You can tee off the new season with the new "Official Guide to Golf in Aberdeen and the Grampian Highlands", a superb little book produced by the Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board, endorsed by Paul Lawrie ... and its free

To write a review (of anything) that is this wonderful can use a fairly standard format. Look at something (often completely different) of comparable excellence, eulogise about it then introduce your review subject and continue the flow .... not for this review

Marbella has lots of different sections - quieter parts, luxury hotels, shopping. The size and popularity of the beaches does vary as does how close they are to the coast roads. The most popular part of the town is Puerto Banus. It is rare to find one of the biggest department stores barely a par four from the beach but this happens in Puerto Banus because El Corte Ingles is on the north of a plaza, on either side are banks of luxury flats and on the south, the rather naff charms of the harbour, lined by restaurants and boutiques.

This is one of two books produced this year by Golf World Magazine - you can find the review of The Game Within on this page as well. Neither are specially commissioned writings but that is not to decry either book - they are two excellent additions to any coffee table or golfer s library. Both are compilations of Golf World features so for a start, you will miss out on the adverts ...

Shropshire farmer Ralph Tomley, has transformed 130 acres of his 360-acre Daywell farm into a successful golf course, thanks to a grant from Defra s Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES). Last week, Mr Tomley received a prestigious award from the Oswestry and District Civic Society for making a significant contribution to the environment of the Oswestry Borough.

If you have flown into or out of Birmingham Airport in the past two years, you may have notice the gradual appearance of a new golf course. Its the brainchild of Mark Harry, owner of Widney Manor, a course where many golfers have learnt the game of golf. This new course is not really one for beginners (but it does have some of the most impressive practice facilities around) and in its signature hole, there is a challenge that will/has tested the best.

For most of our course reviews, we have looked at courses where a handicap is required. This is the first of a feature on courses in Hampshire and surrounding counties, a part of the County where we know a number of you work during the week plus somewhere which is an easy drive for a day out. If you are a recreational golfer and don t have a handicap, where could you go and enjoy yourself, maybe in the company of more regular golfers?