Between Mountains and Sea!
Within an hour of arriving at Barcelona airport we had met with our group from E.G.T.M.A. and were heading to the 4 star TorreMirona Golf & Spa Resort. TorreMirona resort is situated in the heart of the Emporda, twenty minutes north of the city of Girona, Spain.
TorreMirona is a small and charming hotel, there are 49 bedrooms, each room has a view of either the course, garden or mountains. For those who prefer self catering there are one and two bedroomed apartments within walking distance of the hotel and first tee. All apartments are beautifully furnished and fully equipped with kitchen and dining area.
The magnificent 18 hole course was designed by Spanish golf course architects Eugenio Aguado and Jordi Soler Peix. Views of the surrounding countryside are stunning,
The first nine is rather hilly with long narrow fairways that meander through a forest of beautiful mature trees. Some tricky holes such as the par three fifth with its semi-island green, the views over the the course from the third tee box to the Pyrenees are simply breathtaking. The back nine is somewhat an easier trek, TorreMirona is a fantastic course, with well maintained fairways, tee boxes and beautiful greens. TorreMirona is fantastic course that will thrill and challenge golfers of all abilities .
What better way to relax after a day on the course than a visit to the Spa. The resort’s Dubha Spa offers a wide variety of massages and wellness treatments. The hotel’s other leisure facilities include, jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, bi-thermal showers and a relaxation area. 
After a most enjoyable day on the course, we all looked forward to dinner and a few glasses of this region’s famous wine!
El Canigo’s fine dining restaurant is exceptional, delicious food accompanied by wonderful wines from the Emporda was superb.
From TorreMirona to Peralada WineSpa & Golf Resort.
Our next stop was to the five-star Peralada WineSpa and Golf north of the Girona, in the Emporda region. If you passionate about golf and love fine wine then Peralada is a place you won’t want to miss. This exclusive five-star resort has a fantastic golf course and produces some of the finest wines in Spain and beyond.
There are two fine dining restaurants, L’Olivera and Michelin star restaurant Castelle Peralada. At L’Olivera restaurant, Well known Chef Paco Perez’s menu features contemporary dishes of wonderful fresh sea food and the best produce from the region. The atmosphere at L’Olivera is warm and friendly, and the food is exceptional! Some of the delicious dishes on the menu include Langoustine, Sea Bass and Veal tenderloin.
Michelin star Castelle restaurant is located within the 14th century castle, Chef Javi Martinez and his team of expert chefs create plates of food with sensational flavours, works of art on plate. Each dish paired with exceptional wine from the vineyards of Peralada. Sommelier Toni Gerez is also an expert on cheese, my eyes almost popped out when I saw the display of cheeses for us to choose from! Toni is real character, he is extremely knowledgable, professional and wonderfully entertaining.
A little history!
Castille de Peralada dates back to the 13th century, from the 14th century the castle was occupied by monks who grew grapes and made wine. In 1923 the castle was acquired by Miguel Mateu to house his vast art collection. One of his main objectives then was to grow grapes and make wine, reviving the wine making tradition of days gone by. A lot has changed since monks crushed grapes at Peralada, today they use the most modern technology to create the exquisite wines of the Emporda. 
The 1923 cellar wine bar offers wine tasting with a selection of cured meats or cheeses, a fun way to finish a tour around the Peralada winery.
Peralada’s magnificent 18 hole par 71 golf course was also designed by Eugenio Aguedo and Jodi Soler Peix. While this course is challenging, you can be sure it will be an all round enjoyable experience for golfers of all levels.
The resort features a first class golf academy, nine hole pitch and putt and driving range. Just perfect for golfing groups, family holidays, especially for introducing children to the game or adults!
Since opening in 1993 Peralada has hosted various European Tour Championships it has been awarded the best course on the Costa Brava on several occasions. Peralada is the first course in Europe to be awarded an environmental management certificate from the EMAS scheme of the EU for ECO management.
Close to both resorts are many charming medieval villages and historic towns worth visiting. I highly recommend a trip to Figueras and the Dali Museum. Figueras is the birth place of Salvador Dali which is why he chose Figueras to create his unique Theatre- Museum.
The medieval village of Besalu is also well a worth trip. Here you will find some of Catalonia’s best conserved medieval sites. The Monastery of Sant Pere with its fascinating bath-house, the monumental fortified bridge and ancient churches.
TorreMirona and Peralada are both first class resorts offering Golf, Wellness and Gastronomy. If travelling to this most beautiful part of Spain or planning your next golf trip, I can highly recommend both these great courses and luxury hotels. Which ever suits your budget at the end of the day, you cannot go wrong with either.
Ger Bradley
