Portugal Named World’s Best Golfing Top Destination

Hosted by the same group that hosts the World Travel Awards, known as the Oscars of the travel industry, the World Golf Awards took place at the Conrad Algarve and saluted the best golf destinations, courses, and resorts in the world.

With 80 golf courses, many of them set against ocean views, dramatic cliffs, white sand dunes, lakes and mountains, Portugal was singled out as the best in golf tourism.

Popular among golf pros and host to major events on the professional circuits including the European Tour, many of the courses are designed by architects like Henry Cotton, Rocky Roquemore and Arnold Palmer.

A mild year-round climate also makes Portugal a popular golfing destination.

Meanwhile, other big winners of the night included St. Andrews Links (Old course), which, perhaps not surprisingly, took the title of world’s best golf course 2014, and The Els Club Teluk Datai, developed on the island of Langkawi off the northwest coast of mainland Malaysia, which was named the world’s best new golf course.

The Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida took the award for best golf hotel in the world.

Here is the full list of winners, including regional winners across the US, Canada, South Africa and Australia.