It’s a tricky one but, thankfully, the UK is blessed with plenty of resorts that meet this particular need. Here are a few of the best places to go on a golf break where golf isn’t all that’s on the menu:
Leicestershire, England
“Listen to this darling…it has a Donald Steel Championship Golf Course surrounded by stunning Leicestershire countryside. The 6,944-yard, par-71 layout is set within the delightfully pure Capability Brown landscape of the estate. The course, the East Midlands’ first European Senior Tour venue, wraps around the heart of the estate in two extended loops, never being more than two holes wide, making golf at Stapleford Park reminiscent of the great links courses, with a layout also incorporating the meandering River Eye. “
Now that your partner’s eyes are fully glazed over, it’s time to move in for the kill…
“It’s also perfect for a short breaks apparently darling, Stapleford Park being one of England’s finest stately homes, with an exceptional Spa that contains seven treatment rooms, a relaxing lounge area, fitness studio and fully equipped Technogym. There’s also a Jacuzzi, sauna, six tennis courts, falconry, a pool complex, Wi-Fi, archery, pheasant, duck and partridge shooting, horse riding, off road driving and a special kids camps to keep the little tykes occupied while you enjoy some guilt-free pampering.”
“What do you think? Don’t suppose you’re that intere…what?”
“Oh you are?”
“Do you think I could squeeze in a round or two while you try and amuse yourself?”
“Yes?
“Oh, you’re so good to me aren’t you?”
Job done!
Celtic Manor
The Usk Valley, Wales
You’re on really dodgy ground now. South Wales…Newport for God’s sake! How are you ever going to convince your golfing atheist of a partner that this is a trip worth taking?
Forget even mentioning it was the venue of one of Europe’s greatest wins during the 2010 Ryder Cup or that it’s the home of the Saab Wales Open, or that it offers some of the finest golf courses and facilities in the UK – The Twenty Ten Course, the Roman Road and The Montgomerie, etc.
When the odds are this heavily stacked against you, you have two realistic options; don’t mention the venue at all and dress it up as a surprise weekend away, which could be costly if your relationship isn’t totally secure, or go straight in with the non-golfing attractions. Luckily, what Celtic Manor lacks in the evocative-sounding-location department, it more than makes up for it with its range of superb facilities.
The award-winning Forum Spa boasts 16 beautifully appointed treatment rooms and a wide range of innovative beauty therapies including and Floatation and Hydrotherapy. Overlooking the Rooftop Garden, the luxurious 20-metre pool is perfect for the serious swimmer or those who just want to relax. There is also a state of the art gymnasium and a wide range of complimentary fitness classes offering everything from boxercise to yoga. Beautifully appointed changing rooms each have their own jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms and plunge pools and to ensure total parental relaxation, The Forum also offers its own children’s crèche, The Hideaway Club. Guests are also spoiled when it comes to dining, with no less than five different restaurants to choose from including The Crown at Celtic Manor, South Wales’ only 3 AA Rosette award-winning restaurant.
With all that on offer maybe a “surprise weekend” away wouldn’t be so disastrous after all!
Rockliffe Hall
Darlington
This will be a relatively easy “sell” as Rockliffe Hall is a beautiful Victorian mansion house that has been carefully restored and artistically revived with many of the original features brought back to life. Throughout the Old Hall you will notice oak balustrades, carved stone pillars, ornate ceilings and stained glass windows. However, you can placate your partner with the fact that it also has wonderfully modern facilities, truly luxurious rooms and lodges and superb fine dining.
The newly opened Spa is simply out of this world as well. There are thirteen treatment rooms where the accomplished therapists will cleanse, exfoliate and massage away all the tension and toxins leaving you refreshed and revitalised. The Thermal Suite features eight heat sensations including a caldarium steam room, hammam, salt room, tropicarium, rasul mud chamber and an igloo. After your thermal journey you can relax and be served by the Spa Butler, swim in the large pool or even take a dip in the hydropool. There’s also a Technogym and Kinesis Studio, Nordic walking, cycling and outdoor fitness classes.
