at the Dona Filipa - probably the best value of all our Portuguese resorts over this festive period. Stay between 27 March and 11 April for just £489 per person for 7 nights based on 2 sharing a double classic room with breakfast and 4 rounds of golf on San Lorenzo included per person. Elegant Golf Resorts can also offer transfers on arrival for just an extra £40 per person or car hire and flights. Enjoy the amazing San Lorenzo Golf course in the beautiful beach resort hotel at the Dona Filipa.

Elegant Golf Resorts Opening New Office in Scotland

Elegant Golf Resorts, which was established in January 2009 as part of the EFR Travel Group based in Herts, is set to expand its operation, with the opening of a satellite office in Prestwick Airport on the 4th of January 2010. The new office will have views of the birthplace of the Open Championship - Old Prestwick Links, Arran and the Firth of Clyde - stunning. Suppliers and customers will be welcome for a visit during 2010.
This expansion follows a very successful first 11 months of trading, in the teeth of the UK's recession, realising sustained growth in sales and profit on a month to month basis. Indeed, November saw the company achieve its best figures of the year, showing signs that 2010 could be a very good second year.
The operation is headed by David Sledmere, who will be employing two of 3D Golf's very best and most experienced staff, namely John Paton on sales and Allison Neil on operations and administration. Between them, they have 23 years of experience in the golf travel business. David Sledmere will continue to be heavily involved in sales, giving the company a hands on approach to the business.
New venues for 2010 revolve around expanding the long haul portfolio, this will include South Africa, Egypt, Thailand, Bermuda, Jamaica, Barbados, Grenadines, Dominican Republic, Argentina and Bulgaria on the European side, which will be the new exciting short haul venue for 2010-2011 period with several Signature courses including the Lighthouse Golf Resort near Varna, accessible on British Airways from Gatwick.
David Sledmere says - "We must maximise our success, by selling as many venues as we can, where we have amazing airline contracts and this will make us the best value long haul golf operator, with the most up market website in the UK - specialising in golf."
"The operation is already in the black on investment costs and running overhead and we are looking to establish ourselves further during 2010, with a controlled level of expansion, we will not be the cheapest, but we will offer the best service and excellent value for money."

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Fairplay Golf & Spa Resort in Cadiz

The Fairplay Suites Golf Resort & Spa in the Province of Cadiz is the only hotel on the Iberian Peninsula, which offers the visitor the ultimate premium all inclusive food and beverage package, together with free daily golf on the adjacent scenic parkland Benalup Golf Course.
The hotel is the ultimate in luxury and Elegant Golf Resorts have found it to be the most popular hotel in Spain in 2009 - it offers amazing value for money with top quality suite style bedrooms and a beautiful spa treatment centre and hydro pool circuits to relax in after your golf. On 1 December the Fairplay have released special offers to Elegant Golf Resorts, which are now available to book which include 4 nights for the price of 3 in low and mid season periods. The resort is in old Andalucia just 45 minutes from Gibraltar, 1 hour from Jerez and 2 hours from Malaga airport. This has to be the classiest and most relaxing resort in Spain and Portugal - a real hidden gem.

Follow the Nicklaus Golf Trail in Spain

The rapid expansion of a superb string of Nicklaus golf courses continues to raise eyebrows in Spain. The elegant hotels run by the Intercontinental Group continue to excel in terms of quality with superb spa facilities located very close to San Javier airport. The Mar Menor course recently increased in size from 9 holes to 18 holes, whilst the new Nicklaus Signature course named Alhama opens in mid December. At La Torre a new links course has 9 holes open known as La Torre South, with a further 9 holes opening at Easter time. Elegant Golf Resorts have just released new special offers up to 28 February and from 1 March onwards we also have exclusive couples offers available. Residents can play a total of 5 golf courses now with 5 rounds for the price of 3 rounds a main feature, with a free golf shuttle running between the courses and the hotels to negate having car rental. Our favourite course is El Valle but we look forward to seeing how good the new courses are and will keep you posted.

Montgomerie Course in Belek has New Investors

In October 2009 the Rixos Hotel chain took a big stake in the Montgomerie Course owned originally by Papillon Hotels, who have the Papillon Zeugma and Ayscha hotels. The holding group have had financial concerns, ever since the work on Montgomerie was completed in 2007 and this resulted in a delay of almost 1 year for the opening of the golf course. This new deal with Rixos is fabulous news to Belek and golf lovers alike, securing the future of the excellent Montgomerie Course run by the amicable Cahit Sahin. Rixos have the amazing Rixos Premium resort in Belek, which is new to the Elegant Golf Resorts programme and voted by our local golf agency in Belek as the no 1 hotel and resort on the Belek coastline.
Hotel guests will benefit from big reductions and good tee time slots with a courtesy bus transfer to the Clubhouse at the Montgomerie.
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A Taste of Turkey

