Algarve elected Europe's top golf destination

The Algarve has emerged Europe’s top golfing destination in the inaugural Today’s Golfer Travel Awards, claiming the main Best Value Golf Destination (Continental Europe) title.

And the pride of Portugal triumphed in style by receiving an impressive 32% of the total number of votes – Turkey finished runners-up with 19% with long established golfing hotspot the Costal del Sol surprisingly languishing in fourth spot behind fellow Spanish region Costa Brava.

The first TG Travel Awards, held in conjunction with major golf travel operator Your Golf Travel, has been warmly received by golfers from all over the country who voted in their thousands for their favourite destinations, courses and hotels/resorts both in Europe and the UK.

Algarve venues also came out on top in Portugal’s Best Courses and Hotel/Resort categories with Vilamoura’s wonderful Old Course convincingly winning the former and Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo pipping another old favourite, Le Meridien Penina, to the latter spoils.

Spain’s resounding category victors were 1997 Ryder Cup venue Valderrama (Best Course) and La Manga (Best Hotel/Resort) and it’s been a memorable year for Paris National which followed up being awarded the 2018 Ryder Cup by being voted France’s top course by TG’s readers and YGT clients.

Meanwhile, former Ryder Cup hosts the K Club, Celtic Manor and The Belfry all celebrated emphatic double successes.

One of the closest categories was for France’s Best Hotel/Resort, St Malo Hotel G&CC in Brittany just edging out Le Manoir (Le Touquet) and the Four Seasons Terre Blanche near Nice.

"Congratulations to all the winners and a big thank you to all the golfers who took the time and trouble to vote for their personal favourites. The inaugural awards have exceeded all our expectations and hopefully in time they will be referred to as the ‘oscars of the golf travel industry,’" said TG editor Andy Calton.