International

Irish golf is set for an extended spell in the golfing spotlight following Shane Lowry’s Open Championship victory, with the announcement of Adare Manor as host venue for the 2026 Ryder Cup.

Since reopening in April 2018 on completion of a two-year reconstruction commissioned by its owners, the McManus family, The Golf Course at Adare Manor has been propelled to global recognition by a host of well-wishers.

The property has been an immediate hit with industry figureheads and top players alike, each rich in praise for the Tom Fazio design and, in particular, its pristine condition. In its first eighteen months of operation, Adare Manor has collected numerous global accolades, capped off with confirmation of its Ryder Cup host venue status.

Adare Manor will continue a run of new venues for the event. The 2020 Ryder Cup will be contested at Whistling Straits (Straits Course) in Kohler, Wisconsin; the 2022 Ryder Cup is slated for Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy; and the 2024 Ryder Cup heads for Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York. It has come to Ireland in the past, to the K Club near Dublin, but this is its first foray to the golf-rich southwest part of the island.

Adare Manor Owner J.P. McManus On Hosting The 2026 Ryder Cup

“I am delighted that the prestigious Ryder Cup will return to Ireland,” said JP McManus, owner of Adare Manor. “Noreen and I are very happy that Adare Manor was chosen as the venue for this world-renowned tournament in 2026 and we look forward to welcoming our worldwide visitors. 

“It is a wonderful tribute to the many great Irish golf ambassadors and success stories Ireland has had in golf over the years and a nice follow on from Shane’s momentous Open win on Sunday in Portrush.  The nation was behind Shane, it was a great achievement and very well deserved.  

“I am confident that the people of Ireland will get behind The Ryder Cup and take the opportunity to showcase Ireland on the world stage and ensure that the 2026 Ryder Cup will be an outstanding success.  I hope the many tourist, golfing and business organisations will work together to identify all the opportunities for the benefit of The Ryder Cup tournament, the Irish economy and across the southwest community.”

The announcement was made today by Ryder Cup Europe, which unveiled its partnership with the Irish Government and described the positive economic outcomes The Ryder Cup will yield by amplifying Ireland’s distinct golf tourism offering. Hot on the heels of the return of The Open Championship to the island of Ireland, and the extraordinary achievement of national hero, Lowry, the exceptional feats of golf in the region show no signs of abating.

“Adare Manor is a world-class venue, both in terms of the golf course and the wider resort facilities,” commented Guy Kinnings, European Ryder Cup Director. “We could not be happier to be able to take golf’s greatest team contest back to Ireland and are delighted that Adare Manor will be the venue to showcase the next chapter in Ireland’s Ryder Cup story in seven years’ time.”

Adare Manor is already familiar to some of the world’s best players. The 2020 Ryder Cup Captain, Padraig Harrington, was consulted on the design of the golf course, providing player insights to Tom Fazio and his team. To celebrate its re-opening in April 2018, Lowry and Harrington were joined by four-time Major Champion, Rory McIlroy, and former Ryder Cup Captain, Paul McGinley, for a charity exhibition match. In addition, The JP McManus Pro-Am, the most illustrious event of its kind, has visited Adare Manor on two occasions and will welcome a star-studded cast from both sides of the pond, including Tiger Woods, John Rahm, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson in July 2020; an opportunity for Ryder Cup hopefuls of the future to get to know the golf course.

Mr Colm Hannon, Adare Manor CEO, said: “We could not be more honoured to be successful in bringing The Ryder Cup back to Ireland and to Adare Manor. Today’s announcement is extremely humbling for all of us and my heartfelt thanks and gratitude go out to all of those who have played their part in the Adare Manor story so far.”

Scotland is one of the world’s leading event destinations and this summer it will reaffirm its position as it shines a spotlight on women’s sport, including the 2019 Solheim Cup.

Over the next three months the country will play host to six European and international sporting events kicking off with the UEFA Women’s U19 European Championship in July and culminating in the biggest event in women’s golf in September.

The country will also host the Women’s Eurohockey Championships II, the inaugural Women’s Tour of Scotland, The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup T20 Global Qualifier during the summer months.

To mark the occasion, VisitScotland and its EventScotland team gathered players from each event to celebrate this special summer of women’s sport and showcase Scotland is leading the way in the development and promotion of world-class women’s sporting events.

