Why Sofia is the hip new short-break golf haunt

Many have travelled to Bulgaria for golf around the seaside city of Varna with golf at Thracian Cliffs, BlackSeaRama and Lighthouse.

Now, as many low-cost airlines have decided to add Sofia to their list of destinations, the capital is fast becoming a much talked about short-break golf destination in its own right.

It has two great courses, St Sofia – a Paul McGinley design – and Pravets Golf, designed by Peter Harridine. The former is an excellent example of what former Ryder Cup captain McGinley brings to the table as a golf course designer, and is particularly well-known for its first-class quality of service.

Pravets Golf, meanwhile, has the Stara Planina mountain as its backdrop and is an upscale golf resort with a championship course and all the expected amenities the holiday golfer requires.

It has hosted a number of noted events and has earned sparkling reviews since opening three years ago.

OPTIONS

Hotels downtown offer easy access to the hundreds of restaurants, bars and other nightlife activities. You’ll not be short of options. You can event stay at Pravets Golf, with food and golf forming your holiday package. The hotel is 5-star. Alternatively, stay downtown in a 4-star hotel and get closer to the nightlife action.

Serious competitive advantage would be the F&B prices, where a pint of top local beer will cost you roughly €1, wreshile decent dinner with the drinks will hardly go over €12-€15.

The golf season typically opens in mid-April, and from early May one can enjoy a round with 20-degree sunshine. The season tends to wind up at the end of October.

You can fly EasyJet from Gatwick and Manchester, Wizz Air from London Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Doncaster Sheffield and Ryan Air from Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Stansted.

For more information and a helpful quote, visit golfinbulgaria.com, email [email protected] or call 0800 08 36 376.