A budget golf holiday in Eastern Algarve
If you’re on a budget and looking for a quiet holiday that combines golf and nature, then head for this region. Here you’ll find well-planned courses, national parks and a range of budget hotels with seven-night prices from around &’299 per person.

Some of the best value rooms with a sea view can be found at Eurotel Altura, only a 40-minute drive from Faro Airport. The hotel is set right on the beach, close to the Castro Marim golf course, and just three miles from Quinta da Ria Golf Course. In fact, there are four reasonably priced golf courses close by the hotel. Don’t be deceived by the sixties exterior &’ the refurbished rooms are well decorated and comfortable. Best of all, you have the option of eating in the hotel restaurant, with its fine sea views and buffet service, or you can head into the village of Altura with its many dining choices. The Fernando Restaurant, known for its local cuisine and especially fresh fish, is within walking distance of the hotel.

Costa de la Luz; the Spanish golfing alternative
It’s also worthwhile flying into Faro for transfer by rental car to Spanish golfing region of Costa de la Luz. On clearing the airport, it’s just a 50-minute drive from to the bridge at Ayamonte and across into Spain. There are many good value hotels and, of course, the golfing options are equal to any in Europe. Best of all, green fee rates are 20 per cent lower.

Riu Atlantico is the place to stay &’ holidaymakers travelling with golf holiday specialists Longshotgolf recently voted the hotel “No 1 value for money”. This is an exceptional four-star hotel, with friendly, helpful staff who make you feel welcome. It has spacious rooms with a fully stocked minibar and air conditioning, and the buffet restaurant offers on-the-spot cooking. The hotel’s large conservatory area has fascinating water features and the promenade running along the front of the hotel makes an enjoyable evening walk. Quinta da Ria and Quinta de Cima courses are only a short drive away.

Costa de la Sol is a golfer&’s paradise
Nicknamed &’Costa del Golf&’, popular and bustling Costa del Sol offers plenty of golf holiday accommodation options for budget travellers. And with 20 new courses opened in the past 20 years, competition keeps prices down. The mild winters and perfect spring and autumn days make ideal weather for golf or just sunning yourself around the resort pool or on the beach. Off the green, time can also be spent exploring the picturesque yacht harbours, up-market shops, restaurants and nightclubs. Marbella, one of the world&’s most glamorous resort destinations, has a casino, and the backstreets of the old town offer bargain brand-name clothing and souvenirs. Nearby Aloha Golf, Las Brisas and Los Naranjos are all recommended golf courses.

At Pueto Banus, further west, you&’ll find the budget-priced PYR Puerto Banus, popular with golfing groups. Staying in a basic, self-catering studio apartment allows you to save on meal costs. When you decide to head out to eat, it&’s just a three-minute walk to the marina, where you can dine with a great view of the yachts. For a nightcap, the hotel Golf Bar is perfect and it stays open until 3:30am.

History, culture and golf on Cyprus
One of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, with a warm climate year round, Cyprus has excellent golf courses with challenging greens and fantastic views. The new par 71 Aphrodite Hills course, perched above a beach, is surrounded by protected forest, and is divided in two by a deep ravine. The oldest course on the island, Tsada Golf Club, set 500 metres above sea level, has natural fairways running through old fruit orchards and vineyards.

Golfing in Turkey &’ the perfect winter break
A golf holiday in the region of Belek, in the south west of Turkey, gives you access to miles of golden-sand beaches and unspoilt natural attractions as well as an exotic national culture. Here are eight excellent courses, many five-star hotels and lots of water sports activities. And the excellent value of a golf holiday in Turkey is a bonus. The main resort of Antalaya, with its 300 days of sunshine a year, pretty parks and palm-lined streets, is perfect for a winter break.

Sand, sun and golf in Tunisia
Although its hundreds of miles of sandy beaches, bustling markets, and stunning architecture, make it a popular tourist destination, Tunisia is also becoming one of the Mediterranean&’s foremost golf holiday spots. Affordable accommodation, year-round sun, and a choice of 10 courses, with reasonable green fees, is a very tempting combination. The courses at Hammamet, designed around six lakes and 430 acres of olive trees, include Golf Citrus, with two 18-hole, par 72 championship courses, and the short and demanding par 72 Yasmine. A basic round can cost as little as &’25. On the island of Djerba, further south, the resort Tabarka has a 27-hole course surrounded by date palms and overlooking the Mediterranean.

Scenery and golf in Argentina
Argentina is becoming increasingly popular as an exotic destination for golfers, and golfing facilities are available in most parts of the country. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, summer is from December to March and winter from June to October. The old par 72 Buenos Aires Golf Club, one of the world&’s top 100 courses, has water features, bunkers and well-maintained greens. At the southeast tip of the country, in Patagonia, the Arelauquen Golf Club, near Bariloche, is surrounded by mountains, lakes of crystal-clear waters. Playing the 18-hole, par 72 course is an unforgettable experience, with views of the summits of Mount Catedral and Mount Otto and the backdrop of Lake Guti&’rrez.

British Columbia &’ golfing contrasts
The province of British Columbia, on the West Coast of Canada, is a rugged frontier for golfers, from its desert courses in the interior to the breathtaking mountain courses in the east. Around Vancouver, the Furry Creek Golf Course has ocean and mountain views from every hole, and the Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club was proclaimed the top new course in Canada in 1994. The four championship courses at Whistler includes the Jack Nicklaus designed Nicklaus North Golf Course, and the Chateau Whistler Golf Club, a pre-eminent mountain course. For contrast, try The Dunes Golf Course at Kamloops Golf Club, where lush fairways have been carved through sand that was once a riverbed. With four different sets of tees, The Dunes is both fun and challenging.