Having been one of the pioneers of selling golf holidays to Turkey since 1998, I finally took the plunge and booked my own Autumnal Break to Belek and Lykia World over the half term week. We stayed at the fairly new Cornelia Diamond Resort for the first 4 nights and then 3 nights at Lykia World - also one of the new kids on the block. I was only allowed to take my sticks out a couple of times and I saved this for a round on the Faldo Course and a round on Lykia Links - two golf courses, which could not be more different in style and design. So what were my conclusions from this first Busman's Holiday in 2009?
Well Cornelia Diamond was every much as good as my clients and local agency Matrix had intimated, it had absolutely everything in terms of indoor and outdoor facilities, with a breathtaking structure and design concept.
This resort is awe inspiring, with 8 a la carte restaurants, the biggest Spa in Belek and incredible entertainment from the pianist in the lobby bar, to the nightly live bands down at the Dome Bar and the nightly shows in the outside amphi-theatre. The rooms at Diamond are idyllic and it has a cracking beach, with a jetty where one can sunbathe, or dive into the sea. What impressed us most was the speed of service - in the May- October period, the resort has 600 members of staff - a 1 - 2 ratio staff - clients.
A short buggy ride from the lobby of the hotel and you are at the Faldo Clubouse, one of the Med's very best golf complexes, 27 holes of dramatic golf holes across sand ridges and through deep pine forest, with a sprinkling of crystal lakes. I love this layout, but you have to be at the very top of your game to have a feel good factor. I vote hole 2 on the King's combination as the toughest par 5 I have ever played!
Lykia Links lived up to all my 3 years of anticipation, we arrived at the resort at midnight and were accommodated in the golf wing building, waking up at 06.30 we pulled back the blinds and were awe struck by the stunning view right across the links with the rising sun showing every contour across the links greens, hollows and dunes. I could not wait to get out and play. Perry Dye has excelled in his latest creation in Turkey - natural links, with pot bunkers with railway sleepers and wooden steps in each trap, true authenticity. Lovely sea view on every hole esecially the superb last 6 holes which turn for home and run close to the beach and towards the setting sun. As a member of Turnberry in Ayrshire and a real links enthusiast, I commented on the fact that Lykia was equally enjoyable and naturally scenic, but with one subtle difference - it was 83 degrees and not a breath of wind in mid October. Better than my hottest day on the links of Turnberry of any day I have had in 10 years of being a Member!
Cornelia Diamond and Lykia World are breathtaking hotels and very different in price during certain months, but Diamond wins as the most complete resort in the golf market in Turkey. Lykia has a unique isolated location, but is a very special golfing venue just 15 miles beyond Belek. You can now transfer from Belek by speed boat to Lykia Links - an amazing day out.
In the recent Golf World rankings the Faldo course is ranked 72 in Mainland Europe with Lykia Links as high as 63 - not bad considering it has only been open 1 year!

Can One Access the Finca Cortesin Course?

Yes - watching the majestic course in the Andalucian sunshine on SKY TV makes one wonder where one's next winter golf holiday could be! The Finca Cortesin course is situated just north of Estepona on the way to the mountain top village of Casares. It is located in a setting, which has spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada and the Mediterranean and is located next to a stylish new ranch style boutique hotel operated by Franklyn Hotels, featured by Elegant Golf Resorts.
Interested travellers would note that the superb golf courses of La Reserva, Sotogrande old and Valderrama are only about 20 minutes drive away. Finca Cortesin is rapidly becoming known as the Costa del Sol's second best golf course behind Valderrama and chiselled throught the mountainside by Cabell Robinson.

Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus

Book now for a golfing break to Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus for May to October 2010 and you will qualify for a free upgrade to half board - and provided that you stay a minimum number of 7 nights, you also qualify for 4 rounds of free golf with buggy on the superb Cabell Robinson design on site. This is a real saving of about 660 euros on the overall cost of your holiday to Cyprus.
We have looked at the weather stats and May and June are two great months to visit Cyprus.
Don't delay all you have to do is book before Christmas and we will confirm what tee times are available before you pay your deposit.

French Fancies

In late 2009 Elegant Golf Resorts have launched a small programme featuing the very best golf resorts in France. These include the Chateau des Vigiers in the Dordogne with 27 holes of golf on site designed by Donald Steel. The majestic Westminster hotel in Le Touquet and it sister hotel on Le Touquet Golf Club Le Manoir, which have very special privileges on the Le Touquet and Hardelot golf complexes. Last but not least, the Lucien Barriere hotels and golf resorts at Deauville, which offers a combination of different Normandy courses and the La Baule 45 hole complex in the Western Loire. Packages including flights or Eurotunnel can be quoted now from the beginning of November for 2010 departures.

Counting the Cost of Small Margins

The recent demise of the Inta Group including 3D Golf and Bill Goff - two household names in the golf travel industry, cast a big shadow across the golfing fraternity in late October 2009.
The problem confronting the industry, is the continual downward spiral in pricing levels and squeezed profit margins, caused by the predatory pricing policies of the main players in the UK market.
Unless we are careful ,there will be more casualties in the industry in the coming months, as customers seek unrealistic prices and sacrifice personalised service and old fashioned attention to detail, for rock bottom prices instead. I equate this to the customer in the high street buying from supermarkets, instead of the specialised independent store. The message is loud and clear, support the company you traditionally enjoy booking with, because they offer you an efficient, unbiased and rounded view of golfing venues. Don't just look for the best price and shop till you drop on the Internet. Look after the small specialists who put more time and effort and don't give you the hard sell approach.
The demise of the INTA Group has made it increasingly important to check out the financial position of the company you book with, this can be done more easily than one imagines and as another golf travel company disappear, like Longmere into the sunset, surely booking your holiday is not just about price - but about security.
Book with a Company with ATOL and ABTA licences, so your entire holiday is covered in case of company failure. Surely, this is more important than saving £20 per person on a holiday costing in excess of £450! Elegant Golf Resorts have both ATOL and ABTA and will go that extra mile to find you the best tee times and golfing venues and offer great attention to detail. We may not be the cheapest, but we will never be expensive either! I have been in the business for 27 years and will offer an unrivalled level of expertise and knowledge on golf venues across the globe.
David Sledmere
Elegant Golf Resorts