Solheim Cup Team Europe Captain, Catriona Matthew, met with Scotland cricketer, Samantha Haggo, along with Katie Archibald, Women’s Tour of Scotland ambassador and Commonwealth, World and Olympic Cycling Champion; Becky Ward, Scotland’s Hockey Vice Captain and Scotland Under 19’s football player Michaela McAlonie to commemorate this occasion.

Talking about this unprecedented summer of women’s sport, Catriona Matthew, Solheim Cup Team Europe Captain said: “It is incredibly exciting that The 2019 Solheim Cup will be the culmination of a terrific year for women’s sport in Scotland, showcasing the very best of a range of sports across a number of events. There is no doubt that women’s sport is benefitting from an enhanced profile both domestically and globally and it is fitting that The Solheim Cup and golf plays a huge part of that in the country which gave the game to world. I hope the Scottish public turn out in force to support our world-class athletes, not just at Gleneagles in September but across all of our women’s sports events.”

VisitScotland’s Director of Events, Paul Bush OBE, said: “2019 is a big year for women’s sport with Scotland providing the perfect stage over the next three months for six key events on the international sporting calendar. As a world-leading events destination we have a proud history of supporting and championing women’s sporting events. From hosting the largest women’s annual golf event on the Ladies European Tour to supporting showcase events for national teams, we continue to shine a spotlight and build on the momentum shift behind women’s sport.

The Scottish summer of women’s sporting events are, in chronological order:

Football: UEFA Women’s U19 European Championship

In the aftermath of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Scotland will be hosting UEFA’s flagship European Championship Youth Tournament Sept. 16-28. The Women’s Under 19 European Championship aims to expose talented youth footballers to elite level competition in preparation for stepping up to the senior stage to represent their country. Taking place across four professional football stadiums in Scotland – the grounds of St. Johnstone FC (Perth), Stirling Albion FC, Partick Thistle FC (Glasgow) and St. Mirren FC (Paisley) – Scotland will be joined by Belgium, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, and current holders Spain as they all compete for the trophy, which will be lifted by the winner on Sunday 28 July.

INFORMATION AND TICKETS

Hockey: Women’s Eurohockey Championship II

Held every two years, the Women’s Eurohockey Championship Division II will see eight nations compete to join the first division and rank amongst the best in Europe August 4-10. Featuring 20 matches spread over seven days at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, the iconic legacy venue of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, all eyes will be on team Scotland as they go up against Wales, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Austria and Turkey to gain promotion to the top tier and avoid relegation to the 3^rd league.  Scotland matches are due to take place at 17:00 Sunday 04 August, 18:00 Tuesday 06 August and 19:00 Wednesday 07 August ahead of a final on Saturday 10 August.

INFORMATION AND TICKETS

Cycling: Women’s Tour of Scotland

The Women’s Tour is a new and permanent fixture on the professional cycling calendar. This year’s inaugural the three-day, three stage 350km Tour will take place August 9-11. Starting from Dundee’s iconic waterfront area, the 103km opening stage will take in the Tay Road Bridge and travel down through the Kingdom of Fife to finish in Pittencrief Park, Dunfermline. Stage Two is a 139.4km route departing on Saturday from Glasgow’s George Square, sweeping through The Trossachs and finishing in the centre of Perth.

The final stage will start and finish in the beautiful setting of Holyrood Park, the famous Royal Park in central Edinburgh.  The 118.3km stage will include three Queen of the Mountain climbs.

INFORMATION

Golf: The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open

The co-sanctioned ASI Ladies Scottish Open August 8-11 is one of the premier events on the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA. It will be held at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick for the first time just three weeks after the men’s Scottish Open. Tickets for this event are FREE and it is the final qualifying event for players looking to make Team Europe ahead of The 2019 Solheim Cup.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION

Cricket: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup T20 Global Qualifier

The Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier will take place in Dundee and Angus August 31-September 7. The event is the final global qualifier for the T20 Women’s World Cup, which is being staged in Australia next year. The qualifier will see eight teams – Scotland, Netherlands, Ireland, Papa New Guinea, Thailand, USA, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh – compete for the final two qualifying places at next year tournament.

INFORMATION AND TICKETS

Golf: Solheim Cup

Hosted by VisitScotland, The 2019 Solheim Cup Sept. 9-15 aims to be the biggest ever European edition of the event and the most family-focused golf event in history, with around 100,000 spectators expected at Gleneagles in September. It is the pinnacle of women’s golf with the best players from Europe and the USA going head-to-head in match play formation. The 16^th edition promises to be one of the highlights on the women’s world sporting calendar in 2019.

