Calling the shots in style

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Tee-off in exotic locations; by a chateau, a spa resort or maybe even near the Statue of Liberty.

Traditionally, if you craved a golf holiday par excellence, Scotland, with its golfing pedigree, would be the obvious choice. Its 550 courses cater to varying abilities, all promising stunning settings, whether highland, parkland or seaside.

Even the iconic argyle diamond patterned pullovers on that inherently Scottish brand Pringle have become the symbol of golfing attire of choice.

But now Scotland has contenders, all of whom want to claim their share of the pie. Because if there is one sport that is closely linked to premium tourism, it is golf.

Of course, there are fine golf resorts scattered everywhere from South Africa to Bermuda but some countries are more aggressively pursuing golfers. Spain is one of them.

The Andalucian region with over 60 golf courses has carved quite a niche for itself as a getaway for golf holidays, besides its legendary beaches.

So has Costa de Sol with its thick concentration of 30 exclusive golf courses, some with PGA-run academies. And if the accompanying ladies don't fancy taking to the greens themselves, the villages in the region are home to some luxe but traditional spas. The average cost for a holiday in Spain is about Rs 85,000 per person.

Cote d'Azur also has a wide variety of courses suited to players of all levels, from introductory courses all the way up to prestigious international courses like Mougins, Cannes Mandelieu or Monte Carlo.

And a break on the Riviera is an opportunity to do a posh day trip to Cannes, St Tropez or Nice. The region of Normandy also features some fairytale chateau-located courses.

A more recent arrival to the tribe is Mauritius that has dedicated premium properties like Heritage Golf & Spa Village, Hotel Maritim and Le-Telfair that combine golf and spa holidays.

Le-Telfair, with its championship course, in fact, has been developed on the site of a former working sugar plantation, adjoining a pristine stretch of beach. Some basic packages start from Rs 49,995 per person for seven days. But costs obviously rise with green fees and equipment rentals.

Closer home, Malaysia is putting up quite a show to entice enthusiasts. With almost 200 golf courses designed by some of golf's top names, including Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Peter Thomson and Max Wexler, the country plays host to the World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship.

The other advantage of taking a golfing holiday here is that you can take the family along. Not to mention that the green fee on Malaysian golf courses is among the lowest in Asia. The average cost for a five-day holiday would be about Rs 35,000 per person and would include a few rounds of golf as well.

If you really want a golfing holiday to gloat about, try getting a foot into Liberty National in New York. Built atop an old chemical dump with the Statue of Liberty just 1,000 yards away, the $150 million golf course offers its Wall Street members luxury shuttle boats that whisk them, when the markets close, to the first tee in 15 minutes.

Of course, The Donald (Trump), not to be outdone, has announced that he will build a golf course in LA that will topple Liberty National from its standing as the world's most expensive golf course.