The call of the links course is always easy to answer, particularly when located in South Wales, home to some of the finest links courses in the world, and with a recent addition to add to the famous catalogue. It was to be an interesting visit, to see how Machynys Peninsula would compare with the existing masterspieces at Porthcawl, Pyle & Kenfig, Ashburnam and Tenby.

For some considerable time, P&K as it affectionately known in the region, has been on my 'must play' list. As a lover of the challenge of links golf that is a given, add the bonus that the course was designed by the legendary Harry S Colt, and the justification is complete. The course lies on a very special piece of land in South Wales that is home to some of the best courses in the land. This was how golf was born, on links land before the game inevitably spread into the rest of the countryside.

Golf simulator engineers Sports Coach Systems (SCS) starred in a short piece for Sky Television. which went out on Friday May 11th. The film explained the process of taking a golf course architect?s drawings and using them to produce 3D simulations. The Carrig Glas course in Ireland has been used to demonstrate the benefits of SCS?s 3D simulation expertise. And they had a tough audience to please, as this is the course that world No 8 player Retief Goosen has co-designed with Jeff Howes Golf Design.

One of the World's top golf resorts, Vilamoura is the jewel in Portugal's golfing crown. An estate of more than 400,000 acres attracted over 200,000 golfers in 2006 to its six golf courses, its tennis courts, a riding school and fishing and shooting facilities and Portugal's largest leisure marina... and Vilamoura now has new owners -

Course-guide specialist 3DEagleView has expanded its portfolio of prestigious courses by signing four-time Ryder Cup venue The Belfry. It now produces the guide to the resort's Ryder Cup course, The Brabazon - and it is in good company with St Andrews, Royal Portrush and The PGA National Ireland included among 3dEagleview's other clients.

In the last 10 years Golf has rapidly become a game of 'have clubs' will travel. For all the promotion, for the casual golf traveler, the players who pick say one of Europe's ever expanding golf destinations, can soon find that their clubs have recently started to cost more to take than their own air fare. There can be little variation in the style of the course then there are the rounds which take a day to play - so 'yes' to the Sun but there are fantastic alternatives

Five Open championship venues are part of an exciting new venture aimed at promoting links golf in Scotland. St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Troon, Turnberry and Carnoustie have joined forces with VisitScotland and 35 of the finest Scottish links courses to provide a mouth-watering treat for lovers of the game at the Home of Golf.