INFORMATION AND TICKETS

Golfers have more than a few post-round rituals to celebrate victory, and most involve some sort of adult beverage — whisky, lagers, mixed cocktails, even a glass of wine if you’re in a classy sort of mood. And our neighbors to the north — including the Muskoka region in Ontario — have their share of spirits to commemorate a day on the fairways and greens. Try some Sortilege maple whisky if you ever get the chance — it’s like drinking pancakes.

But for this golf journey through the dramatic Canadian Shield, my 15-year-old playing partner is still a few years short of sampling a legal shot. So instead of the loser buying drinks in our group, the winner is treated to ice cream. And we’re not just talking a convenience-store Drumstick here or there. In the same way we search for the province’s best golf courses, we also seek out the nation’s best creamery delights.

And that’s how we found Belly, as appropriately named an ice cream shop as you’ll ever find, in Huntsville, Ontario. I was forced to buy ice cream there twice while traveling back and forth through a region known for rocky terrain and lakeside retreats, but each time it soothed the soul of this loser without drowning my sorrows.

Belly is an artisan ice cream shop where everything — yes, everything — is made from scratch by chef Shelley Westgarth and her team of handcrafting specialists. And, most importantly, all golf roads (at least in this area) lead to this little confectionary company where the mouthwatering flavors sometimes even offer a nod to golf’s homeland. Sticky Toffee Pudding was one of the many scoops we sampled after our match on the nearby Deerhurst Highlands championship course designed by the late Robert Cupp and prolific Canadian architect Thomas McBroom at Deerhurst Resort.

Of course, the Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream was just my dessert. Dinner had been at The Antler, one of the better clubhouse restaurants I’ve encountered. The night’s special was fresh-caught local salmon poached in Canadian maple sap, and it is now the bar against which I measure all salmon dishes anywhere in the world (and I’ve probably eaten a grizzly bear’s worth of salmon in my lifetime).

Beyond Deerhurst and Belly, another small food-and-beverage operation also caught our attention on the trip, this time at the Ron Garl-designed Taboo golf course across the road from the resort of the same name in Gravenhurst, often called the Gateway to Muskoka. The “Bistro” counter in Taboo’s perfectly-appointed Pro Shop features quick bites and soft-serve ice cream (including tasty milkshakes that served as our daily payoff on two different occasions). But even more impressive and unique is the Gimme Food Truck atop the hill, which serves tacos, corn dogs and quesadillas. And the outdoor seating around the truck overlooks a very cool drop-shot 19th hole where golfers can settle bets by firing at the flag on the island green below.

And this is what drew us to Muskoka — food, fun and some of the more dramatic mountain golf you’ll find in North America carved through the famed Canadian Shield, a geological wonder that covers nearly half of the country in some form. And the water, of course. Water everywhere. Lakes upon lakes upon lakes (1,600 or so) playing home to summertime visitors escaping the cities to take a plunge into the great outdoors.

Our itinerary included multiple waterfront resorts — Deerhurst, Taboo and Rocky Crest in MacTier — each with its own family-friendly summer camp vibe of swimming, hiking, kayaking and all manner of big-time water toys for kids of all ages, from inflatables and trampolines to boats that will transport you and your clubs essentially to the first tee of such golf courses as The Ridge at Manitou, a McBroom gem that inexplicably seems to fly under the radar in this golf-rich region.

But the region is rich in other ways, too. As more and more affluent Canadians are calling Muskoka home (or second home) each year, the area is quickly becoming known as Toronto’s version of The Hamptons. And that high-end lifestyle is on full display at the Bigwin Island Golf Club (shown at the beginning of this story) built on its own private island in the middle of Lake of Bays. The club itself is private, but golfers can snag a rare tee time by staying at Port Cunnington Lodge and taking a “water taxi” to the island. The golf course, designed by Doug Carrick (another prolific Canadian architect), might be one of the best combinations of dramatic water views and playable golf holes. The combination of width and wildlife make for a sublime round of golf, and that ambiance is amplified by the boat ride, especially if you make the trip back to the Lodge at sunset.