But what about the golf we hear you ask? Okay, it may not be as renowned as the as Gleneagles (where is?), but be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. This is one of Europe’s longest and most challenging golf courses. It’s already been mooted as a possible Ryder Cup venue of the future and it was designed by Marc Westenborg, whose past projects include the Old Course in Vilamoura and Royal Birkdale. And with five different tee positions, beginners to hardened tour professionals can enjoy the test, which includes lakes, wetland and woodland to add to the experience.
Old Course Hotel
St Andrews, Scotland
Stealth is the key here. Book a weekend at this truly fantastic venue overlooking the Old Course at St Andrews. Furnish your partner with plenty of treatments at The Kohler Waters Spa facility, among the best in the UK. Take your partner around the shops in St Andrews the next day – there are hundreds of the bloody things, it’ll be tough but worth it in the end – maybe then get your partner running up and down the beach like the stars of the Chariots of Fire (which was filmed here). Cap your day off with a designer cocktail or three in the elegant bar, before retiring to the acclaimed restaurant for fine dining at its very best.
With luck, your partner will be tired, content, very full up and pleasantly inebriated (make sure you’re not).
Now get up at five the next morning, collect your clubs from the car boot and take a short, brisk walk to the Old Course’s starter’s hut by the 1st tee to collect a starting time, which are available most days after a short queue. With luck you’ll be back before your other half has even woken. Pull this one off and you’ll have enough brownie points for a boys break in Pattaya!
Perthshire, Scotland
Your better half will undoubtedly have a list of reasons for NOT booking a golf break at Gleneagles, but with tiny little balatas running through your veins the stakes are simply too high – you cannot afford to miss out on a golf break at this fantastic, legendary, soon-to-be-Ryder cup venue.
Never fear though as we’re here to help! Here are our laboriously tested ripostes for dealing with the most common of the non-golfing partner’s excuses:
1) “It’s too cold up there.”
Response – “Not in the Turkish Bath, sauna or steam room it isn’t. Massages, skin wraps and aromatherapy are among the most desirable of Gleneagles’ many indulgent designer treatments.”
2) “It’s too far to travel.”
Response – “The Scottish motorways are some of the most congestion-free in the country. It would take us longer to drive around the M25. Edinburgh and Glasgow airports are both less than an hour’s drive away from Gleneagles. Transfers by helicopter can be arranged. National Express East Coast Railway services stop at Gleneagles Station, which is on the main London to Inverness line.”
3) “I don’t like golf.”
Response – “Granted. But you do like Spas. The idyllic glens of Perthshire set the backdrop for the Gleneagles spa experience. Ease the body and soothe the mind at ESPA, a brand new spa complex that is the envy of Scotland. The innovative holistic philosophy of ESPA is reflected in the complex, which was formulated by the acclaimed interior designer Amanda Rosa.”
4) “I can’t spend all day every day in the Spa can I?”
Response – “You won’t have to. Gleneagles offers some of the finest country pursuits and leisure activities to try out and there are indoor and outdoor experiences for everyone, including the world famous Shooting and Fishing School, the Equestrian School – one of the most impressive riding centers in Europe, the British School of Falconry, the Gundog School – the first of its kind in the world, Off-road 4×4 driving on two specially developed courses and The Club, with two swimming pools, outdoor hot pool, tennis courts, gymnasium, cycle hire and walking/running tracks.”
5) “And what if I get bored with that?”
Response – “Try learning to play golf! You won’t have a better opportunity than this. Gleneagles is the venue for the PGA National Academy for Scotland, the home of the game. It caters for all skill levels of golfer to benefit from the PGA National Academy Professional’s knowledge; from those never holding a club before, to those with dreams of carving a career within the game!”
Now that you’re armed with this priceless information it is time to get that magical weelend away booked in for you and your better half!
For information on Golf and Spa Breaks please visit www.yourgolftravel.com or call 0800 043 6644.
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