Between Spain and Portugal lies the Guadiana River. On its banks, and within a radius of about 30 kilometers, are more golf courses than you can shake a stick at. As a result, its possible to find a place to stay from which you could reach and play 14 courses in as many days, without ever having to drive for more than 40 minutes.

The Guadiana river provides the border between Portugal and South Western Andalucia, or Huelva, in theCosta de la Luz. It is also the location for an extremely large number of top-notch golf courses, all within easy reach of each other. There is none of the high-rise hotel development here that you will find on the other Costas, since local government has insisted on the preservation of protected natural spaces. Instead you will find a few attractive hotels, and a good selection of fairly new apartments and villas. The more temperate climate means that it is possible to play golf for most of the year, and, being in a river delta, the area is protected to a large extent from the strong winds that characterise this coast further south.

All these courses are conveniently reached by the airports of Faro in Portugal, or Seville in Spain.

Golf in Portugal.

Castro Marim

This is one of the newest courses to play golf in Portugal, having opened in the year 2000, in an area of the Algarve that until recently had no golfing infrastructure at all. This 18 hole, par 72 course has a very beautiful setting in the peaceful atmosphere of the eastern Algarve, offering players breathtaking views over the Atlantic Ocean, the River Guadiana and the nearby nature reserve. The fairways have been made with Bermuda grass, whilst the greens are made with the new Penn A4 grass. Unless you are a mountain goat, its advisable to hire a buggy, since parts of the course are extremely steep indeed.

This golf course offers challenges to all levels and abilities. In some places the layout is deceptive, and a well-struck drive could quite easily land in one of the ornamental lakes. Its unique underground irrigation system enables play even in the driest of weathers. A driving range, putting green and putting course are also available for pre-round practice.

Benamor

The late Sir Henry Cotton designed this 18 hole, par 71 course. Sir Henry was apparently inspired by the ancient church, which is now situated next to the clubhouse.

The resulting layout offers a challenge to players of all standards. The course is undulating, but although less hilly than the Castro Marim course, still offers stunning views to the mountains in the north and the Atlantic to the south.

Indigenous olive, cork, carob, fig and almond trees, many of them centuries old, add to the beauty of the area whilst also creating natural hazards. In addition, water hazards and bunkers are strategically placed around the course to test your strategy and accuracy. The greens of Penn A4 are superb, and fairways of Bermuda Sahara provide good opportunities for well-placed shots. There is also a driving range and putting green for you to get in a little practice before you play the course.

Quinta da Cima

This 18 holes, par 72 course is a great test of golf with dog-legs to the right and left, open fairways and well placed bunkers and lakes. A stream with dams and permanent flowing water crosses holes 4, 5, 6 and 13. This is a true championship course. Watch out for the tricky par 5 16th hole, and expect some surprises on the 18th!

This course offers breathtaking views, and is an exceptionally beautiful course to play. From any point on the course the views of the sea and the mountains are a delight. Century-old olive and carob trees and the typical orange groves provide a truly peaceful feel to this wonderful course.

The greens have been seeded with Bent Crenshaw. Tees and fairways are seeded with Zoysia.

Two large driving ranges provide magnificent views of the mountains as well as of the ocean.

The Robinson Golf Academy can be found on the second driving range, which is designed for practice with irons only. It Comprises 3 greens and 6 tees for concentrated tuition.

Quinta da Ria

This spectacular 18 hole, par 72 course is situated in the Ria Formosa Natural Park and spreads along a gently rolling area down to the Ria Formosa itself, with a stunning view of the sea and the Huelva coastline It Comprises two loops of 9 holes with each loop having 2 par 5's, five par 4's and two par 3's. Five lakes were strategically built around the course, near greens 5, 10 and 14. Hole 16, a par 5, is played between the two biggest lakes. The green of the par 3 17th brings one of the lakes into play and also has an island where a large number of local bird-life nests. Besides the beauty the lakes bring to the course, they are also used as water reservoirs for irrigation and are nourished by a stream, in play on some holes.

The greens, smoothly undulating, are well protected by bunkers. Greens, tees and fairways are seeded with Bent Crenshaw and the rough with Poa Pratensis with Fescues. There are wide fairways and well maintained rough, so the course is suitable for the higher handicapper.

Although the course is relatively new, it has been planted with more than 300 trees, such as olive and carob, in order to produce a more established feel, and to maintain the ancient border. From any point on the course, one can see both the mountains and the sea. The surrounding orange groves and vineyards contribute to make the landscape of the course even more beautiful.

On this course, as with the Quinta da Cima, there will be no housing development, so there will be nothing except the breathtaking views to distract you from your game. Together these two golf courses provide a fine choice for golf holidays.

For golf in Spain, there are a number of equally beautiful and equally challenging sites.

Isla Canela

This 18 hole par 72 links golf course is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, overlooking the Guadiana River. It was designed by Catarineu, and Completed in 1994. Its set in a beautiful landscape dotted with olive, orange and eucalyptus trees, and offers challenging and entertaining play on its gently sloping dunes.