Even without the golf, Port Cunnington Lodge is worth the trip for families in search of a secluded summer-sleepaway environment that feels like it’s straight out of Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” — without all the snootiness, thankfully. Family-run and steeped in history (travelers have been visiting this spot for more than 120 years) with lots of shoreline and sandy beach, Port Cunnington offers a wide a range of accommodations from quaint cottages to full-size houses. And in keeping with our food-fueled theme, the breakfast buffet with fresh pastries is not to be missed (put a few of the cherry turnovers in your pocket for the day).

When it comes to this wonderful world of golf carved from the Canadian Shield, it’s possible Muskoka’s biggest strength is in the variety of architectural styles. McBroom and Carrick are household names when it comes to Canadian fairways, but finding gems from Garl and even a little-known track — called The Rock — designed by six-time major champion Nick Faldo makes for an interesting study in how golf courses can negotiate this jagged landscape.

Our personal introduction to the Shield was rugged in its own right as we wasted no time hammering away at Muskoka Bay, perhaps the craziest of all the courses you’ll find in Ontario. On this dramatic site that few would dare build 18 holes of golf, Carrick rose to challenge of routing the course through rocks, ridges and wetlands to create a memorable beauty. And the clifftop clubhouse with infinity pool makes this spot all the more magical.

Muskoka Bay is certainly a destination resort that deserves a multiple-night stay (especially with new modern villas recently built for overnight accommodations). Likewise, the golf course deserves more than one round to understand Carrick’s grand plan — and to figure out how you can conquer the challenge. If we had it to do over again, I would probably close the trip with Muskoka Bay rather than making it the kickoff course — it’s one of the more interesting feats of golf engineering I’ve ever witnessed but can be a shock to your golf system if you’re not ready for the rocky mindset it requires.

Memories are what make golf travel fun, and there are plenty to be made in Muskoka. Whether you’re looking for a waterfront vacation with a few rounds sprinkled in or you’re road-tripping with a hardcore “play as many holes as possible on the long summer days” group, you’ll find myriad options (plus ice cream and milkshakes) just a couple hours north of Toronto. And you can safely say that this stretch of Ontario, Canada, gives a new golf meaning to “rock and roll.”

Golf Holidays Direct offer the most popular golf holidays throughout Portugal, one of the leading golf destinations in Europe and a serious golfer’s bucket list must.

Renowned across Europe for its huge array of championship golf courses, five luxury resorts and its sunny climate all year round, Portugal is a great choice for a golf holiday.

The most popular golf regions are in The Algarve, Faro. Many golfers head over to Vilamoura, known for its fantastic marina  —where you will find plenty of fine lodging options — and great nightlife with plenty of bars and restaurants to enjoy.

The golf courses Vilamoura has to offer are simply world class, with 15 championship golf courses within a 10-mile radius. The most popular are The Old Course and The Victoria Course, which often host the Portugal Masters — where some of the best golfers in the world battle it out every year. Other popular golf courses are Pinhal, Millenium, Laguna, Vila Sol and, of course, two favorites — Vale Do Lobo and San Lorenzo.

The capital city of Lisbon is located in the North of Portugal and also is very popular for golf holidays, with 25 golfing facilities and 29 courses. It is one of Europe’s oldest standing cities, boasting traditional cuisine and well-established golf resorts with years of experience and the best hospitality.

It’s no surprise that golfing greats like Arnold Palmer, Seve Ballesteros and Robert Trent Jones are among the architects behind Lisbon’s epic courses. The city is a three-time winner of the “Golf Destination of the Year (Europe)” award, having last won the award in 2016, which speaks volumes about the courses. Golf Holidays Direct agents are expert at directing their customers to its best layouts.

You must fly into Faro, the only airport available when travelling to the Algarve; from there you can travel to a Golf Holidays Direct luxury golf hotel partner and play some of the leading European golf courses.

Top Ten Golf Holiday Resorts In Portugal

• Monte Rei Golf Resort
• Amendoeira Golf Resort
• Dona Filipa Golf Resort
• Palm Village Golf Resort
• Pestana Delfim Golf Resort
• Sao Rafael Suites
• Vilamoura Golf Tour
• Penina Golf Resort
• Formosa Park
• Palmares

Golf Holidays Direct can arrange every detail of your next holiday to Portugal, including flights, golf club transport, transfers, accommodation and, yes, the golf itself.

Contact the team at golf holidays to plan your next golf holiday to Portugal by visiting https://www.golfholidaysdirect.com/ or calling the sales team on 01462488372.

