Matfen Hall in Northumberland

Birds are chirping and geese are honking on the far side of the fairway as I raise the sash window of my vast guestroom at Maften Hall in rural Northumberland. It’s pleasant to wake with a view overlooking a championship standard golf course.

Thracian Cliffs Golf Course in Bulgaria

Basically the design is very simple, it’s nine holes out, nine holes in; the course is 4.5km long. The nine holes out you play on the lower level, on the sea level, and the nine holes in you play right above. That has the positive effect that from every single hole you see the sea. You always think you play directly to the sea because from the upper level you don’t see the lower holes, so the greens seem to be above the sea on the back nine.

Golf in Abu Dhabi

“If it’s a first trip to Abu Dhabi it’s a bit of a whammy because at this time we’re beginning to really reap the benefits in the growth of tourism to Abu Dhabi,” says Chris Card, the Group General Manager of Troon Golf, within sight of the falcon-shaped façade of Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s clubhouse.

Abu Dhabi for families

Abu Dhabi was, until recently, widely regarded primarily as an oil-related business destination but diversification and leisure developments are changing that perception. Increasingly, the emirate is evolving into a viable family destination with much to offer beyond the state-of-the-art shopping malls and striking high-rise architecture.