Trolleys and buggies can be hired from the clubhouse; however there is little need of buggies since the entire course is relatively flat. It extends over a salt marsh crossed by small seawater rivulets.

The gentle slopes are formed by dunes, and the course provides a beautiful landscape dominated by broom, eucalyptus, olive and orange trees some of which require consideration when playing some fairways. Overall, accuracy rather than distance is key here.

Natural lakes border a number of holes, and the greens are generally large and well protected by bunkers. The par five 7th is reachable in two, but the river to the right of the green is likely to catch the unwary. The construction of strategically placed tees means Isla Canela is enjoyable for golfers of all abilities. The club also offers very good practice facilities.

There is a permanent golf school as well as a golf shop, a bar and a restaurant. In addition there is a swimming pool and two bowling greens next to a beautiful terrace on which to sit and relax after a game. Plans have been approved for a second course on the island, together with a third a little further up the River Guadiana at Costa Esuri.

Islantilla Golf Course

There are 3 separate courses at Islantila, each surrounded by luxuriant vegetation with stunning sea views.

"Course 1" is best suited to medium or low handicappers as it requires precision, stroke ability and skill. "Course 2" is ideal for high handicappers, as, although it has a somewhat difficult beginning, there are fewer quirks and the layout is less deceptive to the inexperienced eye. "Course 3" is the official 18 holes par 72 course which requires considerable skill, and is ideal for medium handicappers.

Established 1992 this golf course has been the stage of important events like the "Campeonato de Espana de Profesionales", and the PGA European Challenger Tour.

In addition there is a training centre, the Islantilla Top Golf Academy, which includes: - Individual and/or group lessons Weekend courses Digital video camera with specific golf analysis software On course lessons Clinics with professional guests Special junior programmes Golf club repair Pro shop

Nuevo Portil Golf Course

This 18 hole, par 71 course has been relatively recently built. The design is characterised by wide fairways and gently sloping greens, and follows a path between pines and other local trees, starting out in a wood of Mediterranean pines. It is a rolling type golf course, offering a pleasant walk for those not wishing to use buggies, and the Bermuda fairways, which are lined with indigenous vegetation, offer splendid sea views over the immense dune beaches that are close by. The tiered greens offer a tough challenge for birdie-seekers.

The club has a driving range, pitch and putt area, gym, sauna and swimming pool, together with a four star hotel and clubhouse with coffee shop, restaurant, pro-shop and all golfing facilities.

El Rompido

This 18 hole par 72 course is the furthest east of all those mentioned in this guide. The Complex actually Comprises two courses, the original South course and the brand new North course.

The South course sits on the edge of a tidal lagoon overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and sprawls across an interesting mix of parkland and marshland with some amazing views the walk from the 8th green to the 9th tee takes you across a 650ft pontoon right across the protected marshland where you can see freshwater crabs and an abundance of bird life.

The new North course, which only opened in June 2006, offers a little more challenge. It has been designed by the famous Spanish golf course designer Alvaro Arana. This course winds through protected salt marshes, and offers a varied range of hole styles. The front nine features a run of holes with very tight drives - a typical "risk and reward" opening 9; while the back 9 is shorter, but demands greater accuracy from the fairway into small target greens which are of a consistently high standard.

The Complex boasts a five star hotel Complete with full health spa, conference and leisure facilities including private beach club, football pitches, tennis and paddle courts and much more. Altogether, it Comprises a fully equipped golf resort and spa perfect for a golfing holiday.

Convenient holiday location

For those looking for a holiday location that allows easy access to all courses, it would be difficult to beat the exclusive resort of Isla Canela. Situated on the beach by the pretty town of Ayamonte on the Guadiana River, it is well within an hours drive of all the courses listed. Indeed the courses at Isla Canela itself and at Castro Marim, are both within 20 minutes drive. In this little resort you have the choice of 5 hotels, and a good range of rental properties with either golf, sea or marina views, starting from a humble one-bed apartment and progressing to a luxury 3 bed, 2 bath penthouse with breathtaking views and a Jacuzzi on the terrace.

For non-golfing family members the beach apartments are ideal, giving quick and easy access to 7km of lustrous golden sand, with safe beaches for bathing. Small shops, bars and restaurants are all within walking distance, and the little Andalusian town of Ayamonte is a short bus ride away. For days when you might be golfed out(!) its possible to join a guided coach tour of Seville, or even a jeep safari through the Donana National Park. River trips are also easily available.

Of course, thats if you dont want to just chill out on the beautiful beach!

The author of this article is Pauline Rendall. Pauline spends part of every year in this pretty corner of Spain which borders Portugal. This is a temperate area where it is possible to play golf all year round. If you would like to know more about what the area has to offer, especially for families and non-golfers, check out her website at http://www.spainbeachapartment.eu