Golf holidays in Seville
Once-upon-a-time Seville was not really worth considering as a golfing destination: one Club with its doors tightly shut is not very inviting! Times change however, and nowadays this wonderful southern Spanish city with its glorious climate has three welcoming Clubs and a panoply of other attractions for the holidaying golfer. The three best courses to play are conveniently grouped on the south side of the city so you could stay out that way or, what we recommend, just on the south side of the old town from where you can stroll to all the main sights plus myriad tapas bars, as well as having easy access to the Golf Clubs each day.
There is a multitude of sights to visit: the Alcazar, the Royal Palace, the Cathedral and the Bullring make a very good start. Plus there are all the attractions that a big city has to offer: the shops, bars and cafés that surround all the little courtyards and spacious plazas. And the wonderful old town (Casca Antigua) where you can wander for days amongst the narrow alleyways of what was once a Moorish Medinah and never pass the same tapas bar twice - there are hundreds!
And, by the way, don't forget your dancing shoes as Seville just happens to be the birthplace of Flamenco Dancing, olé!
Seville - Golf Clubs
Seville has three key places to play golf. This might not sound like a lot, but they are all excellent and playing one or two of them twice would be no hardship at all! For low Handicappers, the standout course and Club is Real Sevilla, which has hosted the Spanish Open three times already (and is sure to have it again).
For golfers looking for a slightly less-testing course then the ultra-exclusive Real Piñeda Golf Club is ideal. Manicured Fairways, silky Greens and an outstanding Clubhouse (with a fine restaurant) makes a beautiful golfing day out amongst the tall pines.
Zaudin is the 'new kid on the block' and is a superb third arrow in the Sevillian quiver. Designed by Gary Player it offers another great test of golf, with its water hazards providing plenty of food for thought on your way around the ancient olive groves.
Seville - where to stay
To experience the very essence of Seville, there is only one place to stay: Las Casas de la Juderia. This is an hotel that is unlike any other you will have stayed in anywhere, ever! Composed of 27 ancient houses in the Jewish quarter of Seville it occupies a foir chunk of the city's prime Real Estate. A labyrinthe of passageways (the old streets) and small courtyards it is like having your own private corner of Seville to wander around. Itas location is also perfect, just a five-minute stroll to the Alcazar and cathedral. The only slight drawback is that the nearest car-park is 200m away, but it's no real inconvenience.
If, on the other hand, you are the kind of golfer who likes to sleep next to the Tee, then there's a place for you too. Real Sevilla Golf Club have just completed a small boutique hotel by their front gate. Twenty modern, apartment-style rooms are encapsulated in a low-rise building, complete with its own restaurant plus residents can enjoy a dip on the Golf Club's private pool.
Seville - What to see and do
Seville is crammed with sights both old and new. Amongst the ancient sights the enormous cathedral that dominates the centre of the Casca Antigua is a huge (literally) draw for tourists. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and houses, amongst other things, Cristopher Columbus' ornate resting place. It sits right beside the Arab influenced Alcazar palace and gardens a beautiful complex of interior and exterior Moorish design that needs half a day to investigate at least.
On the modern side, the Metropol Parasol is an extraordinary sight stretching over one of Seville's main shopping areas. It is the largest wooden structure in the world with a walkway on top of it that affords excellent views of the city. Plus there is also a café up there (for high tea?) so that you can rest and drink it all in.
Evenings are long in Seville. It's normally so warm that nobody comes out for dinner before 9PM and restaurants are open from then until midnight or later. So late Tee-Times (advisable in the Summer heat) are no problem at all; it's like sliding your whole day two or three hours later...
Seville - Getting there and getting around
There are plenty of flights to Seville these days with British Airways (ba.com) , EasyJet (easyjet.com) and Ryanair (ryanair.com) amongst others. Flights are mainly from Gatwick but there are East Midlands and Manchester departures too.
You could use one of the characteristic Sevillian pony-and-traps to get around but we think a hire-car or transfers are normally easier! We can arrange either for you, please just ask for prices.
Seville - when to visit
Seville is hot, very hot during the Summer (when it is also peak tourist time). The best time of year for golfers to visit is October around to May, avoiding the piercing heat of the Spanish sun. If you visit at these times of the year not only will the heat be bearable, golf courses will be in better condition and the sights and streets will be less crowded. Seville makes an excellent Winter golf destination, temperatures rarely dip into single figures and the skies are mainly blue all year.
