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By David Brice
Golf International, Inc.

If you are fortunate enough to live in the sun-belt, or along the mild Pacific Coast, or some other place in the USA where golf is a year round affair, you may not understand the dread an approaching winter brings to the rest of the country. And it's about now when the truth begins to sink in.

Portugal's Algarve Coast - one of Europe's most handsome

The signs are ominous and undeniable -- the days are getting shorter, Labor Day is behind us and the football season has begun. No matter how brave a face we put on, the truth is inevitable -- our golf season is drawing to a close and the few remaining rounds we may be able to squeeze in before golf courses close can be counted on one hand. Old Man Winter is on his way.

Some will resign themselves to the fact that there are 5 or 6 months of misery ahead, while others refuse to give in so easily and join the growing numbers of Americans who plan an escape. The thought of running away for the entire winter, as tempting as it may seem, is simply impractical for most of us. The idea of taking a temporary escape for a week or so to a warm climate when the winter blues are setting in, has established therapeutic values and studies have shown, the more pleasant the destination, the more good it will do you.

Barcelona - everyone's favorite city

This is a time to think outside of the box and choose some place really special for your winter escape. Head south to the southern states, the Caribbean or Mexico and chances are you will be joining flocks of others, many of them your neighbors, or at least folks from your winter bound, home-town. The story is no different if you travel west into the Pacific. Taking even more of the luster away from these domestic destinations is price. Winter is high season and a time to take advantage of the snowbirds and their desperate attempts to find sunshine and warmth.

Look eastward, across the Atlantic Ocean toward southern Europe and a whole new range of possibilities opens up, with Spain and Portugal shining through as perhaps the ultimate winter sunshine destinations.

El Prat - One of Barcelona's best layouts, designed by Greg Norman

From the area surrounding Portugal's charming capital of Lisbon, to the laid back, Algarve Coast in the south, to Spain's Andalucia and the fabled Costa del Sol, to Barcelona and the Costa Brava, this is a winter sunshine paradise. Temperatures are balmy and the profusion of excellent golf courses (among the best to be found anywhere in Europe) just call out to be played, no matter how deep the snow may be back home.

Making a good thing even better, winter is the low season throughout the Iberian Peninsula and values are the best in all Europe. Hotels, accustomed to being filled to capacity during the peak season summer months, are eager to attract more winter sunshine seekers and room rates come tumbling down. From 5 star, luxurious resorts, to even the most modest accommodations, there are plenty of bargains to be found. Airlines do the same with trans-Atlantic airfares and the short flight to Portugal or Spain from the USA can be comparably priced to a domestic flight from New York to the West Coast. The end result is that a winter sunshine trip to this part of the world need cost no more than a domestic trip, it could even be more reasonable, but the experience will be beyond compare.

PGA Catalunya is one of Spain's top ranked layouts

Top-flight golf, and warm pleasant weather are excuses enough to place The Iberian Peninsula high on your list of possible winter destinations, but they are only two reasons on a long and impressive list. Pick either country for a one week trip, or combine them both if you have longer, and you will enjoy a winter vacation filled with enough variety to keep the entire family happy, whether golf comes into the equation or not.

If you are looking for the excitement of a capital city, where golf is never far away, both Portugal and Spain will answer your needs.

Masia Bach - an impressive design from Jose Maria Olazabal

Barcelona may not be the capital of Spain, but it is the capital of the important region of Catalonia and earns its way into the hearts of practically every visitor, automatically becoming their favorite. It's a city of art, architecture, fashion, design and history, holding an intriguing fascination for all. Filled with the modernista architecture of Gaudi, wonderful restaurants, shopping, museums and a wealth of sightseeing opportunities, golf is never far away.

Less than half an hour's drive from the city center is the Sant Cugat Golf Club, an appealing 1914 design from the great Harry S. Colt and only a little further, Club de Golf Masia Bach, an impressive layout from Jose Maria Olazabal. But save time for El Prat, where Greg Norman has designed a pair of championship courses that will test the most accomplished players.

Troia Golf - One of the best on The Lisbon Coast

After a few days in the city, the beaches and ancient towns and villages of Spain's Costa Brava may sound a rather tempting proposition. Located within a two-hour drive of Barcelona, the Costa Brava will bring an entirely different experience to your trip and place a dozen more of Spain's best golf courses within easy reach. PGA Catalunya, Emporda. Pals and Peralada head the list of courses that demand attention.

Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, is arguably the most charming and under-rated of all Europe's major cities. Why a city with this much personality and character has escaped the attention of Europe bound Americans for so long may be one of the world's great travel mysteries. So take a little time to be mesmerized by all the city offers.

Quinta da Marinha Golf - just 30 minutes from downtown Lisbon

The waterfront district of Belem, the departure point for Vasco da Gama and other Portuguese world navigators, during the 15th and 16th centuries; The Alfama, the oldest quarter of Lisbon, with its maze of cobblestone streets, alleyways and secret gardens that has stood here since Moorish times. Take a stroll around The Baixa, Lisbon's traditional downtown and wander along streets where trades have clustered for centuries -- and still you will have barely scratched the surface of all Lisbon has to offer.

Drive barely a half hour along the coast, west or south of the city, to the neighboring beach resorts and Lisbon's impressive array of some two dozen, quality golf courses will be yours for the playing, including a healthy selection of some of Europe's top ranked layouts.

Lisbon's plush Penha Longa Golf Resort

Oitavos, Quinta da Marinha, Penha Longa, Troia and Aroeira, shouldn't be missed and this is still only the tip of the iceberg. The wonderfully relaxed Portuguese region of The Algarve is only a two-hour drive south of Lisbon and The Algarve Coast is home to another 30 standout courses, all begging to be played.

Spain and Portugal seem to have been blessed with more than their fair share of attractions to tempt any snow-bound traveler -- a perfect year round climate, an abundance of extraordinarily good golf courses, a rich history and culture, a bewildering selection of sightseeing opportunities. They each have excellent shopping, wonderful food and wines and a choice of hotel accommodations to suit practically any budget. Add to all of this the excitement of a truly international travel experience and you have a winter sunshine escape that will be really special.

For ideas on how to make The Iberian Peninsula your winter escape, click here or contact Golf International at 800.833.1389

© 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988.