Tee time reservations are now available for starting times beginning May 16, 2020 at Dumbarnie Links, a new true links golf course located on Scotland’s East Coast in the Kingdom of Fife, and on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. Tee times can be made through the Dumbarnie Links website, at www.dumbarnielinks.com.

“Dumbarnie Links is a high-end public golf course exclusively for daily fee play, and we’re thrilled to announce to the public that the tee sheet is now open,” said Luke Beardmore, Senior Vice President of Agronomy and Construction for OB Sports Golf Management, the management firm for Dumbarnie Links. “Favorable weather during construction and grow-in contributed to spectacular conditions. It’s absolutely stunning. We’re looking forward to introducing it to the golf world.”

Clive Clark – Dumbarnie Links golf course designer, born and raised in England – created the golf course on 345 acres along 1.5 miles of shoreline on the Balcarres Estate, owned and occupied by Anthony Lindsay, Lord Balniel. The 5,000-acre Balcarres Estate has been in his family for more than 400 years.

The back of the site sits 80 feet above sea level and slopes down to the coast. The elevation change opens up breathtaking views spanning across the Firth of Forth to Muirfield, North Berwick and Edinburgh. A series of 500 coastal dunes located along the beach add to the links-style charm without obstructing the ocean views.

“Most links courses, if you think of the old traditional courses where they play The Open Championship, tend to be along the beach behind the sand hills,” said Clark. “They generally don’t have views of water – maybe only two or three holes. We have 14 unobstructed views of water, and water can be seen from all 18 holes.”

Clark incorporated several elevated tees into the design that play down the escarpment towards the ocean. And on the coast, he placed tees up on a ridge serving elevated greens so close to the water that golfers could “literally toss a golf ball into the water.”

Dumbarnie Links is anticipated to take a prominent place among roughly 246 true links layouts worldwide, a number cited in the 2010 book “True Links” by Malcolm Campbell and George Peper. Clark further qualifies this count by adding that “of the 246, there’s only around 40 truly outstanding genuine links.”

Among its true links characteristics, Dumbarnie Links is located along a magnificent coastal strip of land; built on sandy soil with only a few trees near the clubhouse site; firm and fast fescue playing surfaces; and traditional sod-stacked pot bunkers.

The routing is a departure from the usual. Instead of the traditional out-and-back layout, Clark explained that Dumbarnie Links is a “mix of two big loops with elevated tees facing into the Firth of Forth.” The bunkering, however, does follow convention with a half-and-half mixture of traditional sod-stacked pot bunkers along with what Clark described as “natural bunkers surrounded by tall fescue grasses waving in the wind.”

Clark incorporated a host of risk-reward elements into the design of the par-72, 6,898-yard (Black tees) golf course. The drivable par-4 17th hole offers an aggressive play at the green guarded by precocious pot bunkers and a short forced carry over a 200-year-old stone wall.  For the less adventurous, there is a generous fairway to the left of the old stone wall, but taking that route turns the drivable par 4 into a drive and a full wedge or short iron. The par-4 5th hole gives golfers the option of cutting off 50-60 yards by playing left to a 25-yard-wide fairway surrounded by difficult terrain, or playing to a fairway to the right that is 50 yards wide, leaving a significantly longer approach.

“We know it’s more of a marathon than a sprint, but we also can’t help but crack a smile at what’s going on here,” said Clark. “We have on board an amazing staff of world-class greenkeepers – headed by Grahame Taylor, former Supervisor from The Old Course, St Andrews – supervising and executing the grow-in, and we’ve had perfect conditions for an outstanding project so far. The Golf Gods have been smiling on Dumbarnie Links, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.”

Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club will kick off the 2019 golf season when the Tunnel Mountain 9 course opens for play Friday, May 3. The opening of Fairmont’s famed Stanley Thompson Course will follow a week later with play beginning Friday, May 10. Special early-season rates will be available for both courses, until June 4. Afterwards, regular rates will apply through fall — $249 CAD for the Thompson Course, and $105 CAD for Tunnel Mountain 9.

The Fairmont Banff Springs is located in the heart of Banff National Park and is styled after a Scottish Baronial Castle, offering commanding views of the surrounding mountains and the stunning Bow River. Just steps from the charming village of Banff, the resort is a National Historical Site and offers a tremendous blend of luxury and recreation. In addition to its two golf courses, In addition to golf, Fairmont Banff Springs offers world-class dining and shopping options in addition to a Willow Stream Spa and a host of additional recreational activities, including the following events.

