Argentario tees up Ryder Cup course package

To celebrate the staging of the Ryder Cup in Italy for the very rst time, Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort has launched a range of special Ryder Cup stay-and-play packages for golfers that would like to play the host course at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club before or after the matches between Europe and the USA.

With the gol ng spotlight rmly on Italy in the build up to the match, which takes place from September 29 to October 1, Argentario is the ideal base from which to access the Marco Simone as it is just two hours away by car. And thanks to a partnership with its distinguished neighbour, guests staying at Argentario will be o ered a reduced green fee at the Marco Simone layout.

Prices start from €1,095 per person for a ve-night stay in a double superior room, based on two people sharing, which includes B&B, three rounds of golf at Argentario, a welcome dinner and daily access to the Espace Wellness Centre. The packages are available from June until the end of October with some blackout dates before and during the staging of the Ryder Cup.

For those looking for a more exclusive experience, there are a collection of independent luxury villas overlooking the golf course available to rent that bene t from access to all the facilities and services on the ve-star property.

Argentario is 90 minutes by car from Rome Fiumicino Airport and two hours from Rome Ciampino Airport.

For bookings, call +39 0564 810292 or email booking@argentarioresort.it.

Clubstohire, the golf equipment rental company that has dozens of outlets across Europe, Africa and Asia, has launched a unique competition that is open to golf’s dedicated amateur enthusiasts.

Open to all golfers in possession of an o cial world handicap, Race to Monte Rei aims to reward players who manage to reduce their handicap by 10% from the time they enter the competition during the course of the year.

Of the players that achieve this impressive feat, just 12 names will be drawn at random to win a trip to Portugal in November to play at the magni cent Monte Rei Golf & Country Club near Faro, where the winners will be treated to round on the Algarve venue’s superb Jack Nicklaus designed championship course and an overnight stay at the club’s luxury on-site residences. The grand nalists will also be treated to a goodie bag, a pre-match breakfast, and will be invited to attend a post-golf gala dinner and prize giving ceremony. Flights to Faro are not included in the prize.

The competition is free to enter online and is open to all golfers who hold an o cial handicap. All entries must be submitted by September 30 and will be checked by the organisers with the golfer’s home club. Regular updates on quali ers will appear during the year.

To enter Race to Monte Rei, visit www.clubstohire.com. For more information, email therace@clubstohire.com.

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, one of Continental Europe’s Top 100 golf courses, has unveiled a range of exclusive stay-andplay packages for golfers looking to escape to the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

From its privileged position just south of Alicante in the region of Valencia, the stunning resort provides a perfect combination of championship golf and rst-class leisure facilities.

The Troon-managed resort provide guests the opportunity to tailor their holidays to suit their requirements, with wide range of options are available incorporating golf and accommodation in the lavish self-catering apartments and villas, each sleeping from four to six people. A host venue for the European Tour Qualifying School, Las Colinas lies along a picturesque valley of citrus trees and Mediterranean woodland surrounded by hills, accessed through a spectacular canyon entrance. The practice facilities are also top class, with natural grass hitting areas, manicured putting green and short game area, which can be used to hit a complimentary pyramid of TaylorMade practice balls.

The sports facilities at Las Colinas include tennis and paddle courts, a gym, swimming pools, bicycle hire and a nature trail. Visitors also have access to the private beach club on the seafront at La Glea beach in Campoamor – a hideaway with in nity pool, sun loungers and café bar. For the full range of packages, visit lascolinasgolf.com.

My earliest holiday memory is... going on long car journeys to Europe. My mum is Spanish and my father is Hungarian, so when we were young, we would take it in turns to visit their parents – one year to Galicia and the next to Budapest. The downside was the journey, in dad’s Vauxhall Viva, which could last for two days; on the plus side, we were staying in a foreign country with family. In those days not many people went to Hungary, which made it really exciting. These days they are both reachable via short flights, which makes life a lot easier.

My first holiday without my parents... was when I was 17. I went with a mate on my one and only package holiday. We went to the Costa Blanca, not far from Benidorm. I just didn’t get it. In the hotel, by the pool, in the restaurants, on the beach, and especially in the bars, we seemed to be surrounded by people who wanted everything to be as English as possible. Why not stay at home and go to Blackpool instead?

The best hotel I’ve stayed in is... The Ritz in London. It has an old-fashioned charm, with waiters wearing tails and white gloves. The dining room is exquisite, with immaculate service and ornate details. You can’t have dinner unless you’re wearing a shirt, tie and jacket, but that suits me.

My favourite golf course in the UK is... Wentworth’s West Course. It’s my home course and is like a little piece of heaven. I play off five and I like to get out on the West Course as often as I can, especially in the