Five Great European Golf Hotels

Golf and luxury hotels go together like… luxury hotels and golf. Dating all the way back to the game paganica played by the Romans, golf’s hold on the world has spread to just about every corner. Even the first written record of modern golf, regarding James II’s banning of the game in 1457, as an unwelcome distraction from learning archery, speaks to the obsession of golf fans. This is a game that drives Japanese tourists all the way to Australia and drives enthusiasts of all nations to its Scottish homeland. Here are five European hotels that provide golf for the golfer and other activities for the golf widow or widower.

Pestana Sintra Golf Resort & Spa Hotel, Sintra, Portugal

Brand-new on the scene, the four-star condo-style Pestana Sintra Golf Resort & Spa Hotel first opened its doors in April, 2006. Though new, the hotel allows you to mix some history in with your golf game, as its proximity to the famous 18-hole golf course is complimented by its proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site village of Sintra. While your partner is hitting the greens, you can be making the seven kilometer trip to seaside resorts Cascais and Estoril, or stay closer to discover the Pena Palace and Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. Or just stick around and enjoy the hotel’s outdoor and indoor swimming pools and the massage treatments offered at the spa. If you’re required to fit in a little business with your golfing pleasure, the hotel also has a business centre.

Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, Aberdeen, Scotland

If one wants to get back to the roots of golf, one must get back to Scotland. Golf lovers have been visiting the five-star luxury Marcliffe Hotel and Spa since it first opened its doors back in 1852. Billing itself as “A relaxed and elegant retreat in the heart of Scotland’s Castle and Whiskey Country,” The Marcliffe is also a traditional country estate set on eight acres of land. It also offers a spa, fireplaces, oil paintings, a first-class restaurant featuring Aberdeen Angus beef and game and over 400 wines in the cellar and a drawing room bar featuring over 100 malt whiskeys as well as opportunities to go hunting and fishing. But that’s not why we’re here, is it? We’re here because the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa provides access to the legendary Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.

Hotel Golf Chateau de Chailly, Chailly-sur-Armancon, France

If you want to stay in an authentic French chateau when you’re not out on the links, then head to the four-star Hotel Golf Chateau de Chailly. This exquisite residence allows you to visit the past as you visit the hotel’s own 18-hole golf course. Beginners can enjoy lessons, pros can enjoy a challenging course, and everyone can enjoy the excellent cuisine at the hotel’s two restaurants. If you’re not the golfer in the family, the hotel’s location in the heart of Burgundy is perfect for daytrips, as Dijon and Beaune are 30 minutes away, and even Lyon is just a two-hour trip. The Chateau also welcomes business guests and anyone holding a special event, with its terrace and its meeting rooms, function spaces and wedding halls. And don’t forget about the swimming pool.

Golf Und Wellnesshotel Reith, Kitzbühel, Austria

Though the mountain town of Kitzbühel is more known for its skiing, the real fun begins after the spring thaw. That’s when you can play a round of golf 762 metres above sea level on the18-hole Schwarzee Golf Course as you enjoy spectacular mountain views, all right next to the Golf Und Wellnesshotel Reith. Kitzbühel boasts three other golf courses, and there are 19 others in the area. This should keep you busy for a little while. And though golf isn’t known to be the most physically demanding sport in the world, it seems every golf hotel worth its weight offers many ways to relax. As the name suggests, the Golf Und Wellnesshotel Reith is no exception. Here you’ll find a sauna, a Jacuzzi, an aroma steam bath and indoor and outdoor swimming pools, as well as a full fitness centre, a massage centre and three tennis courts.

The St. Pierre Park hotel, Guernsey, United Kingdom

So what do you do when you find yourself in the island paradise of Guernsey, just off the coast of France? Play golf! Welcome to the St. Pierre Park Hotel. Set in acres of parks, woods and lakes, this four-star luxury accommodation boasts a 9-hole par 3 golf course designed by Tony Jacklin CBE. Three tennis courts are available for those rare moments off the course, as well as all the standard luxury facilities we now know to expect, which can be found at the hotel’s Le Mirage Health Spa. When you’re through for the day, you can indulge in that tradition that is as old as golf; telling golf stories. The St. Pierre Park offers the perfect venue for that in its Renoir Restaurant, which overlooks the hotel’s beautiful lake and gardens. If the adults get tired of hearing about your exploits on the greens, there’s also a children’s play area where you might find more sympathetic ears.