Celebrate Tunnel Mountain 9 Opening

July 1^st, 2019 is the 30^th anniversary of the Tunnel Mountain 9’s opening. To celebrate the milestone, guests can play the Tunnel Mountain 9 Course for just $30 CAD after paying the regular rate for rounds on either Tunnel Mountain or the Stanley Thompson Course. Additionally, the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club has partnered with popular Grizzly Paw Brewing of Canmore, Alberta to create a commemorative pale ale. The $30 rate and the commemorative beer will be available to guests all season long.

Canadian Par-3 Championship

On August 17^th, amateur players as well as pros will have a unique opportunity to compete in the Canadian Par-3 Championship on the Stanley Thompson Course at Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club. Every hole of the iconic course will be converted to a par 3, and players will compete for prizes on each one. The two top players in the event will represent Canada in the Grey Goose Par-3 Championship held on the Turtle Hill Course at Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda in spring 2020.  Cost is $149 CAD for amateurs and $99 CAD for professionals. It includes golf, prizes and a meal.

www.banffmountaingolf.com

For years I’d heard the words, studied the photos, played those holes hard against the Caribbean in my head. Teeth of the Dog. And right on that dog’s heels, three more words in Spanish. Casa de Campo.

Cottage. As in getaway second home.

Sounded good to me.

Finally came the day I was there in the flesh, standing on the tee of the Dog’s exquisite par 3 fifth hole with a 9-iron in my hand, and yeah, that pup was barking up a storm — a storm of sun and surf and blessed late autumn heat, a far cry from the snowstorms back home.

I could get used to this.

I took a swing and my ball looked safe, safe, safe from a seawater death, then it caught up in the big tree guarding the green’s right side for a second or two, rattled around … and dropped in a narrow strip of rough between modern bunker and ancient rocky shore. Safe, after all. The Dog bit, but not hard enough to break the skin, or my scorecard.

That’s beauty and allure of Casa de Campo, the Dominican Republic’s original golf destination, a 7,000-acre development anchoring the province of Romana some 45 minutes from Punta Cana’s privately-owned international airport, on the island’s eastern point: There’s nothing hard about it, if by “hard” you mean harsh, or unwelcoming.

Sure, like any golf course designed by the great master Pete Dye, as all of Casa de Campo’s 81 holes are, Teeth of the Dog will snarl back at a bad shot on any hole, not just those exquisite seven along the sea. But get to know it a bit — with some help from an experienced forecaddie, preferably — and you’ll find it’s also a jovial and inviting breed, groomed to please and take up a permanent home in your heart.

That’s what all great golf courses do, and it’s a key ingredient in Dye’s enduring magic.

The fully inland Links Course next door exposes its friendly underbelly more readily — five or six strokes more friendly — while the 27 holes of the hilltop Dye Fore Course are a different breed of golf: one nine strung on a bluff overlooking the Chavón River, another tumbling toward the resort’s marina before turning back uphill, and a third, newer nine fittingly called Lagos, as in lakes. Lots of them. The private La Romana Country Club, where members and homeowners get their Dye fix, rounds out Casa de Campo’s tee-to-green bounty. Indeed, it’s one of the most impressive collections of golf holes in all of Latin America, not just the Caribbean.

Not five minutes had passed since the shuttle dropped us off at the Puerto Vallarta airport after three and half days in Punta Mita paradise when my wife uttered the words I knew I’d hear eventually.

“When are we coming back?”

And she’s not even a golfer. I am, of course, and I second her emotion. Third it, even. We gotta get back here, and soon.

After years of somehow avoiding the Mexico mainland (or any other part of America’s southern neighbor) for a tropical visit, we hit the getaway jackpot by taking part in the eighth edition of the Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic, a late fall foray into the best cuisine, hospitality and seaside swinging that Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit has to offer.

With a December christening at Chee Chan Golf Resort in Thailand’s Pattaya province, the course architects at Golfplan have again showcased their skill at integrating world-class golf holes with signature elements in the local landscape and culture.

