I will not talk to you about the color of the flag, nor about the political dissensions which have shaken Catalonia lately, but about its golf course, which is unanimous among the Catalans and the Spaniards. Nestled between Girona and Barcelona, ​​not far from the beaches of the Costa Brava, the PGA Catalunya Resort is a delight for golfers of all categories. Built on an area of ​​300 hectares, the Stadium course (18 holes) has everything a great: almost 7 meters long, rugged greens, expanses of water and bunkers that hide the holes, fairways surrounded by the trees… In short, plenty of fun. More recent, the Tour Course is intended to be more accessible ... Less long (000 meters) and more academic, it has wide fairways and bunkers which do not penalize too much less controlled strokes.

Installation in tune

The arrival at the Camiral, a five-star member of the Leading Hotels of the World, sets the tone: here everything is luxury, calm and contemporary. On the outside as on the inside, the sleek design interferes with small touches. My room, perfectly equipped (flat screen, free wifi, king size bed, Nespresso machine…), opens onto a terrace with a view… of the XXL swimming pool. Before I really settle in, I jump in my swimsuit to go taste the water. Going down, I cross beautifully appointed common areas, including the lobby and the mezzanine lounges, built around a huge library 8 meters high!

Feminine swing

I take advantage of the Women's golf day, organized in June, to discuss a sport that intimidates me. PGA Catalunya takes advantage of this international day dedicated to women to encourage novices to learn. Enric López, our head pro, works miracles: in less than half a day, we are hitting high balls. His secret? Adapt to your audience and use the psychological springs specific to each. And in terms of psychology, women differ somewhat from men ... Yes, yes! Enric plays with flexibility and humor to put us at ease. He talks about etiquette, essential for any self-respecting player, but defuses with a neat little joke. No competition, no judgment, just talent and fun. During the initiation, he gives his advice: release our natural gesture, lift the left heel on the ascent and the right on the descent, hold the finish for several seconds to find your balance ...

After the effort…

At Spanish time (14:30 p.m.), we find the well-deserved comfort of a lunch break at the brand new clubhouse. The place, like the hotel, is bathed in light and blends in with the surrounding nature. A la carte, a whole bunch of delicious and hearty little dishes perfect for recovering. After coffee, Enric tells us that he was so amazed that he is going to let us down on the legendary Stadium course… Less easy than the practice, but very entertaining! At the end of the day, to avoid stiffness, I go to the Well-being area to test the herbal massage, which relieves golfers' tensions from head to toe after the game. Very successful !

The hour of gastronomy…

Le 1477, the hotel's gourmet restaurant, takes its name from the date of publication of the first Spanish cookbook. At the helm, Francisco Hernandez concocts Catalan fusion cuisine (Italian, he studied in Chile and Sweden). Dinner inevitably starts with a Barcelona cava, a sort of local champagne. In the plate, we find the organic educational vegetable garden of PGA Catalunya: frankly creative gazpacho with spremute of basil, watermelon, celery and rhubarb. Foie gras with sangria sauce, duck confit croquettes, St Pierre with crunchy vegetables, tuna tartare too good. To accompany, we play the local wine list. The hotel will soon be selling its own production… The little extra: the starter (gravlax of salmon made with caviar of olive oil from Ferran Adria, mashed avocado, peach, beetroot and herbs) was concocted by me. Francisco Hernandez's cooking classes make us feel like real chefs. Origin of products, cutting techniques, cooking time, dressing, the chef gives us all the secrets to take out an impeccable plate! The result is amazing, we take selfies with our works and we post that to the whole world, too proud.

food tour

Located 20 minutes from PGA Catalunya, Girona is the little star rising from the Costa Brava (its medieval heritage served as the backdrop for the Game of Thrones series, anyway!). A good option for discovering the richness of Catalan cuisine: gastronomic tours organized by culinary specialists. Pan tomaquet, patatas bravas, anchovies from l'Escala, calçot (small tender onion cooked in the embers), boles de picolat (minced meat balls, beans, olives, tomatoes, garlic and parsley), fideua (a kind of paella with pasta cooked in a risotto-style broth), rabbit with snails cooked in water ... the specialties are revisited here by chefs full of vitality and creativity. In 4 hours flat, the food tour takes us from high-end tapas bars to designer restaurants, including ham and cold cuts shops to die for. And it ends at the starred Rocambolesc glacier, opened by the Roca brothers, famous starred chefs and pillars of the World's 50 Best restaurants list. In a retro decor inspired by the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you can taste 100% natural ice cream enclosed in hot rolls. Before returning to the luxury of the Camiral hotel, pass over the magnificent pedestrian bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel, from where you can admire the city with two faces separated by the Onyar river. To the east, a maze of steep alleys dating from the 1900th century. To the west, Girona in the XNUMXs.

Last night at PGA Catalunya. Game over. I jump into the first Girona-Paris available (from 60 euros AR with Vueling) and here I am 1h40 later back home. With only one desire: to go back!

We extend the experience

If you have golf in your skin, the PGA Catalunya allows you to buy… at the foot of the greens! On the 300-hectare estate, ultra-contemporary white houses blend perfectly into the landscape: clean lines, huge panoramic bay windows, high-end equipment (Bulthaup kitchen, Gaggenau appliances, Roca bathroom, etc.). The concept, imported from the US, appeals to Europeans who love golf and tranquility. XXL pools, tennis courts, fitness center, restaurants, bar, kid's club, tree climbing, residents buy their villa between 400 and 000 million euros and spend their family vacation while refining their swing.

We go to the beach

You cannot leave the region without testing one of the most beautiful beaches on the Costa Brava. Direction Platja de Sa Tuna, an old fishing village consisting of a cove of thick sand, space protected by the Punta des Plom, the long rock that we see just opposite. Not very long beach (200 meters) which has the advantage of having all the amenities, including parking and restaurants.

Useful information :

Example with Formigolf:
PROMOTION: FROM 01/11/2018 TO 20/12/2018
Included in the Promotion:
Accommodation 5 nights in a double room with breakfast formula
4 green fees on the Stadium (2x) and Tour Course (2x) courses
Arrival on Sunday, departure on Friday morning!

More info click here