"thoughts For Unfortunate Organisers Of Golf Holidays"

As an inexperienced, not to say 'pressganged' Organiser of a short tour for eight golfing married couples the choice of PORTGOLF and Northern Portugal was made with no little trepidation.

However, we shall be returning to the same area, probably, and with the same company, certainly, for a number of reasons.


Reason number one is Peter Evens himself.

One is negotiating here with an individual not just a company rep and the personal touch is invaluable.

Living on the spot as he does Peter was able to provide expert advice on all aspects of our holiday way beyond the mere choice of golf, which can, of course, be found on the internet; thus the variety of restaurants selected, the range of entertainment in free' time, the quality of accommodation and the means of transport were all carefully selected and discussed in advance to match the needs of a pleasant but pretty opinionated group!


In contrast to previous years we decided against hiring cars at the airport, a decision which not only eliminated the time delays and pressures on drivers, but proved spectacularly successful when our taxis swept past the traffic jams legitimately using the bus lanes.
To be collected from the airport by a fleet of vehicles easily capable of swallowing sixteen golf bags, and the rest, was a delight in itself.


All plans were smoothly accomplished but, perhaps more important was a sense of flexibility :

When the weather changed plans were altered accordingly, the taxis arrived earlier, or if the wine was flowing, more often later.
The set lunch moved out onto the balcony in the sunshine, a visit here was cancelled; another was inserted at a different time, and so on

That is why we would hope to use PORTGOLF in future.


And why North Portugal?

We had spent many holidays, individually, in the south, in France and Spain.

When we arrived at Porto airport on time but early, of course, there was not an aircraft to be seen, let alone a queue. What a contrast to Gatwick !

Throughout the holiday we were not met by crowds; we were able to relax, including on the three contrasting golf courses selected.

We were greeted consistently with smiles of welcome and treated with the courtesy and consideration.


As the advertising brochures accurately claim there is a great variety of potential for the visitor interested in history, architecture, winemaking, sightseeing, as well as golf and walking.

We needed more time.


And finally value for money.

We were consistently surprised by the low cost of food, wine and beer; what more could we want ?

I felt that we had been particularly well looked after and had been given a very good deal.

We shall return.


Jim Endacott
May 2007