Continental Europe has an abundance of golf courses, many of which are considered to be up there with the best in the world. It’s hard to choose from such a strong list but, having played a lot of golf in this region, I’ve managed to whittle it down to five of my favourites. Those I have picked are almost always in the top 10 of any list of the region’s best courses. They’ve all hosted major golfing events and every one of them will leave a lasting impression.
Golf de Morfontaine, Mortefontaine, France
This course is one of golf’s holy grails – it’s a very private and exclusive place to play a round. The 450 members are also the club’s shareholders, so asking to speak to the manager won’t necessarily help here. It dates back to 1913 and was designed by Tom Simpson, who also created Royal Lytham & St Annes and Ballybunion. You’ll find this one in every definitive list of top European golf courses and, although it’s not a long 18 holes, the difficulty lies in the approach shots and the undulating greens. We make no promises about getting you in, but will try our best.
Valderrama Golf Club, Sotogrande, Spain
Spain is a golfing haven. The weather is fantastic, there are plenty of courses to choose from and there is also the one and only Valderrama – often described as the ‘Augusta of Europe’. The brainchild of billionaire Jaime Ortiz-Patiño and originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, it certainly has strong credentials. It’s a difficult course so is better suited to the more advanced golfer and, because they don’t allow a lot of traffic through, the grounds are normally in very good condition. Valderrama was the scene for one of the greatest European Ryder Cup victories of all time, with none other than Seve Ballesteros at the helm. This course is at the top of many golfers’ to-do-lists and should probably be on yours too.
Royal Zoute Golf Club, Knokke-Heist, Belgium
This is a place I particularly love. It could be because my grandfather had a house on the course or because I have played it so many times. Either way, it’s always highly rated by credible golfing magazines and it’s not as well known as the others, making it a ‘hidden gem’, according to Sir Nick Faldo. The club president also happens to be the local mayor, which is handy, and the course was designed by Harry Colt, the man behind Wentworth and Sunningdale’s New Course. They accept guests with official handicap cards, which is an incredibly relaxed policy for one of the top courses in Europe.
Sporting Club Berlin, Scharmützelsee, Germany
This is a resort that has a lot of golf on the go. There is the Arnold Palmer-designed course, which makes it well worth the trip on its own, but the crowning achievement has to be Nick Faldo’s course, which was the first he created in continental Europe. It’s not an easy course and has played host to the German Open, among other top events. Now with a new German major winner – 2010 PGA champion Martin Kaymer – it’s sure to attract a great deal more attention. With plenty of deep bunkers, this is a traditional links-style course.
Monte Rei North, Portugal
Like Spain, Portugal is a popular destination for a European golf holiday. Monte Rei (pictured above) is located away from the cluster of courses that are frequented by tourists. It’s a very young course, but has already achieved a great deal and is now considered one of the top ten in Europe. It’s ranked number one in Portugal and is one of the only Jack Nicklaus signature courses on the continent. There is also a very good par-five finishing hole, so if there are any bets on the go, a push on 18 will come from the player behind.
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