On the eastern edge of the Gulf of Siam in a tourist destination about two hours’ drive from Bangkok airport, the dominant element is the Chee Chan Buddha, whose serene likeness has been carved into a limestone escarpment some 110 meters high. “Buddha Mountain” is one of the region’s best known tourist and devotional attractions. Today, his gilt-edged visage is visible from nearly every spot on the 220-acre property, including the entire opening hole.

“We couldn’t afford to miss that opportunity — to start golfers on their spiritual journey under the watchful eye of Siddhartha Gautama,” said Golfplan Partner David Dale. “The Buddha invites a decision on the very first tee: play conservative to the right/lower landing area and approach the green uphill, over deep bunkers — or drive more aggressively (left of the center bunker) to create a downhill approach to unguarded putting surface.

“We have much to learn from the Buddha, who taught us a ‘Middle Way’ between sensual indulgence and uncurbed asceticism. For golfers the larger message is unambiguous: Relax and keep it in the fairway.”

The Dec. 12 grand opening at Chee Chan Golf Resort brought to a close a busy year during which Dale and his partner in Golfplan, Kevin Ramsey, unveiled and otherwise celebrated a series of projects that cannily place golf in disparate cultural contexts:

• In October, the firm opened the full 18 at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa in Uganda, where Ramsey designed an enormous man-made lagoon, accommodates the property’s sparkling new marina, and integrates the entire property directly with its primary attraction, mighty Lake Victoria itself.
• Ramsey also applied the finishing touches this fall to Tabori Hills, a resort track to open next year in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Thanks to Ramsey’s routing, this cliff-top design will afford golfers stunning, long views of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi (where downtown patrons can access the resort by gondola).
• Dale couldn’t make Chee Chan’s grand opening; he was in Korea, debriefing with PGA Tour officials following The CJ Cup, which is contested over his feted design at The Club at Nine Bridges . Dale watched most of October CJ Cup from the sleek, modernist teahouse behind the 14th green.

“South Korean designs must, according to local custom, feature teahouses in the middle of each 9,” Dale explained. “We spent months routing and rerouting that stretch of the back nine at Nine Bridges — to create the perfect perch for that teahouse. We did the same on the homeward stretch to create dramatic views of Mt. Halla, which is sacred to the Korean people.

Formed in 1972, Golfplan has been introducing golf to new markets and maximizing cultural experiences for nearly 50 years. Based in Santa Rosa, California, USA, it is the most international firm in all of course architecture, having creating more than 218 original designs in 32 different countries (if master planning and renovation are considered, make that 85 countries). This sort of sustained, diverse productivity is one reason GolfInc magazine named Dale and Ramsey among the “Top 10 Most Powerful People in Asian Golf” for 2016.

Golfplan has worked extensively in Thailand. Their designs at Panya Park, Panya Indra and Mountain Shadow (down the road from Chee Chan, in Pattaya) all remain popular — and profitable, Dale is quick to add. But those courses were built in the 1990s.

“It’s a privilege to work again in Thailand, especially on a site so unusual. This is flat, coastal country here by the Gulf — but we had fully 25 meters of elevation change to work with at Chee Chan,” Dale reported. “The eye is naturally drawn to the escarpment featuring the Buddha, but the property is ringed by these limestone karsts — some are 150 meters tall. The perimeter holes play uphill to their bases, then back down again. These enormous features give the entire course both an amphitheater feel and a pleasing sense of seclusion.

“In this environment, it’s tempting to shape the golf course in competition with these large features. But I think we struck the right balance. The contour is flamboyant but toned down through the landing zones. There are several cavernous valleys that separate the holes, which tend to melt over and between these landforms. With the introduction of drought-tolerant bahia grass to frame and accent all this, it’s a pretty stunning tableau.”

Buddha Mountain was created on the northern face of Khao Chee Chan in 1996, to commemorate His Majesty the King of Thailand’s golden jubilee. It’s been a major domestic tourist draw ever since — enough to invite subsequent development of a water park, winery and shopping district. With new accommodations and world-class resort golf added to the mix, this corner of Pattaya (just 90 minutes from Suvarnabhumi International Airport) is a fully fledged destination unto itself.

“I love golf,” said Narit Chia-Apar, founder of Chee Chan Golf Resort and chairman of the developing entity, Chartered Square Holding Company. “I know how golfers think and what they want. I know the level of service that is expected, and so I built the course based on the needs of myself as a golfer, and not just as an investor. Whatever I see fit to give the best impression for our visitors, I will make sure that we have it here.”

cheechangolf.com