As a passionate golfer I have made the heralded pilgrimages to Scotland and Ireland. They are ‘must visit’ destinations that expose you to some of the world’s greatest courses, but what next?

After you have walked over the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews and hit your approach shot on the 9th hole at Royal County Down, then where do you go?

I say Spain.

Spain has a rich and vibrant culture; it is known for its delicious tapas, abundance of world class wineries and they boast beautiful warm sunny days with a tropical feel. Beats wearing rain and wind gear in July in the UK.

I flew into Barcelona, now one of my new favorite cities. It is alive. A mix of historical and modern day architecture, this coastal city perched on the Mediterranean Sea offers tourists a candy store of attractions.

Everything from museums, high end fashion districts, Olympic venues from the 1992 Summer Games, parks, Cathedrals and let’s not forget sporting events. This city is passionate about sports.

During a football game (soccer for my North American brethren) cafes on quaint side streets are brimming with soccer enthusiasts crowded around a small television set cheering as if their mother’s life depended on the outcome.

I had to see it live. I got tickets to see FC Barcelona in their home stadium Camp Nou. It is the largest arena in Europe with a seating capacity of just under 100,000 people. It was electric.

Seeing soccer legend Lionel Messi in person score a goal and chanting and singing Barca traditional songs with my “fellow” Spaniards in the stands was truly an unforgettable experience.

As for golf, there are so many amazing golf regions in Spain. I selected the region of Costa del Sol in southern Spain, the home of the Ryder Cup venue and top 50 in the world golf course, Real Club Valderrama.

I arrived in the delightful city of Malaga, birth place of famed artist Pablo Picasso. It is a Mediterranean port city that has gone through a major facelift the last few years and has been nominated for the 2016 European Capital of Culture.

The heart of the city is highlighted by a marble paved pedestrian street. Must sees are the Moorish castle, Alcazaba palace, Roman amphitheatre, Picasso museum and the unfinished Cathedral of Malaga, all of which can be done in one whirlwind day.
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The next day it was off down the Costa del Sol to the Suites at San Roque Club, the official home of the Ryder Cup in 1997 with both the European and American teams taking residence there.

Each room that hosted a player has the player’s name on the outside of the front door.
I found myself running from building to building like a kid looking to see where Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Kite and Nick Faldo all stayed.

The property is built in the charming Andalucian style and boasts 100 rooms consisting of 50 bungalows that are suite style with large bedrooms that have a patio exit, living room and full kitchen, perfect for an extended golf holiday.

The resort is surrounded by quaint paths and gardens and the highlight is the stunning outdoor pool peppered with palm trees that has a swim-up bar.

The resort also boasts two championship golf courses on site at the San Roque Club, ‘The Old’ and ‘The New’, both having previously hosted the Spanish Open.

The Old course, designed by Dave Thomas, often ranks in the top 5 in Spain. It opened in 1991 and the bunkers were later redesigned by popular Spaniard Seve Ballesteros.

The front nine winds through Cork Oaks while the back nine features several water hazards. It makes for a great day of golf.

The New Course was designed by the son of Pete Dye, Perry Dye, along with Ballesteros. It saw its first tee shot in 2003 and has quickly become a favourite amongst golfers.

Many typical Dye features are evident such as big, steep bunkering, large greens and the use of railway ties. I loved stepping back to “Seve’s Tee” on the beautiful 4th hole par 3.

Another track close by, is La Reserva. It is an 18-hole course designed by Cabell Robinson.

There are 5 tee boxes on every hole making it a fair and challenging test of golf for any level of player. My favorite hole was the uphill 18th leading back to the grand-style clubhouse.

Santiago Luna, a four-time Spanish national champion and a twenty-year veteran of the European golf circuit said about La Reserva, “This is a course where you will use every club in your bag. It is very fun and offers the option of making it easy or difficult. It is a very large course, with ample but perfectly shaped fairways and greens.”

After golf it was time to explore. I took a side trip to the Rock of Gibraltar. It is a British Overseas Territory that is only 6 km long and is 426 m high.

My husband and I parked the car on the street and with passport in hand walked across the border, through security, as we were entering another country.

There is a small airport and it is like a time warp of British history. You go from tapas and wine on the Spanish side, to fish & chips and pints in a pub on “the Rock”.

The Cable Car is a must do to see the expansive views of the coast, marinas and where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is truly breathtaking.