Top 10 Foreign Golfing Holidays

1. Vilamoura, Portugal
The Algarve is among the most popular destinations for Irish people who fancy a golfing holiday, and Vilamoura is one of the safest bets when it comes to combining sunshine with good golf. This resort is favoured for both weekend and week-long breaks because of its proximity to a number of first-class courses. Green fees range in price from €55 to €135 and the best time to travel is between March and May and between September and November. The region will be boosted further by the opening in September of two new courses, designed by Nick Faldo and Christy O'Connor jnr, at the nearby Amendoeira golf resort.

2. Murcia, Spain
While the Costa del Sol is a favourite for Irish holidaymakers, the south eastern region of Murcia is also developing as a golf-holiday destination. Easy accessibility and cheap flights make Spain attractive, and Murcia is home to one of the top-rated golf resorts in the country. La Manga Club boasts three championship courses, practice areas, a pitch-and-putt course and an academy.The region itself has about 50 golf courses, while Jack Nicklaus is in the process of constructing seven courses in the area to make up the Jack Nicklaus Golf Trail, which will add to Murcia's appeal.

3. Costa Brava, Spain (North of Barcelona)
This area of Catalonia offers some excellent courses, including those at the PGA de Catalunya, as well as good scenery and value.

4. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Alabama
Definitely for the more serious golfer, this trail allows you to play a number of Robert Trent Jones Snr. designed courses in the Alabama region. The trail (www.rtjgolf.com) offers 468 holes on 26 courses at 11 different sites. There is a lot of travelling to isolated areas involved, but the golf offers a fantastic challenge. Green fees start from as little as $43 (about €28), and there are a number of golf resorts and spas along the trail to choose as your base.

5. Champions Golf Academy, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The Champions Golf Academy in South Carolina could be a good option for improving your game while taking in some beautiful sights. Irish residents Peter and Helen Donaghy teamed up with former PGA tour player Hugh Royer III to set up the academy in this sunny resort. It officially opened in April and serves as a learning centre for golfers of various levels. Their nine-month gap-year programme is aimed at aspiring golfers aged 17-21 who are hoping to pursue the game in college, and they also offer one-, two- and three-day coaching courses for golfers of all levels. The academy is located beside the Jack Nicklaus-designed Long Bay Club and is complete with practice greens, short- and long-game areas, driving bays, psychologists and modern video technology. Lessons can be tailored to suit your level. The excellent beaches are a draw for non-golfers too, but with 120-plus courses and weather that allows you to play practically all-year round, it is a hugely popular destination for golfers.

6. Biarritz, France
This coastal town in southwest France will be familiar to rugby fans but it is also home to a number of quality golf courses. And the area offers a lot more than just golf, including a number of beaches, but the downside is that accommodation can be expensive. The Biarritz Golf Pass allows you to play five rounds on five different courses for €240-€300, depending on the season.

7. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai is an emerging destination for Irish golfers. Although accommodation is expensive, the weather, service and range of courses, all in a unique setting, offer something different. One round on the leading courses will cost between €75 and €160, and November to March is the peak season for travel.

8. Sandy Lane, Barbados
For a luxury, long-haul holiday, try the Sandy Lane Golf and Spa resort in Barbados. The complex has three picturesque courses, including the Country Club, which hosted the 2006 World Cup of Golf. Green fees are €100-€130 for hotel guests, depending on the season, with a reduced rate for groups. Non-golfers can make use of the spa facilities, lounge by the beach or take part in a number of water-sport activities.

9. Orlando, Florida
Orlando is another well-liked location for Irish golfers, with direct flights from Dublin and Shannon with Aer Lingus and the falling value of the dollar making this a much-sought-after location.

10. Novo Sancti Petri, Spain
This resort located in sunny southern Spain, is made up of the first two courses, designed by Seve Ballesteros, and another 18-hole course at Campano Golf Club. Standard green fees are €60-€75 per round. Elsewhere in the Cadiz region are other top courses such as Valderrama, Montecastillo and Sotogrande. This article appears in the Irish Times.