View Sample Itineraries
for Independent Travel:
Tee Times, Tapas & Tempranillo
Barcelona, Basque Country,
Castile Y Andalusia
Madrid, Seville, Costa del Sol
Best of Spain Golf
Catalonia and the Costa del Sol
View All Sample Itineraries
Few
places in the world have as much to offer
as Spain when it comes to epicurean golf
adventures. The country possesses
a rich history, vibrant culture and dynamic
cities thanks to the indelible imprint
of past Roman, Arab, Christian and Jewish
inhabitants. In Spain, you may
experience whitewashed mountain villages
in Andalusia, sun-soaked Mediterranean
shores, the arts and architecture magnificence
of Barcelona and the Guggenheim in Bilbao,
as well as the charm of old Spanish cities
like Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Toledo. Spain
also offers exceptional golf and a progressive
culinary and wine scene, making it a
truly outstanding CORK & TEE epicurean
golf vacation destination.
A key milestone in the evolution of championship golf in Spain was the 1997 Ryder Cup held at Valderrama, a spectacular Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design draped across the Costa del Sol’s Mediterranean landscape and one of the finest courses in Europe. The Ryder Cup drew attention to the high degree of quality golf available in Spain and contributed to a boom in course construction that continues today. All across Spain exceptional new courses are springing up from the Basque region in the North to inland Andalusia in the South and points in between.
In the Costa del Sol, other notable
tracks among the more than 30 courses
that may be played year-round include
the venerable Sotogrande, as well as
La Reserva and Almenara. An hour
north of Barcelona in the Costa Brava
you will find the second golf magnet
in the country. PGA Golf de Catalunya,
the region’s standout course, includes
36 challenging holes set amidst pine
and cork trees in the scenic foothills
of the Pyrenees. A host of
other Costa Brava courses offer challenges
to golfers of all skill levels. Barcelona
itself includes 45 spectacular holes
at the Greg Norman-designed Real Club
de Golf El Prat, a private club accessible
to CORK & TEE clients.
Like golf, the epicurean scene in Spain
is on the move. Winemaking on the
Iberian Peninsula dates back more than
two thousand years to the Phoenicians. In
recent decades, the country has been
best known for its red wines from La
Rioja and for its Sherries, but today
exceptional Tempranillos from Ribera
del Duero and other reds from up-and-coming
appellations such as Priorat are receiving
much attention. Spain also is highly
regarded for its whites such as the ultra
crisp Albarino, which marries so well
with seafood, and more medium-bodied
wines such as Rueda, based on the Verdejo
grape. We love Spanish wine
and particularly like that wine country
in Spain consists largely of undiscovered
countryside and charming wine villages
such as Laguardia, thus far unspoiled
by tourism.
In gastronomic circles, Spain is the “it” place in Europe. Spanish cuisine no longer is simply tapas, gazpacho and paella, or outstanding hams like Jabugo and Serrano and cheeses such as Manchego and Cabrales. Chefs like Ferran Adria (Catalonia) and Juan Mari Arzak (Basque region) have achieved cult followings thanks not only to great food, but also to bold new techniques. Gourmet magazine aptly called Adria “the Salvador Dali of Spanish cuisine” for his focus on delivering unexpected contrasts of flavor (banana wrapped in hot peppers), temperature (hot ice cream), and texture (flavorful foams instead of sauces). CORK & TEE will ensure that you have the opportunity to experience the best of both new and traditional Spanish cuisine, and you may even have a go at making tapas yourself if you so desire.
In terms of accommodations, we have
scoped out a wide range including ultra
modern boutique properties in Barcelona,
historic hotels and even unique winery
accommodations. We look forward
to handcrafting an epicurean golf adventure
Spanish style for your group.
Contact us so we may have the privilege of handcrafting your CORK & TEE travel experience.