Bulgaria Gives its New Golfing Resorts the Hard Sell

When it comes to golf resorts, most Britons think of the resorts in Scotland, the Algarve in Portugal or in Spain – but the national tourism agency of Bulgaria is keen to recommend its own excellent facilities to the golfing enthusiast.

Golf holidays in Bulgaria were a key feature of the Bulgaria Tourist Board’s marketing drive at this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) in London, with spokespeople ready to point out that since 2006 an impressive six major golf courses have been developed in the country.

Such resorts have been located in beautiful country settings, such as Cape Kaliakra, on the Black Sea coast. At Cape Kaliakra the golfing visitor can choose from not one but two Gary Player-branded sites – the Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort and the BlackSeaRama complex.

Away from the beach, the Pravets Golf and Spa complex can be found nestling by the beautiful Pravets lake with the presence of the equally impressive Stara Planina mountain in the background. For resorts closer to the Bulgarian capital Sofia, Pirin Golf and Country Club not only lies in the shadow of the Pirin mountains, but was also designed by British pro-golfer and former Masters champ Ian Woosnam. There are also several other well-appointed resorts just outside Sofia, such as the St. Sofia Golf Club & Spa and Air Sofia Golf Club – the first golf course built in Bulgaria.

If the golf resorts are anywhere as good value as the many skiing and snowboarding sites across the country, then it looks as if an increasing number of golfers are going to be taking the same path as bargain-hunting winter sports enthusiasts and booking cheap holidays in Bulgaria over the next few years.